Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer Achieves Satisfactory Tumour Regression and Local Recurrence - Result of a Dedicated Multi-disciplinary Approach from a South Asian Centre.

Background: Pre-operative long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer has resulted in improvement in rates of restorative rectal resection and local recurrence by inducing tumour downstaging and downsizing. Total mesorectal excision (TME) is a standardised surgical technique of low anterior resection aimed at the prevention of local tumour recurrence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tumour response following CRT in a standardised group of patients with rectal cancer.

Local infiltration versus laparoscopic-guided transverse abdominis plane block in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: double-blinded randomized control trial.

Background: Transverse abdominal plane block (TAP) is a new technique of regional block described to reduce postoperative pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Recent reports describe an easy technique to deliver local anesthetic agent under laparoscopic guidance.

Methods: This randomized control trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of additional laparoscopic-guided TAP block against the standard full thickness port site infiltration.

Pre-operative hypoalbuminaemia predicts poor overall survival in rectal cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Serum albumin is a marker of nutrition and inflammation. It has recently emerged as a predictor of outcome after surgery for rectal cancer. Our aim was to evaluate if pre-operative serum albumin would predict survival after resection for rectal cancer.

Proximal and distal rectal cancers differ in curative resectability and local recurrence.

Aim: To evaluate patients with proximal rectal cancer (PRC) (> 6 cm up to 12 cm) and distal rectal cancer (DRC) (0 to 6 cm from the anal verge).

Methods: Two hundred and eighteen patients (120 male, 98 female, median age 58 years, range 19-88 years) comprised 100 with PRC and 118 with DRC. The proportion of T1, T2 vs T3, T4 stage cancers was similar in both groups (PRC: T1+T2 = 29%; T3+T4 = 71% and DRC: T1+T2 = -31%; T3+T4 = 69%).

Synchronous liver metastasis in colorectal cancer in Sri Lanka.

Objective: To assess the incidence of synchronous colorectal liver metastasis in patients referred to a tertiary referral center in Sri Lanka and to evaluate the differences in the clinicopathological features of patients with and without synchronous metastasis.

Methods: Records of 438 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified into metastatic group (n = 34, 8%) and non metastastatic group (n = 404, 92%).

Assessment of 'nucleation time' as a predictor of cholelithiasis.

Introduction: In the formation of gallstones, crystal nucleation is a key step, which is followed by precipitation and gradual growth of cholesterol crystals.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was carried out among 60 patients (30 patients, 14 males and 16 females, median age of 36 years, range 33-71 years, body mass index (BMI)=25.1+/-0.

Prevalence of colorectal cancer and survival in patients from the Gampaha District, North Colombo region.

Introduction: The prevalence and survival of colorectal cancer in Sri Lankans has not been previously reported. We did a retrospective and a prospective survey, in the region of North Colombo, Sri Lanka between 1992 and 2004. The aim was to study cancer burden, sites of colorectal cancer and survival after surgery.

Biofeedback with and without surgery for fecal incontinence improves maximum squeeze pressure, saline retention capacity and quality of life.

Introduction: Fecal incontinence (FI) impairs quality of life. We performed an audit of biofeedback (BFB) in management of patients with FI.

Methods: Fifty patients (median [range] age 30 [4-77] years; 28 men) who received BFB for median (range) of 15 weeks (4-28), either postoperatively (n=39), or as the sole treatment (n=11) were evaluated.

Hepaticocystic duct and a rare extra-hepatic "cruciate" arterial anastomosis: a case report.

Introduction: The variations in the morphological characteristics of the extra-hepatic biliary system are interesting.

Case Presentation: During the dissection of cadavers to study the morphological characteristics of the extra-hepatic biliary system, a 46-year-old male cadaver was found to have drainage of the common hepatic duct drains directly into the gall bladder neck. The right and left hepatic ducts were not seen extra-hepatically.