Summary Background 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03471494 . Findings Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit.

Background It remains unclear whether extended lymphadenectomy provides oncological advantages in colorectal cancer. This multicentre RCT aimed to address this issue. Methods Patients with resectable primary colonic cancer were enrolled in four hospitals registered in the COLD trial, and randomized to D2 or D3 dissection in a 1 : 1 ratio. Data were analysed to assess the safety of D3 dissection. Results The study included the first 100 patients randomized in this ongoing trial. Ninety‐nine patients were included in the intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis (43 D2, 56 D3). Ninety‐two patients received the allocated treatment and were included in the per‐protocol (PP) analysis: 39 of 43 in the D2 group and 53 of 56 in the D3 group. There were no deaths. The 30‐day postoperative morbidity rate was 47 per cent in the D2 group and 48 per cent in the D3 group, with a risk ratio of 1·04 (95 per cent c.i. 0·68 to 1·58) (P = 0·867). There were two anastomotic leaks (5 per cent) in the D2 group and none in the D3 group. Postoperative recovery, complication and readmission rates did not differ between the groups in ITT and PP analyses. Mean lymph node yield was 26·6 and 27·8 in D2 and D3 procedures respectively. Good quality of complete mesocolic excision was more frequently noted in the D3 group (P = 0·048). Three patients in the D3 group (5 per cent) had metastases in D3 lymph nodes. D3 was never the only affected level of lymph nodes. N‐positive status was more common in the D3 group (46 per cent versus 26 per cent in D2), with a risk ratio of 1·81 (95 per cent c.i. 1·01 to 3·24) (P = 0·044). Conclusion D3 lymph node dissection is feasible and may be associated with better N staging. Registration number: NCT03009227 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Occasionally, Hirschsprung's disease presents in adulthood, with ongoing symptoms from early childhood or with the development of functional obstruction, faecal impaction and megacolon in later life. Diagnosis often requires multimodal investigation. A 60 mm full-thickness strip biopsy confirms aganglionosis in 100%. A modified Duhamel procedure is the operation of choice.

Aim. Current clinical recommendations are intended to supply gastroenterologists, physicians and general practitioners with modern methods for the diagnosis and treatment of constipation.Key points. Constipation is defined as primary (functional) and secondary form, the latter comprising a manifestation of another illness. The causes of constipation are diagnosed with colonoscopy, especially in patients aged over 50 having “anxiety symptoms” and hereditary colorectal oncological predisposition. Indications may also include the bowel transit time estimation with radiopaque markers, balloon expulsion test, anorectal manometry, defecography and electromyography. Therapy for constipation should be comprehensive and concern lifestyle, diet recommendations and use of medications (psyllium, macrogol, lactulose, lactitol, contact laxatives, prucalopride). Patients with a less effective conservative therapy and largely reduced quality of life should be considered for surgical intervention.Conclusion. An effective therapy for constipation requires a correct diagnosis of its causes.

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