Dmitri Y. Artioukh

Actinomyces is a rare aetiology of infections affecting the perianal region and natal cleft. Recognition of this microorganism is essential to deliver targeted antimicrobial therapy following surgical intervention. We present a series of 15 pilonidal and perianal infections associated with this microorganism. Actinomyces turicensis was the only strain of Actinomyces isolated. A total of 14 out of 15 cases had concomitant microorganisms isolated from microbiology specimens. Mixed anaerobes (n = 14) were the most common concomitant pathogens followed by Streptococcus milleri (n = 3), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1), Citrobacter (n = 1) and Coliform bacteria (n = 1). All patients, except one who was pregnant at time of diagnosis, underwent surgical drainage with or without further oral antibiotic therapy. Coloproctologists need to consider Actinomyces as a clinically significant pathogen in the context of perianal and pilonidal infections.

Modern surgery is difficult to imagine without mechanical stapling devices. The objective of the study was to trace the continuity of the development of mechanical stapling technology by European and American surgeons. The main step that led to this technological development was the idea of using a simple paper staple for suturing of human tissue. The first time the mechanical stapling device was used on a human was 9th May, 1908 in Budapest. Subsequently, surgeons and engineers of Europe, primarily Hungary (Austria-Hungary) (H. Hultl, V. Fischer, A. von Petz, etc), Germany (H. Friedrich, etc.) and the USSR (V. Gudov, V. Demikhov, P. Androsov,etc) refined the mechanical principles and practical implications of this new technology. By the mid-1950s, two types of devices were manufactured in the USSR for simple suturing tissues such as the pulmonary parenchyma or bronchus and for the construction of anastomosis. The disadvantages of these devices could be attributed the requirement of delicate manual loading of small metal staples into the cartridge and assembling of sterile parts immediately prior to application. A group of surgeons and engineers led by an American thoracic surgeon, Mark Ravitch, managed to overcome these disadvantages by making devices user-friendly, launched their production in the USA and even organized a training network for surgeons wishing to use the new instruments. The history of mechanical stapling devices illustrates the successful realization of novel ideas that were supported by technological advances and the professional ambitions of surgeons.

Objective: There have been recent attempts to transfer well-established principles of rectal cancer management to colonic cancer, thereby offering neoadjuvant chemotherapy to high-risk patients at least in the trial settings. Traditionally, postoperative chemotherapy is offered to patients with colonic tumors that metastasize into regional lymph nodes and have features of extramural vascular invasion (EMVI). If the same criteria are used for the selection of patients with colonic cancer for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then their accurate preoperative detection becomes of paramount importance. The aim of the study was to establish the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the computerized tomographic (CT) assessment of lymph node involvement and EMVI in colonic cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive adult patients (35 males and 18 females; median age, 72 years) who had complete preoperative CT staging of colonic cancer followed by its surgical resection during a 12-month period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012. Patients with rectal and colonic tumors presenting as an emergency who did not have complete preoperative CT imaging were excluded. Preoperative CT findings on regional lymph node status and EMVI were compared with the final histopathological staging of resected specimens calculating sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the test. Results: In predicting regional lymph node metastases, CT scan had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 24%. PPV was calculated as 63% and NPV as 50%. In predicting EMVI, it had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 49%. PPV was 37% and NPV was 78%. Conclusion: Preoperative CT scan does not allow an accurate detection of regional lymph node metastases and EMVI and has a tendency to overstage colonic cancer. Cite this article as: McAvoy ATW, Gokul K, Chiphang A, Artioukh DY. Preoperative computerized tomographic assessment of regional lymph node and extramural vascular invasion in colonic cancer. Eurasian Med J 2018; 50: 67-70.

The art and philosophy of surgery are not as often discussed as scientific discoveries and technological advances in the modern era of surgery. Although these are difficult to teach and pass on to the next generations of surgeons they are no less important for training good surgeons and maintaining their high standards. The authors of this review and opinion article tried to define what being a good surgeon really means and to look into the subject by analysing the essential conditions for being a good surgeon and the qualities that such a specialist should possess. In addition to a strong theoretic knowledge and practical skills and among the several described professional and personal characteristics, a good surgeon is expected to have common sense. It enables a surgeon to make a sound practical judgment independent of specialized medical knowledge and training. The possible ways of developing and/or enhancing common sense during surgical training and subsequent practice require separate analysis.

What operation for recurrent rectal prolapse after previous Delorme’s procedure? A practical reality

Aim: A systematic review of the literature was performed to establish evidence to support the practice that in the presence of a colonoscopically diagnosed colorectal cancer immediate endoscopic excision of synchronous polyps should not be performed due to the risk of malignant cell implantation at the polypectomy site.Method: A systematic literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify studies comparing the rate of implantation of colorectal cancer cells in normal and damaged colonic mucosa and reports of colorectal cancer cells seeding into sites of damaged mucosa after polypectomy.Results: No randomized controlled trials were identified. Three studies involving mammalian models of colonic mucosal damage were included. Pooling relevant results revealed that out of 59 exposed mammals only one developed tumour cell implantation at a site of colonic mucosal damage. This equates to a mammalian in vivo experimental risk of malignant cell implantation of 1.6%.Conclusion: The topic of colorectal cancer seeding following endoscopic procedures has received little attention. This review suggests that in the presence of a proximal colonic carcinoma there is a negligible risk of malignant implantation if a more distal polyp is endoscopically excised.

Self-expanding metal stents are used to relieve left-sided colonic obstruction either as a palliative measure or as a bridge to surgery. While there are definite advantages, the procedure does have significant complications, perforation of bowel being the most common with significant morbidity and mortality. A case of late perforation due to colonic stent erosion is presented.