Sex differences in health-related quality of life and psychological distress among colorectal cancer patients: a 2-year longitudinal study.

Purpose: While sex differences in the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) are well documented, less is known about sex differences in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological distress. To enhance patient-tailored care, we aimed to longitudinally examine sex differences in HRQoL and psychological distress among CRC patients from diagnosis up until 2-year follow-up.

Methods: Newly diagnosed CRC patients from four Dutch hospitals were eligible for participation.

Limited wedge resection for T1 colon cancer (LIMERIC-II trial) - rationale and study protocol of a prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Background: The sole presence of deep submucosal invasion is shown to be associated with a limited risk of lymph node metastasis. This justifies a local excision of suspected deep submucosal invasive colon carcinomas (T1 CCs) as a first step treatment strategy. Recently Colonoscopy-Assisted Laparoscopic Wedge Resection (CAL-WR) has been shown to be able to resect pT1 CRCs with a high R0 resection rate, but the long term outcomes are lacking.

Symptoms of pre-treatment anxiety are associated with the development of chronic peripheral neuropathy among colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: Identifying potentially modifiable predictors of chronic (chemotherapy-induced) peripheral neuropathy (PN) is important, especially in light of the limited treatment options. We aimed to examine pre-treatment anxiety and depressive symptoms as predictors of chronic PN symptom severity in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients up to 2 years after diagnosis.

Methods: Newly diagnosed CRC patients from four Dutch hospitals were eligible for participation.

Colonoscopic-Assisted Laparoscopic Wedge Resection for Colonic Lesions: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study (LIMERIC-Study).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified CAL-WR.

Summary Background Data: The use of segmental colectomy in patients with endoscopically unresectable colonic lesions results in significant morbidity and mortality. CAL-WR is an alternative procedure that may reduce morbidity.

The relation between sleep quality, sleep quantity, and gastrointestinal problems among colorectal cancer survivors: result from the PROFILES registry.

Purpose: Common residual symptoms among survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are sleep difficulties and gastrointestinal symptoms. Among patients with various gastrointestinal (inflammatory) diseases, sleep quality has been related to gastrointestinal symptoms. For CRC survivors, this relation is unclear; therefore, we examined the association between sleep quality and quantity with gastrointestinal symptoms among CRC survivors.

The course of peripheral neuropathy and its association with health-related quality of life among colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: To gain more insight into the course of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a population-based sample of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients up to 2 years after diagnosis.

Methods: All newly diagnosed CRC patients from four hospitals in the Netherlands were eligible for participation in an ongoing prospective cohort study. Patients (n = 340) completed questions on CIPN (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) and HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30) before initial treatment (baseline) and 1 and 2 years after diagnosis.

Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract for High Transsphincteric Fistula Yields Moderate Results at Best: Is the Tide Turning?

Background: Ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract is a well-accepted and often used surgical procedure for perianal fistulas.

Objective: This study aims to confirm results of the ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract in a specialized colorectal center.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Anxiety and depression mediate the association between chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and fatigue: Results from the population-based PROFILES registry.

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced sensory peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is common among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. The aim of this study was to examine whether CIPN is associated with both psychological distress (ie, anxiety and depression) and fatigue and whether the relationship between CIPN and fatigue can (partly) be explained by psychological distress.

Methods: All CRC survivors diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 as registered by the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (Eindhoven region) were eligible for participation.

Use of Epidural Analgesia in Sigmoidectomy: Is There Any Advantage in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Background: There is no consensus as to the effects of epidural analgesia on postoperative outcomes after laparoscopy in the context of the Enhanced Recovery Programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of epidural analgesia on postoperative outcomes after elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy.

Methods: The use of epidural analgesia was discontinued in elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and substituted by the perioperative administration of systemic lidocaine.

Comparative Quality of Life in Patients Following Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery and Healthy Control Subjects.

Background: Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is considered the successor of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS). It makes use of more readily available laparoscopic instruments and single-port access platforms with similar perioperative, clinical and oncological outcomes. Little is known about quality of life (QoL) outcomes after the use of TAMIS.

Beneficial Effects of Early Enteral Nutrition After Major Rectal Surgery: A Possible Role for Conditionally Essential Amino Acids? Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To investigate direct postoperative outcome and plasma amino acid concentrations in a study comparing early enteral nutrition versus early parenteral nutrition after major rectal surgery. Previously, it was shown that a low plasma glutamine concentration represents poor prognosis in ICU patients.

Design: A preplanned substudy of a previous prospective, randomized, open-label, single-centre study, comparing early enteral nutrition versus early parenteral nutrition in patients at high risk of postoperative ileus after surgery for locally advanced or locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Reversal of Hartmann's procedure utilizing single-port laparoscopy: an attractive alternative to laparotomy.

Background: Complications after restoration of intestinal continuity (RIC) following Hartmann's procedure occur frequently and are often serious. These complications result in a reported morbidity of 4-30 % and a reported mortality of 10-14 %. Reducing the amount of surgical trauma accompanying abdominal access seems an attractive tool to reduce perioperative morbidity.

Focus on extralevator perineal dissection in supine position for low rectal cancer has led to better quality of surgery and oncologic outcome.

Background: After abdominoperineal excision (APE), the presence of tumor cells in the circumferential resection margin (R1) and iatrogenic tumor perforations are still frequent and result in an increased rate of local recurrences. In this study, a standardized supine APE with an increased focus on the perineal dissection (sPPD) is compared to the customary supine APE.

Methods: From 2000 to 2010, a total of 246 patients underwent APE for rectal cancer (sPPD and customary supine APE).