Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and CA19-9 are simple and informative prognostic factors in patients with resected pancreatic cancer

We read with great interest the paper “Combined preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level as a prognostic factor in patients with resected pancreatic cancer” published in Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases International [1].

Psychiatric morbidity after surgery for inflammatory bowel disease:A systematic review

AIM To examine the evidence about psychiatric morbidity after inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)-related surgery. METHODS PRISMA guidelines were followed and a protocol was published at PROSPERO(CRD42016037600). Inclusion criteria were studies describing patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing surgery and their risk of developing psychiatric disorder. RESULTS Twelve studies(including 4340 patients) were eligible. All studies were non-randomized and most had high risk of bias. Patients operated for inflammatory bowel disease had an increased risk of developing depression,compared with surgical patients with diverticulitis or inguinal hernia,but not cancer. In addition,patients with Crohn's disease had higher risk of depression after surgery compared with non-surgical patients. Patients with ulcerative colitis had higher risk of anxiety after surgery compared with surgical colorectal cancer patients. Charlson comorbidity score more than three and female gender were independent predictors for depression and anxiety following surgery. CONCLUSION The review cannot give any clear answer to the risks of psychiatric morbidity after surgery for IBD studies with the lowest risk of bias indicated an increased risk of depression among surgical patients with Crohn's disease and increased risk of anxiety among patients with ulcerative colitis.

Patients with Crohn’s disease have longer post-operative in-hospital stay than patients with colon cancer but no difference in complications’ rate

BACKGROUND Right hemicolectomy or ileocecal resection are used to treat benign conditions like Crohn’s disease(CD)and malignant ones like colon cancer(CC).AIM To investigate differences in pre-and peri-operative factors and their impact on post-operative outcome in patients with CC and CD.METHODS This is a sub-group analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology’s prospective,multi-centre snapshot audit.Adult patients with CC and CD undergoing right hemicolectomy or ileocecal resection were included.Primary outcome measure was 30-d post-operative complications.Secondary outcome measures were post-operative length of stay(LOS)at and readmission.RESULTS Three hundred and seventy-five patients with CD and 2,515 patients with CC were included.Patients with CD were younger(median=37 years for CD and 71 years for CC(P<0.01),had lower American Society of Anesthesiology score(ASA)grade(P<0.01)and less comorbidity(P<0.01),but were more likely to be current smokers(P<0.01).Patients with CD were more frequently operated on by colorectal surgeons(P<0.01)and frequently underwent ileocecal resection(P<0.01)with higher rate of de-functioning/primary stoma construction(P<0.01).Thirty-day post-operative mortality occurred exclusively in the CC group(66/2515,2.3%).In multivariate analyses,the risk of post-operative complications was similar in the two groups(OR 0.80,95%CI:0.54-1.17;P=0.25).Patients with CD had a significantly longer LOS(Geometric mean 0.87,95%CI:0.79-0.95;P<0.01).There was no difference in re-admission rates.The audit did not collect data on post-operative enhanced recovery protocols that are implemented in the different participating centers.CONCLUSION Patients with CD were younger,with lower ASA grade,less comorbidity,operated on by experienced surgeons and underwent less radical resection but had a longer LOS than patients with CC although complications'rate was not different between the two groups.