SummaryBackgroundSurgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world.MethodsThis international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231.FindingsBetween Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p<0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p<0·001).InterpretationCountries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication.FundingDFID-MRC-Wellcome Trust Joint Global Health Trial Development Grant,...

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.

Previous results of low complication rates with the non-antibiotic policy were confirmed. The new policy of outpatient management without antibiotics in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis is now shown to be feasible, well functioning, and safe.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term results in patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis who had participated in the Antibiotics in Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis (AVOD) RCT, which randomized patients with CT-verified left-sided acute uncomplicated diverticulitis to management without or with antibiotics. Methods:The medical records of patients who had participated in the AVOD trial were reviewed for long-term results such as recurrences, complications and surgery. Quality-of-life questionnaires (EQ-5D™) were sent to patients, who were also contacted by telephone. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of clinical outcomes.Results: A total of 556 of the 623 patients (89⋅2 per cent) were followed up for a median of 11 years. There were no differences between the no-antibiotic and antibiotic group in recurrences (both 31⋅3 per cent; P = 0⋅986), complications (4⋅4 versus 5⋅0 per cent; P = 0⋅737), surgery for diverticulitis (6⋅2 versus 7⋅1 per cent; P = 0⋅719) or colorectal cancer (0⋅4 versus 2⋅1 per cent; P = 0⋅061). The response rate for the EQ-5D™ was 52⋅8 versus 45⋅2 per cent respectively (P = 0⋅030), and no differences were found between the two groups in any of the measured dimensions.Conclusion: Antibiotic avoidance for uncomplicated diverticulitis is safe in the long term.

Background. The first randomized multicenter study evaluating the need for antibiotic treatment in patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) could not demonstrate any benefit gained from antibiotic use. The aim of this study was to review the application of the no antibiotic policy and its consequences in regard to complications and recurrence. Methods. This retrospective population-based cohort study included all patients diagnosed with all types of colonic diverticulitis during the year 2011 at Västmanland Hospital Västerås, Sweden. All medical records were carefully reviewed. Primary outcomes were the types of treatment adopted for diverticulitis, complications and recurrence. Results. In total, 246 patients with computer tomography-verified diverticulitis were identified, 195 with primary AUD and 51 with acute complicated diverticulitis. Age, sex, and temperature at admission were similar between the groups but there was a significant difference in white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and length of hospital stay. In the AUD group, 178 (91.3%) patients were not treated with antibiotics. In this group, there were six (3.4%) readmissions but only two developed an abscess. Of the remaining 17 patients (8.7%) who were treated with antibiotics in the AUD group, one developed an abscess. Twenty-five (12.8%) patients in the AUD group presented with a recurrence within 1 year. Conclusion. The no-antibiotic policy for AUD is safe and applicable in clinical practice. The previous results of a low complication and recurrence rate in AUD are confirmed. There is no need for antibiotic treatment for AUD. What does this paper add to the literature? Despite published papers with excellent results, there are still doubts about patient safety against the policy to not use antibiotics in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis. This is the first paper, in actual clinical practice, to confirm that the no antibiotic policy for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis is applicable and safe.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III rectal cancer patients is a matter of discussion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of lymphovascular (LVI) and perineural (PNI) invasion in stage II rectal cancer on a national level. Materials and methods: Clinico-pathological factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and time to recurrence in stage II rectal cancer patients were analyzed from patient data registered in the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry between 2006 and 2012. Results: Of 2649 patients with TNM stage II disease, 1395 (53%) received preoperative radiotherapy and 456 (17%) preoperative chemoradiotherapy. LVI and PNI were detected in 387 (15%) and 269 (10%) patients, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy was planned in 14%, but more often if LVI or PNI was detected (25% and 31%, respectively, p < .001 for both). The three-year DFS and time to recurrence were 78% and 17%, respectively. Both LVI and PNI indicated worse outcome. In patients not receiving postoperative chemotherapy, the risks of recurrence after three years were 20% if LVI was seen and 22% if PNI was detected (p < .001 for both). In the absence of LVI and PNI, it was 13% and 12%, respectively. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients with LVI (hazard ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.09-1.90; p ¼ .011) and PNI (hazard ratio 1.80, 95% CI 1.34-2.43, p < .001) had significantly increased risks of recurrence. Conclusions: Stage II rectal cancer patients with LVI and PNI have an increased risk of recurrence which emphasizes the need to properly evaluate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy particularly in these subgroups.

Few rectal cancer patients, operated with Hartmann's procedure, developed pelvic complications despite a higher age, more co-morbidities, metastases in different localities and functional inferiority when compared with the patients operated with anterior resection or abdominoperineal excision. Hartmann's procedure is a valid alternative procedure in the old and frail rectal cancer patient.

A prophylactic stoma mesh did not reduce the rate of clinically or computed tomography-verified parastomal hernias. High BMI was associated with an increased risk of parastomal hernia formation regardless of prophylactic stoma mesh.