Emergencies in Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology

Dear Colleagues,

Despite robust screening efforts, more than 20 percent of patients with gastrointestinal cancers require urgent or emergent surgical procedures. Emergencies in gastrointestinal surgical oncology pose a unique challenge to medical professionals, demanding prompt and decisive action to avert severe complications and improve patients’ outcomes. Generally, compared with patients who undergo elective surgery, patients who undergo emergency surgery for gastrointestinal tumors have increased morbidity and mortality. Additionally, cancers that are resected emergently are more likely to have an advanced T stage with a higher histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, metastatic disease, and, consequently, a worse prognosis. These emergencies stem from the dynamic interplay between malignant neoplasms and the gastrointestinal tract, often resulting in life-threatening conditions such as bowel obstruction, perforation, and uncontrolled bleeding. The spectrum of gastrointestinal surgical oncology emergencies is diverse, encompassing a range of life-threatening conditions that necessitate immediate intervention. Early recognition and intervention are paramount in addressing these emergencies, with surgical resection often being the primary treatment modality. Nevertheless, the successful management of gastrointestinal surgical oncology emergencies requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving surgeons, oncologists, intensivists, and specialized nurses, collaborating seamlessly to deliver optimal care for these complex and fragile patients. The specific management strategy will depend on the type and severity of the emergency, as well as the patient's overall medical condition. Even in the emergent setting, every effort must be pursued to respect the principles of oncological radicality, including negative/adequate margins with an adequate lymphadenectomy, whenever indicated. The goals of treatment of gastrointestinal cancers-related surgical emergencies encompass the treatment of disease complications while achieving an appropriate oncological resection and ensuring timely recovery to allow a rapid onset of adjuvant therapy. By understanding the various types of emergencies, their management strategies, and the importance of collaboration, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality.

This Special Issue aims to promote the analysis of several interesting insights regarding the diagnosis, prevention, and management of emergencies in gastrointestinal surgical oncology.

We are pleased to invite you as eminent experts in this field and we will be grateful for your precious contributions to this upcoming Special Issue through the submission of high-quality original papers, such as original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or review articles. Please feel free to nominate someone from your team as a co-author, if required.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Fausto Rosa
Dr. Carlo Alberto Schena
Prof. Dr. Nicola De'Angelis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• surgical oncology
• emergencies
• emergency surgery
• acute care surgery
• palliation
• futility in surgery

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