Perioperative Outcomes Research Articles

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial disparities in postoperative outcomes after bariatric surgery

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the outcomes and access to elective surgery across the United States. This study hypothesized that preexisting racial and ethnic disparities were exacerbated by the pandemic for bariatric surgery. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated the outcome disparities in 1,046,578 patients who underwent bariatric surgery from 2016–2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) to 2020–2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database. The primary outcomes of interest, Clavien-Dindo (CD) scores (0−5) and extended length of stay (eLOS; >90th percentile), were compared between non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian/American Indian/Pacific Islander (A/AI/PI) patients using ordinal and binomial logistic regression models, respectively. In addition, the modifying effect of COVID-19 on racial disparities in these outcomes was assessed. ResultsOverall, patients during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher odds of a higher CD score (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04–1.06; P < .001) than patients before the COVID-19 pandemic on adjusted multivariate analysis. NHB patients were more likely to experience postoperative complications as characterized by higher CD scores (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.35–1.39; P < .001) than NHW patients, and COVID-19 was a contributory factor (ratio of ORs, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05–1.10). There was no significant difference in CD scores in Hispanic (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.98–1.03; P = .800) and A/AI/PI (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.92–1.06; P = .651) patients compared with NHW patients, and COVID-19 did not have a modifying effect on these patients. All non-White patients had a higher likelihood of eLOS before the COVID-19 pandemic, but COVID-19 had a modifying effect of decreased odds of eLOS for all races (ratio of ORs, 0.60–0.69; 95% CI, 0.56–0.80). DiscussionNHB patients had inferior perioperative outcomes than patients of other races after bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, all races/ethnicities had decreased odds of eLOS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Achievement of international benchmark outcomes for robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in a low volume country

BackgroundRecently, there has been an increase in the utilisation of the robotic platform to perform minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy in high volume centres, with the goal of reducing morbidity and improving patient outcomes. This study reports the successful implementation of a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) programme in the relatively low volume setting of Australia, measured against established, internationally accepted benchmarks for low-risk open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). MethodsRetrospective review of a prospectively maintained database for consecutive RPD at two Brisbane hospitals was performed, comparing data to internationally established benchmarks for low-risk OPD. A structured RPD programme was implemented by two surgeons across a study period spanning May 2017 to December 2023. ResultsOver the study period, seventy-two consecutive RPDs were performed, with 79 % for malignancy. Perioperative outcomes for transfusions, conversion rate, postoperative fistula rate, morbidity, mortality and oncological outcomes were all within established benchmark cutoffs for low-risk open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD), although operative time exceeded the benchmark value by 0.7hrs. ConclusionA carefully implemented RPD programme in the low volume Australian setting is feasible, with high quality outcomes achievable when compared to established benchmarks for low-risk OPD and to reported RPD series published by high volume pioneering centres.

The impact of colectomy and restorative procedure on pouch function after ileo-pouch-anal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis. The icon fun study on behalf of the Italian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (SICCR) Inflammatory Bowel Diseases committee

BackgroundAvailable guidelines lack in indications on surgical standard in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) AimsTo determine the role of surgical strategies of colectomy and proctectomy with pouch-anal-anastomosis (IPAA) on functional outcomes in a nationwide population multicenter study. The secondary aims consisted of perioperative outcomes and complications. MethodsData on 379 patients who underwent total abdominal colectomy and proctectomy with ileo-pouch-anal-anastomosis (IPAA) with or without diverting ileostomy were retrospectively collected in a red cap multicenter-database searching for variables that could impact on pouch outcomes as cuffitis, pouchitis, anastomotic stenosis, pouch stenosis, failure or pathological Low-Anterior-Resection-Syndrome (LARS) score. ResultsMesocolic dissection sealing vessels at major trunks and from medial to lateral are associated with better outcomes. Laparoscopy is associated with lower rate of cuffitis over time (p = 0.028). Mesentery lengthening is associated with higher pouchitis rate (p = 0.015) and earlier failure (p < 0.0001). Hand-sewn IPAA results in early anastomotic stenosis (p = 0.00011). The Transanal-Transection and Single-Stapling Anastomosis (TTSS) showed to be protective against pouchitis. Extended dissection of adhesions correlates with lower rate of pouchitis-episodes (p = 0.0057). ConclusionsThe study highlights advantages of laparoscopy. New techniques such as TTSS promise further improvements. Mesentery lengthening correlates with high risk of pouch-failure and pouchitis, hand-sewn anastomosis increased risk of stenosis.

Short-Term Surgical Outcomes After Robotic Liver Surgery: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis With Conventional Open Liver Surgery at a High-Volume Centre in Denmark.

The aim of this study was to investigate the perioperative outcomes of robotic liver surgery (RLS) and Open liver surgery (OLS) in a centre with a high number of operations. A 1:1 propensity score matched (PSM) analysis of a retrospective database of RLS and OLS was performed. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was performed to identify learning curves. After PSM analysis, operative time was significantly longer in the RLS group (p<0.001). Estimated blood loss was significantly lower in the RLS group (p<0.001). Transfusion rates were significantly lower in the RLS group. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the RLS group (3.5vs6.3days, p<0.001). Readmission rates were significantly lower in the RLS group (p<0.049). CUSUM analysis showed a learning curve for at least 8 low-intermediate RLS procedures and 27 advanced-Expert RLS procedures. RLS has many advantages, including being safe to perform, less blood loss and faster postoperative recovery compared with OLS.

Presence of Atherosclerosis in Multiple Arterial Beds is Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Patients with polyvascular disease are considered high risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). This retrospective study utilised the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database to quantify the effect of polyvascular disease on outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The VQI database was queried from to 2012 - 2022 for elective EVAR. Patients were identified as having peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease, or cerebrovascular disease, and then stratified based on the number of arterial beds involved (one to three). Primary outcomes were peri-operative death and MACEs. Multivariate analysis was performed to find associations between comorbidities and primary outcomes. Of the 21 160 patients with arterial disease included in the study, 83.7% were male and the mean age was 73.73 ± 8.57 years. After stratification, 16 892 patients had atherosclerosis in one arterial bed, 3 869 in two arterial beds, and 399 in three arterial beds. Pre-operatively, patients with atherosclerosis in three arterial beds were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and renal failure (all p < .001). Post-operatively, patients with disease in three arterial beds were more likely to experience a post-operative complication (11.5% vs. 8.3% vs. 5.4%; p < .001), including MACE (4.6% vs. 4.1% vs. 2.8%; p < .001) and death (3.0% vs. 2.5% vs. 1.7%; p < .010). On multivariate analysis, polyvascular disease was associated with MACEs (odds ratio 1.54, 95% confidence interval 1.29 - 1.84; p < .001). Kaplan-Meier analysis estimates showed statistically significant differences in survival at approximately the three year follow up (p < .001). In this review of patients undergoing elective EVAR, patients with polyvascular disease experienced worse peri-operative outcomes, including death and MACEs, the latter of which was confirmed on multivariable analysis. These patients should be considered high risk and managed accordingly.

Risk factors and outcomes of conversions in robotic and laparoscopic liver resections: A nationwide analysis

BackgroundUnfavorable intraoperative findings or incidents during minimally invasive liver surgery may necessitate conversion to open surgery. This study aimed to identify predictors for conversion in minimally invasive liver surgery and gain insight into outcomes following conversions. MethodsThis nationwide, retrospective cohort study compared converted and non-converted minimally invasive liver surgery procedures using data from 20 centers in the Dutch Hepatobiliary Audit (2014–2022). Propensity score matching was applied. Subgroup analyses of converted robotic liver resection versus laparoscopic liver resection and emergency versus non-emergency conversions were performed. Predictors for conversions were identified using backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression. ResultsOf 3,530 patients undergoing minimally invasive liver surgery (792 robotic liver resection, 2,738 laparoscopic liver resection), 408 (11.6%) were converted (4.9% robotic liver resection, 13.5% laparoscopic liver resection). Conversion was associated with increased blood loss (580 mL [interquartile range 250–1,200] vs 200 mL [interquartile range 50–500], P < .001), major blood loss (≥500 mL, 58.8% vs 26.7%, P < .001), intensive care admission (19.0% vs 8.4%, P = .005), overall morbidity (38.9% vs 21.0%, P < .001), severe morbidity (17.9% vs 9.6%, P = .002), and a longer hospital stay (6 days [interquartile range 5–8] vs 4 days [interquartile range 2–5], P < .001) but not mortality (2.2% vs 1.2%, P = .387). Emergency conversions had increased intraoperative blood loss (1,500 mL [interquartile range 700–2,800] vs 525 mL [interquartile range 208–1,000], P < .001), major blood loss (87.5% vs 59.3%, P = .005), and intensive care admission (27.9% vs 10.6%, P = .029), compared with non-emergency conversions. Robotic liver resection was linked to lower conversion risk, whereas American Society of Anesthesiologists grade ≥3, larger lesion size, concurrent ablation, technically major, and anatomically major resections were risk factors. ConclusionBoth emergency and non-emergency conversions negatively impact perioperative outcomes in minimally invasive liver surgery. Robotic liver resection reduces conversion risk compared to laparoscopic liver resection.

Impact of frailty on outcomes of patients undergoing elective endovascular thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Frailty and it score assessment by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) have been recently proposed in surgery to overcome chronological age and major comorbidities as predictor tools of the surgical risks. We aim to evaluate the impact of frailty on outcomes of patients undergoing TAAA endovascular repair and whether CFS may be used as screening tool in the preoperative work-up and peri-operative risk stratification. REtrospective analysis of 76 patients (61 male, 74.9±6.9 years) undergoing elective branched-EVAR. Patients were divided in Group A (CFS<5) and Group B (CFS≥5). Post-operative morbidity, access-site related-complications, ICU- and in-hospital length-of-stay, reintervention rate, surgery- and all-causes related mortality were evaluated. Fifty-four patients (71.1%) were classified as CFS<5, whereas twenty-two as CFS≥5. Demographics and comorbidities were homogeneous regardless of CFS class. No differences in term of MAE and of access-site related-complication but a greater perioperative and early mortality rate in the group of frail patients was noted (P=0.009, OR 11.8, 95% CI 1.35-3.58; P=0.019, respectively), as a longer hospitalization (P=0.007) and more frequent non-home discharge. Mid-term aneurysm- and all-causes related mortality was similar in both groups. Frailty seems to be associated with worse perioperative outcomes. CFS is a reliable tool to quantify the degree of disability due to frailty and to better assess the risks and benefits of endovascular TAAA repair. Frailty is not equated with inoperability but indicate the need for a tailored approach for the more vulnerable patients. Larger studies and a widespread use of frailty screening methods are needed to confirm its efficacy in the prediction of outcomes after endovascular interventions.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2024

This special article is the seventeeth in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr. Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology.1 The major themes selected for 2024 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2024 begin with an update on perioperative rehabilitation and enhanced recovery (ERACS) in in cardiothoracic surgery, with a focus on novel methods to best assess our patients in the preoperative period and the impact of implementing enhanced recovery care models on outcomes. The second major theme is focused on cardiac surgery, with the authors discussing new insights into anemia, transfusions, and CABG outcomes with a focus on gender disparities. The third theme is focused on cardiothoracic transplantation, with discussions focusing on techniques related to lung transplantation including MCS. The fourth theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions exploring advancements in left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) highlight the evolving landscape of mechanical circulatory support and discussion of anticoagulation practices. The fifth, and final theme is an update on medical cardiology, with focus on outcomes of transcatheter management of regurgitant pathology, device management in heart failure, and new techniques in catheter ablation. The themes selected for this article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2024. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

Operative Times and Outcomes of Complex Endovascular Repairs of Thoracoabdominal Aneurysms

IntroductionOwing to the significant morbidity and mortality of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, complex endovascular repairs (eTAAA) have become increasingly common, but still carry substantial risk. These repairs require large bore access, with resultant pelvic and lower extremity ischemia. We therefore hypothesized that operative timing would be associated with outcomes, as efficient surgery would limit the ischemic time as well as anesthesia time. MethodsWe studied all eTAAA repairs (Crawford Types 1-3, 5) incorporating at least one branch vessel from 2014 to 2021 in the Vascular Quality Initiative, and categorized them into quartiles of total operating time. To account for variations in case complexity and intraoperative events, we performed a sub-analysis stratifying each surgeon by their median operating time. Multilevel logistic regression was employed to compare perioperative outcomes including mortality, thoracoabdominal life altering events (TALE:composite of perioperative death, stroke, permanent paralysis and/or dialysis), spinal cord ischemia (SCI), acute kidney injury (AKI), major adverse cardiac events (MACE), myocardial infarction, and dialysis. ResultsThere were 2,925 eTAAA repairs during the study period. Procedure times ranged from <204 minutes in the first quartile to >365 minutes in the fourth. Longer cases more commonly involved older patients who were more often female, and higher rates of prior stroke, and preoperative anemia. They involved larger, more extensive aneurysms, with higher rates of prior aortic surgery, and more commonly employed PMEGs or parallel grafting to incorporate more branch vessels. In addition, they were less often staged procedures, and used more spinal drains, femoral cutdowns, and upper extremity access. Operating time decreased as experience increased. In adjusted analyses, the odds of mortality and every morbidity studied increased stepwise with operating time, with 4 to 13-fold higher odds in the highest quartiles. Spinal cord ischemia had the strongest association with procedure times, with seven-fold higher odds (OR 7.2 [2.9-17.9], P<.001) of any SCI in the highest quartile compared to the lowest, and 13-fold higher odds of permanent SCI (OR 13.1 [3.9-44.7], P<.001). These results were consistent when surgeons were grouped into quartiles by their median operating times. Medium-term mortality was also higher in the upper quartile of operating time (HR 2.7 [1.4-5.1], P=.002). ConclusionLonger operating times for complex eTAAA repairs were associated with markedly higher rates of morbidity and mortality, especially spinal cord ischemia. These results emphasize the importance of expeditious repairs by experienced teams.

Utilization and Outcomes of Non-Intubated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Lung Transplant

BackgroundNon-intubated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an increasingly common method of support for patients with severe respiratory failure. Since data on its use as a bridge to lung transplant remain limited to single-center studies, we evaluated its use in a national cohort. MethodsAdult lung-only transplant recipients bridged with ECMO 5/4/2005-3/8/2023 in the United Network for Organ Sharing database were categorized by use of ECMO and mechanical ventilation at transplant (ECMO+MV vs. ECMO-only). We compared post-transplant intubation and ECMO at 72 hours using logistic regression, length of stay using negative binomial regression, and post-transplant survival using Cox regression. ResultsThe 1,599 transplants identified included 902 (56.4%) bridged with ECMO+MV and 697 (43.6%) bridged with ECMO-only. ECMO-only recipients had higher median age (52 vs. 49 years, p<0.001), shorter ischemic times (5.7 vs. 6.0 hours, p=0.003), and similar lung allocation scores (89.5 vs. 89.6, p=0.11). ECMO-only recipients had lower likelihood of intubation at 72 hours (56.5% vs. 77.5%; aOR 0.33 [95% CI: 0.25, 0.42], p<0.001) and shorter lengths of stay (28 vs. 35 days; coefficient -0.19 [95% CI: -0.27, -0.11], p<0.001). ECMO-only recipients had higher 90-day survival (92.1% vs. 89.1%; aHR 0.69 [95% CI: 0.48, 0.99], p=0.04) but similar 1-year (83.1% vs. 81.5%; aHR 0.87 [95% CI: 0.67, 1.12], p=0.27) and 5-year (54.6% vs. 54.7%; aHR 0.98 [95% CI: 0.82, 1.17], p=0.83) survival. ConclusionsNon-intubated ECMO bridge to lung transplant was associated with improved perioperative outcomes and short-term survival and should be considered for candidates requiring ECMO.

Outcomes of Surgical Valve Replacements for Radiation-Induced Valvulopathy

Objective(s)Cancer patients who receive radiation therapy to the thorax often develop radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) decades later. Prior chest radiation is associated with elevated perioperative risk of complications and mortality following cardiac surgery. Whether the type of valve (mechanical vs. bioprosthetic) used affects outcomes in patients with RIHD is unknown. MethodsThis retrospective review analyzed the characteristics and post-operative outcomes of patients with a prior history of chest radiation for Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma who underwent surgical valve replacement at a single institution between 2000 and 2021. Both 30-day peri-operative outcomes and long-term survival were assessed. ResultsMechanical valve patients tended to be younger, have more valves replaced, and have undergone prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than bioprosthetic valve recipients. Valve type alone did not alter perioperative complications or overall survival. Median survival was 11.0 years in mechanical and 10.9 years in bioprosthetic valve patients (P = 0.930). Twelve patients underwent valve reinterventions (6 mechanical, 6 bioprosthetic), and three underwent transplant. Single valve (AV or MV) recipients fared better with median survival of 13.3 years compared to 6.2 years in those who underwent combined AVR+MVR (P<0.0001). ConclusionsPatients with RIHD who undergo surgical valve replacement have similarly suboptimal short- and long-term outcomes regardless of mechanical vs. bioprosthetic valve type. Those who required combined aortic and mitral valve replacement had especially high 10-year overall mortality. Further investigation in a larger dataset including transcatheter approaches is warranted.

Ten-year survival outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery vs. open major lung resection for stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer: a large cohort study in China.

Despite the widespread adoption of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for major lung resection, the 10-year long-term survival outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with VATS compared with open major lung resection is lacking. The purpose of this study was to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of VATS vs. open major lung resection for NSCLC. The perioperative outcomes and long-term survival of p-stage I-III NSCLC patients who underwent major lung resection via VATS vs. open major lung resection in the Western China Lung Cancer Database (WCLCD) between May 2006 and June 2018 were studied using propensity score matching (PSM). Of the 10,167 patients who underwent surgery for lung malignancies, 6,405 patients with stage I-III NSCLC were included in the study, including 4,224 in the VATS group and 2,181 in the open group. PSM resulted in 1,487 patients in both the VATS and open groups. The patients were matched by patient demographics, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), tumor histology and TNM stage. Compared with open surgery, major lung resection via VATS resulted in less blood loss (median: 50 vs. 100 mL, P<0.001) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (7.6±6.0 vs. 8.6±4.9 days, P<0.001) but higher total hospital costs (52.5±21.2 vs. 45.0±16.4 kRMB, P<0.001). The matched cohort showed that patients who underwent major lung resection via VATS had better overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than did patients who underwent major lung resection via open surgery (5-year survival: 64.9% vs. 57.7%, P<0.001; 5-year RFS: 50.3% vs. 45.3%, P=0.003). Patients who underwent VATS had a better 10-year OS rate (47.8% vs. 42.6%). According to the subgroup analysis, patients with stage II NSCLC who underwent major lung resection via VATS had better OS and RFS (OS: P<0.001; RFS: P=0.004), while there were no significant differences in OS or RFS between stage I and III NSCLC patients. Major lung resection via the VATS should be the preferred surgical option for stage I-III NSCLC patients due to its superior long-term survival outcome and advantages of less blood loss and shorter postoperative hospital stays.

Comparison of different types of single-port laparoscopic surgery in posterior uterine fibroid resection

This study aims to objectively assess the effect of three surgical approaches for posterior uterine fibroid resection: transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in prone position (vNOTES-P), and vNOTES in the lithotomy position (vNOTES-L). A retrospective analysis was conducted on data pertaining to all patients who underwent vNOTES and LESS for single posterior fibroids at our institution from January 2023 to July 2023. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the surgical approach: vNOTES-P group (n = 30), vNOTES-L group (n = 17), and LESS group (n = 32). Comparative analysis was performed on the demographic characteristics and perioperative outcomes among the three groups of patients. All 79 patients underwent surgery without the need for conversion to laparotomy. There were no statistically significant differences among the LESS group, vNOTES-P group, and vNOTES-L group in terms of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complication rates. In the vNOTES-L group, two patients required conversion to LESS during surgery. Patients had faster return of bowel function (less time to flatus) in the vNOTES group compared to the LESS group (P < 0.05). However, three cases of postoperative infection occurred in the vNOTES group, while none were reported in the LESS group. Compared to LESS, vNOTES demonstrates significant advantages in alleviating postoperative pain, shortening time to passage of flatus, speeding recovery and enhancing cosmetic outcomes. Particularly, vNOTES-P for posterior uterine fibroid resection, as an emerging surgical approach, offers certain advantages in facilitating surgical maneuverability and reducing operative time, rendering it more suitable for posterior uterine fibroid resection.

Clinical features, surgical treatment strategy, and feasibility of minimally invasive surgery for synchronous and metachronous multiple colorectal cancers: A 14-year single-center experience.

Patients with a history of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at increased risk of developing secondary synchronous/metachronous CRCs. The role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for multiple CRCs remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term outcomes of MIS in patients with multiple CRCs and elucidate their clinical characteristics. This retrospective study reviewed CRC patients who underwent MIS between 2010 and 2023. Multiple CRC cases were categorized into synchronous and metachronous cohorts. Demographics, pathological findings, and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed as appropriate. A total of 1,272 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 99 (7.8%) having multiple CRCs (75 synchronous and 24 metachronous). Multiple CRC patients had a higher prevalence of strong family history (8.1% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.001) and right-sided colon cancer (55.6% vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001) compared to solitary CRC patients. MSI-high/MMR-deficient status, including Lynch syndrome, was frequently observed among patients with multiple CRCs. Synchronous CRCs requiring double-anastomosis were associated with longer operation times (P = 0.03) and increased blood loss (P = 0.03) compared to those with a single-anastomosis. In the metachronous cohort, repeat operation patterns were categorized based on tumor location and sacrificed arteries. Preservation of the left-colic artery avoided extended colectomy in some patients. Patients with multiple CRC involving rectal cancer had a higher anastomotic leakage (AL) rate (17.6% vs. 5.7%, P < 0.01); however, this difference in AL rate disappeared after PSM (8.8% vs. 8.8%, P = 1.0). In patients with multiple CRCs, AL has not been observed ever since the indocyanine green fluorescence imaging was implemented. MIS is feasible for multiple CRCs, with perioperative outcomes comparable to those for solitary CRCs. Preservation of critical arteries may benefit patients at high risk of secondary CRCs, particularly those with a strong family history of CRC, right-sided tumors, or MSI-high/MMR-deficient profiles, including Lynch syndrome.

Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols and Return to Intended Oncologic Therapy: Where We Were and Where We are Going?

Objective: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) utilizes a multimodal, evidence-based approach to improvepatient postoperative recovery and return to functional baseline. Among gynecologic oncology patients, ERAS protocols are associated with a decrease in complication rate and shorter hospital stays. With the improved return to baseline function recovery times, oncology patients are able to begin adjuvant therapy within the recommended timeframe as to not impact overall survival. We performed a cohort study at the initiation of our gynecologic Oncology ERAD program to determine if this decreased time to planned adjuvant therapy among gynecologic oncology patients after laparotomy. Secondary endpoints included protocol adherence, length of stay, complication rates, and readmission. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 137 pre-ERAS and 73 post-ERAS patients diagnosed at a NCI-designated comprehensive care center in NJ to compare gynecologic oncologic and peri-operative outcomes before and after implementation of ERAS protocols. The protocols were based on recommendations from the ERAS society for management of gynecologic and gynecologic oncologic patients. Twenty-five interventions were analyzed and 12 were included in the final analysis. Pre-ERAS patients were identified by ICD-10 diagnosis code and CPT laparotomy codes. Patient characteristics, length of hospital stay, and complications rates were recorded. Institutional review board approval was obtained from Rutgers University and the Scientific Review Board approval from the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Results: Twenty-five protocol elements were investigated, with an overall decrease in readmission rate and complication rate between the pre- and postERAS cohorts. There was no difference in length of hospital stay (median, interquartile range of 5 [4-7] and 5 [3-7] in the pre-ERAS and post-ERAS groups, respectively (P=0.91). Similarly, the two groups did not differ based on time to intended oncologic therapy (38 [29-55] versus 37 [29-53]; P=0.94). Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further research on ERAS protocol on return to intended oncologic therapy which is known to improve overall oncologic outcomes

A Systemic Review &amp; Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Vascular-Geriatric Service Models on Short-Term Outcomes in Vascular Surgery Inpatients

Abstract Background Vascular surgeons are treating progressively older, frailer and more medically complex patients. Care models including both surgeons and geriatricians have improved peri-operative outcomes in orthopaedics and surgical oncology. This meta-analysis investigates the impact of “vascular-geriatric” services on short-term inpatient outcomes. Methods Search strategy included PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases, conference abstracts and clinical trial registries. All study methodologies comparing outcomes before and after the introduction of a dedicated vascular-geriatrics service were eligible. Meta-analyses compared the relative risk (RR) of mortality, complications and 30-day readmission using a random-effects model. Risk of bias was assessed with the MINORS tool. Results Eight studies were identified, including one randomised trial and seven ‘before &amp; after’ observational studies. 2074 patients were included, 1065 in the “Vascular-Geriatrics” cohort and 1009 in standard care. Care models included comprehensive geriatric assessment as part of the pre-operative review process before elective aortic surgery, inpatient geriatric liaison services and formal vascular-geriatric co-management arrangements. Source studies were of moderate to high risk of bias. A meta-analysis of five studies demonstrated vascular-geriatrics models were significantly associated with lower mortality rates than standard care (pooled 2.4% vs 4.9%) (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.94, p=.03) (I2=0%). Vascular-Geriatrics models were also significantly associated with lower risk of infective complications (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36–0.66, p&amp;lt;.001) (I2=0%) and delirium (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.97, p=.04) (I2=48%). There was no difference in mean length of stay (SMD -2.20, 95% CI -4.6-0.19, p=.07) (I2=86%). or 30-day readmission rates between Vascular-Geriatrics models and standard care (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.81-1.51, p=.54) (I2=38%). Conclusion While the source data is heterogenous and of limited quality, this meta-analysis suggests that dedicated geriatric intervention may reduce adverse peri-operative outcomes in vascular patients compared to traditional care models. Further studies are needed to investigate the most effective design of geriatrician-surgeon partnership.

Early experience of fetal laser photocoagulation for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in the Philippines

Objectives: This study aims to review the outcomes of monochorionic pregnancies with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) treated with fetal laser photocoagulation (FLP) in the Philippines and to compare these with outcomes from the early experiences of other nearby centers in Southeast and East Asia. Methods: This is a single center retrospective cohort study of 7 patients who underwent FLP for TTTS before 26 weeks of gestation from June 2021 to March 2024. Preoperative, perioperative, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed and a comparison with other Asian centers was performed. Results: Patients treated were in advanced stages III-IV of TTTS (86%). Gestational age at FLP was 22.1 ± 2.8 weeks. The perinatal overall survival rate was 64% with a double survivor rate of 57%, a single survivor rate of 14%, and at least one survivor in 71%. The interval between FLP and delivery was 36.6 ± 25.2 days with age at delivery of 27.1 ± 4.3 weeks. Compared to 5 other Asian centers, procedures performed per year ranged from 2.5 to 14.2 cases. Overall fetal survival rates were between 64 to 82%. Conclusion: Our center’s early experience of treating TTTS with FLP reflects the current conditions of prenatal screening and access to specialized care in the country. Early recognition of TTTS is key to providing patients and their families timely management and support. Devising local standardized assessments for education and performance of FLP, establishing the surgical learning curve, facilitating audits, and initiating research will improve fetal surgery benchmarks in the country.

Efficiency assessment of intelligent patient-specific instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized controlled trial

BackgroundIn total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the practical use of patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) has been reported previously with both advantage and disadvantage. The application of artificial intelligent (AI) forces overwhelmingly development of medical industries, while the impact of AI on PSI efficiency remains unknown. Thus, this study aimed to assess the efficiency of Intelligent-PSI (i-PSI) in TKA, compared with the conventional instrumentation-TKA (CI).Methods102 late-stage OA patients who met inclusive criteria were recruited in this prospective randomized controlled trial and separated into two groups (i-PSI vs. CI). In both groups, an AI preoperative planning engine was applied for surgery decision making. In CI group, conventional instrumentation was applied for bony resection, while resection of i-PSI group was completed with i-PSI. A convolutional neural network was applied to automatically process computer tomography images and thus produced i-PSI. With the help of three-dimension printing, the workflow of production was largely simplified. AI-driven preoperative planning guided resection and alignment decisions. Resection measurement, perioperative radiography and perioperative clinical outcomes were analyzed to verify efficiency of i-PSI.ResultsIn resection outcomes, smaller deviation of lateral and medial distal femoral resection were found in i-PSI group than CI group (P = 0.032 and 0.035), while no difference was found in other resection planes. In radiography outcomes, postoperative coronal alignments of i-PSI group, including postoperative Hip–knee–ankle axis (HKA) (P = 0.025), postoperative HKA outliners (P = 0.042), Femoral coronal alignment (FCA) (P = 0.019) and Joint line convergence angle (JLCA) (P = 0.043) showed closer to neutral position than CI group. Moreover, Femoral sagittal alignment (FSA) of i-PSI group showed closer to neutral position than CI group(P = 0.005). No difference was found in other alignments. In clinical outcomes, i-PSI group seemed to cost more surgical time than CI group (P = 0.027), while others showed no differences between the two groups.ConclusionIntelligent Patient-specific Instrumentation in TKA achieved simplified production flow than conventional PSI, while also showed more accurate resection, improved synthesis position and limb alignment than conventional instrumentation. Above all, this study proved that i-PSI being an applicable and promising tool in TKA.

Postchemotherapy Robot-Assisted Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Metastatic Testicular Cancer: Initial Experience at a Brazilian Oncology Center

Abstract Introduction Testicular cancer is the most common neoplasm in men aged 20 to 40 years. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection plays an essential role in the treatment of such patients. Conventional open surgery has a complication rate of 30 to 36%. Some case series have demonstrated that a robot-assisted technique presented safety, oncological efficacy, and yielded lower complication rates. We retrospectively evaluated peri- and postoperative outcomes of robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after chemotherapy performed in patients at Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Materials and Methods The present study included all patients who underwent postchemotherapy robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for the treatment of metastatic testicular cancer at INCA. Results From August 2020 to November 2021, 5 robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissections were performed. The mean size of the resected mass was of 7.28 cm. The mean operative time was of 307.4 minutes, and the mean length of the postoperative hospital stay was of 3.2 days. The complication rate during the first 30 days after surgery was of 0%. Conclusion Robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic testicular cancer demonstrated favorable perioperative outcomes, with no readmissions or complications within 30 days. Appropriate selection of patients for this technique is crucial. A larger sample with an extended follow-up is necessary for a definitive conclusion.

Feasibility, safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with a new robotic surgical system: a prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trial

BackgroundRobot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) gains increasing popularity in the surgical management of prostate cancer (PCa) but is challenged by its prohibitive expense. A domestic robotic system has been developed to address this issue, but data comparing the self-developed robot with the widely used robot is lacking. We performed a randomized clinical trial to compare KD-SR-01® and DaVinci® robots in terms of perioperative, short-term oncological and functional outcomes in RARP.Materials and methodsWe prospectively enrolled patients with clinically localized PCa. Patients were randomized to undergo either KD-SR-01®-RARP (K-RARP) or DaVinci®-RARP (D-RARP) by the same surgical team. The baseline, perioperative, short-term oncologic and urinary functional data were collected and compared.ResultsWe enrolled 39 patients, including 20 patients undergoing K-RARP and 19 undergoing D-RARP. Demographic and tumor characteristics were comparable between groups. All surgeries were performed successfully with no conversion to open. The operative time was similar (P = 0.095) and K-RARP offered less volume of intraoperative bleeding (P < 0.001). Four patients in the K-RARP group and three in the D-RARP group developed postoperative complications (P = 0.732). Patients undergoing K-RARP had less volume of drainage (P = 0.022). Positive surgical margins were observed in three patients undergoing K-RARP and five undergoing D-RARP (P = 0.451). During the follow up, one patient receiving K-RARP group and two receiving D-RARP group had measurable prostate specific antigen (P = 0.605). Urine leakage, urinary control and pad usage were comparable between groups at six weeks post-surgery.ConclusionsThe two surgical robots yielded similar results in feasibility, safety and short-term oncologic and functional efficacy for RARP.Trial registrationThe trial has been registered at www.chictr.org.cn with a registration number of ChiCTR2200057000 on 25th February 2022.