Palliative Surgery Research Articles

Construction and validation of a risk prediction model for postoperative ICU admission in patients with colorectal cancer: clinical prediction model study

BackgroundTransfer to the ICU is common following non-cardiac surgeries, including radical colorectal cancer (CRC) resection. Understanding the judicious utilization of costly ICU medical resources and supportive postoperative care is crucial. This study aimed to construct and validate a nomogram for predicting the need for mandatory ICU admission immediately following radical CRC resection.MethodsRetrospective analysis was conducted on data from 1003 patients who underwent radical or palliative surgery for CRC at Ningxia Medical University General Hospital from August 2020 to April 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. Independent predictors were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression in the training cohort to construct the nomogram. An online prediction tool was developed for clinical use. The nomogram's calibration and discriminative performance were assessed in both cohorts, and its clinical utility was evaluated through decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsThe final predictive model comprised age (P = 0.003, odds ratio [OR] 3.623, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.535–8.551); nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) (P = 0.000, OR 6.129, 95% CI 2.920–12.863); serum albumin (ALB) (P = 0.013, OR 0.921, 95% CI 0.863–0.982); atrial fibrillation (P = 0.000, OR 20.017, 95% CI 4.191–95.609); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (P = 0.009, OR 8.151, 95% CI 1.674–39.676); forced expiratory volume in 1 s / Forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) (P = 0.040, OR 0.966, 95% CI 0.935–0.998); and surgical method (P = 0.024, OR 0.425, 95% CI 0.202–0.891). The area under the curve was 0.865, and the consistency index was 0.367. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test indicated excellent model fit (P = 0.367). The calibration curve closely approximated the ideal diagonal line. DCA showed a significant net benefit of the predictive model for postoperative ICU admission.ConclusionPredictors of ICU admission following radical CRC resection include age, preoperative serum albumin level, nutritional risk screening, atrial fibrillation, COPD, FEV1/FVC, and surgical route. The predictive nomogram and online tool support clinical decision-making for postoperative ICU admission in patients undergoing radical CRC surgery.Trial registrationDespite the retrospective nature of this study, we have proactively registered it with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. The registration number is ChiCTR2200062210, and the date of registration is 29/07/2022.

Surgical Outcomes of Congenital Heart Disease in the Eastern Region of Libya

Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to a group of structural abnormalities in the heart that are present at birth. However, due to advancements in medical and surgical care, more children with CHD in developed countries are now surviving into adulthood. This study aims to assess the outcomes of surgically repaired congenital heart disease in the eastern part of Libya. Data was obtained from the medical records of 374 patients, of which 54.2% were male and 45.7% were female, who underwent surgical correction and palliative cardiac surgery between February 2015 and February 2019. The majority of patients were from Benghazi and Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, and the most common diagnoses were ventricular septal defects (VSD) (25.4%) and complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) (21.9%). The death rate in atrioventricular canal (AVC) defects was 7.4%, CCHD had a mortality rate of 4.8%, and the total mortality rate was 2.9%. In the eastern part of Libya, pediatric cardiac surgery and cardiac surgical intensive care for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) still heavily rely on foreign cardiac surgery missions. There is a need for a comprehensive treatment plan and the development of local capabilities to manage CHD patients independently.

Palliative surgery versus non-surgery of the solitary metastatic lesion in De novo metastatic breast cancer: A SEER based study.

This study aimed to evaluate whether palliative surgery for metastatic lesion could provide a survival benefit in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with solitary metastasis. De novo MBC patients with solitary distant lesions were enrolled utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to form matched pairs of the surgery group and the non-surgery group. The breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes between the 2 groups were compared in the following 3 sample models: the entire cohort of MBC (7665 cases); subgroups of patients with different isolated metastatic organs; and subgroups of patients with different molecular subtypes for each isolated metastatic organ. Compared with the Non-surgery group, the surgery group showed better BCSS and OS before PSM (HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.79-0.99, P = .04 and HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76-0.95, P = .006, respectively). After PSM, palliative surgery still provided an OS benefit in patients with brain metastasis and lung metastasis (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37-0.95, P = .01 and HR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.45-0.90, P = .02, respectively). Likewise, a better BCSS benefit was also found in the subset of patients with brain metastasis (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.38-1.00, P = .01). Further stratification analysis indicated that patients with the luminal A subtype with brain metastasis have a better BCSS (HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16-0.79, P = .04) and OS (HR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.18-0.75, P = .03) after undergoing palliative surgery than nonsurgical treatment. Our study originality showed that palliative surgery for metastatic lesion could improve survival prognosis in patients with special single-organ metastasis and specific molecular subtypes. More clinical studies are needed to determine whether palliative surgery should be performed in MBC patients.

Impact of definitive surgery for esophageal atresia on long-term outcomes in patients with trisomy 18.

This study investigates the long-term outcomes of palliative and definitive surgeries for esophageal atresia (EA) in patients with trisomy 18 syndrome. A retrospective study included 25 cases undergoing EA surgery at our center between 2008 and 2022. The Palliative group (n = 16) comprised 13 cases with esophageal banding and 3 with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) division. The Definitive group (n = 9) included 5 cases with primary repair and 4 with staged repair following TEF division. The patient characteristics exhibited no significant differences between the groups. In the Definitive group, 56% (5/9) were successfully weaned off mechanical ventilation, compared with none in the Palliative group (p = 0.002). Survival-to-discharge rates were 31% (5/16) in the Palliative group and 67% (6/9) in the Definitive group. Home ventilator management was required for all 5 cases that required ventilation in the Palliative group, whereas only 17% (1/6) in the Definitive group needed it. The Palliative group also required continuous oral suction for persistent saliva removal, with two cases undergoing laryngotracheal separation. Overall, definitive surgery for EA in patients with trisomy 18 syndrome may provide enhanced respiratory stability, thereby improving the survival-to-discharge rate and overall quality of life for patients and their families.

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of 37 cases of gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment approaches, and prognosis of gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma (GB-NEC).MethodsRetrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 37 patients with GB-NEC admitted to Shanxi Cancer Hospital from January 2010 to June 2023. The study included an examination of their general information, treatment regimens, and overall prognosis.ResultsTwelve cases, either due to distant metastasis or other reasons, did not undergo surgical treatment and received palliative chemotherapy (Group 1). Two cases underwent simple cholecystectomy (Group 2); four patients underwent palliative tumor resection surgery (Group 3), and nineteen patients underwent radical resection surgery (Group 4). Among the 37 GB-NEC patients, the average pre-surgery CA19-9 level was 113.29 ± 138.45 U/mL, and the median overall survival time was 19 months (range 7.89–30.11 months). Of these, 28 cases (75.7%) received systemic treatment, 25 cases (67.6%) underwent surgical intervention, and 16 cases (64.0%) received postoperative adjuvant treatment, including combined radiochemotherapy or chemotherapy alone. The median overall survival time was 4 months (0.61–7.40 months) for Group 1 (n = 12), 8 months for Group 2 (n = 2), 21 months (14.67–43.33 months) for Group 3 (n = 4), and 19 months (range 7.89–30.11 months) for Group 4 (n = 19). A significant difference in median overall survival time was observed between Group 1 and Group 4 (P = 0.004).ConclusionSurgery remains the primary treatment for GB-NEC, with radical resection potentially offering greater benefits to patient survival compared to other therapeutic options. Postoperative adjuvant therapy has the potential to extend patient survival, although the overall prognosis remains challenging.

Critically evaluated key points on hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for only 3% of all thyroid carcinomas: 75% as sporadic MTC (sMTC) and 25% as hereditary MTC (hMTC) in the context of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). Early diagnosis is possible by determining the tumour marker calcitonin (Ctn) when clarifying nodular goitre and by detecting the mutation in the proto-oncogene RET in the MEN2 families. If the Ctn level is only slightly elevated, up to 30 pg/ml in women and up to 60 pg/ml in men, follow-up checks are advisable. At higher levels, surgery should be considered; at a level of > 100 pg/ml, surgery is always advisable. The treatment of choice is total thyroidectomy, possibly with central lymphadenectomy. In the early stage, cure is possible with adequate surgery; in the late stage, treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is an option. RET A mutation analysis should be performed on all patients with MTC. During follow-up, a biochemical distinction is made between: healed (Ctn not measurably low), biochemically incomplete (Ctn increased without tumour detection) and structural tumour detection (metastases on imaging). After MTC surgery, the following results should be available for classification in follow-up care: (i) histology, Ctn immunohistology if necessary, (ii) classification according to the pTNM scheme, (iii) the result of the RET analysis for categorisation into the hereditary or sporadic variant and (iiii) the postoperative Ctn value. Tumour progression is determined by assessing the Ctn doubling time and the RECIST criteria on imaging. In most cases, "active surveillance" is possible. In the case of progression and symptoms, the following applies: local (palliative surgery, radiotherapy) before systemic (tyrosine kinase inhibitors).

Risk Scoring System to Predict Mortality in Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has a particularly unfavorable prognosis. This limited survival raises doubts about which factors confer an extremely worse outcome and which patients could benefit from more aggressive treatments, in an attempt to improve survival and better control the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of patients with PC due to GC and develop a prognostic score to predict 6-month mortality. We performed an analysis of clinical stage IV GC with PC. Scores were assigned to risk factors and calculated for each patient from nine variables. Among 326 IVB GC, 211 (64.7%) had PC and were included. After calculating the score, 136 (64.5%) GCs were classified as a low-risk group and 75 (35.5%) as a high-risk group. Median OS was 7.9 and 1.9 months for low- and high-risk patients (p < 0.001). In the high-risk group, 77.3% of the patients died in <6 mo (p < 0.001). Palliative surgery and chemotherapy were associated with better survival, and the prognostic groups maintained statistical significance even when the same type of treatment was performed. In conclusion, the scoring system developed with variables related to patient performance status and clinical data was able to distinguish GC with PC with a high risk of 6-month mortality. Accordingly, verifying and validating our findings in a large cohort of patients is necessary to confirm and guarantee the external validation of the results.

Resilience in Rectal Cancer Treatment: Lessons from the COVID-19 Era in Czech Republic.

The management of patients with COVID-19 infection has placed great pressure on the healthcare systems around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment outcomes of patients with rectal cancer by comparing them to those of patients with the same diagnosis in the pre-pandemic period. Retrospective data analysis of patients undergoing multimodal treatment for rectal cancer at the four university hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) and the 2-year pre-pandemic period (2018-2019). A total of 693 patients (319 in the pre-pandemic period and 374 in the pandemic period) with rectal cancer were included in the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in both study periods were comparable, as was the spectrum of surgical procedures. Palliative surgery was more common in the pandemic period (18% vs 13%, p=0.084). The proportion of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p=0.025). There were no statistically significant differences between the study periods in the incidence/severity of post-operative complications, 30-day mortality and length of hospital stay. The number of positive resection margins was similar (5% vs 5%). Based on these results, COVID-19 had no effect on the postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. Neoadjuvant treatment was more common in the pre-pandemic period (50% vs 45%). Long-course RT was predominantly offered in the pre-pandemic period, short-course RT during the pandemic. Significantly shorter "diagnosis-surgery" intervals were observed during the pandemic (23 days vs 33 days, p=0.0002). The "surgery-adjuvant therapy" interval was similar in both analysed study periods (p=0.219). Our study showed, that despite concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, multimodal treatment of rectal cancer was associated with unchanged postoperative morbidity rates, increased frequency of short-course neoadjuvant RT administration and shorter "diagnosis-surgery" intervals.

Improving the Rate of Palliative Care Completion in NICU Nurses

Critically ill neonates receive care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Unfortunately, some neonates pass away in the NICU. Providing comprehensive neonatal palliative care and hospice services is crucial in supporting parents through the loss of their offspring. In our NICU, we identified that only 74.5% of nurses are able to properly recognize the need for palliative care and only 55% are able to implement the necessary procedures. A project was designed and implemented to enhance the ability of nursing staff to recognize the need for and properly implement palliative care to improve the quality of this care in the NICU. We organized an on-the-job education and training program within our NICU with the goals of heightening awareness among nursing staff. In addition, a specialist palliative care operation flow chart, process preparation checklist, and palliative-care-related tools were created to facilitate the care process. After program implementation, among nursing staff in our NICU, the palliative care recognition accuracy rate rose to 100% (from 74.5%) and the implementation rate rose to 94.8% (from 55%). The quality of provided neonatal palliative care and hospice services was significantly improved. The developed program was shown to significantly improve nursing staff recognition and implementation of neonatal palliative care in our NICU. This experience provides a reference for improving palliative care quality and for helping families effectively manage end-of-life challenges.

Knowledge and thresholds for palliative care and surgery among healthcare providers caring for adults with serious illness.

Timely palliative care and surgical interventions improve symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and reduce medical cost for seriously ill adults at end of life (EOL). However, there is still poor delivery and underutilization of these palliative services. We hypothesize that the sub-optimal delivery is due to limited understanding among healthcare providers. A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among primary and tertiary healthcare providers. The survey assessed challenges faced, palliative education, confidence in managing palliative patients, and knowledge on palliative surgery. Overall palliative care awareness and knowledge was assessed using a 6-point score. Likelihood of considering various palliative interventions at EOL was also determined using a threshold score (higher score = higher threshold). There were 145 healthcare providers who completed the survey (81.9% response rate); majority reported significant challenges in providing various aspects of palliative care: 57% (n = 82) in the provision of emotional support. Sixty-nine percent (n = 97) in managing social issues, and 71% (n = 103) in managing family expectations. Most expressed inadequate palliative care training in both under-graduate and post-graduate training and lack confidence in managing EOL issues. Up to 57% had misconceptions regarding potential benefits, morbidity and mortality after palliative surgery. In general, most providers had high thresholds for Intensive Care Unit admissions and palliative surgery, and were more likely to recommend endoscopic or interventional radiology procedures at EOL. Healthcare providers in Singapore have poor knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care and surgery. Improving awareness and education among those caring for seriously ill adults is essential.

ASO Visual Abstract: Palliative Surgery for Patients with Gastroesophageal Junction or Gastric Cancer-A Report on Clinical Observational Outcomes.

ASO Visual Abstract: Palliative Surgery for Patients with Gastroesophageal Junction or Gastric Cancer-A Report on Clinical Observational Outcomes.

Development and internal validation of machine-learning models for predicting survival in patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases.

A retrospective study. This study aimed to develop machine-learning algorithms for predicting survival in patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastasis. This study develops machine-learning models to predict postoperative survival in spinal metastasis patients, filling the gaps of traditional prognostic systems. Utilizing data from 389 patients, the study highlights XGBoost and CatBoost algorithms̓ effectiveness for 90, 180, and 365-day survival predictions, with preoperative serum albumin as a key predictor. These models offer a promising approach for enhancing clinical decision-making and personalized patient care. A registry of patients who underwent surgery (instrumentation, decompression, or fusion) for spinal metastases between 2004 and 2018 was used. The outcome measure was survival at postoperative days 90, 180, and 365. Preoperative variables were used to develop machine-learning algorithms to predict survival chance in each period. The performance of the algorithms was measured using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A total of 389 patients were identified, with 90-, 180-, and 365-day mortality rates of 18%, 41%, and 45% postoperatively, respectively. The XGBoost algorithm showed the best performance for predicting 180-day and 365-day survival (AUCs of 0.744 and 0.693, respectively). The CatBoost algorithm demonstrated the best performance for predicting 90-day survival (AUC of 0.758). Serum albumin had the highest positive correlation with survival after surgery. These machine-learning algorithms showed promising results in predicting survival in patients who underwent spinal palliative surgery for spinal metastasis, which may assist surgeons in choosing appropriate treatment and increasing awareness of mortality-related factors before surgery.

A VERY COMPLEX CASE OF DORV TYPE FALLOT: A CASE REPORT

Abstract Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a rare CHD characterized by ventriculoarterial connection in which both great arteries arise entirely or predominantly from the right ventricle. Its prevalence is 0.9% of all CHDs. Several chromosomal abnormalities have been associated with DORV, including trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and chromosome 22q11 deletion. Hearts with DORV are an extremely heterogeneous group showing various morphological features, connections, and relationships at each level of the cardiac segments and intersegmental junctions. As a consequence, the clinical manifestations and required surgical procedures for patients with DORV are variable. The anatomical spectrum is higly variable: it can be associated with ventricular septal defect, transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and functional single ventricle. We report the case of an infant with prenatal diagnosis of CHD and finding partial duplication of the short arm of the X chromosome. Pregnant woman at 22 weeks comes to the outpatient clinic to perform follow–up ultrasound. At that site finding of CHD which was later confirmed at birth and therefore prostaglandin therapy was started. Echocardiogram showed a wide DIV from malalignment with antero–cephalic deviation of the conal septum with significant aortic destroposition configuring picture of double outlet right ventricle. It also presents a complex right efflux obstruction already at subvalvular pulmonary departure. The pulmonary valve presented dysplastic, with en dome motion, hypoplastic. Pulmonary perfusion appears to be provided predominantly by the Botallo‘s duct originating from the isthmic region of the aorta and leading with a long and tortuous course to the pulmonary confluence near the left pulmnary artery with high velocity flow. The remaining findings are normal. Therefore, in view of the clinical picture, he was subjected to palliative surgery of right systemic–pulmonary shunt between the brachiocephalic trunk and right pulmonary artery (modified Blalock–Taussing surgery) in 3.5mm PTFE and ligation of Botallo‘s duct. At subsequent follow–up, the systemic–pulmonary shunt appeared pervious with regular flow. Wide DIV from anterior malalignment with aorta cavalier to DIV. Severe stenosis at complex pulmonary outflow with max gradient up to 124mmHg with dynamic and valvular component. For the subsequent course of treatment, the patient will be discussed collegially.

Palliative Surgery for Patients with Gastroesophageal Junction or Gastric Cancer: A Report on Clinical Observational Outcomes.

Few studies have focused on palliative surgery in patients with advanced gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) or gastric cancer. We sought to evaluate clinical observational outcomes following palliative surgery in this population. Patients with GEJ or gastric cancer who underwent palliative surgery (1/2010-11/2022) were identified. The primary outcomes were symptom improvement, ability to tolerate an oral diet, discharge to home, 30 "good days" without hospitalization, and receipt of systemic treatment. Postoperative outcomes and survival were secondarily evaluated. Among 93 patients, the median age was 59 (IQR 47-68) years, and the median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) was 1 (range 0-3). The most frequent indication for palliative surgery was primary tumor obstruction [75 (81%) patients]. The most common procedures were feeding tube placement in 60 (65%) and intestinal bypass in 15 (16%) patients. A total of 75 (81%) patients experienced symptom improvement. Of these, 19 (25%) developed recurrent and 49 (65%) developed new symptoms. ECOG-PS was significantly associated with symptom-free time. Among those who underwent a bypass, resection, or ostomy creation for malignant obstruction, 16 (80%) tolerated an oral diet. Postoperatively, 87 (94%) were discharged home, 72 (77%) had 30 good days, and 64 (69%) received systemic treatment. Postoperative complications occurred in 35 (38%) patients, and 7 (8%) died within 30 days. The median survival time was 7.7 (95% CI 6.4-10.40) months. Patients with incurable GEJ or gastric cancer can benefit from palliative surgery. Prognosis and performance status should inform goals-of-care discussions and patient selection for surgical palliation.

The language of palliative surgery: A scoping review

BackgroundDespite an identified need for palliative surgery to have a clear definition and well-defined therapeutic goals, comprehensive assessment of utilization of the term palliative has not been performed in the surgical literature. The objective of this scoping review is to characterize use of the word palliative in reference to surgery performed for adult general surgery patients. MethodsFour electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published from January 2000 to April 2023. Two independent reviewers extracted data and conducted a qualitative thematic synthesis of included studies. Representative analytic themes were generated and agreed upon by all authors. Results6906 studies were identified and 222 met inclusion criteria. 96.4% of studies were performed in oncology patient populations. Thematic synthesis revealed two domains: the language of palliative surgery and the evaluation of palliative surgery, each with associated themes. There was wide variability in the use and meaning of the term palliative. Many researchers reported survival as the sole outcome measure and very few studies utilized a validated instrument to quantify post-operative outcomes related to palliation. There was often a misalignment between the patient population, study objectives, study design, and conclusions drawn. ConclusionsDisparate definitions of palliative surgery and poor study design compromise the validity of studies investigating palliative-intent surgery. Patient-reported and patient-centered outcomes are not routinely measured and lead to unwarranted conclusions. Consistent and accurate use of medical terminology, in addition to proper study design, is required to inform surgeons who counsel patients and families regarding the potential benefits of palliative-intent surgical interventions.

Pediatric Palliative Epilepsy Surgery: A Report From the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC) Surgery Database

BackgroundEpilepsy surgery is an underutilized resource for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Palliative and definitive surgical options can reduce seizure burden and improve quality of life. Palliative epilepsy surgery is often seen as a “last resort” compared to definitive surgical options. We compare patient characteristics between palliative and definitive epilepsy surgical patients and present palliative surgical outcomes from the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium surgical database. MethodsThe Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium Epilepsy Surgery database is a prospective registry of patients aged 0-18 years undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery at 20 pediatric epilepsy centers. We included all children with completed surgical therapy characterized as definitive or palliative. Demographics, epilepsy type, age of onset, age at referral, etiology of epilepsy, treatment history, time-to-referral/evaluation, number of failed anti-seizure medications (ASMs), imaging results, type of surgery, and postoperative outcome were acquired. ResultsSix hundred forty patients undergoing epilepsy surgery were identified. Patients undergoing palliative procedures were younger at seizure onset (median: 2.1 vs 4 years, P= 0.0008), failed more ASM trials before referral for presurgical evaluation (P=<0.0001), and had longer duration of epilepsy before referral for surgery (P=<0.0001). During presurgical evaluation, patients undergoing palliative surgery had shorter median duration of video-EEG data collected (P=0.007) but number of cases where ictal data were acquired was similar between groups. The most commonly performed palliative procedure was corpus callosotmy (31%), followed by lobectomy (21%) and neuromodulation (82% responsive neurostimulation vs 18% deep brain stimulation). Palliative patients were further categorized into traditionally palliative procedures vs traditionally definitive procedures. The majority of palliative patients had 50% reduction or better in seizure burden. Seizure free outcomes were significantly higher among those with traditional definitive surgeries, 41% (95% confidence interval: 26% to 57%) compared with traditional palliative surgeries and 9% (95% confidence interval: 2% to 17%). Rate of seizure freedom was 46% at 24 months or greater of follow-up in the traditional definitive group. ConclusionsPatients receiving palliative epilepsy surgery trialed more ASMs, were referred later after becoming drug resistant, and had longer gaps between drug resistance and epilepsy surgery compared with patients undergoing definitive epilepsy surgery. The extent of surgical evaluation is impacted if surgery is thought to be palliative. A majority of palliative surgery patients achieved >50% seizure reduction at follow-up, both in groups that received traditionally palliative and traditionally definitive surgical procedures. Palliative surgical patients can achieve greater seizure control and should be referred to an epilepsy surgery center promptly after failing two appropriate anti-seizure medications.

To study the survival outcomes of uncommon recurrences among patients with cervical cancer compared with loco-regional and nodal recurrences at a tertiary care center in North East India – Bridging the knowledge gap in the existing literature.

BackgroundRecurrence rates of FIGO stage IB-IIA and IIB-IVA cervical cancer 28–64 respectively. There is a scarcity of data on the recurrence recurrence pattern for unusual sites and theirrecurrence pattern for unusual sites and its association with survival and prognosis. ObjectiveTo study overall survival in patients with distant metastasis compared to local and regional nodal metastasis. MethodsA retrospective study was done from 1/1/2017 to 30/12/22. Cervical cancer patients post primary treatments were included. Survival was analyzed with respect to 3 groups local, regional nodalconducted from 1/1/2017 to 30/12/22. Cervical cancer patients who had received primary post-primary treatments were included. Survival was analyzed with respect to three groups: local, regional nodal, and distant metastasis. Results225 patients had recurrences post-completion of primary treatment, of which 105 (46.6%)(46.6 %) had local, 46 (20.4%)(20.4 %) had regional nodal, and 74 (33.3%) had distant recurrences. The median time for recurrence in local, regional nodal, and atypical recurrences were 9, 9, and 13 months (p value - <0.05), respectively. Treatment included systemic chemotherapy 122 (54.2%), metronomic therapy 19 (8.4%), palliative radiotherapy 44 (19.5%), palliative surgery 8 (3.5%) and best supportive care 30 (13.3%) patients. Median Time to treatment-death of patients after recurrence in local, nodal and distant recurrences was 17.0 months, 18.0 months and 10.0 months respectively (p value - < 0.05). Overall Survival of patients after primary treatment with local, nodal and distant recurrences was 35.0 months, 47.0 months and 50.0 months respectively (p value <0.05). ConclusionLocal recurrence is most common, followed by regional, nodal, and distant recurrences. Overall survival post recurrence was lowest for distant recurrences and highest for local recurrences however overall survival after primary treatment completion was highest for distant recurrence due to the late presen; however, tation of distant recurrences.

Comparison of the efficacy of different surgical strategies in the treatment of patients with initially resectable gastric cancer liver metastases

Objective: To examine the impact of varied surgical treatment strategies on the prognosis of patients with initial resectable gastric cancer liver metastases (IR-GCLM). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Employing a retrospective cohort design, the study selected clinicopathological data from the national multi-center retrospective cohort study database, focusing on 282 patients with IR-GCLM who underwent surgical intervention between January 2010 and December 2019. There were 231 males and 51 males, aging (M(IQR)) 61 (14) years (range: 27 to 80 years). These patients were stratified into radical and palliative treatment groups based on treatment decisions. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and distinctions in survival rates were assessed using the Log-rank test. The Cox risk regression model evaluated HR for various factors, controlling for confounders through multivariate analysis to comprehensively evaluate the influence of surgery on the prognosis of IR-GCLM patients. A restricted cubic spline Cox proportional hazard model assessed and delineated intricate associations between measured variables and prognosis. At the same time, the X-tile served as an auxiliary tool to identify critical thresholds in the survival analysis for IR-GCLM patients. Subgroup analysis was then conducted to identify potential beneficiary populations in different surgical treatments. Results: (1) The radical group comprised 118 patients, all undergoing R0 resection or local physical therapy of primary and metastatic lesions. The palliative group comprised 164 patients, with 52 cases undergoing palliative resections for gastric primary tumors and liver metastases, 56 cases undergoing radical resections for gastric primary tumors only, 45 cases undergoing palliative resections for gastric primary tumors, and 11 cases receiving palliative treatments for liver metastases. A statistically significant distinction was observed between the groups regarding the site and the number of liver metastases (both P<0.05). (2) The median overall survival (OS) of the 282 patients was 22.7 months (95%CI: 17.8 to 27.6 months), with 1-year and 3-year OS rates were 65.4% and 35.6%, respectively. The 1-year OS rates for patients in the radical surgical group and palliative surgical group were 68.3% and 63.1%, while the corresponding 3-year OS rates were 42.2% and 29.9%, respectively. A comparison of OS between the two groups showed no statistically significant difference (P=0.254). Further analysis indicated that patients undergoing palliative gastric cancer resection alone had a significantly worse prognosis compared to other surgical options (HR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.21 to 3.24, P=0.006). (3) The size of the primary gastric tumor significantly influenced the patients' prognosis (HR=2.01, 95%CI: 1.45 to 2.79, P<0.01), with HR showing a progressively increasing trend as tumor size increased. (4) Subgroup analysis indicates that radical treatment may be more effective compared to palliative treatment in the following specific cases: well/moderately differentiated tumors (HR=2.84, 95%CI 1.49 to 5.41, P=0.001), and patients with liver metastases located in the left lobe of the liver (HR=2.06, 95%CI 1.19 to 3.57, P=0.010). Conclusions: In patients with IR-GCLM, radical surgery did not produce a significant improvement in the overall prognosis compared to palliative surgery. However, within specific patient subgroups (well/moderately differentiated tumors, and patients with liver metastases located in the left lobe of the liver), radical treatment can significantly improve prognosis compared to palliative approaches.

Clinical benefits of symptom resolution after palliative surgery in advanced cancer: A single-center experience

BackgroundPalliative surgery (PS) is defined as any surgical procedure aimed at improving quality of life or relieving symptoms caused by an advanced or metastatic cancer. The involvement of patients, caregivers, and other professional figures is crucial for obtaining optimal symptom relief and avoiding complications. This study aims to evaluate the short-term outcome and related factors in patients undergoing PS. Patients and methodsA retrospective analysis was performed in consecutive patients who underwent palliative gastrointestinal surgery at our surgical unit during the period June 2018 to May 2023. Demographic, clinical, pathological and follow-up data were collected from a prospectively maintained department database. The main outcomes were complications, symptoms palliation, symptoms recurrence and return to systemic chemotherapy. Standard statistical analysis was performed. ResultsDuring the study period, 127 patients underwent palliative surgery. The Clavien-Dindo 3–5 complication rate and mortality rate were 19.7 % and 6 %, respectively. The resolution of symptoms was achieved in 109 patients (89 %). Successful symptom palliation was significantly related to the possibility of returning to systemic chemotherapy (SC) (OR 9.30 95 % CI 0.1.83–47.18, p 0.007). The only factor related to survival in multivariate analysis was the return to systemic chemotherapy (HR 0.25 95 % CI 0.15–0.42 0.001). ConclusionPS in selected patients is effective for symptom resolution and improving overall survival, if the result is making anticancer therapy possible. Prospective data collection is in any case warranted in every institution performing PS for the purpose of monitoring appropriateness and quality of surgical care.

Results of patient survival after surgical interventions for complicated forms of colon cancer performed in general surgical hospitals

The aim of the study: to evaluate the 1- and 3-year survival of patients operated for complicated forms of colon cancer (СC) in general surgical hospital. Materials and methods. The study group included 71 (100 %) patients with complicated forms of СС. Acute intestinal obstruction was detected in 49 (69.1 %) patients, tumor perforation – in 13 (18.3 %), acute colonic bleeding – in 3 (4.2 %) patients, a combination of acute intestinal obstruction with tumor perforation – in 4 (5.6 %) and intestinal obstruction with bleeding – in 2 (2.8 %) operated patients. Radical operations were performed in 48 (67.6 %) patients, palliative operations – in 18 (25.4 %), symptomatic operations – in 5 (7.0 %) patients. II stage of the disease was diagnosed in 15 (21.1 %), III stage – in 32 (45.1 %), IV stage – in 24 (33.8 %) operated patients. 19 (30.2 %) patients underwent specific chemotherapy after surgery. Results. Among patients with the II stage of the oncological process 1-year survival was 76.9 ± 11.7 %, 3-year – 53.8 ± 13.8 %; with stage III, 1-year survival was 65.6 ± 8.4 %, 3-year – 50.0 ± 8.8 %; in persons with IV stage of СC – 29.2 ± 9.3 % and 8.3 ± 2.6 % respectively (χ2 = 21.8, p = 0.0001). Among male patients, 1-year survival was 51.4 ± 8.5 %, 3-year – 31.4 ± 7.9 %; women – 61.1 ± 8.1 % and 44.4 ± 8.3 %, respectively (χ2 = 2.3, p = 0.1302). Better indicators were found in the case of cancer of the left sections of the large intestine than the right sections – the 1-year survival rate was 60.4 ± 7.1 % and 43.5 ± 10.3 % respectively; 3-year – 39.6 ± 7.1 % and 30.4 ± 9.6 % (χ2 = 0.74, p = 0.3906). Conclusions. The conducted analysis indicates a clear dependence of the survival results on the stage of the disease, gender and localization of the tumor process.