Surgical Community Research Articles

Outcomes after Ross procedure in adult patients: A meta-analysis and microsimulation.

We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the risk of adverse events, life expectancy, and event-free life expectancy after the Ross procedure in adults. We searched databases for reports evaluating the Ross procedure in patients aged more than or equal to 16 years of age. A microsimulation model was used to evaluate age- and gender-specific life expectancy for patients undergoing the Ross procedure. Data were pooled from 63 articles totaling 19 155 patients from 20 countries. Perioperative mortality was 2.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-3.1; N = 9978). We found a mortality risk of 5.9% (95% CI: 4.8-7.2) at a mean follow-up of 7.2 years (N = 7573). The rate of perioperative clinically significant bleeding was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.1-3.0); re-exploration for bleeding 4.6% (95% CI: 3.1-6.3); postoperative clinically significant bleeding from 30 days until a mean of 7.1 years was 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0). At a mean of 6.9 years of follow-up, reintervention rate of any operated valve was 7.9% (95% CI: 5.7-10.3). The risk of valve thrombosis was 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2-0.5) at 7.6 years; peripheral embolism 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2-0.4) at 6.4 years; stroke 0.9% (95% CI: 0.7-1.2) at 6.5 years; and endocarditis 2.1% (95% CI: 1.6-2.6) at 8.0 years. Microsimulation reported a 40-year-old undergoing the Ross procedure to have a life expectancy of 35.4 years and event-free life expectancy of 26.6 years. Ross procedure in nonelderly adults is associated with low mortality and low risk of adverse events both at short- and long-term follow-up. The surgical community must prioritize a large, expertize-based randomized controlled trial to definitively address the risks and benefits of the Ross procedure compared to conventional aortic valve replacement.

Pitfalls for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: Need for a stepwise approach.

Because of today's advancements in surgical techniques and perioperative management skills, surgeons are beginning to explore the usefulness of the laparoscopic approach in managing periampullary tumors. However, as a result of its innate complexity and associated high surgery‐related complications, its applicability to the general surgical community remains controversial. To date, only retrospective data from high‐volume centers support the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (Lap PD) for the treatment of benign conditions and malignant periampullary tumors. In addition, various surgical techniques in terms of port placement, dissection, and reconstruction have evolved in different centers depending on the preferred method commonly used by the surgeon through accumulated experience. In our center, we used a stepwise approach and standardized our surgical technique to overcome this technically demanding procedure. A collaborative implementation of video review and analysis, practice training and simulation, operating room didactics, and strict adherence to our stepwise approach in Lap PD, might potentially improve the surgical skills of young hepatobiliary surgeons and possibly overcome the volume‐based learning curve of Lap PD.

A Call for Universal Acceptance of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology.

The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) established a standardized, tiered reporting system for salivary gland fine-needle aspiration (FNA) that has gained international acceptance among cytologists. Our goal was to review the key features of the MSRSGC to familiarize the surgical community with this system and its application to the FNA evaluation of salivary gland masses. A comprehensive review of the MSRSGC and its application in clinical practice. The MSRSGC consists of six major diagnostic categories: 1) nondiagnostic, 2) non-neoplastic, 3) atypia of undetermined significance, 4) neoplasm (benign or salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential), 5) suspicious for malignancy, and 6) malignant. Each diagnostic category is associated with an implied risk of malignancy with implications for clinical management. The MSRSGC is similar to the system used for reporting thyroid FNA, which is familiar to most otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons. As this reporting system continues to gain popularity among pathologists, widespread understanding by surgeons will be important to standardize communication and classification of salivary gland cytopathology to improve clinical care. Laryngoscope, 130:80-85, 2020.

Harvey Williams Cushing - founder of anesthetic monitoring, pioneer of neurosurgery (to the 150th of birthday

Harvey Williams Cushing (1869–1939) graduated from Yale College and Harvard Medical School, and worked at the Massachusetts General Hospital of Boston. He created the first anesthesia card, introduced the term “regional anesthesia” into medical practice, described the Cushing triad, and in 1901, the second in the world, performed a successful operation on the pituitary gland for acromegaly. In 1910, he accepted the offer to become the head of the department of surgery at Harvard Medical School and the chief surgeon at Peter Benton Brigham Hospital, located on the campus. In 1933, Cushing moved to Yale, where from 1933 to 1937. was a professor of neurology. In the US, Harvey Williams Cushing is honored as a pioneer of neurosurgery and the greatest neurosurgeon in world history. Cushing developed and improved the technique of many neurosurgical operations, proved the right to the very existence of intracranial surgery as a separate medical specialty. In 1939, he was honored to become an Honorary Member of the Royal Medical College in London. Harvey Williams Cushing died on October 7, 1939 from myocardial infarction. He was awarded honorary degrees in nine American and thirteen European universities; several state orders and medals; as well as many different awards and prizes. Harvey Williams Cushing was a member of the American Philosophical Society, the National Academy of Natural Sciences, and the American Academy of Humanities and Natural Sciences, a foreign member of the Royal Society of London, and also an honorary member of about seventy medical, surgical, and scientific communities in Europe, USA, South America and india.

Surgeon-directed HPB ultrasound: clinical practice, certification, and beyond

Background: Ultrasound (US) in hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery is inarguably an indispensable tool. In 2012, HPB ultrasound training was established through the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA). At the AHPBA annual meetings, a formal day-long post-graduate HPB US course has been offered to up to 30 practicing surgeons and surgical trainees. The purpose of this work was to identify why and how North American surgeons’ use of US has changed since the completion of the AHPBA HPB US course, while identifying challenges encountered to incorporate US into practice. Methods: To explore surgeon’s practices, experiences, and perceptions of the use of operative ultrasound, a qualitative research design was chosen using a survey method of open-ended questions. An anonymous on-line survey was sent to the previous participants of the AHPBA HPB US course to collect responses to questions in addition to surgeon demographics. Survey responses were collected between August and September 2018. Qualitative data were analyzed from the responses received from the North American (United States and Canada) practicing surgeons, using a grounded theory approach. A content analysis was conducted to identify common themes and sub-themes. Summary and descriptive statistics were applied. Results: Between 2010 and 2018, a total of 69 surgeons from the United States (91.3%) and Canada (8.7%) took the HPB US course. Fifteen (15) of the 69 surgeons (21.7%) returned the on-line survey. The area of clinical specialty of the respondents included transplantation (26.7%), surgical oncology (40%), HPB (20%), and general surgery (13.3%). Two dominant themes were identified regarding the surgeons’ motivations to take the HPB US course, which included issues related to training/experience (77.4%) and issues related to US certification (16.1%). Most surgeons (80%) reported a change in their practice as a result of the HPB US course, including an improvement in knowledge or skills (64.3%) and/or a change in the use of ultrasound (35.7%). Most surgeons (80%) also reported challenges in incorporating US into practice. The most common theme was issues related to US system (73.3%), and sub-themes reflecting cost issues were dominant (64%). (Figure) Conclusion: Costs of the US system are among the most important challenges to incorporating US into an HPB surgical practice. Importantly, this study has found that although HPB surgeons are motivated to seek US training to enhance knowledge and skills in US, they are also interested in obtaining certification in surgical US, a finding which has not been previously reported. A certification process in HPB surgical US is currently under development, which will be a step forward as there is a clear desire for US certification on the behalf of the HPB surgical community.

Replicated mitral valve models from real patients offer training opportunities for minimally invasive mitral valve repair

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair is considered a challenging procedure. Mastering the necessary skills takes years of training and clinical experience. To date, reconstructive surgery is performed mainly by a few surgeons with a strong track record, whereas trainees have only limited opportunities to practise. A high-fidelity training simulator was equipped with novel silicone replicas of patient-specific mitral valves containing all of the anatomical components of the valve. The goal of this system was to aid members of the surgical community to overcome the steep learning curve. Twelve surgeons (5 experts and 7 surgical resident trainees) performed a minimally invasive mitral valve repair procedure on these models and assessed the usefulness for different applications. The trainees found the main application to be general surgical training and education for mitral valve repair, whereas the experts found the main benefit to be rehearsal for a specific patient. The skills of the trainees were improved in only a single session. The valve models placed in a water solution showed a high echogenicity. Preoperative patient-specific simulation could improve the safety and effectiveness of mitral valve repair in the hands of a larger number of surgeons. Because the system is based on a quantitative segmentation of the anatomy of the mitral valve, it offers young surgeons training in general dexterity and also provides an exact numerical quantitative assessment of valvular geometry. This system can be used to educate surgeons to strive for and achieve well-defined and measurable surgical changes to the anatomy of the valve and to achieve the desired functional results.

European association for endoscopic surgery (EAES) consensus statement on single-incision endoscopic surgery

BackgroundLaparoscopic surgery changed the management of numerous surgical conditions. It was associated with many advantages over open surgery, such as decreased postoperative pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay and excellent cosmesis. Since two decades single-incision endoscopic surgery (SIES) was introduced to the surgical community. SIES could possibly result in even better postoperative outcomes than multi-port laparoscopic surgery, especially concerning cosmetic outcomes and pain. However, the single-incision surgical procedure is associated with quite some challenges.MethodsAn expert panel of surgeons has been selected and invited to participate in the preparation of the material for a consensus meeting on the topic SIES, which was held during the EAES congress in Frankfurt, June 16, 2017. The material presented during the consensus meeting was based on evidence identified through a systematic search of literature according to a pre-specified protocol. Three main topics with respect to SIES have been identified by the panel: (1) General, (2) Organ specific, (3) New development. Within each of these topics, subcategories have been defined. Evidence was graded according to the Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence. Recommendations were made according to the GRADE criteria.ResultsIn general, there is a lack of high level evidence and a lack of long-term follow-up in the field of single-incision endoscopic surgery. In selected patients, the single-incision approach seems to be safe and effective in terms of perioperative morbidity. Satisfaction with cosmesis has been established to be the main advantage of the single-incision approach. Less pain after single-incision approach compared to conventional laparoscopy seems to be considered an advantage, although it has not been consistently demonstrated across studies.ConclusionsConsidering the increased direct costs (devices, instruments and operating time) of the SIES procedure and the prolonged learning curve, wider acceptance of the procedure should be supported only after demonstration of clear benefits.

More evidence for implant-based breast reconstruction.

More evidence for implant-based breast reconstruction.

Reducing Implicit Bias: Association of Women Surgeons #HeForShe Task Force Best Practice Recommendations

It is imperative to identify and act on potential barriers to the equitable treatment of women, and racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities within our professional surgical community. This includes the identification and counteraction of implicit biases, which are unconscious beliefs and attitudes that often drive our behaviors and decision-making, and eventually determine the climate of relative opportunity and challenge for those who are underrepresented within our field. Increasing diversity in universities, medical schools, residencies, and surgical departments will ultimately heighten the quality of our care, deepen our connection with patients, and further our achievements as surgeons and leaders in medicine and society. A tradition of excellence in surgery includes a rigorous pursuit of intellectual development and the questioning of implicit dogma, and for this reason we must actively work to eradicate unconscious biases that compromise the integrity of this pursuit. We recommend the following steps with an aim towards this goal: Commit to a Culture Shift Introduce Bias Literacy Provide Counter-Stereotypic Exposure Conduct an Introspective Departmental Assessment Implement Deliberative Processing Strategies for Hiring and Promotion Encourage Mentoring and Sponsorship Empower the individual

The southwestern surgical congress multi-center trial on suspected common duct stones

BackgroundCholedocholithiasis is present in up to 15% of cholecystectomy patients. Treatment can be surgical, endoscopic, or via interventional radiology. We hypothesized significant heterogeneity between hospitals exists in the approach to suspected common duct stones. MethodsA retrospective review of patients that had a preoperative MRCP, endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP), or intra-operative cholangiogram was performed. Comparisons were by Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests with significance of p < 0.05 for paired variables and p < 0.017 for multiple comparisons. ResultsTwelve participating institutions identified 1263 patients (409 men and 854 women) with a median age of 49 years (IQR: 31–94). Liver function tests (LFT's) were elevated in 939 patients (75%), median bilirubin level 1.75 mg/dl (IQ: 0.8–3.7 mg/dl) and median common duct size 7 mm (IQR 5–10 mm). The most common initial procedure was cholecystectomy with IOC at seven institutions, endoscopy at four and MRCP at one. ConclusionSignificant variation exists within the surgical community regarding suspected common duct stones. These results underscore the need for a protocol for common duct stones to minimize multiple, redundant interventions.

Study protocol – Interventions to reduce musculoskeletal occupational injury in surgeons and interventionalists: A systematic review

Musculoskeletal occupational injury is prevalent within the surgical community. This is a multi-factorial issue, but is contributed to by physical posture, environmental hazards and administrative deficiency. There is growing awareness of this issue, with several behavioural, educational and administrative techniques being employed. The literature on this topic is, however, sporadic and difficult to access by healthcare practitioners.The primary aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the literature on the current interventions used to minimise musculoskeletal occupational injury in surgeons. This review will focus on administrative, human factor interventions and ergonomics training.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy using vestibular approach: A single center experience.

Background:Thyroid Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) or transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy using vestibular approach is a recent advance embraced by the surgical community because of its potential for a scar-free thyroidectomy. In this article, we present our initial experience with this technique.Materials and Methods:We used a three-port technique through the oral vestibule, one 10 mm port for the laparoscope and two additional 5 mm ports for the endoscopic instruments required. The carbon dioxide insufflation pressure was set at 12 mm of Hg. Anterior cervical subplatysmal space was created from the oral vestibule down to the sternal notch, and the thyroidectomy was done using conventional laparoscopic instruments and a harmonic scalpel.Results:From May 2016 to December 2017, we have performed ten such procedures in the Department of General Surgery in our hospital, which is a tertiary referral center. Six patients had solitary thyroid nodules, for which a hemi-thyroidectomy was done. Four patients had multi-nodular goiter and total thyroidectomy or near-total thyroidectomy was done. The preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was suggestive of Bethesda class 2 lesions in all the patients with multinodular goiter and in five of the six patients with solitary nodular goiter. Only one patient with solitary nodular goiter had a Bethesda class 3 lesion on FNAC. The final histopathological report of the specimen was benign, either colloid goiter, or degenerative nodule in all cases of multinodular goiter and in four cases of solitary thyroid nodule. In one Bethesda class 2 solitary nodule, the histopathological report was suggestive of follicular carcinoma; in the Bethesda class 3 solitary nodule, the histopathological report was suggestive of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma. No complication such as temporary or permanent vocal cord paralysis, hypoparathyroidism, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, tracheal injury, esophageal injury, mental nerve palsy, or surgical site infection was found postoperatively. However, two patients developed small hematomas in the midline.Conclusion:Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is a safe, feasible, and minimally invasive technique with excellent cosmetic results.

The Microbiome-Host Interaction as a Potential Driver of Anastomotic Leak.

The goal of this paper is to review current literature on the gut microbiome within the context of host response to surgery and subsequent risk of developing complications, particularly anastomotic leak. We provide background on the relationship between host and gut microbiota with description of the role of the intestinal mucus layer as an important regulator of host health. Despite improvements in surgical technique and adherence to the tenets of creating a tension-free anastomosis with adequate blood flow, the surgical community has been unable to decrease rates of anastomotic leak using the current paradigm. Rather than adhere to empirical strategies of decontamination, it is imperative to focus on the interaction between the human host and the gut microbiota that live within us. The gut microbiome has been found to play a potential role in development of post-operative complications, including but not limited to anastomotic leak. Evidence suggests that peri-operative interventions may have a role in instigating or mitigating the impact of the gut microbiota via disruption of the protective mucus layer, use of multiple medications, and activation of virulence factors. The microbiome plays a potential role in the development of surgical complications and can be modulated by peri-operative interventions. As such, further research into this relationship is urgently needed.

Current trends in the management of flail chest and the perceived role of the surgeon

Background: Flail chest injuries typically occur in poly-traumatized patients and are often associated with prolonged hospital stays and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite multiple studies showing significantly improved outcomes with surgical fixation, the surgical community has been slow to adopt rib fixation as a part of practice and, as a result, many of these patients never undergo surgical fixation. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the percentage of flail chest injuries that are being treated with surgical fixation in the United States. In addition, a survey of orthopedic trauma surgeons was conducted to assess their perception of the role of orthopedics in the treatment of patients with flail chest injuries. Methods: Patients diagnosed with a flail chest injury were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2001 and 2012 and divided into two groups based on whether or not surgical fixation of the chest wall was performed. In addition, we distributed a survey questionnaire to orthopedic trauma surgeons focusing on each individual's experience with rib fracture fixation both in training and practice. Results: A total of 45,202 patients with a flail chest injury were identified using the NIS database between 2001 and 2012. Of these, 2.1% underwent surgical fixation of the chest wall with an increase in rate of fixation from 0.8% to 3.3% over the study period. According to our survey, only 20% of orthopedic trauma surgeons performed any rib fracture fixation cases in training, and only 24% perform rib fracture fixation cases in their practice. Of those who do not perform rib fracture fixation, 72% would consider doing so if they received additional training on the topic. Of all participants surveyed, 60% believed that rib fracture fixation should be a part of the orthopedic residency curriculum and 89% believed that it should be a part of the orthopedic trauma fellowship curriculum. Conclusions: Very few flail chest injuries are being treated with surgical fixation despite the emerging literature showing improved outcomes when compared to nonoperative management. Our survey shows that there is significant interest in incorporating rib fracture fixation into surgeons' training curriculum, as well as providing specialized workshops for practicing surgeons. We hope this work encourages the surgical community to embrace rib fracture fixation as a part of our specialty so that patients with flail chest injuries receive optimal care.

Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: Neither Uncommon nor Harmless.

Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is an issue that has been overlooked (not to say neglected). Cardiac surgeons must bear in mind that this is a real problem that we must tackle. The purpose of this paper is to be a wake-up call to the surgical community by giving a brief overview of what PPM is, its incidence and impact on the outcomes. We also discuss the increasing role played by imaging for predicting and assessing PPM after SAVR (with which surgeons must become more acquainted) and, finally, we present some options to avoid PPM after the surgical procedure.

Advances in surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Over the past 135 years, the field of pancreatic surgery for treatment of pancreatic malignancies has been a challenge to the surgical community. Originally filled with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality, these obstacles have been overcome through the work of numerous great surgeons in recent decades. Today, despite the improved safety of operating on the pancreas, patients still suffer from high rates of malignant recurrence and poor overall survival. Recent advances in pancreatic surgery aim to further improve the morbidity of these operations while increasing the number of patients who are both candidates for surgical resection and those who receive complete resections. This review focuses on recent literature describing the pros and cons of minimally invasive approaches to pancreatic surgery and the risks and benefits of vascular reconstruction to improve resectability. Both topics are currently debated amongst pancreatic surgeons and this article summarizes the varied viewpoints and their impact on outcomes in pancreas cancer surgery.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: Retrospective study on prosthetic materials, postoperative management, and quality of life.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed operations. However, the search for the most appropriate prosthetic materials continues to occupy the surgical community. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative short- and mid-term effects (like duration of stay, number and type of complications, and inguinal pain) of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair using the total extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. The evaluation encompassed different types of mesh and fixation devices, as well as medications prescribed during hospitalization.This retrospective study was conducted at the General, Laparoendoscopic, Bariatric, and Robotic Surgical Clinic of the Athens Medical Center. Clinical data from 524 patients were evaluated. The answers from an appropriately designed questionnaire completed from each individual were used to obtain information about their postoperative course. The statistical analysis was implemented in SPSS v 23.Analysis revealed that pain sensation on discharge decreased with increasing age (P < .05). No clear relationship was found between surgical clips and pain (P = .292), as well as mesh absorbability and chronic pain (P = .539). The major postoperative complications were annoyance and discomfort (15.9%). The recurrence rate was 1.7%.Postoperative complications following the TEP approach were mostly found to be minor; chronic pain, as an aspect of impaired quality of life, was not experienced in the majority (89.08%). The properties of prosthetic materials used and the type of medications prescribed were not found to exert a significant role in satisfactory postoperative outcomes.

Fatal flaws in clinical decision making.

Clinical decision making is a core competency of surgical practice, involving a continuous and evolving process of data interpretation and evaluation. The aim of this article is twofold. First, to recognize patient deaths where a clinical incident arose following unsatisfactory clinical decision making, determining where in the clinical decision-making process each failure occurred. Second, to discuss and explore individual incidents to provide lessons from which the surgical community can learn. Using the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality database, all deaths from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 were analysed. All deaths in which the surgeon or assessor identified an aspect of patient management that was inadequate were recognized. Clinical incidents deemed by the assessor to be an area of concern or an adverse event were individually reviewed to determine if a clinical decision-making incident (CDMI) occurred. CDMIs were categorized into various themes depending on the nature of the incident. A total of 3422 fully audited deaths occurred throughout the study period; from these cases, 226 individual CDMIs were identified. Decision to operate was the most commonly identified CDMI (n = 99, 43.8%), followed by diagnostic error (n = 49, 21.7%). The least common CDMI identified was inadequate post-operative assessment (n = 14, 6.2%). This paper demonstrates thought-provoking examples of clinical decision-making failure implicated in patient death. Clinical decision-making failures most commonly occur around the decision to operate with increased discussion of complex cases possibly required. Further CDMI evaluation should be considered to complement more traditional methods of surgical mortality evaluation.

Thank You to the Annals of Surgical Oncology Expert Reviewer Community

Thank You to the Annals of Surgical Oncology Expert Reviewer Community

New Strategies for Surgical Myocardial Revascularization.

We summarize the evidence on the new strategies for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Hybrid CABG implies surgical grafting of the left anterior descending artery and percutaneous treatment of the other target vessels, with the promise of combining the durable benefits of surgery with the less invasive approach of percutaneous coronary interventions. Robotic CABG and minimally invasive CABG are performed through minimal incision or port access with dedicated equipment and instruments. Anaortic coronary artery bypass refers to off-pump CABG using only in-situ grafts. The use of multiple arterial grafts has been shown to improve patency and is potentially associated with better clinical outcomes. All these techniques require dedicated training and are more complex than conventional CABG but can significantly improve the results of surgery. Validation of the results of these new approaches in large randomized trials is a priority for the surgical community.