Special issue, Malignant disease, Rectal cancer,Colorectal cancer,Epidemiology & etiology
- Modifications to Treatment Plan of Rectal Cancer in Response to COVID-19 at the Philippine General Hospital
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Sofia Isabel T. Manlubatan, Marc Paul J. Lopez, Mark Augustine S. Onglao, Hermogenes J. Monroy III
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Ann Coloproctol. 2021;37(4):225-231. Published online August 6, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2021.00381.0054
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Abstract
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- Purpose
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained healthcare resources worldwide. Despite the high number of cases, cancer management should remain one of the priorities of healthcare, as any delay would potentially cause disease progression.
Methods
This was an observational study that included nonmetastatic rectal cancer patients managed at the Philippine General Hospital from March 16 to May 31, 2020, coinciding with the lockdown. The treatment received and their outcomes were investigated.
Results
Of the 52 patients included, the majority were female (57.7%), belonging to the age group of 50 to 69 years (53.8%), and residing outside the capital (59.6%). On follow-up, 23.1% had no disease progression, 17.3% had local progression, 28.8% had metastatic progression, 19.2% have died, and 11.5% were lost to follow up. The initial plan for 47.6% patients was changed. Of the 21 patients with nonmetastatic disease, 2 underwent outright resection. The remaining 19 required neoadjuvant therapy. Eight have completed their neoadjuvant treatment, 8 are undergoing treatment, 2 had their treatment interrupted, and 1 has yet to begin treatment. Among the 9 patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy, only 1 was able to undergo resection on time. The rest were delayed, with a median time of 4 months. One has repeatedly failed to arrive for her surgery due to public transport limitations. There was 1 adjuvant chemotherapy-related mortality.
Conclusion
Delays in cancer management resulted in disease progression in several patients. Alternative neoadjuvant treatment options should be considered while taking into account oncologic outcomes, acceptable toxicity, and limitation of potential COVID-19 exposure.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Was there any change in surgical treatment for colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yeajin Moon, Seung Hun Lee, Seung Hyun Lee
Kosin Medical Journal.2025; 40(3): 207. CrossRef - Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer
In Ja Park
The Ewha Medical Journal.2023;[Epub] CrossRef - Short-Term Impact of Temporary Shutdown of a University-Affiliated Hospital on Patients With Colorectal Cancer During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Youn Young Park, Jaeim Lee, Kil-yong Lee, Seong Taek Oh
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2022;[Epub] CrossRef - Surgical safety in the COVID-19 era: present and future considerations
Young Il Kim, In Ja Park
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research.2022; 102(6): 295. CrossRef - The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of surgically treated colorectal diseases: a retrospective cohort study
Gülten Çiçek Okuyan, Melih Yıldırım
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research.2022; 103(2): 104. CrossRef - Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of colorectal cancer
Kyung Uk Jung, Hyung Ook Kim, Hungdai Kim
Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(9): 549. CrossRef - Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer-An English Version
Kyung Uk Jung, Hyung Ook Kim, Hungdai Kim
Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon.2022; 6(4): 231. CrossRef
Malignant disease, Functional outcomes,Postoperative outcome & ERAS
- Improved outcomes with implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathway for patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in the Philippines
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Mayou Martin T. Tampo, Mark Augustine S. Onglao, Marc Paul J. Lopez, Marie Dione P. Sacdalan, Ma. Concepcion L. Cruz, Rosielyn T. Apellido, Hermogenes J. Monroy III
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Ann Coloproctol. 2022;38(2):109-116. Published online September 18, 2020
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.09.02
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7,227
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312
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8
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8
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Abstract
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Supplementary Material
- Purpose
This study aims to evaluate surgical outcomes (i.e. length of stay [LOS], 30-day morbidity, mortality, reoperation, and readmission rates) with the use of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway, and determine its association with the rate of compliance to the different ERAS components.
Methods
This was a prospective cohort of patients, who underwent the following elective procedures: stoma reversal (SR), colon resection (CR), and rectal resection (RR). The primary endpoint was to determine the association of compliance to an ERAS pathway and surgical outcomes. These were then retrospectively compared to outcomes prior to the implementation of ERAS.
Results
A total of 267 patients were included in the study. The overall compliance to the ERAS component was 92.0% (SR, 91.8%; CR, 93.1%; RR, 90.7%). There was an associated decrease in morbidity rates across all types of surgery, as compliance to ERAS increased. The average total LOS decreased in all groups but was only found to have statistical significance in SR (12.1±6.7 days vs. 10.0±5.4 days, P=0.002) and RR (19.9±11.4 days vs. 16.9±10.5 days, P=0.04) groups. Decreased postoperative LOS was noted in all groups. Morbidity rates were significantly higher after ERAS implementation, but reoperation and mortality rates were found to be similar.
Conclusion
Increased compliance to ERAS protocol is associated with a decrease in morbidity across all surgery types. The implementation of an ERAS protocol significantly decreased mean hospital LOS, without any increase in major surgical complications. Having your own hospital ERAS pathway improves documentation and accuracy of reporting surgical complications.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in stoma reversal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Túlio Pimentel, Dante L. S. Souza, Ivonne Zuniga, Maria Clara Faveri, Julia Canfild, Paula Motta Pauperio, Hamza Guend
Updates in Surgery.2025; 77(2): 297. CrossRef - Surgical Enhanced Recovery: Where Are We Now?
Anika Tahmeed, Juan P. Cata, Tong J. Gan
International Anesthesiology Clinics.2025; 63(2): 62. CrossRef - Lessons following implementation of a colorectal enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in a rural hospital setting
Stephen Tolmay, Jamie‐Lee Rahiri, Kim Snoep, Gillian Fewster, Rachel Kee, Yukai Lim, Bridget Watson, Konrad Klaus Richter
ANZ Journal of Surgery.2024; 94(5): 910. CrossRef - Sex Disparities in Rectal Cancer Surgery: An In-Depth Analysis of Surgical Approaches and Outcomes
Chungyeop Lee, In Ja Park
The World Journal of Men's Health.2024; 42(2): 304. CrossRef - Influence of additional prophylactic oral antibiotics during mechanical bowel preparation on surgical site infection in patients receiving colorectal surgery
Hayoung Lee, Jong Lyul Lee, Ji Sung Lee, Chan Wook Kim, Yong Sik Yoon, In Ja Park, Seok‐Byung Lim
World Journal of Surgery.2024; 48(6): 1534. CrossRef - Clinical outcomes and future directions of enhanced recovery after surgery in colorectal surgery: a narrative review
Ji Hyeong Song, Minsung Kim
The Ewha Medical Journal.2024;[Epub] CrossRef - The Latest Results and Future Directions of Research for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in the Field of Colorectal Surgery
Min Ki Kim
The Ewha Medical Journal.2023;[Epub] CrossRef - Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer
In Ja Park
The Ewha Medical Journal.2023;[Epub] CrossRef