The CUSA-1 pilot trial is a randomized controlled study comparing the use of the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) with conventional pancreatic transection methods in open distal pancreatectomy. With 60 patients randomized, the trial aims to assess the safety and feasibility of CUSA, focusing on postoperative complications and the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Surgeons demonstrate accuracy in predicting radiological sarcopenia in colorectal cancer surgery
Surgeons exhibited high accuracy in identifying radiological sarcopenia in patients with colorectal cancer, with substantial agreement with radiologists. Results showed strong correlations and favorable sensitivity and specificity levels for both junior and senior surgeons, particularly when using a simplistic criterion. The study suggests that the simplistic criterion is preferable over a composite criterion for predicting […]
Diagnostic Laparoscopy Reduces Nontherapeutic Laparotomy in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery
Diagnostic laparoscopy in pancreatic cancer surgery can effectively avoid nontherapeutic laparotomy, especially in clinically high-risk patients. A retrospective review of 196 patients revealed that same-procedure diagnostic laparoscopy identified metastatic disease in 2.4% of cases, with a number needed to treat of 42. Focus should be on optimizing patient selection and exploring predictive diagnostic markers. Journal […]
Healthy Teeth Count as Predictor for Rectal Cancer Chemoradiotherapy Response
Patients with a higher number of healthy teeth had a better response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer, as indicated by higher rates of disease downstaging and complete response. A study of 30 patients showed that those with ≥15 teeth had better outcomes, with a significant difference in disease-free survival rate and a tendency […]
Prognostic Factors and Nomogram Development in Stage III T3-T4 Colon Cancer
Conditional survival analysis for stage III T3-T4 colon cancer identified several risk factors for reduced one-year postoperative conditional survival (COS) and conditional cancer-specific survival (CCSS), including age, PT stage, PN stage, and chemotherapy receipt. This SEER database study of 18,190 patients developed predictive nomograms with a C-index above 0.70, demonstrating reliable and stable performance. The […]
Autologous Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation: Clinical Experience and Metabolic Outcomes
Autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation (IAT) post-pancreatectomy is effective in preventing pancreatogenic diabetes. A 15-year study of the Milan Protocol shows sustained c-peptide secretion and optimal beta-cell function in patients, especially those who underwent partial pancreatectomy. IAT-related complications were observed in a small percentage of patients, with critical factors like the quantity of infused islets […]
Hidden Port Site Incision for Robotic Foregut and Hepatopancreatobiliary Operation
Developed to minimize visible scars on the abdomen, the hidden port site incision technique at the pubic hairline offers a cosmetically superior approach for common foregut and hepatopancreatobiliary procedures. This technique maximizes cosmetic outcomes while maintaining clinical efficacy, especially beneficial for patients with poor healing or scarring tendencies. Journal Article by Fefferman ML, Zheng C, […]
High Hospital Market Competition Linked to Worse Outcomes and Higher Costs in Complex Cancer Surgery
High hospital market competition was associated with poorer postoperative outcomes and higher hospitalization costs in complex cancer surgery cases. Patients treated in high-competition markets had lower odds of achieving optimal outcomes and incurred greater healthcare costs compared to those in low-competition markets. Geographic disparities were also observed in the distribution of hospital market competition. Journal […]
Performance of AI Chatbots in Surgical Decision-making for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Large language model-linked chatbots showed varying accuracy in providing surgical management recommendations for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Google Bard had the highest accuracy, while Copilot and Perplexity had lower performance. Additional training using evidence-based health information is needed to maximize the potential of chatbots in clinical practice. Journal Article by Huo B, Calabrese E (…) Vosburg […]
Over-the-Scope Clips Show Higher Success Rates for Bariatric Surgery Leaks
A meta-analysis of five studies found that the pooled proportion of successful closure with over-the-scope clips (OTSC) for leaks and fistulae following bariatric surgery was 81.1% (95% CI 67.3 to 91.7). Observational reports suggest that patients managed with OTSC had higher rates of defect healing compared to those treated with endoscopic suturing. Larger controlled studies […]