OBJECTIVES: Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), all health services worldwide underwent profound changes, leading to the suspension of many elective surgeries. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of elective colorectal surgery during the pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study. Patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 10 and September 9, 2020, were included. Patient data on sex, age, diagnosis, types of procedures, hospital stay, mortality, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preoperative screening tests were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 103 colorectal surgical procedures were planned, and 99 were performed. Four surgeries were postponed due to positive preoperative screening for SARS-CoV-2. Surgical procedures were performed for colorectal cancer (n=90) and inflammatory bowel disease (n=9). Laparoscopy was the approach of choice for 43 patients (43.4%), 53 (53.5%) procedures were open, and 3 (3%) procedures were robotic. Five patients developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period, and three of them died in the intensive care unit (n=3/5, 60% mortality). Two other patients died due to surgical complications unrelated to COVID-19 (n=2/94, 2.1% mortality) (p<0.01). Hospital stay was longer in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection than in those without (38.4 versushttps://doi.org/10.3 days, respectively, p<0.01). Of the 99 patients who received surgical care during the pandemic, 94 were safely discharged (95%). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that elective colorectal surgical procedures may be safely performed during the pandemic; however, preoperative testing should be performed to reduce in-hospital infection rates, since the mortality rate due to SARS-CoV-2 in this setting is particularly high.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O tratamento do câncer de reto médio e distal evoluiu muito nas últimas décadas devido à disseminação da técnica de excisão total do mesorretal e ao uso de quimioterapia e radioterapia neoadjuvantes. No entanto, essa abordagem multidisciplinar pode afetar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes de várias maneiras que merecem ser adequadamente avaliadas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida imediata e tardia relacionada à saúde em pacientes tratados de câncer retal com intenção curativa. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo que incluiu pacientes com câncer primário de reto médio ou baixo não metastático. Foram aplicados os questionários EORTC QLQ-C30 e EORTC-CR38 antes, 3 meses e 12 meses após o tratamento. As médias dos escores dos questionários foram estratificadas em quatro categorias para fins de comparação dos resultados nos diferentes momentos. RESULTADOS: Vinte e nove pacientes responderam aos 1º e 2º questionários e 12 responderam os três questionários. A idade média foi de 50,8 anos e 62% do sexo feminino. Preservação esfincteriana foi possível em 89,6%. As médias de escores globais de saúde e qualidade de vida melhoraram tanto após 3 meses quanto após 12 meses. Função cognitiva, dor, insônia, constipação, sintomas gastrointestinais, problemas esfincterianos, perda de peso melhoraram tanto no período imediato quanto tardio. Problemas sexuais masculinos e femininos e perspectiva futura pioraram tanto no período precoce quanto tardio. As demais funções ou sintomas ou itens não se alteraram. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar da complexidade do tratamento do câncer de reto dentro de um serviço especializado, a qualidade de vida ficou preservada ou melhor na maioria das características estudadas.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The treatment of median and distal rectal cancer has evolved a lot in the last decades due to the dissemination of the technique of total mesortal excision and the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, this multidisciplinary approach can affect patients’ quality of life in a number of ways that deserve to be adequately assessed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immediate and late health related quality of life in patients with rectal cancer treated with curative intent. METHODS: Prospective study including patients with non-metastatic mid or low rectal cancer. EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC-CR38 questionnaires were applied before, 3 months and 12 months after treatment. The mean scores of the questionnaires were stratified into 4 categories for the purpose of comparing the results at different moments. RESULTS: Twenty nine patients completed the 1st and 2nd questionnaires and 12 completed the three questionaries. Patient´s mean age was 50.8 years and 62% were female. Sphincter preservation was possible in 89.6%. Overall health scores and quality of life improved after three months after 12 months. After three months, sexual satisfaction, female sexual problems and future perspective were worsen, but gastrointestinal symptoms, sphincter problems, and weight loss were improved. After 12 months the Future Perspective deteriorated, but there was improvement of the problems related to stoma, sphincter problems and body image. CONCLUSION: Despite the complexity of the treatment of rectal cancer within a specialized service, quality of life was preserved and was satisfactory in most of the studied aspects.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical and pathological factors associated with perioperative morbidity, mortality and oncological outcomes after multivisceral en bloc resection in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 2009 and February 2014, 105 patients with primary colorectal cancer selected for multivisceral resection were identified from a prospective database. Clinical and pathological factors, perioperative morbidity and mortality and outcomes were obtained from medical records. Estimated local recurrence and overall survival were compared using the log-rank method, and Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independence of the studied parameters. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02859155. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 60 (range 23-86) years, 66.7% were female, 80% of tumors were located in the rectum, 11.4% had stage-IV disease, and 54.3% received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The organs most frequently resected were ovaries and annexes (37%). Additionally, 30.5% of patients received abdominoperineal resection. Invasion of other organs was confirmed histologically in 53.5% of patients, and R0 resection was obtained in 72% of patients. The overall morbidity rate of patients in this study was 37.1%. Ureter resection and intraoperative blood transfusion were independently associated with an increased number of complications. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 1.9%. After 27 (range 5-57) months of follow-up, the mortality and local recurrence rates were 23% and 15%, respectively. Positive margins were associated with a higher recurrence rate. Positive margins, lymph node involvement, stage III/IV disease, and stage IV disease alone were associated with lower overall survival rates. On multivariate analysis, the only factor associated with reduced survival was lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Multivisceral en bloc resection for primary colorectal cancer can be performed with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality and may lead to favorable oncological outcomes.

RACIONAL: Câncer colorretal é o tipo mais comum das neoplasias gastrointestinais. Há muitas controvérsias na literatura acerca do valor prognóstico do sítio da neoplasia. Muitos estudos revelam maiores taxas de sobrevida para tumores em cólon direito, com piora do prognóstico à medida que as lesões se situam mais distalmente. OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico de pacientes com câncer de cólon direito estádios I-IV operados em um período de dez anos e identificar os fatores prognósticos que foram associados com menor sobrevida global. MÉTODOS: Em 10 anos, 187 pacientes foram submetidos à colectomia direita com intenção curativa. Foram estudados os seguintes fatores: gênero, idade, localização do tumor, o número de linfonodos obtidos no espécime, comprometimento linfonodal, estádio T e presença de metástases à distância. Estes fatores foram avaliados quanto à possibilidade de serem indicadores prognósticos na sobrevida em cinco anos. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi de 65 (±12) anos e 105 (56,1%) eram mulheres. A localização, mas comum foi o cólon ascendente (48,1%), seguido do ceco (41,7%) e o ângulo hepático (10,2%). A média de tempo de internação hospitalar foi 14 (±2.8) dias. A distribuição do estádio T foi T1 (4,8%), T2 (7,5%), T3 (74,9%) e T4 (12,8%). Acometimento linfonodal ocorreu em 46,0% e metástases à distância em 3,7%. Um mínimo de 12 linfonodos ressecados foram obtidos em 87,2% dos espécimes cirúrgicos. Em 84.5% os tumores eram não-mucinosos. A média de sobrevida foi de 38,3 (±30.8) meses. A sobrevida geral foi afetada pelo estádio T, N, M e pelo estádio final. O acometimento linfonodal (RR=2,06) e os estádios III/IV (RR=2,81) foram fatores prognósticos negativos independentes. CONCLUSÕES: Estádio avançado e envolvimento linfonodal foram os fatores associados com a pior sobrevida em longo prazo.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world. There are many controversies in the literature about the prognostic value of primary tumor location. Many studies have shown higher survival rates for tumors in the right colon, and worse prognosis for lesions located more distally in the colon. AIM: To analyze the results of surgical treatment of right-sided colon cancers patients operated in one decade period and identify the prognostic factors that were associated with lower overall survival in stages I-IV patients. METHODS: A retrospective review from the prospectively collected database identified 178 patients with right-sided colon cancer surgically treated with curative intent. Demographic factors (gender and age), tumor factors (site, T stage, N stage, M stage, histological type and tumor differentiation), and lymph node yield were extracted to identify those associated with lower overall survival. RESULTS: Mean age was 65 (±12) years old, and 105 (56.1%) patients were female. Most common affected site was ascending colon (48.1%), followed by cecum (41.7%) and hepatic flexure (10.2%). Mean length of hospital stay was 14 (±2.8) days. T stage distribution was T1 (4.8%), T2 (7.5%), T3 (74.9%), and T4 (12.8%). Nodal involvement was present in 46.0%, and metastatic disease in 3.7%. Twelve or more lymph nodes were obtained in 87.2% of surgical specimens and 84.5% were non-mucinous tumors. Mean survival time was 38.3 (±30.8) months. Overall survival was affected by T stage, N stage, M stage, and final stage. Lymph node involvement (OR=2.06) and stage III/IV (OR=2.81) were independent negative prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Right-sided colon cancer presented commonly at advanced stage. Advanced stage and lymph node involvement were factors associated with poor long term survival.

RACIONAL: A cirurgia para hemorróidas sintomáticas é necessária em quase 10% dos pacientes. Embora, a literatura sobre o tratamento cirúrgico da doença hemorroidária seja muito grande, os dados relativos à hemorroidectomia ou hemorroidopexia realizadas por residentes de treinamento é limitado. OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados destes procedimentos em uma instituição de ensino. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados retrospectivamente os dados de todos os pacientes que se submeteram ao tratamento cirúrgico para hemorróidas entre1995 e 2007 em uma única instituição. Residentes supervisionados realizaram todos os procedimentos. As técnicas foram comparadas com base no tempo operatório, permanência hospitalar, morbidade e eficácia a longo prazo. RESULTADOS: Trezentos e trinta e três pacientes foram incluídos no estudo, 182 homens (54,6%), com idade média de 45,3 anos (± 12,02). Hemorróidas de terceiro grau foram a principal indicação (81,7%). Milligan-Morgan foi o procedimento mais comumente realizado (57%), seguido por Ferguson e hemorroidopexia grampeada. A média de tempo operatório foi significativamente menor no grupo hemorroidopexia grampeada quando comparado com os procedimentos abertos e fechados: 49,4 ± 29,3 min vs 61,1 ± 26,5 e 67,1 ± 28,3, respectivamente (p=0,0034). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos quanto às complicações pós-operatórias ou à taxa de reoperação. O tempo de internação foi significativamente maior no grupo Milligan-Morgan quando comparado com Ferguson e grampeamento (1,41 ± 0,86 dias vs 1,19 ± 0,43 vs 1,16 ± 0,37, respectivamente). Recorrência sintomática, taxas de reoperação e o uso de ligadura elástica foram semelhantes entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Os residentes sob supervisão pode executar Milligan-Morgan, Ferguson e grampeamento hemorroidário com baixa incidência de complicações e bons resultados a longo prazo. O grampeamento foi associado com menor tempo operatório, enquanto Milligan-Morgan foi correlacionada com maior tempo de hospitalização.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for symptomatic hemorrhoids is needed in almost 10% of the patients. Although, literature about the surgical management of hemorrhoidal disease is vast, data concerning hemorrhoidectomy or hemorrhoidopexy performed by training residents is limited. AIM: To analyze the results of these procedures in a teaching institution. METHODS: Data from all patients who underwent surgical treatment for hemorrhoids from 1995 to 2007 in a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Residents supervised by assisting doctors performed all procedures. Techniques were compared based on operative time, hospital stay, morbidity, and long-term efficacy. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty three patients were included in the study, 182 males (54.6%), with a mean age of 45.3 years (± 12.02). Third degree hemorrhoids were the main indication (81.7%). Milligan-Morgan was the most commonly performed procedure (57%), followed by Ferguson and stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Mean operative time was significantly lower in the stapled hemorrhoidopexy group when compared to the open and closed procedures: 49,4 ± 29.3 min vs. 61.1 ± 26.5 and 67.1 ± 28.3, respectively (p=0.0034). There was no statistically significant difference among the groups regarding postoperative complications or reoperation rate. Length of stay was significantly higher in the Milligan-Morgan group when compared to Ferguson and stapled hemorrhoidopexy (1.41 ± 0.86 days vs. 1.19 ± 0.43 vs. 1.16 ± 0.37 respectively). Symptomatic recurrence, reoperation rates and band ligation usage were similar among groups. CONCLUSION: Residents under supervision can perform Milligan-Morgan, Ferguson and stapled hemorrhoidopexy with low incidence of complications and good long-term results. Stapled hemorrhoidopexy technique was associated with a shorter operative time, while Milligan-Morgan correlated with a longer length of stay.

INTRODUÇÃO: O carcinoma espino-celular do canal anal é doença que atinge os adultos de meia idade e corresponde a 4% dos cânceres do trato gastrointestinal baixo. Na população geral a incidência é de 1 em 100.000 habitantes, e entre os homens que fazem sexo com homens essa incidência atinge 35 por 100.000 habitantes, sendo que os portadores de HIV têm esse risco duplicado (70 por 100.000 habitantes). MÉTODO: Foi realizada revisão da literatura com consulta nos periódicos das bases Medline/Pubmed, Scielo e Lilacs cruzando os descritores Rastreamento, Lesões pré-cancerosas, Neoplasias do ânus e HIV. Além da revisão bibliográfica, foi adicionada a este trabalho a experiência pessoal dos autores, e a obtida no Departamento de Gastroenterologia - Divisão Cirúrgica, no ICESP - Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octávio Frias de Oliveira, no Departamento de Moléstias Infeciosas - Casa da AIDS e no Serviço de Coloproctologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. CONCLUSÕES: HIV+ é um grande fator de risco no desenvolvimento de carcinoma espino-celular anal em indivíduos infectados por HPV. A avaliação desses pacientes não deve se restringir à erradicação de condilomas, mas principalmente incluir o rastreamento de lesões displásicas subclínicas potencialmente neoplásicas. Apesar dos métodos de rastreamento ainda não serem ideais, o grande benefício do rastreamento baseia-se no fato de oferecer acompanhamento rigoroso, tornando possível à prevenção ou detecção cada vez mais precoce do carcinoma espino-celular anal.

INTRODUCTION: Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal is a disease that affects the middle-aged adults and accounts for 4% of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract below. In the general population the incidence is 1 in 100,000, and among men who have sex with men the incidence is 35 per 100,000 inhabitants, those with HIV have doubled this risk (70 per 100,000 inhabitants). METHODS: Was performed literature review in consultation with periodic Medline / Pubmed, Lilacs and Scielo crossing Trackingm, Precancerous conditions, Anus neoplasms and HIV descriptors. Besides the review,was added to this work the authors'personal experiences, and obtained at the Department of Gastroenterology - Surgical Division, in ICESP - Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira, in Department of Diseases Infectious - House of AIDS and in the Department of Coloproctology, Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo, Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: HIV + is a major risk factor in developing squamous cell carcinoma anal in individuals infected with HPV. The evaluation of these patients should not restrict itself to the eradication of warts, but mainly include the screening of subclinical dysplastic lesions potentially neoplastic. Despite the screening methods are still not ideal, the great benefit of screening is based on the fact offer closely monitored, making possible the prevention or detection of increasingly early anal squamous cell carcinoma.

CONTEXTO: A terapia anti-retroviral altamente ativa tornou a infecção pelo HIV uma condição crônica, levando a um aumento na incidência de pacientes HIV-positivos com displasia anal. A avaliação anal rotineira incluindo a região anal e perianal é recomendada nessa população, especialmente nos doentes infectados por tipos oncogênicos do HPV. RELATO DE CASO: Um homem homossexual HIV-positivo de 54 anos foi encaminhado para avaliação de condilomas anais e perianais recorrentes há seis anos. Referia duas ressecções cirúrgicas incompletas em outro serviço. Encontrava-se em uso de medicação anti-retroviral altamente ativa há dois anos. Ao exame proctológico, apresentava algumas lesões condilomatosas no canal anal e na região perianal, assim como uma placa bem delimitada de 1,0 por 1,0 cm levemente dolorosa na região perianal. Ambos esfregaço do canal anal e biópsia guiada por anoscopia de alta resolução revelaram lesão escamosa intraepitelial de alto grau. Uma biópsia da borda da placa perianal também diagnosticou lesão escamosa intraepitelial de alto grau. A pesquisa de DNA de HPV do canal anal detectou a presença do HPV tipo 16. O paciente foi submetido à excisão local profunda da lesão. O estudo anatomopatológico revelou lesão escamosa intra-epitelial de alto grau com um foco de 1 mm de carcinoma epidermóide microinvasivo, sem invasão perineural ou linfo-vascular. O paciente apresentou recorrência de lesão escamosa intra-epitelial de alto grau no canal anal e na região perianal confirmadas por biópsias no sexto mês pós-operatório, necessitando ablação. Entretanto, até o momento não apresentou recorrência do carcinoma epidermóide invasivo.

CONTEXT: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection into a chronic condition, and this has led to increased incidence of anal dysplasia among HIV-positive patients. Routine anal evaluation including the anal canal and perianal area is recommended for this population, especially for patients infected by oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old homosexual HIV-positive man presented with a six-year history of recurrent perianal and anal warts. He had previously undergone incomplete surgical excision and fulguration in another institution on two occasions. He had been using HAART over the past two years. He presented some condylomatous spreading lesions occupying part of the anal canal and the perianal skin, and also a well-demarcated slightly painful perianal plaque of dimensions 1.0 x 1.0 cm. Both anal canal Pap smears and biopsies guided by high-resolution anoscopy revealed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Biopsies of the border of the perianal plaque also revealed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. HPV DNA testing of the anus detected the presence of HPV-16 type. The patient underwent local full-thickness excision of the lesion. Histological analysis on the excised tissue revealed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion with one focus of microinvasive squamous cell cancer measuring 1 mm. No lymph vessel or perineural invasion was detected. The patient showed pathological evidence of recurrent anal and perianal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions at the sixth-month follow-up and required further ablation of those lesions. However no invasive squamous cell carcinoma recurrence has been detected so far.

OBJETIVO: A estenose anal é uma condição rara, incapacitante e desafiadora que ocorre principalmente após hemorroidectomia, para a qual diversas técnicas cirúrgicas reparadoras foram desenvolvidas. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever os resultados precoces e tardios (um ano) de 77 anoplastias realizadas no Serviço de Cirurgia Colorretal. MÉTODOS: No período de 1977 a 2002, 77 pacientes com estenose anal moderada ou grave foram operados, utilizando-se duas técnicas diferentes de avanço de retalho: 58 foram submetidos à técnica de Sarner e 18 submetidos à Técnica de Musiari. Avanços bilaterais foram utilizados em sete pacientes. RESULTADOS: As complicações precoces foram: prurido em dois pacientes, infecção urinária em um paciente e incontinência fecal temporária em outro. Um paciente necessitou reoperação precoce por deiscência de linha de sutura. Os resultados tardios foram classificados como bons em 67 (87%). Não houve reoperação por recorrência de estenose. CONCLUSÃO: A facilidade técnica, os bons resultados funcionais e a ausência de complicações graves demonstraram que as técnicas de avanço de retalho de Sarner e Musiari são efetivas e seguras para correção de estenose anal, particularmente nos casos em que a fibrose cutânea é o principal fator etiológico.

PURPOSE: Anal stenosis is a rare, incapacitating, and challenging condition, occurring mainly after hemorrhoidectomy, for which several surgical techniques have been devised. The purpose of this study was to describe early and late (1 year) results of 77 anoplasty operations performed in the Colorectal Unit of our institution. METHODS: From 1977 to 2002, 77 patients with moderate to severe anal stenosis underwent surgery using two sliding graft techniques: 58 underwent Sarner's operation and 19 underwent Musiari's technique. Bilateral flaps were used in 7 patients. RESULTS: Early morbidity was due to pruritus occurring in 2 patients, urinary infection in 1, and temporary incontinence in 1 patient. One patient needed early reoperation following suture line dehiscence. Late results (1 year) were classified as good in 67 cases (87%). There was no reoperation due to recurrence of stenosis. CONCLUSION: The ease of performance, good functional results, and lack of severe complications show that Sarner's and Musiari's flap advancement techniques are effective and safe methods for surgical correction of anal stenosis, particularly when cutaneous fibrosis plays a major role in its etiology.

RACIONAL: Metástases podem ser a primeira manifestação de adenocarcinoma. Cerca de 60% destas podem ser cutâneas e correspondem a casos de neoplasia em estágio avançado. A procura pelo sítio primário é onerosa, sendo necessário o emprego de diversos exames de imagem, endoscópicos e imunoistoquímicos. Apesar disto, o sítio primário é descoberto somente em 15% a 20% dos pacientes, sendo os demais casos reconhecidos nas autopsias. OBJETIVO: Relatar um caso de adenocarcinoma, moderadamente diferenciado metastático cutâneo, de sítio primário desconhecido. A região acometida foi a pele da fossa ilíaca esquerda. RESULTADOS: A lesão foi ressecada cirurgicamente. O sítio primário não foi identificado por nenhum exame de imagem ou endoscópico. O estudo imunoistoquímico revelou o seguinte padrão de imunoperoxidase: CEA negativo, CK7 positivo, CK20 negativo e PSA negativo. Com base nestes achados, foram afastados tumores primários do intestino grosso e da próstata (PSA, CK20 e CEA negativos). Os principais sítios primários aventados foram pâncreas e vias biliares. CONCLUSÃO: A procura pelo sítio primário de adenocarcinoma metastático continua sendo tarefa difícil, onerosa e com pouco impacto no tratamento dos pacientes acometidos.

BACKGROUND: Metastases may be the first manifestation of adenocarcinoma. Up to 60% are cutaneous and present in advanced stage neoplasms. Research for the primary site is costly and requires endoscopy, imaging and immunohistochemical exams. The primary site becomes obvious in only 15% to 20% of live patients and is detected mainly at autopsy. AIM: To report a case of metastatic cutaneous moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site, located in the lower left abdomen. RESULTS: The lesion was surgically resected. Primary site was not found by any imaging or endoscopy exams. The immunohistochemistry was negative for CEA, CK20, PSA and positive for CK7. Based on these exams, prostate and colorectal cancer were excluded. The pancreas and biliary tract were considered as the probable primary site. CONCLUSION: The research for the primary site still is difficult, expensive and is not effective to the treatment of metastatic adenocarcinomas.