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Background/Purpose In order to avoid consequences of total splenectomy (including severe postsplenectomy sepsis), partial splenectomy (PS) is increasingly reported. Without guidelines and indications concerning a rarely-indicated procedure, a review of literature should be an asset. Methods A systematic review of all PSs from 1960 to December 2017 was performed, with special focus on surgical indications, sites of resection, approaches and techniques of vascular dissection and parenchymal section/hemostasis of the spleen, perioperative morbidity/mortality, including complications compelling to perform total splenectomy. Results Among 2130 PSs, indications for resection were hematological disease in 1013 cases and nonhematological conditions in 1078, including various tumors in 142 and trauma in 184. Parenchymal transection was performed using several techniques through the years, most frequently after having induced partial ischemia by splenic hilum vascular dissection/ligation. 371 laparoscopic/robotic PSs were reported. Rescue total splenectomy was required in 75 patients. Conclusions Although good results are probably overestimated by such a retrospective review, PS should be considered as a procedure associated with a low morbidity/mortality. Nevertheless, severe complications are also reported, and the need of total splenectomy should not to be minimized. Laparoscopic/robotic procedures are increasingly performed, with good results and rare conversions. Type of study Systematic review. Level of evidence IV.

Perioperative outcomes of repeat laparoscopic colorectal resection (LCRR) have not been extensively reported. Patients who underwent LCRR from 2010 to 2018 in an expert center were retrieved from a prospectively collected database and compared to 2:1 matched sample. Matching was based on demographics, surgical indication [colorectal cancer (CRC) or benign condition], and type of resection (right-sided resection or left-sided resection or proctectomy). Twenty-three patients underwent repeat LCRR with a median time of 36 months between the primary and the repeat LCRR. They were 12 (52%) men with a mean age of 64.9 years (31–87) and a median BMI of 21.4 kg/m2 (17.7–34). Indication for repeat LCRR was CRC, dysplasia, anastomotic stricture, and inflammatory bowel disease in 11 (48%), 5 (22%), 4 (17%), and 3 (13%) patients, respectively. A right-sided resection, a left-sided resection, and proctectomy were reported in 11 (48%), 8 (35%), and 4 (17%) patients, respectively. Median blood loss reached 211 mL (range 0–2000 mL). Thirteen (57%) patients required conversion to laparotomy including 12 for intense adhesions. The median length of hospital stay was 7.5 days (5–20). Two (9%) major complications (Clavien–Dindo ≥ 3) were reported: 1 (4%) anastomotic fistula and 1 (4%) postoperative hemorrhage, without mortality. Among patients who underwent repeat LCRR for CRC, histopathological examination showed R0 resection in all patients, with at least 12 lymph nodes harvested in ten (91%) patients. After matched case–control analysis that compared to primary LCRR, conversion rate (p = 0.03), operative time (p = 0.03), and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0016) were significantly increased in repeat LCRR, without impact on postoperative outcomes. Repeat LCRR seems to be feasible and safe in expert hands without compromising the oncologic outcomes. Intense postoperative adhesions and misidentification of blood supply might lead to conversion to laparotomy. Real benefits of laparoscopic approach for repeat LCRR should be assessed in further studies.

Obesity and its metabolic complications are characterized by subclinical systemic and tissue inflammation. In rodent models of obesity, inflammation and metabolic impairments are linked with intestinal barrier damage. However, whether intestinal permeability is altered in human obesity remains to be investigated. In a cohort of 122 severely obese and non-obese patients, we analyzed intestinal barrier function combining in vivo and ex vivo investigations. We found tight junction impairments in the jejunal epithelium of obese patients, evidenced by a reduction of occludin and tricellulin. Serum levels of zonulin and LPS binding protein, two markers usually associated with intestinal barrier alterations, were also increased in obese patients. Intestinal permeability per se was assessed in vivo by quantification of urinary lactitol/mannitol (L/M) and measured directly ex vivo on jejunal samples in Ussing chambers. In the fasting condition, L/M ratio and jejunal permeability were not significantly different between obese and non-obese patients, but high jejunal permeability to small molecules (0.4 kDa) was associated with systemic inflammation within the obese cohort. Altogether, these results suggest that intestinal barrier function is subtly compromised in obese patients. We thus tested whether this barrier impairment could be exacerbated by dietary lipids. To this end, we challenged jejunal samples with lipid micelles and showed that a single exposure increased permeability to macromolecules (4 kDa). Jejunal permeability after the lipid load was two-fold higher in obese patients compared to non-obese controls and correlated with systemic and intestinal inflammation. Moreover, lipid-induced permeability was an explicative variable of type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, intestinal barrier defects are present in human severe obesity and exacerbated by a lipid challenge. This paves the way to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to modulate intestinal barrier function or personalize nutrition therapy to decrease lipid-induced jejunal leakage in metabolic diseases. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

With an increasing postoperative survival and prolonged follow-up, late complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have yet to be thoroughly described and analyzed. Among those, pancreatic anastomosis stricture may lead to severe consequences. A systematic review focusing on pancreaticojejunostomy anastomosis (PJA) stricture. PJA stricture incidence reached 1.4–11.4% with a median time interval of 34 months after PD. No risk factor was identified. PJA stricture repercussions were inconsistent but postprandial abdominal pain and recurrent acute pancreatitis were the most common symptoms, followed by impaired pancreatic function. To confirm diagnosis, secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (SMRCP) sensitivity reached 56–100%. As impaired pancreatic function is not improved by any procedure, only PJA stricture leading to abdominal pain or acute pancreatitis should be considered for treatment. Endoscopic techniques (mainly ultrasound-assisted “rendezvous”) should be proposed prior to surgical repair, with a morbidity, an overall technical and clinical success reaching 16.5–33% and 28.6–100% and 33–100%, respectively. Regarding surgical repair, overall morbidity varied between 14.3 and 33%, with a clinical success reaching 26.1–100%. Finally, total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplantation should be considered only for pain intractable to medical management and recurrent acute pancreatitis which has failed medical, endoscopic, and traditional surgical management strategies. PJA stricture following PD is a late, unusual, and potentially serious complication. When there is currently no clear consensus, PJA stricture leading to abdominal pain or acute pancreatitis should be considered treatment. With increasing survival after PD, further studies should focus on late complications. Stricture of pancraticojejunostomy is a late and potentially serious complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Incidence reaches 1.4–11.4% and no risk factor is identified. Symptoms are inconsistent but postprandial abdominal pain, recurrent acute pancreatitis, and impaired pancreatic function are the most frequent. To confirm diagnosis, secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is the best modality. Only PJA stricture leading to abdominal pain or acute pancreatitis should be considered for treatment. Endoscopic techniques (mainly ultrasound-assisted “rendezvous”) should be proposed prior to surgical repair. Finally, total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplantation should be considered only for pain intractable to medical management and recurrent acute pancreatitis which has failed medical, endoscopic, and traditional surgical management strategies.

Among the criteria used to diagnose metabolic syndrome (MS), obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with poor postoperative outcomes following colectomy. MS is also associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and diverticulosis, both of which may be treated with colectomy. However, the effect of MS on postoperative outcomes following laparoscopic colectomy has yet to be clarified. In an academic tertiary hospital, data from all consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy from 2005 to 2014 were prospectively recorded and analysed. Patients presenting with MS [defined by the presence of three or more of the following criteria: elevated blood pressure, body mass index > 28 kg/m2, dyslipidemia (decreased serum HDL cholesterol, increased serum triglycerides) and increased fasting glucose/DM] were compared with patients without MS regarding peri-operative outcome [mainly anastomotic leaks, severe postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo III and IV)] and mortality. Overall, 1236 patients were included: 508 (41.1%) right colectomies and 728 (58.9%) left colectomies. Seven hundred seventy-two (62.4%) of these procedures were performed for CRC. MS was diagnosed in 85 (6.9%) patients, who were significantly older than the others (70 vs. 64.2 years, p

International audience; Background & aims: the obesity survival paradox is an emergent issue in oncology, but its existence remains unclear particularly in older cancer patients. We aimed to assess the obesity survival paradox in older cancer patients.Methods: all consecutive cancer outpatients 65 years and older referred for geriatric assessment (GA) before a decision on cancer treatment between November 2013 and September 2016 were enrolled in the PF-EC cohort study. The main outcome was 6-month mortality. A Cox univariate and multivariate proportional hazard regression models were performed with baseline GA, oncological variables (cancer site, extension and treatment modalities) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We assessed the prognostic value of body mass index categories (i.e. malnutrition = 30 kg/m(2)) in the whole study population and according to the metastatic status.Results: 433 patients with a mean age of 81.2 +/- 6.0 years were included, 51% were women, 44.3% had digestive cancers, 18% breast cancer and 14.5% lung cancer and 45% metastatic cancers. Eighty-eight of these patients (20.3%) were obese at baseline. Mortality rate was 17% during the 6-month follow-up period. After adjustment for sex, gait speed, Mini-Mental State Examination, cancer site and exclusive supportive care, obesity (compared to normal weight) was independently and negatively associated with 6-month mortality only in metastatic patients (aHR 0.17, 95% CI [0.03-0.92], P = 0.04).Conclusion: our study confirms the obesity survival paradox in older cancer patients only in the metastatic group. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.

Intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) to explore obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is now rarely indicated. IOE allows complete small bowel exploration in 57% to 100% of cases, finds a bleeding source in 80% of cases, allows the recurrence-free management of gastrointestinal bleeding in 76% of cases, but carries a high morbidity and mortality. IOE only remains indicated to guide the intraoperative treatment of preoperatively identified small bowel lesions when nonoperative treatments are unavailable and/or when intraoperative localization by external examination is impossible.

As the most appropriate laparoscopic approach for adrenalectomy is still a matter of debate, we present a modified technique of laparoscopic transmesocolic approach for left adrenalectomy. All demographics, intraoperative and postoperative data of patients who underwent laparoscopic transmesocolic left adrenalectomy from 2009 to 2015 in Avicenne Hospital were recorded. Thirty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic transmesocolic left adrenalectomy. We observed no conversion, negligible blood loss, no red cell transfusion or intraoperative complication. Mean operative time reached 96 min (range: 40–200 min). Postoperatively, the median length of hospital stay was 5 days (range: 3–8 days), mortality was nil, and six (19%) patients suffered from complication, including one major complication (Clavien–Dindo III–IV, an abdominal collection treated with radiologic drainage). R0 resection was achieved in all patients. Laparoscopic left adrenalectomy using semi-lateral transperitoneal transmesocolic approach is feasible and safe with acceptable intraoperative and perioperative outcomes. This technique could be considered as a routine approach and should be compared in further studies.

Purposes: Accurately localizing colorectal cancer during surgery may be challenging due to intraoperative limitations. In the present study, localization of left-sided colon cancer (LCC) by...

Hepatectomy remains the only curative option in patients presenting with colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Although laparoscopic approach has improved postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, its suitability for patients of all age groups has yet to be confirmed. The aim of this study was to analyze postoperative outcomes following laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) in different age groups of patients presenting with CLM.All patients who underwent LLR for CLM from 2008 to 2017 were reviewed. Patients were divided into four age groups: 55, 55-65 years, 65-75 and 75 years. Baseline and intraoperative characteristics as well as postoperative morbidity and mortality were compared between all four groups.Overall, 335 patients were included with 34 (10%), 113 (34%), 136 (41%) and 52 (15%) in 55, 55-65, 65-75 and 75 years subgroups. Baseline characteristics were similar between all four groups except for elevated pressure, dyslipidemia and ASA score which were higher in older patients. Regarding surgical procedures, major hepatectomy, uni- or bisegmentectomy and wedge resection were performed in 122 (36%), 87 (26%) and 126 (38%) patients, respectively, with no significant differences between age groups. Overall, 90-day postoperative mortality rate was nil and postoperative morbidity was similar between all four groups except for biliary fistula occurrence, which was higher in 55 years patients (p = 0.006).Short-term postoperative outcome following LLR for CLM does not seem to be affected by age. Curative laparoscopic treatment should therefore be considered whenever possible, regardless of patient age.

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon clinical presentation of complicated biliary lithiasis that mostly occurs in the elderly without specific signs. Various types of surgical management have been proposed: primary enterolithotomy, enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula closure (one stage), or enterolithotomy with delayed cholecystectomy (two stage). All are associated with a high complication rate. We present a video of a laparoscopic cololithotomy for gallstone ileus caused by a gallstone impacted in the sigmoid colon. As a safe and feasible procedure, enterolithotomy appears to be the treatment of choice based on the scientific literature, especially in frail patients. However, except in case of an impacted gallstone in a colorectal cancer, colon resection is not mandatory. Further surgery (such as cholecystectomy or colectomy in benign disease such as diverticulosis) may be selectively considered.

Although association between colorectal cancer (CRC) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is established, specific features of CRC arising in patients presenting with MetS have not been clearly identified. All patients who underwent colectomy for CRC from January 2005 to December 2014 at Institut Mutualiste Montsouris were identified from a prospectively collected database and characteristics were compared in the entire population and in a 1:2 matched case-control analysis [variables on which matching was performed were CRC localization (right- or left-sided) and AJCC stage (0 to IV)]. Out of the 772 identified patients, 98 (12.7%) presented with MetS. Entire population analysis revealed that CRC associated with MetS was more frequent in men (71.4 vs. 47.8%, p

Colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs mostly in the elderly. However, the biology of CRC in elderly has been poorly studied. This study examined the prevalence of deficient mismatch repair phenotype (dMMR) and BRAF mutations according to age.MMR phenotype was prospectively determined by molecular analysis in patients of all ages undergoing surgery for CRC. BRAF V600E mutation status was analysed in a subset of dMMR tumours.A total of 754 patients who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2008 were included in the study. Amongst them, 272 (36%) were ≥75years old. The proportion of women75 was 38% and that ≥75 was 53% (p0.0001). The prevalence of dMMR was 19.4% in patients ≥75 and 10.7% in patients75 (p=0.0017). For patients ≥75, the prevalence of dMMR was significantly higher in women than in men (27% vs 10.2%, respectively; p=0.003) but was similar in women and men75 (12.5% vs 9.7%, respectively; p=0.4). We examined BRAF mutation status in 80 patients with dMMR tumours. The V600E BRAF mutation was significantly more frequent in patients ≥75 than in patients75 (72.2% vs 11.4%, respectively; p0.001). In patients ≥75, there was no difference in the prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation according to sex (78% in women and 70% in men, p=0.9).The prevalence of dMMR in CRC is high in patients over 75. In elderly patients, dMMR tumours are significantly more frequent in women than in men. The BRAF mutation is frequent in elderly patients with CRC.

Resume Introduction Malgre la frequence des eventrations complexes (EC), leurs modalites de reparation y compris la place des protheses sont mal codifiees, particulierement en situation contaminee. Notre objectif etait de connaitre les pratiques des chirurgiens universitaires francais prenant en charge ces EC pour ce qui est des indications, des techniques les plus adaptees, du type de prothese eventuelle utilisee, et des complications observees. Methode Une enquete nationale comprenant 21 questions et 6 scenarios a ete envoyee par e-mail aux chirurgiens universitaires francais prenant en charge des EC. Resultats Parmi 54 chirurgiens sollicites, 40 (74,0 %) ont repondu a l’enquete, representant 29 centres hospitalo-universitaires francais. Parmi les techniques de reparation des EC, on retrouvait la fermeture primaire sans prothese (31,6 %), le lambeau d’avancement musculaire sans prothese (43,7 %), une prothese positionnee en pont (16,5 %) et la reduction de la taille du defect par aponevrotomies de decharge sans prothese (8,2 %). Parmi les 40 repondeurs, 36 chirurgiens avaient deja utilise une prothese biologique (PB). Il existait un consensus fort parmi les repondeurs pour ne pas utiliser de prothese synthetique en milieu contamine ou infecte (100 %), mais de l’utiliser en chirurgie propre (100 %). Un consensus existait egalement pour ce qui est de l’utilisation des PB en milieu contamine (82,5 %) ou infecte (77,5 %) et pour ne pas les utiliser en chirurgie propre (95 %). En chirurgie propre-contaminee, il n’existait pas de consensus sur la strategie therapeutique optimale. L’infection etait la complication la plus frequemment reportee apres utilisation de PB (58 %). Les facteurs qui influencaient les chirurgiens dans leur pratique d’utilisation des PB dans le traitement des EC etaient la litterature medicale, les congres et la discussion avec les collegues (85,0 %), leur propre experience (45,0 %) et le cout (40,0 %). Conclusions Malgre l’absence de niveau de preuve eleve, les PB ont deja ete utilisees par 90 % des chirurgiens universitaires interroges dans l’EC. Il existait un fort consensus pour les utiliser en situation infectee ou contaminee et pour ne pas les utiliser en chirurgie propre. Des etudes randomisees sont necessaires pour evaluer les benefices a court et long-terme des PB en fonction du degre de contamination parietale.

This case highlights the need for the combination of information provided by fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and liver MR imaging in the diagnosis of a rare liver tumor.

Les cancers du colon atteignent principalement les patients âges. La prise en charge chirurgicale a fait des progres mais l’indication d’une chimiotherapie adjuvante reste controversee. Le choix du schema therapeutique et la selection des patients a traiter est un enjeu majeur. Des essais prospectifs specifiques a la population âgee sont necessaires.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding has long been a diagnostic challenge because of the relative inaccessibility of small bowel to standard endoscopic evaluation. Intraoperative enteroscopy indications have been reduced by the development of deep enteroscopy techniques and video capsule endoscopy. In light of the current advances, this review aimed at evaluating the intraoperative enteroscopy technical aspects, study results and an ongoing role for intraoperative enteroscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding management. Intraoperative enteroscopy allows complete small bowel exploration in 57-100% of cases. A bleeding source can be identified in 80% of cases. Main causes are vascular lesions (61%) and benign ulcers (19%). When a lesion is found, intraoperative enteroscopy allows successful and recurrence-free management of gastrointestinal bleeding in 76% of cases. The reported mortality is 5% and morbidity is 17%. The recurrence of bleeding is observed in 13-52% of cases. With the recent development of deep enteroscopy techniques, intraoperative enteroscopy remains indicated when small bowel lesions (i) have been identified by a preoperative work-up, (ii) cannot be definitively managed by angiographic embolization, endoscopic treatment or when surgery is required and (iii) cannot be localized by external examination during surgical explorations. Surgeons and endoscopists must exercise caution with intraoperative enteroscopy to avoid the use of a low yield, highly morbid procedure.

IF 2.719; International audience; Colorectal cancers are common in elderly patients. However, cancer screening is poorly used after 75. Elderly patients form a heterogeneous population with specific characteristics. Standards of care cannot therefore be transposed from young to elderly patients. Tumour resection is frequently performed but adjuvant chemotherapy is rarely prescribed as there are no clearly established standards of care. In a metastatic setting, recent phase III studies have demonstrated that doublet front-line chemotherapy provided no survival benefit. Moreover, several studies have established the benefit of bevacizumab in association with chemotherapy. There is a lack of evidence for the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor antibodies in elderly patients. Geriatric assessments could help to select the adequate treatment strategy for individual patients. Geriatric oncology is now the challenge we have to face, and more specific trials are needed. (C) 2016 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Les cancers digestifs sont frequents chez les patients âges. Cependant, en dehors des cancers colorectaux, les etudes specifiques aux patients âges evaluant la prise en charge de ces cancers sont rares. Il apparait que chez des patients correctement selectionnes des traitements valides chez les patients plus jeunes sont applicables. L’adaptation du traitement a chaque cas doit faire l’objet d’une discussion pluridisciplinaire impliquant un geriatre.

Complicated Meckel's diverticulum represents a common etiology of acute abdomen in children. However, this condition is less frequent in adults. We reviewed the records of adult patients who underwent the surgical removal of complicated Meckel's diverticulum between 2001 and 2017 at 2 tertiary French medical centers. We then analyzed the clinical characteristics, mode of presentation, and management for all patients.The Meckel's diverticulum was resected in 37 patients (24 males and 13 females). The mean patient age was 46.1 ± 21.4 years. The most common clinical presentations of complicated Meckel's diverticulum were diverticulitis (35.1%, n = 13), small-bowel obstruction (35.1%, n = 13), and gastrointestinal bleeding (29.8%, n = 11) (anemia, n = 1; hematochezia, n = 10). Age distribution was significantly different (P = .02) according to the 3 Meckel's diverticulum complications: patients with diverticulitis (P = .02) were statistically more frequently over 40 (P = .05), significantly older than patients with gastrointestinal bleeding who were more frequently

Objective: Continuous intravenous infusion of somatostatin improves the natural course of digestive fistulae. Lanreotide 30 mg PR is a synthetic analogue of somatostatin with pharmacological activity extending to at least 10 days after intramuscular administration. Its effectiveness was assessed in patients with simple externalized digestive fistulae in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Methods: Patients demonstrating a reduction of at least 50% of fistula output within 72 hours after a first double-blind intramuscular injection of lanreotide or placebo were considered to be responders (primary end point) and continued the double-blind treatment to a maximum of 6 injections at 10-day intervals. Other endpoints included fistula closure rate and time to closure. Blind was lifted for nonresponders, and those initially on placebo were then treated with open-label lanreotide. Results: Following the first double-blind injection, 35 of 54 patients (64.8%) on lanreotide were responders versus 20 of 53 (37.7%) on placebo, ie, a 3.1 times higher response likelihood on lanreotide compared with placebo (P = 0.006). Group mean reduction of fistula output at 72 hours was 45.1% and 8.9%, respectively (P = 0.005). Lanreotide compared with placebo had no effect on closure rate which averaged 77% but median time to fistula closure was shorter on lanreotide, based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, although no statistical significance was achieved. Conclusion: Compared with placebo, intramuscular lanreotide 30 mg PR significantly decreases digestive fistulae output at Day 3 and shortens time to fistula closure by 9 days. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00729313.

Resume Objectif Nous rapportons un cas de cancer medullaire de la thyroide decouvert par TEP au 18 FDG. Patient et methodes Un homme de 73 ans opere d’un cancer du colon, avec ablation du sigmoide, a beneficie d’une tomographie par emission de positron au 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (TEP au 18 FDG), devant un taux eleve d’ACE et un nouvel episode d’occlusion, a la recherche de metastases a distance ou de recidive locoregionale. Les images obtenues ont montre une hyperfixation du FDG dans le lobe thyroidien droit. L’echographie thyroidienne a montre un nodule dans chaque lobe. Resultats Le resultat de la cytoponction etait suspect et le taux de calcitonine etait eleve. Le patient a ete opere d’une thyroidectomie sans curage. L’examen anatomopathologique a revele un cancer medullaire de la thyroide de 14 mm. Aucune mutation germinale du gene RET n’a ete retrouvee. Conclusions La TEP au 18 FDG peut detecter des cancers thyroidiens primitifs ou secondaires. Aussi, un incidentalome thyroidien decouvert sur une TEP au 18 FDG necessite une evaluation attentive.

Background This study aimed at evaluating the role of intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) for the management of obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients who had been preoperatively explored by video-capsule endoscopy (VCE). Methods Eighteen patients who underwent IOE for obscure GI bleeding were prospectively recorded between November 2000 and January 2007. The bleeding site was preoperatively localized by VCE in the small bowel in 15 patients, but the origin of bleeding remained unknown in 3 patients. Results In the 3 patients with negative VCE, IOE was normal, but intraoperative conventional endoscopy identified gastric (n = 1) and colonic (n = 2) lesions. Among the 15 patients with VCE positive for small-bowel lesions, laparotomy and IOE yielded localization and treatment (surgical n = 11 and endoscopic n = 2) guidance for 13 of 15 (87%) lesions. At median 19-month follow-up, 3 bleeding recurrences (3 of 15 [20%]) were recorded, resulting in a 73% therapeutic efficacy of IOE. Conclusions IOE remains useful for the management of obscure GI bleeding when preoperative VCE is positive for small-bowel lesions that are not reachable by nonoperative enteroscopy. When VCE is negative, new conventional endoscopy should be proposed instead of IOE.

Purpose Many patients who present with early-stage colorectal cancer (International Union Against Cancer TNM stages I and II) are nevertheless at high risk of relapse. We hypothesized that intratumoral immune reaction could influence their prognosis. Patients and Methods The intratumoral immune reaction was investigated in 29 tumors by large-scale real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cytotoxic (CD8) and memory (CD45RO) T cells were quantified by immunohistochemical analyses of tissue microarrays from the center (CT) and the invasive margin (IM) of the 602 tumors from two independent cohorts. The results were correlated with tumor recurrence and patient survival. Results Patients with a strong infiltration of CD45RO+ cells in the tumor exhibited an increased expression of T-helper 1 and cytotoxicity-related genes. Densities of CD45RO+ and CD8+ cells in tumor regions (CT/IM) classified the patients into four distinct prognostic groups based on the presence of high density of each marker in each tumor region. The four groups were associated with dramatic differences in disease-free, disease-specific, and overall survival (all P < .0001). Five years after diagnosis, only 4.8% (95% CI, 0.6% to 8.8%) of patients with high densities of CD8+ plus CD45RO+ cells had tumor recurrence, and 86.2% (CI, 79.4% to 93.6%) survived. In contrast, the tumor recurred in 75% (95% CI, 17% to 92.5%) of patients with low densities of these cells, and only 27.5% (95% CI, 10.5% to 72%) survived (all P < .0001). Multivariate analyses showed that the immune criteria had independent effects on the rates of complete remission and survival. Conclusion The combined analysis of CD8+ plus CD45RO+ cells in specific tumor regions could provide a useful criterion for the prediction of tumor recurrence and survival in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer.

Aims: The Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor (EGF-R) is frequently overexpressed in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and patients can benefit from anti-EGF-R therapy. Yet, the relationship, within tumours, between EGF-R and the activity of downstream effectors such as the non-receptor tyrosine kinase p60c-src and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has not been extensively analyzed. Methods and results: We evaluated EGF-R, tyrosine 416-phosphorylated p60c-src (P-p60c-src), STAT3 and tyrosine 705- phosphorylated STAT3 (P-STAT3) on Tissue Micro Array (TMA) from 126 patients with CRC. Composite immunohistochemistry scores based on the intensity of labelling and the percentage of positive cells were determined on TMA for EGF-R, P-p60c-src, STAT3 and P- STAT3. A high score was found in 56%, 61%, 62% and 27% of the cases for EGF-R, P-p60c-src, STAT3 and P-STAT3 respectively. There was a significant correlation between EGF-R and P-p60c-src (p =0 .006) and between P-p60c-src and P-STAT3 (p =0 .0009). STAT3 was significantly correlated with vascular emboli ( p =0 .03) and perineural invasion (p =0 .02). Conclusions: The correlations between EGF-R, P-p60-src and P-STAT3 and some stage-related pathological features point to a critical role for a EGF-R-connected p60c-src-kinase-mediated pathway involving STAT3 and contributing to cell survival and proliferation within CRC tumours.

1Departement d'Oncologie Medicale, Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris; 2Departement d'Anatomopathologie, Hopital Avicenne, Bobigny; 3 Departement de Radiotherapie et Statistique, Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, Paris; 4 Departement d'Oncopharmacologie, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice; 5 Departement de Gastro-Enterologie, Hopital Avicenne, Bobigny; 6 Departement de Chirurgie Viscerale, Hopital Bobigny, Bobigny; 7 Departement d'Oncologie Medicale, 8 Departement d'Hematobiologie, 9 Departement de Biochimie et de Biologie Moleculaire, Hopital Avicenne, Bobigny; 10 Departement d'Anatomopathologie, Centre Anticancereux, Clermont-Ferrand, France Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many types of cancers, especially colorectal cancer (CRC), and seems to reflect more aggressive histological and clinical behaviors. The aim of this study was to evaluate EGFR immunohistochemical reactivity in CRC biopsies, and to analyze its relationship with various histological and clinical characteristics and survival. Patients and methods: A composite EGFR score, obtained by multiplying the grade (% positive cells) by the intensity of labeling (0-9) was used to define patients with low or high EGFR expression whose clinicopathological features were then compared. Univariate tests and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model were applied for data analysis. Results: Tissue sections from 150 CRC patients with a median follow-up of 40 months were examined. Median patient age at diagnosis was 70 years (range 38-89 years). EGFR reactivity was positive for 143 patients (97%) and high for 118 (80%). According to multivariate analysis, EGFR overexpression was significantly associated with tumor stage, with a higher percentage of EGFR overexpression in T3 than T4 (P=0.003) and not with overall survival. Conclusions: EGFR was overexpressed in this CRC patient population and was significantly associated with TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) stage T3. In the context of a new therapeutic strategy using EGFR-targeted therapies, although EGFR remains a controversial prognostic factor, this expression-stage association may play a crucial role in a decision to initiate an adjuvant treatment.

Resume Introduction. – La hernie diaphragmatique est une complication rare apres œsophagectomie pour cancer. Le but de ce travail a ete de rapporter une serie de sept patients et de preciser les caracteristiques de cette entite. Patients et methodes. – Sept patients (six hommes et une femme) âges de 61 a 68 ans ont ete operes d’une hernie diaphragmatique a distance d’une chirurgie pour cancer œsophagien (adenocarcinome n = 4, carcinome epidermoide n = 3). Tous ces patients avaient eu une œsophagectomie par voie abdominale trans-hiatale quatre fois et par voie trans-thoracique trois fois, avec dans tous les cas un agrandissement de l’orifice hiatal. Resultats. – Trois patients, tous symptomatiques, ont ete reoperes en urgence dans les deux annees suivant l’œsophagectomie. Parmi les quatre patients operes entre deux et sept ans apres l’œsophagectomie, deux etaient asymptomatiques. Le caractere symptomatique ou non de la hernie diaphragmatique n’etait lie ni a la technique de l’œsophagectomie, ni au type de phrenotomie (anterieure ou section du pilier). La hernie etait toujours symptomatique quand elle contenait du grele. Tous les patients ont ete operes par voie abdominale. La hernie contenait du colon trois fois, du grele une fois, et etait mixte trois fois. Une phrenotomie d’agrandissement etait necessaire six fois pour reduire la hernie. Deux patients ont eu une colectomie pour traiter une ischemie colique transverse peroperatoire. L’orifice diaphragmatique etait calibre autour de la plastie gastrique par suture simple six fois ou par prothese resorbable une fois. Il n’y a eu aucun deces. Avec un recul de un a cinq ans il n’y a pas eu de recidive de la hernie. Conclusion. – La hernie diaphragmatique apres œsophagectomie est due a une phrenotomie trop importante. Les formes precoces sont mal tolerees et necessitent une intervention urgente. La prevention des hernies diaphragmatiques apres chirurgie du cancer œsophagien repose sur un calibrage de l’orifice hiatal adapte a la largeur de la gastroplastie.

Nearly half of patients undergoing low anterior rectal cancer resection have a functional sequelae after straight coloanal or low colorectal anastomoses (SA), including low anterior rectal resection syndrome, which combines stool fragmentation, urge incontinence, and incontinence. SA are responsible for anastomotic leakage rates of 0 to 29.2 per cent. Adding a colonic reservoir improves the functional results while reducing anastomotic complications. These colonic reservoir techniques include the colonic J pouch (CJP), transverse coloplasty (TC), and side-to-end anastomosis (STEA) procedures. The aim of this literature review was to compare the functional outcomes of these three techniques from a high level of evidence. CJP with a 4- to 6-cm reservoir is a good surgical option because it reduces functional impairments during the first year, and probably up to 5 years, but is not always feasible. TC appears to perform as well as CJP, is achievable in over 95 per cent of patients, but still with some doubts about a higher anastomotic leakage rate and worse functional outcomes. STEA appears equivalent to CJP in terms of morbidity and even better functional outcomes. STEA, with a terminal side segment size of 3 cm, is feasible in the majority of nonobese patients, combines good functional results, has low anastomotic leakage rates, and is easy to complete.

STUDY AIM: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas are frequently associated with head and neck cancers. This retrospective study was conducted to compare the long-term outcome of the patients with a double cancer and of the patients with a solitary esophageal cancer after curative management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1989 to 1999, 114 patients with an esophageal carcinoma were included in the study. Among them, 52 had an associated head and neck cancer (metachronous: n = 17 and synchronous: n = 35). Curative treatment was achieved in all patients. The patients were divided in "solitary" and "associated" group. RESULTS: Age, sex distribution, tumor location and histological findings were similar in the two groups. The esophageal resection was an esopharyngolaryngectomy (n = 13), a subtotal esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis (n = 92) and a Lewis-Santy esophagectomy with thoracic anastomosis (n = 9). Operative mortality (8 versus 7.7%), anastomotic leaks rate (14.5 versus 21%) and pneumonia rate (21 versus 9.6%) were not significantly different in the two groups. The mean hospital stay was 27 days. The mean follow-up was 85 +/- 50 months. Five-year survival rates were not significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.6411). In univariate survival analysis the only significant predictive factors were the depth of esophageal tumor invasion (p = 0.0002) and node involvement (p = 0.0373). The presence of head and neck cancer did not affect survival after esophagectomy. CONCLUSION: With an aggressive therapeutic plan, the survival of patients with an esophageal cancer associated to head and neck cancer was similar to the survival of patients with an isolated esophageal carcinoma. Long term esophageal survey seems to be useful to detect more superficial esophageal carcinomas in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background. The aim of this study was to report our experience with a new molecular tool to detect circulating enterocytes in the blood of patients with colorectal cancer. Methods. The study included 193 individuals: 78 patients with colorectal cancer and 115 controls composed of patients with benign colorectal diseases (n = 16), patients with noncolorectal cancer (n = 31), healthy individuals (n = 62), and healthy bone marrow transplantation donors (n = 6). A nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the carcinoembryonic gene member 2 (CGM2) was used to detect circulating enterocytes in the peripheral blood of 78 patients with colorectal cancer. The blood (n = 109) or the bone marrow (n = 6) of the 115 controls was studied to test the absence of CGM2 illegitimate transcription in nucleated blood cells and nucleated blood cell progenitors. The assay sensitivity was effective in detecting 1 CGM2-positive cell per 106 nucleated blood cells. Results. Fifty-nine percent (46/78) of patients with colorectal cancer were found positive whereas all negative controls remained negative. Positivity rates were 38% (3/8) in Dukes' A classification, 43% (9/21) in Dukes' B, 77% (23/30) in Dukes' C, and 58% (11/19) in Dukes' D. Conclusions. The clinical significance of enterocyte detection in the blood of colorectal cancer patients by means of this CGM2 messenger RNA assay needs further evaluation. (Surgery 2001;129:587-94.)

Treatment of intraductal papillary and mucinous tumors of pancreas (IPMT) usually requires surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of recurrence in patients after surgery according to the histological nature of the neoplasm and the type of surgery.The outcome of 45 patients who underwent partial pancreatectomy (n = 35) or total pancreatectomy (n = 10) for IPMT was studied according to the nature of the neoplasm (invasive carcinoma or noninvasive neoplasm), type of surgery (partial or total pancreatectomy), and lymph nodes status.The overall 3-yr actuarial survival rate was 83%. Death occurred in seven of 20 (35%) patients with invasive carcinoma and in one of 26 (4%) patients with noninvasive tumors (p0.05). There were two recurrences in the seven patients with noninvasive neoplasm who underwent partial pancreatectomy with involved resection margins, and none in the 13 patients with disease-free margins. In patients with invasive carcinoma, there was one recurrence after total pancreatectomy, six after partial pancreatectomy with disease-free margins and six after partial pancreatectomy with involved margins. In patients with invasive carcinoma, total pancreatectomy and the absence of lymph nodes involvement were independently associated with a low risk of recurrence.IPMT may be managed as follows: 1) in patients with noninvasive neoplasms, partial pancreatic resection should be guided by frozen section examination until disease-free margins are obtained; and 2) in patients with invasive carcinoma, total pancreatectomy seems most likely to cure the patient, but should be discussed according to the general status and the age.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas are frequently associated with head and neck cancers. The poor prognosis of each cancer, and their proximity, often limit the treatment options. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics and long-term outcome of such dual cancers.We included 75 patients with esophageal carcinoma, of whom 25 had a synchronous head and neck malignancy. Curative treatment was possible in every case. The patients were divided into "solitary cancer" and "synchronous cancer" groups.The gender distribution, tumor location, and histological findings were similar in the two groups. Patients in the synchronous cancer group were younger than those in the solitary group (P0.0042). The operative mortality and pulmonary morbidity rates were not significantly different in the two groups. The rate of cervical anastomotic leaks was higher in the synchronous group (P0.05). The mean follow-up was 83 +/- 50 months. Five-year survival rates were not significantly different in the two groups (14.3% +/- 5.7% in the solitary group and 17.5% +/- 7.9% in the synchronous group).With aggressive treatment, the survival of patients with synchronous esophageal and head and neck cancers was similar to that of patients with isolated esophageal cancer.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Despite the prevalence of complex ventral hernias, there is little agreement on the most appropriate technique or prosthetic to repair these defects, especially in contaminated fields. Our objective was to determine French surgical practice patterns among academic surgeons in complex ventral hernia repair (CVHR) with regard to indications, most appropriate techniques, choice of prosthesis, and experience with complications.METHODS: A survey consisting of 21 questions and 6 case-scenarios was e-mailed to French practicing academic surgeons performing CVHR, representing all French University Hospitals.RESULTS: Forty over 54 surgeons (74%) responded to the survey, representing 29 French University Hospitals. Regarding the techniques used for CVHR, primary closure without reinforcement was provided in 31.6% of cases, primary closure using the component separation technique without mesh use in 43.7% of cases, mesh positioned as a bridge in 16.5% of cases, size reduction of the defect by using aponeurotomy incisions without mesh use in 8.2% of cases. Among the 40 respondents, 36 had experience with biologic mesh. There was a strong consensus among surveyed surgeons for not using synthetic mesh in contaminated or dirty fields (100%), but for using it in clean settings (100%). There was also a strong consensus between respondents for using biologic mesh in contaminated (82.5%) or infected (77.5%) fields and for not using it in clean setting (95%). In clean-contaminated surgery, there was no consensus for defining the optimal therapeutic strategy in CVHR. Infection was the most common complication reported after biologic mesh used (58%). The most commonly reported influences for the use of biologic grafts included literature, conferences and discussion with colleagues (85.0%), personal experience (45.0%) and cost (40.0%).CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lack of level I evidence, biologic meshes are being used by 90% of surveyed surgeons for CVHR. Importantly, there was a strong consensus for using them in contaminated or infected fields and for not using them in clean setting. To better guide surgeons, prospective, randomized trials should be undertaken to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes associated with these materials in various surgical wound classifications.

Objective About 15% of colorectal adenocarcinomas have a deficient DNA mismatch repair phenotype. The frequency of deficient DNA mismatch repair tumours increases with age due to the hypermethylation of hMLH1 promoter. The study aimed to determine the prognostic value of deficient DNA mismatch repair phenotype in elderly patients. Design Mismatch repair phenotype was retrospectively determined by molecular analysis in consecutive resected colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens from patients over 75 years of age from 4 Oncology centres. Results 231 patients (median age: 81, range: 75–100) were enrolled from 2005 to 2008. Mean prevalence of deficient DNA mismatch repair phenotype was 22.5%, and 36% for patients over 85 years. Deficient DNA mismatch repair status was significantly associated with older age, female sex, proximal colon primary and high grade tumour. For stage II tumours no deficient DNA mismatch repair tumours had a recurrence at end of follow-up compared to 17% for tumours with proficient phenotype. The proficient phenotype status was significantly associated with worse age-adjusted overall survival [HR 2.60; 95% CI 1.05–6.44; p = 0.039]. For stage III tumours a trend for less recurrence was observed for deficient DNA mismatch repair phenotype (16%) compared to proficient phenotype (36%). Conclusion deficient DNA mismatch repair phenotype is a prognostic factor in stage II colorectal tumour in elderly patients. Our results suggest that mismatch repair phenotype should be taken in consideration for adjuvant chemotherapy decision in elderly patients.

To assess the accuracy of FDG-PET/CT and MR with diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) for diagnosing peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from gastrointestinal malignancies. Thirty consecutive patients referred for staging of gastrointestinal malignancy underwent FDG-PET/CT and MR-DWI in this retrospective study. Extent of PC was characterised by dividing the peritoneal cavity into three sites in each patient: right and left supramesocolic areas and inframesocolic level (total 90 sites). Presence of PC was confirmed either by surgery (18/30) or by follow-up (12/30). PC was confirmed in 19 patients (19/30). At a total of 90 sites, 27 showed proven PC. On a patient-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were respectively 84%, 73%, 84%, 73% and 80% for PET/CT and 84%, 82%, 89%, 75% and 83% for MR-DWI. On a site-based analysis, overall sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT (63%, 90%) and MR-DWI (74%, 97%) were not statistically different (P = 0.27). In the supramesocolic area, MR-DWI detected more sites involved than PET/CT (7/9 vs. 4/9). The sensitivities of PET and MR were lower for subcentimetre tumour implants (42%, 50%). Interobserver agreement was very good for PET/CT and good for MR-DWI. FDG-PET/CT and MR-DWI showed similar high accuracy in diagnosing PC. Both techniques underestimated the real extent of PC because of decreased sensitivity for subcentimetre lesions. • FDG-PET/CT and MR-DWI showed similar high accuracy for diagnosing peritoneal carcinomatosis. • In the supramesocolic area, MR-DWI could be more sensitive than PET/CT. • Both techniques showed lower sensitivity for subcentimetre lesions. • Interobserver agreement was very good for PET/CT and good for MR-DWI.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare condition with poor prognosis. Like colorectal cancer, small bowel carcinoma may be a part of genetic syndromes with carcinogenetic pathways different from sporadic forms. We report a case of 41-year-old man with small bowel carcinoma revealing hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome. This report supports the systematic study of the MSI status in every patient with a small bowel carcinoma below 60-year-old of age in order to screen for HNPCC syndrome even in the absence of a family history of related cancers.

The criteria commonly used for prognosis of colorectal cancer remain histoprognostic and are based on primarily TNM classification. The lack of discrimination of purely histoprognostic criteria is evidenced by the development of different outcomes in similarly staged patients. The aim of this work was to study the long-term prognostic value of preoperative detection of circulating enterocytes in the blood of colorectal cancer patients using the CGM2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.A nested RT-PCR with specific primers for CGM2 was used preoperatively to detect circulating enterocytes in 121 patients (64 men, 57 women; mean age, 70 years) with colorectal neoplasms.Circulating enterocytes were detected in 58/121 (48%) patients. The positivity rate was not correlated with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging (stage I, 11/28 (39%); stage II, 13/34 (38%); stage III, 15/23 (65%); stage IV, 17/32 (53%); sterilized (after radiotherapy, no residual neoplasm) 2/4 (50%); not significant [NS]), but circulating enterocytes were detected more frequently in patients with metastatic lymph nodes (60% vs 41%, P = .06). Overall 5-year survival rates (mean +/- SD) were 40 +/- 13% and 45 +/- 13% for patients without and with circulating enterocytes, respectively (P = NS). Similarly, recurrence-free survival rates were 71 +/- 4% versus 72 +/- 14% (P = NS). Using univariate analysis, AJCC stage (P.0001) was correlated with survival. AJCC stage (P = .007) and obstructive neoplasms (P = .043) were correlated with recurrence-free survival. Using multivariate analysis, AJCC stage was correlated with survival and recurrence-free survival.Preoperative detection of circulating enterocytes using CGM2 RT-PCR assay provides no specific prognostic information and cannot be used as a decision criterion for adjuvant therapy.

Circulating cell detection using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques has been studied as a new prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients. With the view of enhancing detection sensitivity, we developed a new multiplex RT-PCR assay for circulating cell detection based on the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5; formerly CEA) and CEACAM7 (formerly CGM2).Between November 2002 and December 2003, 45 stage III-IV, 39 stage I-II colorectal cancer patients, 32 non-colorectal cancer patients and 41 healthy individuals were included. Positive selection using HEA-125 immunobeads was applied to blood samples before mRNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and a multiplex CEACAM5/CEACAM7 RT-PCR assay. For both CEACAM5 and CEACAM7, the limit of detection was found to be as low as 1 expressing cell in 10The multiplex RT-PCR assay was negative for the 41 healthy individuals and the 32 non-colorectal cancer patients. The test was positive in 53/84 (63%) of the colorectal cancer patients for CEACAM5 and/or CEACAM7, whereas 32/84 (38%) were positive for both markers. Colorectal cancer patients were positive for one of the two markers in 80% of cases (36/45) for stage III-IV patients (CEACAM5 73%, CEACAM7 51%) and in 44% of cases (17/39) for stage I-II patients.This multiplex RT-PCR assay with two markers proved to be more sensitive than use of a single marker in detecting circulating tumour cells. The discrepant expression of CEACAM5 and CEACAM7 may label circulating tumour cells that have different levels of differentiation and subsequent aggressive behaviour.

Acalculous cholecystitis, a recognized manifestation of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), causes abdominal pain which can be relieved by cholecystectomy. The indications for cholecystectomy have remained undefined, however, because the cholecystitis is usually accompanied by generalized cholangitis and it is difficult to distinguish the relative clinical importance of the two problems. Since 1985, we have performed cholecystectomy on 8 patients with AIDS who had clinical manifestations of acute cholecystitis associated with a thickening of the gallbladder wall by 5 mm to 12 mm. Two of the 8 had gallstones and 4 had associated cholangitis. All had been treated with antibiotics for 20 to 180 days before surgery, but physical deterioration had progressed in every case. At the moment of surgical intervention, 4 patients had multiple organ failure. One patient died 3 days postoperatively, but the rest recovered rapidly with resolution of the abdominal pain and sepsis. Two patients died 20 days after surgery due to complications of AIDS. The remaining 5 died due to AIDS at 6, 9, 10, 12, and 14 months after surgery. Two of this group developed progressive cholangitis with raised serum alkaline phosphatase. Our experience indicates that cholecystectomy should be considered for the treatment of severe and persistent symptoms of hepatobiliary manifestations of AIDS notwithstanding the presence of cholangitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of intraoperative enteroscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Methods: Complete intraoperative enteroscopy was performed in 25 patients with GI bleeding (overt hemorrhage 21, occult blood loss 4). The cause of GI bleeding was unknown before intraoperative enteroscopy in 20 patients and presumed in 5 (colon 4, duodenum 1). Results: Complete inspection of the small bowel was achieved in all cases. Mucosal-based lesions of the small bowel were identified in 16 of the 20 patients in whom the source of bleeding was unknown preoperatively (angiodysplasia 12, other causes 4). These lesions were treated by segmental small bowel resection (15) or medical therapy (1). With a mean 19-month follow-up, the rebleeding rate was 30% (6 of 20), and 2 of them in whom enteroscopy was negative died of massive hemorrhage. Intraoperative enteroscopy was normal in the 5 patients with bleeding of presumed GI origin preoperatively. Conclusions: Intraoperative enteroscopy remains a valuable tool for exploring obscure GI bleeding in selected patients.

Background and Objectives Treatment of multiple primary squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and oesophagus is controversial. The poor prognosis of these 2 types of carcinoma taken individually and their anatomic proximity complicate the therapeutic strategy and limit the treatment choices for each location. Methods From 1986 to 1998, 43 patients received curative treatment for multiple synchronous (n = 30) or metachronous (n = 13) primary neoplasms of the oesophagus and head and neck. For synchronous cancers, the therapeutic strategy consisted of first curing the head and neck cancer and then planning oesophagectomy according to the type of head and neck cancer therapy. Results Ten total oesopharyngolaryngectomies and 33 subtotal oesophagectomies were performed. The postoperative mortality rate was 9.3% (4/43). The rate of anastomotic leakage was 30% (13/43), and all such leaks were cervical. Pulmonary infection occurred in 19% of cases (8/43). A past history of cervical radiation therapy or cervicotomy did not appear to be a significant risk factor for anastomotic leakage or pulmonary complications. Oesophagectomy did not affect the functional results in the 31 patients whose larynx could be preserved. Conclusions Oesophagectomy after head and neck cancer treatment is possible with a low mortality rate and acceptable morbidity. J. Surg. Oncol. 2000;73:138–142. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

No-touch surgery is used to minimise spread of malignant cells during surgery for colorectal cancer. We looked for cell dissemination in mesenteric blood during no-touch surgery and showed such spillage in 12.5% of patients.