Abstract


Background: The objective of this study was to determine how long to wait in locally advanced rectal tumor (LARC) patients who receive total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) and achieve a clinical complete response (cCR), and to identify the clinical parameters that affect the waiting period for the watch-and-wait strategy (W&W).
Materials and Methods: The data of patients who achieved cCR between February 2015 and June 2020 were examined retrospectively. The week in which patients with cCR at the end of TNT achieved clearance was determined by reanalyzing recorded endoscopy video images. In the assessment at the time of the initial diagnosis, tumor characteristics, such as digital rectal examination findings, MRI stage, location with respect to the puborectalis muscle, annularity, and tumor size, were recorded prospectively.
Results: A total of 54 patients were included in this study. According to the MRI-T stage, 14 cases were cT3a, 22 were cT3b, and 18 were cT3c-T4. Forty-four percent of the cases achieved cCR at 8-10 weeks, 19% at 12-16 weeks, 20% at 16-22 weeks, and 17% at 20-26 weeks. Patients with tumors that were early MRI-T stage (cT3a), negative clinical circumferential resection margin, mobile, small (≤4 cm), located above the puborectalis muscle and showed <180 degrees annularity achieved cCR significantly earlier than those with other tumors (p <0.05).
Conclusion: In this study, cCR was achieved in less than half (44%) of the cases during the 8-10 week waiting period. In the W&W strategy, the initial assessment for cCR seems insufficient, and we may need to wait up to 26-30 weeks, especially in patients with advanced-stage tumors.

Abstract


Introduction: The passage of flatus and stool, as well as tolerating a solid diet, represents a crucial moment in recovery after colonic resections. The present study compares functional recovery after left and right colectomies for colon cancer.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis. Consecutive patients with elective left and right colon resections were examined. Primary analysis compared time to first bowel motion and development of postoperative ileus. Secondary analyses tried to define risk factors for prolonged restoration of bowel function in right- and left-sided resection groups.
Results: In total, 147 patients were included. While laparoscopic approach was preferred for both sides (87% vs. 87%; p=0.496), left colectomies took longer (183 vs. 153 min; p=0.012), the lymph node harvest was smaller (16 vs. 20; p=0.005), and there was an increased need for perioperative fluids (4451 vs. 4039ml; p=0.006). Epidural use, postoperative potassium level, and glycemia were similar. Also, no significant differences were observed for complications and length of stay. First flatus was observed at postoperative day 1, 9 (left), and 2.5 (right), respectively (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in passage of first stool and intake of first solid food. Twenty-seven patients (35%) needed a postoperative nasogastric tube after right colectomy compared to 11 patients (16%) after left colectomy (p=0.012). Right-sided colectomies required the tube for longer (6.1 vs. 3.4; p=0.005).
Conclusions: Postoperative ileus was more frequent after right-sided colectomies despite shorter operative time. The reason for this finding is currently unknown and deserves further attention. For the time being, we can just be more cautious with early feeding after right colectomy.