Alexandra M Zaborowski1, Aine Stakelum2, Des C Winter2. 1. Centre for Colorectal Disease, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. zaborowa@tcd.ie. 2. Centre for Colorectal Disease, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The oncological benefits of achieving a complete pathological response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer are well defined. How a pathological response affects anastomotic healing or leak rates is not clear. The aim of this systematic review was to compare anastomotic leak rates among patients who did and did not achieve a complete pathological response. METHODS: Three major databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) were searched. Predetermined inclusion criteria included prospective and retrospective articles published in English reporting complete pathological response and anastomotic leak rates following total mesorectal excision in ≥ 30 patients with rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision. The primary outcomes measured included complete pathological response and 30-day postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: From a total of 8919 patients with rectal cancer in 7 studies, 4165 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. The majority (> 80%) of patients had clinical stage II or III disease. A defunctioning loop ileostomy was formed in 76.5%. A total of 589 (14.1%) patients achieved a pCR of whom 63 (10.7%) developed an anastomotic leak compared to 272/3576 (7.6%) patients without a pCR (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients with complete pathological response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision may be at higher risk of anastomotic leak than incomplete responders. This may need to be taken into account when counseling patients about the relative risks of organ preservation versus anterior resection.
PURPOSE: The oncological benefits of achieving a complete pathological response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer are well defined. How a pathological response affects anastomotic healing or leak rates is not clear. The aim of this systematic review was to compare anastomotic leak rates among patients who did and did not achieve a complete pathological response. METHODS: Three major databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) were searched. Predetermined inclusion criteria included prospective and retrospective articles published in English reporting complete pathological response and anastomotic leak rates following total mesorectal excision in ≥ 30 patients with rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision. The primary outcomes measured included complete pathological response and 30-day postoperative morbidity. RESULTS: From a total of 8919 patients with rectal cancer in 7 studies, 4165 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. The majority (> 80%) of patients had clinical stage II or III disease. A defunctioning loop ileostomy was formed in 76.5%. A total of 589 (14.1%) patients achieved a pCR of whom 63 (10.7%) developed an anastomotic leak compared to 272/3576 (7.6%) patients without a pCR (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION:Patients with complete pathological response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision may be at higher risk of anastomotic leak than incomplete responders. This may need to be taken into account when counseling patients about the relative risks of organ preservation versus anterior resection.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anastomotic leak; Pathological complete response; Rectal cancer
Authors: Sameh Hany Emile; Sualeh Muslim Khan; Zoe Garoufalia; Emanuela Silva-Alvarenga; Rachel Gefen; Nir Horesh; Michael R Freund; Steven D Wexner Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2022-08-01 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Melissa N N Arron; Nynke G Greijdanus; Sarah Bastiaans; Pauline A J Vissers; Rob H A Verhoeven; Richard P G Ten Broek; Henk M W Verheul; Pieter J Tanis; Harry van Goor; Johannes H W de Wilt Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2022-08-05 Impact factor: 13.787