Surgical Group Research Articles

Long-Term Outcome After Resection of Hepatic and Pulmonary Metastases in Multivisceral Colorectal Cancer

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) with hepatic (CRLM) and pulmonary metastases (CRLU) presents a significant clinical challenge, leading to poor prognosis. Surgical resection of these metastases remains controversial because of limited evidence supporting its long-term benefits. To evaluate the impact of surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases on long-term survival in patients with multivisceral metastatic colorectal cancer, this retrospective cohort study included 192 patients with UICC stage IV CRC treated at a high-volume academic center. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases (n = 100) and those who received non-surgical treatment (n = 92). Propensity score matching was used to adjust for baseline differences. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Results: Unadjusted analysis showed a significant OS benefit in the surgical group (median OS: 6.97 years) compared with the conservative group (median OS: 2.17 years). After propensity score matching, this survival advantage persisted (median OS: 5.58 years vs. 2.35 years; HR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.18–0.47, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Surgical resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases in multivisceral metastatic CRC significantly improves long-term survival, supporting an aggressive surgical approach in selected patients.

Device closure via minimally invasive left intercostal incision in children with perimembranous ventricular septal defect

When treating perimembranous ventricular septal defect, median sternotomy leads to unsightly scar, right subaxillary thoracotomy requires cardiopulmonary bypass, and transcatheter device closure constrained by vascular condition. Using small left intercostal incision, we employed transthoracic device closure to get around these issues. During this study, right subaxillary thoracotomy was used for surgical repair in 117 patients (Surgical group), whereas small left intercostal incision was used for transthoracic device closure in 131 patients (Device group). Retrospective data collection and analysis were conducted. The success rate was comparable (117/117 vs. 130/131, P = 1.000). The device group experienced notably reduced operating time, mechanical ventilation duration, ICU stay, and postoperative hospital stay (All P < 0.001). Given that the device group’s incision was much smaller than the surgical group’s (1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 cm, P < 0.001), blood transfusion or drainage tube was not needed. The device group observed a lower frequency of complications, with the exception of small residual shunt. It is feasible and safe to perform transthoracic device closure in children with perimembranous ventricular septal defects via small left intercostal incision. It can be a good minimally invasive substitute for surgical closure when utilized properly.

Data-Driven Approach to Development of a Risk Score for Periprosthetic Joint Infections in Total Joint Arthroplasty Using Electronic Health Records

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is an uncommon, but serious complication in total joint arthroplasty. Personalized risk prediction and risk factor management may allow better preoperative assessment and improved outcomes. We evaluated different data-driven approaches to develop surgery-specific PJI prediction models using large-scale data from the electronic health records. A large institutional arthroplasty registry was leveraged to collect data from 58,574 procedures of 41,844 patients who underwent at least one primary and/or revision hip and/or knee arthroplasty between 2000 and 2019. The registry dataset was augmented with additional clinical, procedural, and laboratory data from the electronic health records for more than 100 potential predictor variables. The main outcome was PJI within the first year after surgery. We implemented both traditional and machine learning methods for model development (lasso regression, relaxed lasso regression, ridge regression, random forest, stepwise regression, extreme gradient boosting, neural network) and used 10-fold cross-validation to calculate measures of model performance in terms of discrimination (c-statistic), cross-entropy loss, and calibration. All models performed similarly in predicting PJI risk, with negligible differences of less than 0.08 between the best and worst-performing models. The relaxed and fully relaxed lasso models using the Cox model structure outperformed the other models with concordances of 0.787 in primary hip arthroplasty and 0.722 in revision hip arthroplasty, with the number of predictors ranging from nine to 41. The concordances with the relaxed lasso models were 0.681 in primary and 0.699 in revision knee arthroplasty, with a higher number of predictors in the models. Predictors included in the models varied substantially across the four surgical groups. The incorporation of additional data from the electronic health records offers limited improvement in PJI risk stratification. Furthermore, improvement in PJI risk prediction was modest with the machine learning approaches and may not justify the added complexity.

Severe traumatic injury is associated with profound changes in DNA methylation

Whether DNA methylation changes follow human physical trauma is uncertain. We aimed to investigate if severe trauma was associated with DNA methylation changes. In a prospective, observational, clinical study, we included severely injured adults and adults undergoing elective surgery (controls). Blood was obtained from trauma patients (n = 60) immediately- and 30-45 days post-trauma, and from surgical patients (n = 57) pre-, post-, and 30-45 days post-surgery. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation profiling was performed and analyzed for significant differentially methylated CpGs and -regions (DMRs) within and between groups. Within the trauma group we identified 10,126 significant differentially methylated CpGs and 1169 DMRs. No significant differential methylation was found in the surgical group. In the trauma group, differentially methylated sites were enriched in genes and pathways involved in blood coagulation and inflammatory response. Severe trauma was associated with profound alterations in the DNA methylome of circulating leucocytes, and differential methylation was located in trauma-relevant genes.

Lower Socioeconomic Status Predicts Greater Obstacles to Care: Using Outpatient Cholecystectomy as a Model Cohort.

Patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) are disadvantaged in terms of access to health care. A novel metric for SES is the Distressed Communities Index (DCI). This study evaluates the effect of DCI on hospital choice and distance traveled for surgery. A Florida database was queried for patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis or chronic cholecystitis who underwent an outpatient cholecystectomy between 2016 and 2019. Patients' DCI was compared with hospital ratings, comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and distance traveled for surgery. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine which factors most influenced distance traveled for surgery. There were 54,649 cases-81 open, 52,488 laparoscopic, and 2,080 robotic. There was no difference between surgical approach and patient's DCI group (p = 0.12). Rural patients traveled the farthest for surgery (avg 21.29 miles); urban patients traveled the least (avg 5.84 miles). Patients from distressed areas more often had surgery at one- or two-star hospitals than prosperous patients (61% vs 36.3%). Regression indicated distressed or at-risk areas predicted further travel for rural/small-town patients, while higher hospital ratings predicted further travel for suburban/urban patients. Compared to prosperous areas, patients from distressed areas have surgery at lower-rated hospitals, travel further if they live in rural/small-town areas, but travel less if they live in suburban areas. We postulate that farther travel in rural areas may be explained by a lack of health care resources in poor, rural areas, while traveling less in suburban areas may be explained by personal lack of resources for patients with low SES.

Study of Complete Surgical Response of Stage III Oral Carcinoma Patients in Comparison to Primary Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Methotrexate With Surgery.

Objective This study aims to compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant methotrexate therapy followed by surgery versus primary surgical management in patients with stage III oral carcinoma. Methods Thirty patients diagnosed with stage III oral carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective study at a tertiary cancer research center. The patients were divided into two groups: 15 patients received neoadjuvant methotrexate therapy followed by surgery, while 15 underwent primary surgical management. Outcomes were evaluated based on tumor downstaging, surgical margins, postoperative complications, and the requirement for adjuvant radiotherapy. Results Patients in the neoadjuvant methotrexate group demonstrated significant tumor downstaging, allowing for less extensive surgical procedures, with 33.3% (n=5) undergoing wide local excision (WLE) compared to 13.3% (n=2) in the primary surgery group. Negative surgical margins were achieved in 93.33% (n=14) of patients in the neoadjuvant group versus 53.33% (n=8) in the surgical group. Additionally, only 13.3% (n=1) of patients in the neoadjuvant group required postoperative radiotherapy, compared to 53.33% (n=8) in the surgical group. The recurrence rate over a six-month follow-up period was comparable between the two groups. Discussion Neoadjuvant methotrexate therapy resulted in better surgical and oncological outcomes by downstaging the tumor, reducing the extent of surgery, and minimizing the need for postoperative radiotherapy. The findings suggest that methotrexate, as a neoadjuvant agent, is effective in improving patient outcomes with fewer side effects compared to standard cisplatin-based regimens. Conclusion Neoadjuvant methotrexate therapy offers a viable treatment option for stage III oral carcinoma, demonstrating improved oncological and surgical outcomes, including less invasive surgery, higher rates of negative surgical margins, and reduced postoperative radiotherapy requirements. Further research with long-term follow-up is necessary to validate these findings and explore the long-term impact on survival and recurrence rates.

Surgical management of first-time patellar dislocations in paediatric patients may lower rates of redislocation compared to conservative management: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether early surgical intervention for first-time patellar dislocations in paediatric patients is superior to conservative management. We hypothesized that surgical intervention would lead to lower redislocation rates compared to conservative treatment. Three online databases (PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE) were searched from inception to 14 March 2024 to identify studies investigating the management options for acute first-time patellar dislocations in paediatric patients. Data pertaining to patient demographics, patient management, redislocation rates and Kujala scores, evaluating function, were abstracted. Weighted means and meta-analyses were conducted to compare rates of redislocation, as well as Kujala scores. The quality of included studies was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies criteria for non-randomized studies and the ROB2 tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A total of 11 studies and 761 patients were included in this review. The weighted mean post-operative combined rates of redislocation in the surgical group was 25.1%, compared to 46.4% in the conservative group at a mean follow-up of 53.2 months (12-168). The relative risk (RR) of redislocation was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-1.04, I2 = 0%, p = 0.11), favouring surgery compared to conservative management. A subgroup meta-analysis of two recent RCTs with 110 patients demonstrated an RR of redislocation of 0.53 (95% CI: 0.31-0.91, I2 = 0%, p = 0.02), favouring surgery. Kujala scores among three comparative studies showed a mean difference of -2.7 (95% CI: -6.1 to 0.68, I2 = 0%, p = 0.12), favouring conservative treatment. The weighted mean redislocation rate in 131 patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) was 3.1%, compared to 39.4% in 203 patients undergoing other surgical procedures, such as lateral release and medial imbrication, Roux-Goldwaith and MPFL repair. Furthermore, the conservative groups experienced a complication rate of 0.9% compared to 2.9% across the surgical groups. Surgical management for first-time patellar dislocations in a paediatric population, particularly MPFLR, may be more beneficial in lowering redislocation rates than conservative management. No significant differences in Kujala scores were found. Level IV.

Ten-year outcomes in patients with hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism undergoing surgical adrenalectomy versus medical therapy: data from the multinational collaborative network TriNetX

Abstract Background Surgical adrenalectomy for resection of adenomas has been the standard approach for treating patients with secondary hypertension due to primary hyperaldosteronism. However, few studies explored long-term outcomes in patients treated with adrenalectomy when compared to patients treated with conservative management. Purpose To compare ten-year mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism treated with surgical adrenalectomy versus patients with primary hyperaldosteronism treated with medical therapy alone. Methods This retrospective cohort study used real-world data from healthcare organizations participating in the global health research collaborative network TriNetX. We performed propensity score matching for demographic and clinical characteristics and calculated hazard ratios, comparing 2.397 patients in each group. The outcomes were all-cause death, heart failure, and the composite endpoint ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and aorta aneurysm or dissection (major adverse vascular events) during the 10-year follow-up. Results Patients undergoing surgical adrenalectomy had a lower incidence of all-cause death (3.0%) when compared with patients in medical therapy (5.0%) ( hazard ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.45-0.81). Patients in the surgical group had a 4.6% incidence of heart failure and the medical therapy had an 8.6% incidence of heart failure (hazard ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.42-0.69). The incidence of major adverse vascular events was lower in the surgical group (10.9%) compared to the medical therapy group (14. 1%) ( hazard ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.90). Conclusion In patients with hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism, surgical adrenalectomy was associated with lower 10-year mortality, heart failure, and major adverse vascular events compared to medical therapy alone.

Assessing aortic morphology post aortic valve replacement using unsupervised hierarchical clustering and statistical shape modelling

Abstract Introduction There are different surgical procedures used to treat aortic valve disease such as aortic valve replacement (AVR), the Ozaki procedure, the Ross procedure, and the valve-sparing procedure. There may be postoperative side effects associated with aortic morphology. Computational analyses that assess morphology are thus necessary in such scenario. Statistical shape modelling is used to assess three-dimensional morphology, discover unique shape features, create mean shapes, and create shape modes that display morphological variability. Hierarchical cluster analysis is a machine learning method used to classify a population into subgroups. Both of these statistical methods were applied to aortic valve replacement patients to evaluate morphological variability after aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery. Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the aortic morphology of AVR patients, identify morphological differences between different surgical procedures, identify subgroups postoperatively using statistical shape modelling and hierarchical cluster analysis, and assessing possible correlations between the resultant clusters and function i.e. ejection fraction. Methods Computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance images were used to reconstruct aortas into 3D models using segmentation and 3D reconstruction software. For each patient, two models were created (i.e. ascending aorta only and aorta including the arch and the descending aorta). N=35 patients were included in the study. Statistical shape analysis was run to create templates and shape modes. Statistical environment and language software was used to run hierarchical cluster analysis. Results Overall, the hierarchical cluster analysis did not classify the aortas based on type of surgery, but most patients in the Ross group demonstrated morphological differences from the other surgical groups and many of the aortas belonging to the Ross group were clustered together in both clustering analyses. No significant differences between clusters were seen (p=0.47 for ascending, p=0.19 for whole aorta). No correlation was found between clusters and ejection fraction (p=0.75, r2&amp;lt;0.01), possibly indicating that post-AVR aortic morphology in this sample does not reflect overt functional changes. Conclusion Both statistical shape modelling and hierarchical cluster analyses were successful in assessing morphological variability and identifying subgroups in this population. This framework could therefore be extended to larger samples to inform on surgical decision-making allowing surgeons to choose the appropriate surgery for the patient or design prosthetic valves that are more customised to the patient’s anatomy.Cluster-Ejection Fraction Correlation

Musculoskeletal Tissue Asymmetries Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To compare musculoskeletal tissue asymmetries between those who had undergone ACLR and non-surgical controls, and to evaluate the influence of sex on asymmetries and perceptions of knee function in ACLR patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort analysis. METHODS: Individuals (female n=11, male n=11) with a history of ACLR and matched controls (female n=10, male n=9) completed Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans to measure lower-body bone mineral content (BMC), Fat%, and lean mass (LM). Perceptions of knee function were captured via the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) instrument and inter-limb asymmetry indices (AI%) were calculated for each DXA outcome. Surgical groups and sexes were compared using independent t-tests ( p&lt;0.05) and Cohen’s effect sizes ( d). Additionally, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficients evaluated the association between AI% and IKDC scores. RESULTS: The ACLR group showed greater lower-body asymmetries, specifically less BMC and LM and greater Fat% in the ACLR limb ( p≤0.044; d=0.63–0.87). ACLR group sex comparisons found that females had lower IKDC scores, greater asymmetries for BMC and LM ( p≤0.027, d=0.40–0.74), and these asymmetries were negatively correlated with IKDC scores (all r≥0.755; p≤0.007) while males demonstrated no such correlations. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with a history of ACLR had persistent musculoskeletal tissue asymmetries that favored the non-surgical leg. The asymmetries were greater in female versus male patients and were associated with lower perceptions of knee function. Thus, musculoskeletal imaging may provide complementary information to the current standard of care during ACLR rehabilitation.

Comparison of ICD implantation approach in children. The IChilDren study

Abstract Background Without dedicated device, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) implantation in children is a real challenge for physicians. Types of implantation include transvenous, surgical and subcutaneous-ICD approach, but with a lack of reliable data comparing their respective efficacy and safety. Objective We here aim to compare the results of these 3 ICD implantation approaches in children. Methods Consecutive children (&amp;lt;16yo) implanted with an ICD from 2005 to 2021 in 19 french tertiary centers of the French Pediatric and Congenital heart disease network, were retrospectively enrolled in the study. The primary endpoints were the occurrence of lead failure, device infection or inappropriate shock. Results Among 306 patients (mean age 12,6 yo), 34% received a transvenous ICD, 28% a S-ICD and 38% a surgical ICD. During a median follow-up of 4.7 years, endpoints occurred in 24.2% of the total population, more often in the surgical group (p&amp;lt;0.05). After adjustment for age, ICD type and stratification by heart disease, there was an excess risk of lead failure or infection with the surgical ICD compared with the S-ICD (HR 7.54, 95% CI 1.73;32.91, p&amp;lt;0.05). However, when inappropriate shocks were included, the difference was reduced (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.03;5.04, p&amp;gt;0.05). In addition, no significant difference between transvenous and surgical ICDs was observed in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions We demonstrate a high rate of complication in children implanted with an ICD. The transvenous and surgical approaches are quite similar. S-ICD appears as a promising approach with the lowest serious adverse event rate. Limitation of inappropriate shock remain the main challenge of this technique.Late complications

Clinical outcomes and impact of mitral valve surgery in atrial functional mitral regurgitation: the REVEAL-AFMR registry

Abstract Background The real-world impact and effective treatment strategies of atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and the effectiveness of mitral valve surgery in AFMR. Methods The REal-world obserVational study for invEstigAting the prevaLence and therapeutic options for Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation (REVEAL-AFMR) was a retrospective cohort study conducted across 26 Japanese centers. All transthoracic echocardiography performed in 2019 were reviewed and patients with moderate or severe AFMR defined by preserved left ventricular function, dilated left atrium, and absence of degenerative valvular changes. The primary composite outcomes were heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Besides traditional multivariable regression analysis, propensity score-based time-zero matching was performed to account for immortal time bias. Results In 177,235 patients who underwent echocardiography, 8,867 had moderate or severe MR. Within this group, 1,007 were diagnosed with AFMR (mean age 78±10, 56% female, 80% atrial fibrillation). Of these, 113 underwent MV surgery, with 81% receiving concurrent tricuspid valve surgery. Patients who underwent surgery were younger but had more severe MR, larger left heart chambers, and a higher prevalence of heart failure than those who remained under medical therapy. During a median follow-up of 1050 days, 28% experienced the primary outcome, and 18% died. Despite a more severe disease status, only the surgical group showed a decrease in natriuretic peptide levels at follow-up and had significantly lower rate of the primary outcome (hazard ratio 0.43 [0.29-0.64], p&amp;lt;0.001 after adjustment for 25 covariates). Propensity score-based time-zero matching also indicated a lower risk of the primary outcome in the surgical group (hazard ratio 0.39 [0.20–0.78], p=0.007). Multiple sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Subgroup analysis suggested a significantly greater benefit of surgery for patients with severe MR than those with non-severe MR (p for interaction=0.044). Conclusions Our registry revealed that patients with AFMR are typically old with predominantly with atrial fibrillation, facing poor outcomes. MV surgery was associated with fewer adverse events, a finding that should be validated in future clinical trials.

Impact of atrial fibrillation on mortality and non-fatal clinical outcomes in 28 492 patients who had undergone open-heart aortic versus mitral valve surgery: a statewide population-linkage study

Abstract Background Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Few studies have defined the impact of AF status (New-AF versus Prior-AF) on clinical outcomes during long-term follow-up and compared AF-related clinical outcomes between patients who had undergone isolated aortic valve surgery (AVSx) or mitral valve surgery (MVSx). Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of AF status on clinical outcomes in patients who had undergone AVSx versus MVSx using a statewide-population administrative database. Methods Patients who had open-heart cardiac valve surgery (1 January 2003 to 31 March 2021) identified from the Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database in an Australian state, were stratified by AF status (No-AF vs New-AF vs Prior-AF during index admission for valve surgery) and followed up to 31 March 2022. A linkage look-back to year-2001 was performed to identify prior-AF history. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression were performed to assess the impact of AF status on all-cause mortality. Fine-Gray competing risk analysis to account for the competing death events was used to assess non-fatal clinical outcomes. Results The overall cohort comprised 28 492 patients (median age 71.6yrs [interquartile range (IQR) 62.7–78.3yrs; 65.6% males): AVSx, n=18949; MVSx, n=9543 (Table 1). During a median follow-up of 6.6yrs (3.42–10.5yrs), Prior-AF and New-AF patients had significantly higher all-cause mortality (AVSx – Prior-AF: 1771 (57.9%) vs New-AF: 2854 (41.5%) vs No-AF: 2961 (32.8%); MVSx – Prior-AF: 1126 (41.0%) vs New-AF: 1034 (29.8%) vs No-AF: 747 (22.4%) (both Kaplan-Meier logrank P&amp;lt;0.001). After adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics and admission year-groups, in the AVSx subgroup, both new-AF and prior-AF were independently associated with all-cause mortality (aHR=1.16, 95%CI=1.10–1.22; aHR=1.69, 95%CI=1.59–1.79 respectively, both P&amp;lt;0.001) compared to no-AF patients. In the MVSx subgroup, only prior-AF was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (aHR=1.47, 95% CI=1.33–1.61, P&amp;lt;0.001). Competing risk analyses showed higher rehospitalisation rates for AF and congestive cardiac failure for new-AF and prior-AF groups compared to No-AF patients after both AVSx and MVSx, whereas the rehospitalisation rate for ischemic stroke was only significantly higher in the AVSx new-AF and prior-AF subgroups (all p &amp;lt; 0.05) (Table 2). Conclusions Patients undergoing open-heart aortic or mitral valve surgery are at risk of significant adverse clinical outcomes including death, heart failure and ischaemic stroke, with the target valve and baseline AF status having a differential impact on clinical outcomes. Drivers behind these high rates of adverse outcomes should be explored further and strategies should be developed and tailored accordingly to different surgical patient groups to improve their prognosis.

Temporal trends in mitral valve surgery in Denmark: changes in patient characteristics and outcomes from 1996 to 2021

Abstract Background Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Mitral valve surgery (MVS) is recommended in severe MR, which is the second most common cause of heart valve surgery in the Western world. Data on national practice patterns are lacking and are essential for the continuous epidemiologic surveillance of the disease. Purpose To investigate temporal trends in patient characteristics, incidence and mortality in patients undergoing MVS for MR in Denmark from 1996 to 2021. Methods Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified all patients ≥18 years undergoing MVS for MR. Patients operated due to infective endocarditis were excluded. The study population was grouped into one 6-year and four 5-year calendar bands and type of MVS (mitral valve repair, mechanical or biological valve replacement and transcatheter-edge-to-edge repair (TEER)). Temporal trends in patient characteristics were computed. Annual incidence rates were calculated while considering the total Danish population ≥18 years at risk. For one-year postoperative mortality analysis, the reverse Kaplan-Meier estimator and a multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis were used. Results We identified 7,813 patients (median age 67.3 years, 65.6% males) undergoing MVS. Over calendar time, burden of comorbidities decreased while median age increased, Table 1. From 1996 to 2021, a stepwise increase was seen in the overall incidence rate for MVS from 3.87 [95% CI 3.32-4.51] to 7.06 [95% CI 6.34-7.58] per 100,000 person-years (p&amp;lt;0.001). The incidence of mechanical valve replacement statistically significantly decreased (p&amp;lt;0.001), while the incidence of mitral valve repair (p=0.004), biological replacement (p≤0.001) and TEER statistically increased (p=0.015), Figure 1. For the overall study period, one-year mortality was 5.0% for mitral valve repair, 12.7% for mechanical valve replacement, 15.7% for biological valve replacement and 19.0% for TEER. Demographics and one-year mortality stratified by calendar period are shown in Table 1. In the mitral valve repair group, adjusted analysis showed a stepwise statistically significant decrease in one-year mortality with HR 0.30 (95% CI 0.17-0.53, p≤0.001) in 2017-2021 as compared to 1996-2001. In the remaining surgical groups, trends were towards decreasing one-year mortality over calendar periods but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion(s) In this Danish nationwide cohort study, we observed an increase in the incidence of overall mitral valve surgery from 1996 to 2021. The incidence of mechanical valve replacement decreased, while the incidence of mitral valve repair, biological replacement and TEER increased. Mortality rates significantly improved for mitral valve repair patients over calendar time. Continuous epidemiological surveillance of this patient group is required in an era of development in treatment guidelines, surgical methods and patient demographics.Table 1Figure 1

Cesarean scar pregnancy: should surgery be the preferred treatment approach?

To compare the characteristics and outcomes of non-surgical and surgical treatments for Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP). A retrospective study conducted at a tertiary university affiliated medical center, including all women diagnosed with Cesarean scar pregnancy between 2019 and 2023. Women treated non-surgically (including: methotrexate, uterine artery embolization and balloon catheter) were compared to women treated surgically (including: hysterectomy, hysteroscopy and excision of the pregnancy with or without uterine niche repair). Demographic information, medical history, obstetric and gynecological characteristics, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, management details, surgical characteristics, and follow-up data were collected from the women's electronic medical records. Primary outcome was defined as the β-hCG levels on follow-up visit at 2weeks following treatment. 42 women were diagnosed with Cesarean scar pregnancy during the study period, of them 9 (21%) were treated non-surgically and 33 (79%) were treated surgically. Median age was 33 (30-36) year old and median BMI was 31 (27-35) kg/m2, with no statistical differences in-between the groups. Most of the women had previous two Cesarean sections (n = 12, 28%). 63% of the women were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. On transvaginal ultrasound examination, embryo was demonstrated in 66.7% and cardiac activity was observed in 75%. The median gestational age at diagnosis and β-hCG levels were comparable between the non-surgical and surgical treatment groups (p = 0.22, p = 0.61, respectively). In the surgical arm, the most common surgical procedure was excision of the pregnancy with uterine niche repair, that was performed in 14/42 (33%) of the women. Median hospitalization length was 3 (1-4) and 2 (1-3) days, for the non-surgical and surgical treatment groups, respectively (p = 0.51). The hemoglobin level before discharge was similar between the groups (p = 0.20). Only one woman in each group visited the emergency room before the follow-up visit (p = 0.31). β-hCG levels on follow-up were significantly lower in the surgical group compared to the non-surgical (p = 0.02). Cesarean scar pregnancy can be asymptomatic and should be suspected to enable early diagnosis. Both non-surgical and surgical treatments are viable options, with comparable hospitalization lengths; however, the surgical intervention group is expected to show a significantly faster decrease in β-hCG levels.

A randomized trial on three different minimally invasive decompression techniques for lumbar spinal stenosis. Five years follow-up from the NORDSTEN-SST.

The short-term clinical outcome for midline-preserving posterior decompression techniques was comparable. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term clinical results after three different midline-preserving posterior decompression techniques. In the NORDSTEN spinal stenosis trial (NORDSTEN-SST) 437 patients were randomized to three different midline-retaining posterior decompression techniques: Unilateral laminotomy with crossover (UL), bilateral laminotomy (BL) and spinous process osteotomy (SPO). Primary outcome was the mean change in Oswestry disability index (ODI) score at five-years follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients classified as success, mean change in EQ-5D, ZCQ-score, NRS-score for leg and low back pain, a seven-point Global Perceived Effect (GPE) Scale and proportion of subsequential spinal surgery. The number of patients that completed follow-up data after five years was 358 (82%): In the UL, BL and SPO group the numbers were 122, 119 and 117, respectively. Mean age at baseline was 66.7 (SD 8.2) years, mean BMI was 27.8 (SD 4.1), and 172/358 (48%) were female. In the UL group the mean change was -18.2 (95% CI -21.0 -5.4), in the BL group it was -19.0 (95% CI -21.9-16.1) and in the SPO it was -18.6 (95% CI -21.6-15.7) (p = 0.917). No significant differences in the secondary outcomes between the three surgical groups were found, also the subsequent spinal surgery rates were similar. There were no significant differences in patient reported outcomes and subsequent spinal surgery rates after the three different decompression techniques at five-year follow-up.

Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy vs flexible ureteroscopy for 1-2 cm lower pole renal stones: a randomised controlled trial.

To compare the safety and efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS) and ambulatory tubeless mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL) in the treatment of 1-2 cm lower calyceal renal stones. Patients who underwent f-URS and mini-PCNL for the treatment of 1-2 cm lower calyceal renal stones between October 2020 and November 2023 were evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. A total of 72 patients were included in the study. All patients underwent a computed tomography renal colic scan preoperatively, on postoperative Day 1 (POD 1), and at 3 months follow-up. We compared perioperative outcomes, including operative time and hospital stay. Additionally, we evaluated follow-up outcomes, such as the stone-free rate (SFR) and complications. All patients were discharged home on the same operative day. There were no significant differences in preoperative baseline data between the two surgical groups. A significantly longer median operative time was reported in the mini-PCNL group (P = 0.04). The median hospital stay was 5 h and 4 h in the mini-PCNL and f-URS groups, respectively (P = 0.14). On POD 1, the SFR, defined as the absence of residual fragments measuring 0 cm, was 50% for mini-PCNL vs 11.1% for f-URS (P < 0.001). When a total cut-off of <4 cm was utilised, the SFR was 75% in the mini-PCNL group vs 22.2% in the f-URS cohort (P < 0.001). At 3 months follow-up, the SFR remained favourable for mini-PCNL at 72.2% vs 37.1% for f-URS (P = 0.003), with a cut-off of 0 cm, and it increased to 86.1% for mini-PCNL vs 65.7% for f-URS (P = 0.04) when a total cut-off of <4 cm was applied. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups. Two patients (5.7%) in the f-URS group required re-treatment. Ambulatory tubeless mini-PCNL and f-URS are effective treatment options for 1-2 cm lower calyceal renal stones. Both techniques have a comparable hospital stay and complication rates, with a significantly better SFR with mini-PCNL.

Application value of surgical navigation system based on deep learning and mixed reality for guiding puncture in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a retrospective study.

This study was conducted to investigate the clinical value of a navigation system based on deep learning and mixed reality for the treatment of kidney stones with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), and to improve its theoretical basis for the treatment of kidney stones. The data of 136 patients with kidney stones from October 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent PNL, and were categorized into a control group (Group 1) and a surgical navigation group (Group 2) according to puncture positioning method. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) was performed in both groups. In group 1, procedures were performed under standard ultrasound guidance. PNL was performed with navigation system fused with ultrasound to guide percutaneous puncture in group 2. The baseline information and procedural characteristics of both groups were compared. PNL was successfully performed in both groups. No significant difference was found in the baseline date between the two groups. In group 2, real-time ultrasound images could be accurately matched with CT images with the aid of navigation system. The success rate of single puncture, puncture time, and decrease in hemoglobin were significantly improved in group 2 compared to group 1. (p < 0.05). The application of navigation system based on deep learning and mixed reality in PNL for kidney stones allows for real-time intraoperative navigation, with acceptable accuracy and safety. Most importantly, this technique is easily mastered, particularly by novice surgeons in the field of PNL.

Clinical features, imaging findings, and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in systemic lupus erythematosus: comparing mesenteric vasculitis, non-mesenteric vasculitis, and surgical conditions.

To determine the spectrum, clinical features and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with acute abdominal pain (AAP). Medical records of SLE patients in a lupus cohort from January 1987 to June 2023 were reviewed. Patients with AAP requiring hospitalization were identified and categorized into 3 groups: lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV), non-LMV, and surgical AAP. Each AAP episode represented one patient. Of 1,538 patients in the cohort, 62 (4.03%) had 93 episodes of AAP. After exclusion, 31 patients had 39 LMV episodes, and 30 had 40 non-LMV episodes (19 due to surgical AAP). Seventy-six of the 79 AAP episodes (96.20%) were in females, with a mean ± SD age and median (IQR) disease duration of 36.76 ± 13.60 years and 6 (2, 9) years, respectively. Patients in the LMV group had more fever, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea than those in the non-LMV group. They also had more small bowel involvement, bowel wall thickening, target water enhancement signs, mesenteric vessels engorgement and mesenteric fat cloudiness, and higher SLE disease activity. These differences were more pronounced when compared to the surgical AAP group. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs gave favorable outcomes in the LMV group. Two of 40 (5.00%) non-LMV AAP patients died, of which 1 (5.26%) was in the surgical AAP group. LMV was common among SLE patients admitted for AAP. LMV usually presented with fever, gastrointestinal dysmotility symptoms, diffused abdominal pain, together with evidence of active disease. Localized abdominal pain with peritoneal signs favored surgical AAP. Key Points • Lupus mesenteric vasculitis is common among SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. Its presence often associates with gastrointestinal symptoms together with other clinical manifestations of SLE • The signs in abdominal computed tomography findings are not specific and could be observed in other causes of abdominal pain in SLE. Interpretation of these signs should be cautionary and accompanied by history taking and physical abdominal findings • Treatment of lupus mesenteric vasculitis with corticosteroids alone, or in combination with immunosuppressive drugs, usually results in good outcomes.

A Comparative Analysis of Pain Assessment Methods in the Initial Postoperative Phase Following Different Pilonidal Cyst Surgeries.

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate pain intensity in patients after pilonidal disease surgeries of varying extent using pressure algometry and the visual analog scale and to explore potential correlations between these methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 adult patients with symptomatic pilonidal cysts were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of surgery assigned to each patient at the pre-hospital consultation: pit-picking surgery (n = 39) and radical excision (n = 39). The pain levels at the surgical site were assessed and compared using the visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure algometry the morning before surgery and the day after the operation. Results: There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in VAS measurement results between surgical groups when comparing pain intensity experienced by patients before, during, and after surgery. Notably, specific pressure algometry variables (pressure pain tolerance left 2.05 ± 1.46 compared to 1.42 ± 0.73 kg/cm2, p = 0.02; maximum pressure pain tolerance left 2.91 ± 1.33 compared to 2.32 ± 1.14 kg/cm2, p = 0.04; maximum pressure pain tolerance center 2.51 ± 1.07 compared to 1.91 ± 0.91 kg/cm2, p = 0.01; interval of pressure pain tolerance center 0.98 ± 0.62 compared to 0.59 ± 0.39 kg/cm2, p = 0.00) on the first postoperative day were significantly lower in the "pit-picking" group compared to the excision group. Furthermore, no statistically significant correlation was found between VAS and pressure algometry measurements either before surgery or on the first postoperative day. Conclusions: In the early postoperative period following pilonidal disease surgery of varying extents, pain measured with the VAS does not differ. In contrast, the pressure algometry method showed greater pain in the minimally invasive surgery cohort on the first postoperative day. However, further larger studies are needed to compare these pain assessment methods in reporting pain intensity experienced during patient movement.