An international multicenter study established the first global benchmarks for robotic liver resections (r-lr), analyzing 1,654 cases across 24 expert centers. Key outcome indicators for low-risk procedures were defined, revealing operation times ranging from 190 to 474 minutes and zero 90-day mortality. The study highlights benchmarks for operation time, conversion rates, estimated blood loss, blood […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Appendicitis-related mortality trends reveal concerning gender disparities
From 1999 to 2020, appendicitis-related mortality decreased overall but revealed significant disparities. The age-adjusted mortality rate fell from 0.38 to 0.32 per 100,000, with a notable decline for males but a concerning rise for females since 2016. Black individuals had the highest mortality rates, although significant declines were observed across racial groups. Nonmetropolitan regions experienced […]
Long-term transanal irrigation significantly improves outcomes in LARS patients
In a comprehensive multicenter study involving 159 patients, long-term transanal irrigation (TAI) demonstrated substantial benefits for those suffering from low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). Satisfaction and quality of life improved markedly, with major LARS cases dropping from 84.8% to 16.5% over 24 months. Additionally, symptom frequency decreased dramatically from 4.3 to 0.5 events per patient. […]
No universally superior technique for inguinal hernia repair found
Inguinal hernia repair is performed over 20 million times yearly, with techniques evolving from tension-based to tension-free methods that lower recurrence rates. A narrative review delves into minimally invasive approaches, including laparoscopic methods like TAPP and TEP, and various mesh types and fixation strategies. While advancements such as drug-loaded meshes show promise, a definitive solution […]
Autonomic nerve preservation improves outcomes in rectal cancer surgery
A novel technique for autonomic nerve network preservation during robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision shows promising results. In a study of 141 patients, the approach effectively maintained nerve integrity and minimized surgical trauma, contributing to reduced postoperative urinary and sexual dysfunction. Enhanced dissection techniques leveraging da Vinci’s magnification capabilities facilitated this precision. No conversions to traditional […]
Motion capture system enhances laparoscopic training evaluation
A motion capture-based surgical skill assessment system has shown promise in laparoscopic training environments, achieving classification accuracies of 67.3% for periaortic tissue dissection and 56.9% for parenchymal closure. Researchers evaluated 38 urologists, 4 junior residents, and 10 medical students, finding strong correlations in skill predictions with a correlation coefficient of 0.86. Participants praised the real-time […]
Laparoscopic repair outperforms open surgery for parastomal hernias
Minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques demonstrate significant benefits over traditional open surgery in parastomal hernia repairs. This comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that laparoscopic approaches reduce hospital stays by an average of four days and lower complication rates, including a striking decrease in mortality. While robotic-assisted methods show promise for quicker operative times, the evidence remains limited. These […]
Robotic, organ-sparing surgery shows high efficacy for gastric tumors
Minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided robotic resections for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) demonstrate remarkable safety and efficacy. A study of 46 patients, primarily with challenging tumor locations, revealed no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery. The approach resulted in less than 5% postoperative morbidity and an impressive median disease-free survival rate of 98% at 36 […]
New model predicts lymphovascular invasion in pancreatic cancer
A new preoperative model effectively predicts lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Utilizing data from 1,009 patients across three hospitals, researchers identified key high-risk predictors such as age under 65, cachexia, and specific imaging findings. Their nomogram outperformed expectations, demonstrating strong predictive capability in both development and validation cohorts. High-risk patients […]
ERAS pathways lead to better outcomes in pancreatic surgery
Implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways significantly improves patient outcomes following pancreatic surgeries. A study of 220 patients revealed that those in the ERAS group experienced markedly reduced postoperative opioid use (58 vs. 148 mg) and lower pain scores (6 vs. 8). Moreover, the ERAS cohort demonstrated a lower overall complication rate, particularly in […]