The Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (Società Italiana Unitaria di Colonproctologia) guidelines for the management of acute and chronic hemorrhoidal disease.

The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (Società Italiana Unitaria di Colon-Proctologia, SIUCP) on the diagnosis and management of hemorrhoidal disease, with the goal of guiding physicians in the choice of the best treatment option. A panel of experts was charged by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key questions on the main topics related to the management of hemorrhoidal disease and to perform an accurate and comprehensive literature search on each topic, in order to provide evidence-based answers to the questions and to summarize them in statements. All the clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel in multiple rounds through the Delphi approach and, for each statement, a consensus among the experts was reached.

Rifaximin in diverticulosis and diverticular disease: a national survey among Italian gastroenterologists and general practitioners.

The management of patients with diverticular disease remains challenging. The aim of this national survey was to assess how gastroenterologists and general practitioners use rifaximin to manage diverticulosis and diverticular disease. Members of the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO) and the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (FIMMG) were invited to complete a 39-item online survey concerning the use of rifaximin in five clinical settings: (1) diverticulosis; (2) reducing symptoms in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease; (3) reducing the occurrence of diverticulitis in patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (primary prevention); (4) reducing the recurrence of diverticulitis in patients with previous attacks of diverticulitis (secondary prevention); (5) treatment of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis.

A Regional Survey on Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Plea for Uniform Patient Journey Modeling and Diagnostic-Therapeutic Pathway.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine cancer that usually affects the elderly and immunosuppressed in sun-exposed areas. Due to its rarity, it is frequently unrecognized, and its management is not standardized across medical centers, despite the more recent availability of immunotherapy, with avelumab as first-line treatment improving the prognosis even in advanced stages of disease. We conducted a purpose-designed survey of a selected sample of physicians working in the Lazio region, in Italy, to assess their awareness and knowledge of MCC as well as their perspective on assisted diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

The prevalence of celiac disease and the appropriateness of the diagnosis in family medicine setting could be lower than expected.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) and the appropriateness of this diagnosis in the family medicine setting in Italy.

Patients And Methods: The electronic databases of 16 general practitioners working in Rome (Italy) were analyzed. The prevalence of CD according to the Italian pathology identification code issued by the Italian National Health System was assessed.

The role of self-expandable metallic stents as "bridge to surgery" for the treatment of acute malignant colorectal obstruction. Our experience.

Introduction: Despite the widespread use of screening programs, the colorectal cancer occurs in 7-29% of cases with a bowel obstruction, needing an immediate decompression treatment by emergency surgery; unfortunately, the emergency surgery is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. The endoscopic placement of self-expandable metallic stents can be a useful alternative, allowing to decompress the acute obstruction in a short time, in order to correct dehydration, electrolytic imbalance and to improve the overall clinical conditions prior to adequately plan the intervention of elective surgery.

Aim: The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical success and potential complications related to the stent placement as "bridge to surgery".