| 1. |
- Chabok, Abbas, et al.
(author)
-
Randomized clinical trial of antibiotics in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis
- 2012
-
In: British Journal of Surgery. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0007-1323 .- 1365-2168. ; 99:4, s. 532-539
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The standard of care for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis today is antibiotic treatment, although there are no controlled studies supporting this management. The aim was to investigate the need for antibiotic treatment in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, with the endpoint of recovery without complications after 12 months of follow-up. Methods: This multicentre randomized trial involving ten surgical departments in Sweden and one in Iceland recruited 623 patients with computed tomography-verified acute uncomplicated left-sided diverticulitis. Patients were randomized to treatment with (314 patients) or without (309 patients) antibiotics. Results: Age, sex, body mass index, co-morbidities, body temperature, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level on admission were similar in the two groups. Complications such as perforation or abscess formation were found in six patients (1.9 per cent) who received no antibiotics and in three (1.0 per cent) who were treated with antibiotics (P = 0.302). The median hospital stay was 3 days in both groups. Recurrent diverticulitis necessitating readmission to hospital at the 1-year follow-up was similar in the two groups (16 per cent, P = 0.881). Conclusion: Antibiotic treatment for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis neither accelerates recovery nor prevents complications or recurrence. It should be reserved for the treatment of complicated diverticulitis.
|
|
| 2. |
- Hosseinali Khani, Maziar, 1975-, et al.
(author)
-
Treatment strategies for patients with stage IV rectal cancer : a report from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry
- 2012
-
In: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 48:11, s. 1616-1623
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The optimal treatment strategy for patients with stage IV rectal cancer is unclear. The aim of the present study was to describe trends and compare the different treatment strategies for this group of patients at a national level and over time.Methods: Data from 2758 rectal cancer patients with (stage IV group) and 13 420 without metastases (stage I-III group) were available from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Registry between January 1995 and December 2006.Results: Patients with stage IV disease increased from 15 to 19 per cent between 1995 and 2006 (p<0.001) and the frequency of patients not operated increased from 13 to 26 per cent (p<0.001). Postoperative 30 day mortality after bowel resection was 2 per cent and after exploratory laparotomy 9 per cent. Median survival for stage IV patients operated with bowel resection was 16.3 months, an exploratory laparotomy 6.1 months, and for patients having no surgery 4.6 months. Patients aged 60-69 years increased their survival over time, irrespective of the treatment given. In the multivariate analysis, an increased risk of death was associated with: age > 80 years, operation at a local hospital, treatment in earlier time periods, not receiving preoperative radio- or chemotherapy, and not having a bowel resection.Conclusion: Survival for stage IV rectal cancer patients improved in the latest time period despite the great increase in non-operated patients. Patients aged > 80 years should be carefully assessed and staged before surgery. The survival advantage for stage IV rectal cancer patients who underwent primary tumour resection is probably due to selection bias.
|
|
