Surgeons must be vigilant, as over 67% of surgical patients are being prescribed inappropriate antibiotics and 42% inappropriate analgesics. 67.5% of patients received inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. 42.2% received inappropriate analgesic prescriptions. 51.6% experienced inadequate pain management. Comorbidities and a lack of lab tests are key factors in inappropriate prescriptions. Routine lab work is essential for […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Lack of Standard Definitions Impairs Colon Cancer Research
Current literature shows significant variability in the definitions of colon cancer segments, affecting treatment and outcomes. Only 10% of studies provide clear definitions for colon segments, risking inconsistent outcomes. The majority of defined segments are for the splenic flexure (58.5%) and transverse colon (42.9%), while others like the cecum and ascending colon are severely lacking. […]
Survival Gains in Gastric Cancer with Surgery and Chemotherapy
Surgery combined with chemotherapy significantly improves survival in gastric cancer patients. Median survival for intestinal-type cancers was 45.2 months with surgery and chemotherapy, versus just 5.1 months for palliative treatment. Patients with diffuse-type cancers exceeded 128 months median survival with the same approach, compared to 6.3 months with palliative care. Palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy also […]
Robotic Surgery Enhances Caudate Lobe Resection Outcomes
Robotic-assisted surgery significantly improves the feasibility of caudate lobe resections for hepatobiliary surgeons. Enhanced precision allows for better suturing and ligation of critical vessels. Effective management of liver mobilization and hemostasis is achievable with careful planning and advanced intraoperative techniques. Surgeons can consider robotic assistance as a viable option for tackling complex caudate lobe cases, […]
Negative pressure therapy cuts complications in gut surgery
Negative pressure wound therapy significantly improves outcomes in high-risk gastrointestinal surgeries. Superficial surgical site infections dropped from 18.1% to 6.4% with NPWT (p=0.04). Average hospital stay decreased from 11.2 to 8.9 days (p=0.01). Incisional hernia rates fell from 12.8% to 6.4% at one month (p=0.05) and from 16% to 6.4% at one year (p=0.03). Consider […]
Study Compares Risk Scores for Emergency Laparotomy Outcomes
New research identifies the best scoring system to predict outcomes in emergency laparotomy patients. The NELA score shows the highest accuracy for 30-day mortality with a c-statistic of 0.979. The Hajibandeh index excels in sensing surgical site infections (0.760) and anastomotic leaks (0.741). The P-POSSUM score is most specific for predicting re-exploration, aiding in surgical […]
Imaging Findings Enhance Surgical Decision-Making in Appendicitis
A large study reveals CT findings that predict complicated acute appendicitis, which may influence treatment choices. Wider appendiceal diameter and wall enhancement defects correlate with a higher risk of complications (p < 0.001). In patients without an appendicolith, wall enhancement defects show an odds ratio of 3.39 for complications. Surgeons should consider these imaging markers […]
Revolutionary Prognostic Tool for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
A novel grading system combining CA19-9, CA125, and CEA significantly improves prognostic accuracy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients post-surgery. In a study of 535 patients, the combined 3c grade correlated with overall survival and recurrence-free survival, outperforming individual markers (p < 0.001). Tumor size and lymph node metastasis distinguished between 3c grade groups (p = 0.006). […]
Better Surgeon Communication Makes Operating Rooms Run Faster
Surgeons’ non-technical skills significantly enhance operating room efficiency. A one-point increase in NOTSS scores correlates with a 28.1% increase in on-time first case starts. Each score point leads to a 22.1% improvement in actual vs. expected operation length. It also results in a 74.8% increase in cases turning over within expected time. Improving communication and […]
Thoracoscopic surgery improves survival in upper and mid-esophageal cancer
Thoracoscopic esophagectomy outperformed open surgery for upper and middle esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, improving both overall and disease-free survival. In upper tumors, thoracoscopic surgery cut mortality risk by 55% (HR 0.45) and recurrence risk by 45% (HR 0.55). In middle tumors, overall survival improved by 36% (HR 0.64) and disease-free survival by 30% (HR 0.70). […]