Role of Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPS) in the Postoperative Period after Colorectal Surgery.

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a defect of the intestinal wall at the anastomotic site and is one of the most severe complications in colorectal surgery. Previous studies have shown that the immune system response plays a significant role in the development of AL. In recent years, DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns) have been identified as cellular compounds with the ability to activate the immune system.

Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery: prospective observational study of the utility of inflammatory markers and determination of pathological levels.

Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are acute-phase reactants that indicate the presence and severity of an infection. The aim of this study was to verify the utility of CRP and PCT as tools for early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. A prospective observational study including 95 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with anastomosis, where patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not AL happened.

Is the number of rib fractures a risk factor for delayed complications? A case-control study.

Aim: To analyse factors that may predict the appearance of rib fracture complications during the first days of evolution and determine whether the number of fractures is related to these complications.

Method: Retrospective case-control study of patients admitted with a diagnosis of rib fractures between 2010 and 2014. Two groups were established depending on the appearance or not of pleuropulmonary complications in the first 72 h, and the following were compared: age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), number and uni- or bilateral involvement, mechanism of trauma, days of hospital stay, haemoglobin on discharge minus haemoglobin on admission, pleuropulmonary complications during admission (pneumothorax, haemothorax or pulmonary contusion) and placement of pleural drainage.

Population-based screening improves histopathological prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on clinical symptoms is usually established in its advanced stages. One strategy for reducing mortality is the early detection and removal of preneoplastic and initial neoplastic lesions, even before the first symptoms appear, by means of population-based screening campaigns. The aim of the present study is to determine whether CRC diagnosed via a screening campaign has more favourable histopathological prognostic factors than when diagnosed in the symptomatic phase.

Segmental intestinal necrosis in a young patient.

Segmental ischemic colitis is an uncommon disease in young patients, being usually associated to drug abuse, infectious or autoimmune diseases. We present a case that, in spite of a complete diagnostic study, had repeatedly two attacks of intestinal necrosis during his admission.

Increased survival and decreased recurrence in colorectal cancer patients diagnosed in a screening programme.

Introduction: Population-based screening programmes for colorectal cancer (CRC) allow an early diagnosis, even before the onset of symptoms, but there are few studies and none in Spain on the influence they have on patient survival. The aim of the present study is to show that patients receiving surgery for CRC following diagnosis via a screening programme have a higher survival and disease-free survival rate than those diagnosed in the symptomatic stage.

Material And Methods: Prospective study of all the patients undergoing programmed surgery for CRC at the JM Morales Meseguer Hospital in Murcia (Spain) between 2004 and 2010.

Surgical management of appendiceal adenocarcinoid. Case report and literature review.

Adenocarcinoid tumour of the appendix is a rare entity characterised by the presence of a double component (neuroendocrine and glandular). It originates in the neuroendocrine cells of the appendicular mucosa. A preoperative diagnosis of a primary appendiceal tumour is uncommon and more so one suggesting an adenocarcinoid pathology.

Malignant degeneration of rectal endometriosis.

Background: Endometriosis is a relatively common disease among women with child-bearing potential, and rare before puberty or following menopause. It consists of the presence of hormone-responsive endometrium outside the endometrial cavity.

Case Report: We report the case of a patient with a rectal lesion, initially approached as a primary rectal malignancy, where histopathology eventually revealed an adenocarcinoma arising from endometrial tissue in the colonic wall.

[Presacral tumor as a differential diagnosis of recurrent pilonidal sinus].

Background: Retrorectal or presacral space is occupied during embryological stem cell development and therefore may contain a heterogeneous group of tumors.

Clinical Case: We report the case of a 22-year-old male with a pilonidal cyst operated due to recurrent pilonidal sinus cyst. Final diagnosis after pelvic computed tomography is large retrorectal cystic tumor and magnetic resonance diagnosis of a presacral cystic compatible wtih germ cell tumor.

Single-port transanal endoscopic microsurgery: a developing technique.

Introduction: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a widely used and valid technique with established indications. However, the cost of surgical anoscopes is not available in all centers. Many authors have described transanal resection of rectal tumors through a single laparoscopy port such as the SILS system.