The December 2020 Issue is Out!

Listen to the Editor-in-Chief’s top reasons to read the December issue.

There are two COVID-19 articles.

Title: Practice Patterns of Colorectal Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors: Xian-rui Wu, M.D., Ph.D. • Yun-feng Zhang, M.D. • Nan Lan, M.D., Ph.D. • Zhong-tao Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. • Xi-shan Wang, M.D. • Ph.D. • Bo Shen, M.D.Ping Lan, M.D., Ph.D.1,2 • Ravi P. Kiran, M.D.5,6 • On behalf of Chinese Society of Colorectal Surgery of China Medical Association

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic clearly influenced the care of patients with colorectal disease. Elective colorectal surgeries were more likely to be affected than emergent cases.

Title: “You’re Used To Being The One That Can Fix Things…”: A Qualitative Snapshot of Colorectal Surgeons During COVID-19

Authors: Mary E. Byrnes, Ph.D., M.U.P. • Christopher J. Varlamos, B.S. • Samantha J. Rivard, M.D. • Ashley A. Duby, M.S. • Ana C. De Roo, M.D., M.Sc. • Clarice E. Hibbard, B.A.S.Matthew J. Callow, B.A. • Justin B. Dimick, M.D., M.P.H. • John C. Byrn, M.D.

Description: This Viewpoint reflects the narratives of 58 colorectal surgeons who engaged in an in-depth qualitative interview during the COVID-19 shutdown of elective surgeries. Ourgoal for reporting these findings is to offer a “snapshot” of surgeon perspectives on the delays of elective surgeries and give voice to surgeons who were unable to perform mostor all of their duties as a surgeon. In so doing, we hope that this descriptive thematic analysis will offer a perspective into how surgeons are impacted and how they are thinkingabout patient care while leadership moves forward and attempts to triage the backlog of care in the United States.

Sneak a peek at a few of the scientific studies featured in this month’s issue as described by the authors in their video abstracts.

Title: CD4/CD8 Ratio as a Novel Marker for Increased Risk of High-Grade Anal Dysplasia and Anal Cancer in HIV+ Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Authors: Cristina B. Geltzeiler, Yiwei Xu, Evie Carchman, Youhi Ghouse, Jeffrey Beczkiewicz, Joohee Son, Corrine I. Voils, Rob Striker

Description: Low CD4/CD8 ratio confers additional risk of high-grade anal dysplasia and anal cancer beyond the diagnosis of HIV, even when adjusting for knownrisks factors of anal cancer. Our data suggest that the CD4/CD8 ratio may be able to help identify people living with HIV who are at higher risk of anal cancer development.

Title: Clinical–Pathologic Characteristics and Long-term Outcomes of Left Flexure Colonic Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of an International Multicenter Cohort

Authors: Corrado Pedrazzani, Giulia Turri, Soo Yeun Park, Koya Hida, Yudai Fukui, Jacopo Crippa, Giovanni Ferrari, Matteo Origi, Gaya Spolverato, Matteo Zuin, Sung Uk Bae,Seong Kyu Baek, Andrea Costanzi, Dario Maggioni, Gyung Mo Son, Andrea Scala, Timothy Rockall, Alfredo Guglielmi, Gyu Seog Choi, David W. Larson

Description: Although left flexure tumors display several negative prognostic factors, they are not characterized by a worse prognosis compared with other colon cancer locations

Title: Short-term and Long-term Outcomes Following Pelvic Pouch Excision: The Mount Sinai Hospital Experience\

Authors: Amandeep Pooni, Anthony de Buck van Overstraeten, Zane Cohen, Helen M. MacRae, Erin D. Kennedy, Mantaj S. Brar

Description: Pouch excision is associated with high postoperative morbidity and long-term reintervention due to nonhealing perineal wounds, stoma complications, and hernias. Further study is required to clarify risk reduction strategies to limit perineal wound complications and the appropriate selection of patients for diversion alone vs. pouch excision in IPAA failure.

Title: Assessment of the Risk and Economic Burden of Surgical Site Infection Following Colorectal Surgery Using a US Longitudinal Database: Is There a Role for Innovative Antimicrobial Wound Closure Technology to Reduce the Risk of Infection?

Authors: David J. Leaper, Chantal E. Holy, Maureen Spencer, Abhishek Chitnis, Andrew Hogan, George W.J. Wright, Brian Po-Han Chen, Charles E. Edmiston, Jr

Description: Surgical site infection cost burden was found to be higher than previously reported, with payer costs escalating over a 24-month postoperative period. Cost analysis results for adopting antimicrobial wound closure aligns with previous evidence-based studies, suggesting a fiscal benefit for its use as a component of a comprehensive evidence-based surgical care bundle for reducing the risk of infection.