Conversion therapy (CT) significantly improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LA-ICCA). In a retrospective analysis of 115 patients, median overall survival reached 45.53 months and progression-free survival was 18.23 months post-propensity score matching, both superior to systemic therapy (ST) outcomes. CT emerged as an independent factor linked to better […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Overweight Older Adults Experience Lower Postoperative Mortality After Major Surgery
A cohort of 414 older adults undergoing major elective surgery revealed striking results: those classified as overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) had an astonishingly low 30-day all-cause mortality rate of just 0.8%. In stark contrast, normal-weight patients faced an 18.8% mortality rate, while underweight individuals experienced a serious 75% mortality rate. Adjusted analyses reinforced the protective association […]
Autonomous Laparoscope System Cuts Surgical Time and Resource Load
A new multi-task compliant control framework for robotic camera manipulation promises substantial gains in laparoscopic surgery. By integrating deep learning with robotic kinematics, this system autonomously adjusts the field of view and adheres to key constraints, achieving a mean response time under two seconds. Results reveal minimal tracking errors and successful scalability to prevent tissue […]
Liver Cancer Rates Surge Across Europe Amid Rising Health Disparities
The burden of liver cancer in Europe has escalated significantly from 1990 to 2021, with age-standardized incidence rising from 3.04 to 4.20 per 100,000. Males experienced disproportionately higher rates, particularly in older populations. Key risk factors include hepatitis C, alcohol consumption, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, with Andorra recording the highest rates and Ukraine the lowest. The […]
Innovative surgical technique offers new hope for pancreatic cancer
A modified Appleby procedure successfully treated a pancreatic body tumor encasing the celiac axis, previously deemed inoperable. Utilizing a replaced left hepatic artery, surgeons safeguarded gastric and hepatic perfusion during the distal pancreatectomy and en bloc celiac axis resection. This rare vascular variant opened new avenues for safe surgical intervention, demonstrating that careful mapping and […]
New Perineural Invasion Score Predicts Survival in Pancreatic Cancer
A novel perineural invasion (PNI) severity score effectively predicts disease recurrence and survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Among 300 patients, PNI severity correlated with worse pathological outcomes: shorter recurrence times (24 months for PNI 0 vs. 15 months for PNI 2) and reduced survival (57 months for PNI 0 vs. 32 months for PNI […]
Staged Resection for Appendiceal Cancer Doesn’t Compromise Survival
Staged right colectomy (SRC) for appendiceal cancer matches overall survival outcomes compared to upfront right colectomy (URC), with SRC reducing unnecessary surgeries. Analysis of 908 patients revealed that URC was often reserved for larger, higher-grade tumors. Adjusted results show SRC demonstrates equivalent survival in elective cases, emphasizing its role in avoiding overtreatment. This approach may […]
Recurrence-Free Survival Validated as Reliable Endpoint in Esophageal Cancer Trials
Strong correlations reveal that recurrence-free survival (RFS) effectively predicts overall survival (OS) in resectable esophageal cancer. An integrated analysis of data from 10 Phase III trials found a Kendall’s τ of 0.823, indicating robust individual-level surrogacy. Trial-level analysis across 22 trials yielded an impressive R² of 0.735. These findings suggest RFS can serve as a […]
Robotic Surgery for Rectal Cancer Surges, Boosting Surgical Quality and Survival
Robotic surgery for rectal cancer skyrocketed from 10.1% to 45.7% of procedures from 2010 to 2021. Associated with higher odds of achieving high-quality oncologic resection, robotic methods surpassed both laparoscopic and open surgery in effectiveness. Quality surgical resections improved from 65.4% to 75.3%. Patients in high-volume centers enjoyed even better outcomes. Overall mortality rates fell […]
Mastering Robotic Colectomy: 45 Cases Needed for Proficiency
Achieving technical proficiency in robotic colectomy typically requires around 45 procedures, according to a systematic review of 35 studies involving over 7,500 surgical cases. Competency correlates with significant reductions in operative duration and complication rates, falling from 25% to 10%. The analysis highlights the variance in training methodologies, with formal programs combining simulation and supervision […]