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Colorectal cancer

Surgery for colorectal cancer — standardization required

A recent paper indicates that intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with complete mesocolic excision are increased when compared with conventional surgery. Variability in complication rates between studies highlights the need for standardization in colorectal surgery. This process should start by addressing factors that have hampered standardization to date.

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Figure 1: Digital sculpture demonstrating mesenteric contiguity.

References

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the assistance of D. Walsh in developing Fig. 1. J.C.C. is supported by University of Limerick's Graduate Entry Medical School Strategic Research Fund, and by the Midwestern Cancer Foundation.

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Correspondence to J. Calvin Coffey or Peter Dockery.

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Coffey, J., Dockery, P. Surgery for colorectal cancer — standardization required. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 13, 256–257 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2016.40

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