Investigating the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating uncomplicated diverticulitis, this study analyzed data from 131,936 admissions. After propensity score matching, it found that initiating antibiotics within 2 days of admission significantly reduced the rates of intestinal resection and stoma creation when compared to non-antibiotic treatment. While the antibiotic approach resulted in slightly higher median costs, […]

A study using the National Cancer Database analyzed trends in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancers. Researchers found that despite the traditional treatment approach involving surgery, there was a concerning decrease in the number of patients undergoing surgery, along with a rise in patients declining surgery. Several factors associated with forgoing surgery included older […]

Researchers compared two surgical techniques for rectal cancer patients who underwent intersphincteric resection (ISR): transverse coloplasty pouch (TCP) and straight coloanal anastomosis (SCAA). While oncological outcomes were similar, the study found that two years after ileostomy closure, the TCP group had significantly less major low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) and better Wexner scores compared to […]

Researchers investigated the safety and feasibility of a modified lymph node dissection (LLND) in mid-low-lying rectal cancer, involving routine resection of visceral branches of internal iliac vessels. The study compared two groups: one with routine resection (RVR) and one without (NVR). The RVR group saw reduced operative times without a significant difference in postoperative complications […]

When it comes to treating troublesome hemorrhoids (grade 2-3), this study pits two methods against each other: laser hemorrhoidoplasty (LH) and the classic Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MM). Researchers conducted a clinical trial involving 85 patients. Surprisingly, LH didn’t shine; it didn’t offer a significant advantage over MM. LH is often touted as less painful, but this […]

In colorectal cancer surgery, the debate about whether to perform high or low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) continues. This study compared the outcomes of both approaches and examined the extent of lymph node dissection of the IMA. The results, after matching patient groups, showed that high ligation was associated with better recurrence-free […]

An analysis of recommendation letters for colorectal surgery fellowship candidates revealed gender-based differences. Women applicants received longer short answer responses, while men applicants had lengthier letters. Furthermore, the study uncovered that men were often described with more technical skill-related terms, while women’s letters contained emotional and cognitive language. Recognizing these discrepancies is crucial for addressing […]

Researchers delved into the relationship between malnutrition, assessed by the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and the outcomes of patients who had undergone curative surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). Those with lower GNRI scores had reduced overall survival and higher risk of recurrence, particularly within the first three years post-surgery. Importantly, this malnutrition also predicted […]

In the quest to predict diverticular disease’s course, researchers harnessed genetic insights. They developed a polygenic risk score based on prior genome-wide studies and tested it on nearly 61,000 patients. This score effectively stratified individuals by their risk of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, with significant differences between high and low-risk groups. It also improved recurrent diverticulitis […]