Post-operative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predicts complications following colorectal surgery.

Introduction: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) correlates with serial organ dysfunction scores in colorectal surgical patients in critical care units. We hypothesised that the NLR on the first day after an elective colorectal resection would identify patients at increased risk of subsequent complications.

Methods: With Ethics Committee approval, 100 patients were recruited to a prospective cohort study.

Distilled water peritoneal lavage after colorectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: Tumor cells exfoliated into the peritoneal cavity during colorectal cancer surgery are viable and tumorigenic and may contribute to peritoneal recurrence. Although commonly used, the tumoricidal effectiveness of antiseptics in peritoneal lavage is doubted because of their chemical alteration by peritoneal secretions. In contrast, osmotic lysis by incubation in distilled water may offer an effective tumoricidal activity.

Atrial fibrillation and survival in colorectal cancer.

Background: Survival in colorectal cancer may correlate with the degree of systemic inflammatory response to the tumour. Atrial fibrillation may be regarded as an inflammatory complication. We aimed to determine if atrial fibrillation is a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.