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The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of metabolic syndrome on the short-term outcomes of colorectal cancer surgery.A prospective, observational study of colorectal cancer patients who underwent elective oncological resection was conducted between June 2007 and August 2008 at the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok. Each patient received preoperative screening for metabolic syndrome using the criteria of the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Factors influencing 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality were analyzed.The study included 114 patients with colorectal cancer, with an average age of 61 years (range 29-91). Forty-two (36.8%) patients had metabolic syndrome. There was no significant difference in age, sex, tumor, or operative parameters between patients with or without metabolic syndrome. There was no postoperative mortality, and overall postoperative morbidity was 21.9%. Patients with metabolic syndrome had a higher rate of complications and a longer length of hospital stay than those without metabolic syndrome (40.5% vs 11.1%, P.001 and 11.2 vs 8.1 day, P = .006, respectively). The presence of metabolic syndrome, tumor location, American Society of Anesthesiologists' score III, elevated blood pressure, and high triglycerides level were risk factors for postoperative complications in the univariate analysis; however, in the multivariate analysis, the presence of metabolic syndrome and rectal cancer surgery were the only 2 independent factors for the development of complications.Patients with metabolic syndrome had a higher rate of postoperative complication and a longer length of hospital stay than patients without metabolic syndrome.

The advantage of a transverse incision over a midline incision for open right hemicolectomy remains controversial.To compare the short-term surgical outcomes of right hemicolectomy through midline incision (RHML) and right hemicolectomy through right transverse incision (RHTR) for right-sided colon cancer.This retrospective study included 74 patients with right-sided colon cancer who underwent elective right hemicolectomies through midline or right transverse incision between February 2004 and June 2006 at the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Operative details, postoperative requirement of narcotics, recovery of bowel function, and oncological parameters were analyzed.Fifty-four patients underwent RHML and 20 patients underwent RHTR. Both approaches achieved adequate oncological resection of the tumor. The RHTR group were characterized by shorter operative times (105 vs. 140 minutes; p = 0.001), less blood loss (70 vs. 125 ml,; p = 0.004), faster discontinuation of intravenous narcotics (1.2 vs. 1.8 days; p = 0.03), and shorter length of hospital stay (6.0 vs. 7.9 days,; p = 0.02). Postoperative complications and time to recovery of bowel function were not significantly different.The authors suggest that RHTR is a safe and effective operation for right-sided colon cancer; which results in a significant reduction in operative time, duration of intravenous narcotics administration, and hospital stay compared with RHML. However, there is no difference in postoperative recovery of bowel function and complication rate.

To determine the incidence of colonoscopic perforation (CP), and evaluate clinical findings, management and outcomes of patients with CP from the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) Endoscopy Training Center in Thailand.All colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies performed between 1999 and 2007 in the Endoscopic unit, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok were reviewed. Incidence of CP, patients' characteristics, endoscopic information, intra-operative findings, management and outcomes were analyzed.A total of 17357 endoscopic procedures of the colon (13699 colonoscopies and 3658 flexible sigmoidoscopies) were performed in Siriraj hospital over a 9-year period. Fifteen patients (0.09%) had CP: 14 from colonoscopy and 1 from sigmoidoscopy. The most common site of perforation was in the sigmoid colon (80%), followed by the transverse colon (13%). Perforations were caused by direct trauma from either the shaft or the tip of the endoscope (n = 12, 80%) and endoscopic polypectomy (n = 3, 20%). All patients with CP underwent surgical management: primary repair (27%) and bowel resection (73%). The mortality rate was 13% and postoperative complication rate was 53%.CP is a rare but serious complication following colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Incidence of CP was 0.09%. Surgery is still the mainstay of CP management.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the outcomes of sphincter-saving operation for rectal cancer without protective stoma and pelvic drain and to determine factors influencing anastomotic leakage. Methods: We investigated 170 patients undergoing elective sphincter-saving operation without protective stoma and pelvic drain during 2003–2006 in a single institution. Early postoperative outcomes were evaluated. 17 independent patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related variables were analyzed by a multivariate model to determine their association with anastomotic leakage. Results: The patients’ median age was 64 years. Median tumor height was 8 cm (range 3–15) from the anal verge. Overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.2%. Postoperative complications were diagnosed in 38 patients (22%) including 14 cases of anastomotic leakage (8.2%), of which 10 cases (71%) required surgical intervention. Tumor height within 5 cm from the anal verge was the only independent factor for leakage (OR 4.04; 95% CI 1.25–13.08). Conclusion: A sphincter-saving operation without a protective stoma and pelvic drain can be performed safely in the vast majority of rectal cancer patients. Tumor height within 5 cm from the anal verge is an independent risk factor for anastomotic leakage. Thus, the routine use of a protective stoma and pelvic drainage might be unnecessary.

Background Laparoscopically-assisted right hemicolectomy (LRH) is an acceptable alternative to open surgery for right-sided colon cancer which offers patients less pain and faster recovery. However, special equipment and substantial surgical experience are required. The aim of the study is to compare the short-term surgical outcomes of LRH and open right hemicolectomy through right transverse skin crease incision (ORHT) for right-sided colon cancer. Patients and methods This retrospective study included 33 patients with right-sided colon cancer who underwent elective right hemicolectomy by laparoscopic or open approaches through right transverse skin crease incision between March 2004 and September 2006 at the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. Operative details, postoperative requirement of narcotics, recovery of bowel function, and oncological parameters were analyzed. Results Thirteen patients underwent LRH and 20 patients underwent ORHT. Both approaches achieved adequate oncological resection of the tumor. The laparoscopic group were characterized by shorter average incision lengths (7.7 vs 10.3 cm; p < 0.001), but longer average operating times (208 vs 105 min; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the time to first bowel movement, time to defecation, and time to resumption of normal diet between both groups (59 vs 64 hr; p = 0.64, 3.2 vs 3.7 d; p = 0.25 and 3.9 vs 4.3 d; p = 0.39). There was no statistically significant difference in the time to discontinuation of intravenous nacrotics and the length of hospital stay (1.0 vs 1.4 d; p = 0.25 and 6.2 vs 7.1 d; p = 0.3). Conclusion LRH and ORHT for right-sided colon cancer resulted in the same short-term surgical outcomes including postoperative bowel function, narcotics consumption and length of hospital stay. However, LRH required a significantly longer operating time.

Purpose. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of emergency Lichtenstein tension-free hernioplasty for acutely incarcerated inguinal hernia. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent emergency Lichtenstein hernioplasty for acutely incarcerated inguinal hernia between September 2002 and January 2006 in a major city hospital in Thailand. We analyzed the early postoperative complications and surgical outcomes. Results. All 24 patients were men, with a mean age of 53.8 ± 19.2 years (range 19–77). There was no perioperative mortality and only two postoperative complications (8.3%): a subcutaneous fl uid collection, which resolved spontaneously within 2 weeks; and a superfi cial surgical site infection, which was treated successfully by intravenous antibiotics. The hospital stay was 3.8 ± 2.1 days (range 2–12). All patients attended regular follow-up visits (mean 20.2 ± 10.7 months, range 3–43). Clinical recurrence was found in one patient (4.2%), 7 months postoperatively. Conclusion. Lichtenstein hernioplasty can be used effectively as an emergency operation for incarcerated inguinal hernia with a good outcome and an acceptably low rate of postoperative complications.

Pain is the most undesirable and threatening experience for surgical patients. This study aims to determine the efficacy of pre-incisional analgesic bupivacaine infiltration (preemptive analgesia) on postoperative pain relief after appendectomy. A prospective randomized double-blinded study was conducted on 123 patients aged 13-45 years with a preoperative and-postoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis admitted to Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, from January to May 2002. They were randomly set into two groups: the control (61 patients) and the preemptive (62 patients). In the preemptive group, bupivacaine (Marcaine) was infiltrated into the skin and subcutaneous tissue along the proposed wound line before gridiron incision, and also into the muscle layer after incision. The control group received no injection. Routine appendectomy was done. Pain score was assessed by the patients in the first 48 hr while they were lying supine and as they moved to a sitting position at 24 and 48 hr after operation. Morphine injection was given on patients' request with pain score = 5 every 4 hr in the first 48 hr or until analgesic paracetamol could be taken orally. The pain score during the first 6, 12, 24, and 48 hr, including the score while sitting up, were all significantly lower ( p < 0.001) in the preemptive group. So were the total number of morphine injections and the amount of morphine used postoperatively. The pain reduction could be due to interruption of inflammatory or pain mediator cascades that normally occur during an operation. This study showed that pre-incisional bupivacaine infiltration is an effective and simple method of reducing postoperative pain for patients undergoing appendectomy.

Background Knowledge of the factors influencing colonoscopic perforation (CP) is of decisive importance, especially with regard to the avoidance or minimization of the perforations. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of CP in one of the endoscopic training centers accredited by the World Gastroenterology Organization. Methods The prospectively collected data were reviewed of all patients undergoing either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between January 2005 and July 2008. The incidence of CP was evaluated. Eight independent patient-, endoscopist- and endoscopy-related variables were analyzed by a multivariate model to determine their association with CP. Results Over a 3.5-year period, 10,124 endoscopic procedures of the colon (8,987 colonoscopies and 1,137 flexible sigmoidoscopies) were performed. There were 15 colonic perforations (0.15%). Colonoscopy had a slightly higher risk of CP than flexible sigmoidoscopy (OR 1.77, 95%CI 0.23-13.51; p = 1.0). Patient gender, emergency endoscopy, anesthetic method, and the specialty or experience of the endoscopist were not significantly predictive of CP rate. In multivariate analysis, patient age of over 75 years (OR = 6.24, 95%CI 2.26-17.26; p < 0.001) and therapeutic endoscopy (OR = 2.98, 95%CI 1.08-8.23; p = 0.036) were the only two independent risk factors for CP. Conclusion The incidence of CP in this study was 0.15%. Patient age of over 75 years and therapeutic colonoscopy were two important risk factors for CP.