OBJECTIVES:To quantify immunological dysfunction in surgical patients with presence/absence of sepsis using a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) transcriptomic analysis. The study also ...aims to evaluate this approach for improving identification of sepsis in these patients.
BACKGROUND:Immune dysregulation is a central event in sepsis. Quantification of the expression of immunological genes participating in the pathogenesis of sepsis could represent a new avenue to improve its diagnosis.
METHODS:Expression of 6 neutrophil protease genes (MMP8, OLFM4, LCN2/NGAL, LTF, PRTN3, MPO) and also of 5 genes involved in the immunological synapse (HLA-DRA, CD40LG, CD3E, CD28, ICOS) was quantified in blood from 101 surgical patients with sepsis, 53 uninfected surgical patients, and 16 blood donors by using ddPCR. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) and multivariate regression analysis were employed to test individual genes and gene ratios to identify sepsis, in comparison with procalcitonin.
RESULTS:Sepsis-induced overexpression of neutrophil protease genes and depressed expression of immunological synapse genes. MMP8/HLA-DRA, LCN2/HLA-DRA outperformed procalcitonin in differentiating between patients with sepsis and surgical controls in the AUROC analysisLCN2/HLA-DRA0.90 (0.85–0.96), MMP8/HLA-DRA0.89 (0.84–0.95), procalcitonin0.80 (0.73–0.88) (AUROC, confidence interval 95%), and also in the multivariate analysisLCN2/HLA-DRA8.57 (2.25–32.62); MMP8/HLA-DRA8.03 (2.10–30.76), procalcitonin4.20 (1.15–15.43) odds ratio (confidence interval 95%). Gene expression levels of HLA-DRA were an independent marker of hospital mortality.
CONCLUSIONS:Quantifying the transcriptomic ratios MMP8/HLA-DRA, LCN2/HLA-DRA by ddPCR is a promising approach to improve sepsis diagnosis in surgical patients.
Pathologic complete response (pCR) after multimodal treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is used as surrogate marker of success as it is assumed to correlate with improved oncologic ...outcome. However, long-term oncologic data are scarce.
This retrospective, multicentre study updated the oncologic follow-up of prospectively collected data from the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project database. pCR was described as no evidence of tumour cells in the specimen. Endpoints were distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with survival.
Overall, 32 different hospitals were involved, providing data on 815 patients with pCR. At a median follow-up of 73.4 (IQR 57.7–99.5) months, distant metastases occurred in 6.4% of patients. Abdominoperineal excision (APE) (HR 2.2, 95%CI 1.2–4.1, p = 0.008) and elevated CEA levels (HR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.7, p = 0.049) were independent risk factors for distant recurrence. Age (years) (HR 1.1; 95%-CI 1.05–41.09; p < 0.001) and ASA III-IV (HR = 2.0; 95%-CI 1.4–2.9; p < 0.001), were the only factors associated with OS. The estimated 12, 36 and 60-months DMFS rates were 96.9%, 91.3%, and 86.8%. The estimated 12, 36 and 60-months OS rates were 99.1%, 94.9% and 89.3%.
The incidence of metachronous distant metastases is low after pCR, with high rates of both DMFS and OS. The oncologic prognosis in LARC patients that achieve pCR after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is excellent in the long term.
To assess short- and long-term outcomes from non-surgical management of diverticulitis with abscess formation and to develop a nomogram to predict emergency surgery.
This nationwide retrospective ...cohort study was performed in 29 Spanish referral centers, including patients with a first episode of a diverticular abscess (modified Hinchey Ib-II) from 2015 to 2019. Emergency surgery, complications, and recurrent episodes were analyzed. Regression analysis was used to assess risk factors, and a nomogram for emergency surgery was designed.
Overall, 1,395 patients were included (1,078 Hinchey Ib and 317 Hinchey II). Most (1,184, 84.9%) patients were treated with antibiotics without percutaneous drainage, and 194 (13.90%) patients required emergency surgery during admission. Percutaneous drainage (208 patients) was associated with a lower risk of emergency surgery in patients with abscesses of ≥5 cm (19.9% vs 29.3%, P = .035; odds ratio 0.59 0.37-0.96). The multivariate analysis showed that immunosuppression treatment, C-reactive protein (odds ratio: 1.003; 1.001-1.005), free pneumoperitoneum (odds ratio: 3.01; 2.04-4.44), Hinchey II (odds ratio: 2.15; 1.42-3.26), abscess size 3 to 4.9 cm (odds ratio: 1.87; 1.06-3.29), abscess size ≥5 cm (odds ratio: 3.62; 2.08-6.32), and use of morphine (odds ratio: 3.68; 2.29-5.92) were associated with emergency surgery. A nomogram was developed with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.77-0.85).
Percutaneous drainage must be considered in abscesses ≥5 cm to reduce emergency surgery rates; however, there are insufficient data to recommend it in smaller abscesses. The use of the nomogram could help the surgeon develop a targeted approach.
Aim
The aim was to determine the accuracy of C‐reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin and neutrophils in the early detection (fourth postoperative day) of anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal ...surgery.
Methods
We conducted a multicentre, prospective study that included a consecutive series of patients who underwent colorectal resection with anastomosis without ostomy (September 2015 to December 2017). CRP, procalcitonin and neutrophil values on the fourth postoperative day after colorectal resection along with the postoperative outcome (60‐day AL, morbidity and mortality) were prospectively included in an online, anonymous database.
Results
The analysis ultimately included 2501 cases. The overall morbidity and mortality was 30.1% and 1.6%, respectively, and the AL rate was 8.6%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values (95% CI) for detecting AL were 0.84 (0.81–0.87), 0.75 (0.72–0.79) and 0.70 (0.66–0.74) for CRP, procalcitonin and neutrophils, respectively. The best cut‐off level for CRP was 119 mg/l, resulting in 70% sensitivity, 81% specificity and 97% negative predictive value. After laparoscopic resection, the accuracy for CRP and procalcitonin was increased, compared with open resection. The combination of two or three of these biomarkers did not significantly increase their accuracy.
Conclusion
On the fourth postoperative day, CRP was the most reliable marker for excluding AL. Its high negative predictive value, especially after laparoscopic resection, allows for safe hospital discharge on the fourth postoperative day. The routine use of procalcitonin or neutrophil counts does not seem to increase the diagnostic accuracy.
Abstract Introduction The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Spain but there is little information on the availability of multidisciplinary care. This study aims to assess ...surgeon's opinions on the current situation of surgery for IBD in Spain. Methods An electronic closed survey was sent to members of the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC) from January to March 2015. This was a 52-item anonymised questionnaire with questions about how the treatment of IBD patients is organized in each center, the existence of specific units, the management strategy in IBD patients, and the opinion of colorectal, general and trainee surgeons about the surgical treatment of IBD in their center and in Spain. Results One hundred and ninety-two surgeons responded. Most participants work in tertiary hospitals (45%), most of them from different hospitals, some from the same hospital. Only 50% of hospitals have multidisciplinary teams for IBD. The initial approach is laparoscopic in 56% of cases, and 80% of participants in centers with multidisciplinary teams consider the timing of surgery to be appropriate. The annual number of IBD surgeries in tertiary hospitals is higher than in secondary hospitals in ulcerative colitis (57% vs 24% 10–15 patients/year, P <.001) and Crohn's disease (68% vs 28% 3–5 patients/month, P <.001). Most centers operate less than 10 ulcerative colitis patients per year, even larger centers (67%) and they perform ≤3 J-pouches/month (ulcerative colitis and other indications) ( P <.001). Ninety-five percent of surgeons consider that centralization of complex cases in specialized units and the creation of national registries should be developed. The majority of participants (70%) believe that there is a deficit in research and educational activities in IBD surgery in Spain. Conclusion This survey suggests that most Spanish hospitals have a low volume of IBD surgery, even large tertiary hospitals, and many centers do not have a multidisciplinary team dedicated to IBD patients. Most survey participants believe it is necessary to develop registries and increase training and research in IBD surgery in Spain.
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