Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) aims to promote postoperative recovery in patients by minimizing the surgical stress response through evidence-based multimodal interventions. In 2023, updated clinical practice guidelines were published in North America, potentially superseding the most recent guidelines previously announced at the ERAS Society in 2019. This review compares and reviews these two guidelines to examine the principle of ERAS and items related to colorectal surgery and to introduce the latest relevant study results published within the last 5 years. In the pre-hospitalization stage, the concept of pre-hospitalization is emphasized; this involves checking and reinforcing the patient’s nutritional status and physical functional status before surgery. In the preoperative stage, large-scale studies have prompted a change in the recommendation of mechanical bowel preparation combined with oral antibiotics in elective colorectal surgery. In the intraoperative stage, laparoscopic surgery has become a widespread and important component of ERAS, and more technologically advanced single-incision laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery are the focus of active research. Ileus-prevention items, such as opioid-sparing multimodal pain management and euvolemic fluid therapy, are recommended in the postoperative stage. The adoption of ERAS protocols is expanding to encompass a wide range of surgical procedures, clinical scenarios, healthcare institutions, and professional medical societies. In order to maximize the effect by increasing adherence to ERAS, medical staff must fully understand the clinical basis and meaning of each item, and the protocol must be maintained and developed steadily through a team approach and audit system.
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, Il Tae Son, Bo Young Oh Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a globally prevalent and challenging malignancy. Accurate prognosis prediction is essential for optimizing patient care. This comprehensive review discusses the intricate relationships between inflammatory response markers and CRC prognosis. Inflammatory response markers have gained prominence as a prognostic tool. Elevations in the preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio predict a poor prognosis for patients with CRC. A decreased lymphocyte-monocyte ratio is also a poor prognostic factor. A high Glasgow prognostic score and a high modified Glasgow prognostic score are associated with adverse outcomes, including reduced survival. While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in standardizing the clinical application of these inflammatory response markers. Prospective research and further investigations are warranted to refine the prognostic models. Enhanced understanding and utilization of these inflammatory response markers will help advance personalized treatment strategies, refine surveillance protocols, and improve the management of CRC.
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Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (pCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the accepted standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. The purpose of pCRT is to prevent the spread of viable tumor cells within the local area during surgical procedures. Additionally, pCRT can facilitate the resection of locally advanced tumors that are otherwise challenging to remove, thereby enabling a radical resection. Although a pathologic complete response is observed in fewer than 20% of patients, the reasons for the variability in tumor response to pCRT are not fully understood. Several techniques have been researched with the aim of improving the tumor response to pCRT. These techniques include intensifying or combining chemotherapy, either simultaneously or sequentially, increasing radiation dose, modifying radiation mode or schedule, adjusting the interval between radiation and surgery, and incorporating multiple agents to increase the efficacy of pCRT. This review discusses various strategies that may improve tumor response outcomes following pCRT.
The primary objective in the treatment of early rectal cancer is to achieve optimal oncological control while minimizing the long-term impact of therapeutic interventions on patients' quality of life. The current standard of care for most stage I and II rectal cancers involves radical surgery, specifically total mesorectal excision. Although total mesorectal excision is generally curative for early rectal cancers, it can significantly affect patients' quality of life by potentially necessitating a permanent colostomy and causing bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. Given the morbidity associated with radical surgery, alternative approaches to managing early rectal cancer, such as local excision through transanal excision, transanal endoscopic microsurgery, and transanal minimally invasive surgery, have been investigated. If these surgical approaches are applied cautiously to carefully selected cases of early rectal cancer, it is anticipated that these local procedures will achieve comparable oncological outcomes to the established standard of radical surgery, potentially offering superior results regarding morbidity, mortality, and overall quality of life.
, Eun Jung Park In stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC), peritoneal metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is an effective treatment option that offers survival benefits in patients with peritoneal metastatic CRC. For over the past several decades, a multitude of studies have been conducted on CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal metastatic diseases, and research in this area is ongoing. Proper patient selection and a meticulous preoperative assessment are crucial for achieving successful postoperative outcomes. The completeness of cytoreduction and the surgical techniques employed are key factors in improving oncologic outcomes following CRS and HIPEC. The role of HIPEC for both therapeutic and prophylactic purposes is currently being evaluated in recent clinical trials. This article reviews the fundamental principles of CRS combined with HIPEC and discusses recent clinical trials concerning the treatment of CRS and HIPEC in CRC patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Over the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the healthcare system, leading to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases due to the need for social distancing measures. Colorectal cancer has not been immune to these disruptions, and research in various countries has explored the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. One notable consequence has been the postponement of colorectal cancer screenings, potentially resulting in disease progression, which can adversely affect surgical and oncological outcomes. Furthermore, the treatment approach for colorectal cancer may vary depending on the extent of disease progression and the healthcare policies implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this systematic review, we examine treatment strategies, surgical outcomes, and oncological variables across multiple studies focusing on colorectal cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this analysis was to assess how medical policies enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment. We hope that this review will provide valuable insights and serve as a foundational resource for developing guidelines to address potential medical crises in the future.
Anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery is a significant concern, as it can lead to adverse functional and oncologic outcomes. Numerous studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying risk factors for AL and developing strategies to prevent its occurrence, thereby reducing the severe morbidity associated with AL. The intraoperative method for reducing AL includes a mechanical assessment of AL, an assessment of bowel perfusion, drain placement, and the creation of diverting stomas. The anastomosis technique is also associated with AL, and the appropriate selection and accurate application of anastomotic methods are crucial for preventing AL. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging has recently gained popularity as a method for assessing bowel perfusion. While it is useful for detecting bowel perfusion, standardized protocols and measurement methods need to be established to ensure its reliability and effectiveness in clinical practice. The use of intraoperative drains to reduce AL has produced inconsistent results, and the routine adoption of this practice is not currently recommended. Diverting stomas can be used to help reduce the morbidity associated with AL. However, it is important to carefully consider the complications that can arise directly from the stoma itself. It should be noted that while a stoma can reduce AL, it cannot completely prevent it. This descriptive review examines various intraoperative methods aimed at reducing AL, discussing their effectiveness in reducing AL.
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, Jaehyun Kim Endocrine causes of pediatric hypertension are relatively rare but important because of their distinct treatment options. Adrenal diseases accompanied by an excess of mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and catecholamines are major causes of endocrine hypertension. Typical causes of mineralocorticoid-related hypertension include primary aldosteronism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (11β- and 17α-hydroxylase deficiencies), and apparent mineralocorticoid excess. Cushing syndrome and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma are the primary causes of glucocorticoid- and catecholamine-related hypertension, respectively. This review provides an overview of the diagnostic evaluations, including hormonal assays and imaging studies, used to identify the underlying causes of pediatric endocrine hypertension, focusing on adrenal disorders. It presents details regarding the major adrenal disorders and recommended therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the importance of early detection and disease-specific management to prevent cardiovascular and metabolic complications in affected children.
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Graves disease (GD) is the primary cause of hyperthyroidism in children. The standard management options—namely, antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine, and surgery—have not changed for many years. Although ATD therapy is often the first-line treatment for pediatric patients, the low likelihood of spontaneous remission means that most children will require a more permanent solution. Recent clinical trials and systematic reviews have shed light on the long-term outcomes of ATD therapy, radioactive iodine, and surgical interventions in managing pediatric GD. Additionally, novel therapies aimed at B-cells or the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, both implicated in the pathogenesis of GD, are under investigation. However, their definitive role in treating childhood GD has yet to be established. This review will cover the latest developments in the treatment of childhood GD, including information on emerging targeted therapies.
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, Sung Yoon Cho Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the absence of paternally expressed imprinted genes on chromosome 15q11–13. Individuals with PWS typically experience feeding difficulties and a lack of appetite in infancy, followed by weight gain, uncontrolled appetite, and a lack of satiety. Hyperphagia in PWS is exacerbated by impaired satiety, low energy expenditure, and intellectual difficulties, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or autistic behaviors. Without rigorous external management of their eating behaviors, patients with PWS become severely obese and are at a higher risk of obesity-related morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. Moreover, the main causes of death for PWS are obesity-related comorbidities, such as renal failure, pulmonary embolism, and respiratory and heart failure. Clinical experiences with different supplements, diets, and other methods have not been encouraging. However, therapeutic options for patients with PWS may be improving, based on recent clinical trials for a number of medications. This report reviews the causes and management of hyperphagia, as well as previous and recent clinical trials aimed at treating hyperplasia in PWS. We are optimistic that the novel treatments currently in development will help alleviate the complex metabolic issues associated with PWS.
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, Ji Eun Moon, Yeo Jin Jung, Young Ae Yu Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which is considered the most common genetic form of obesity, results from the absence of imprinted genes in the paternally derived PWS critical region located on chromosome 15q11.2−13. Infants with PWS exhibit poor sucking, neonatal hypotonia, and delayed motor milestones. These patients begin to experience hyperphagia and obesity from 2 to 3 years of age. PWS is a multisystemic disorder, and its clinical manifestations include developmental delay/intellectual disability, behavioral problems, dysmorphic facial features, short stature, scoliosis, and endocrine abnormalities such as hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Although the underlying mechanism of hyperphagia is not completely understood, hypothalamic and endocrine dysregulation is believed to be responsible for the lack of satiety and abnormal food-seeking behaviors that lead to severe obesity. The management of PWS requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Early diagnosis and comprehensive early intervention are essential to prevent the development of obesity-related morbidities, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular complications. Although several clinical trials have been conducted on the pharmacologic treatment of obesity in PWS, no drugs have demonstrated a consistently beneficial effect to date. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts should be directed toward understanding the mechanism of the unique obesity phenotype of PWS and developing pharmacological therapies.
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