This study explored how sarcopenia, muscle loss often seen in cancer patients, impacts outcomes for esophageal adenocarcinoma patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. Among 71 patients, those who developed sarcopenia before surgery had significantly worse overall survival compared to those who were sarcopenic at diagnosis or experienced no change in muscle status. The cause of death in […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Women Fare Better in Surgical Outcomes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
In this study, researchers delved into surgical outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease patients based on their sex. Analyzing data from over 3,000 patients, they discovered that women had lower odds of serious adverse events compared to men. This difference was particularly notable in patients with ulcerative colitis, where women had a 54% lower risk of […]
Innovative Imaging Technique Shows Promise for Assessing Organ Perfusion During Laparoscopic Surgery
This groundbreaking study introduces Imaging Photoplethysmography (IPPg) as a new method for quantitatively evaluating organ perfusion during laparoscopic surgeries. In clinical settings, researchers successfully used a laparoscope connected to a digital monochrome camera, along with green light illumination, to assess organ perfusion in cancer patients. They found that IPPg could visualize and quantify perfusion gradients […]
Robotic Hepatectomy Shows Promise in Treating Malignant Liver Diseases
This groundbreaking study analyzed the outcomes of robotic hepatectomy for five major malignant liver diseases. Among the 210 patients who underwent this procedure, including cases like colorectal liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma, the results were promising. A favorable 5-year overall survival benefit was observed across these disease processes. The robotic platform demonstrated its prowess in […]
EUS-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation: A Safe and Effective Alternative for Left Adrenal Tumors
Researchers conducted a study at Asan Medical Center to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) for treating left adrenal tumors. The results were promising, with a 100% technical success rate in performing EUS-RFA. Most patients (73%) achieved a complete response after a median of 2 EUS-RFA sessions. Importantly, no moderate […]
EUS-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Safer Than Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in High-Risk Patients
In high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis, a systematic review and meta-analysis compared two alternative treatments: endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents (EUS-GBD-LAMS) and percutaneous cholecystostomy (PTGBD). The study found that while the two groups had similar early adverse events, EUS-GBD-LAMS was associated with significantly lower rates of delayed and overall adverse events. […]
Conflict of Interest Disclosures Fall Short in Robotic Surgery Studies
A study scrutinized conflict of interest (COI) disclosures in gastrointestinal and abdominal wall surgery research related to robotics. It found that a substantial majority (86.4%) of these studies had inaccurate or undisclosed COI statements. Moreover, many authors who received funding from robotics companies failed to report it in their disclosures. These findings emphasize the need […]
Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy Holds Its Own in Short-Term Outcomes for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
In a randomized clinical trial, researchers compared laparoscopic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study found that, despite longer operative times, laparoscopic procedures led to less blood loss. Both groups had similar 90-day mortality, rates of complications, and postoperative length of stay. The results suggest that laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, when performed by […]
Colorectal Mixed Neuroendocrine-Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Benefit from Adjuvant Chemotherapy
This study delved into the rare world of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms in colorectal cancer and their more aggressive counterpart, neuroendocrine carcinomas. They found that adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival for patients with stage III mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms and neuroendocrine carcinomas. The median survival for these groups was similar, emphasizing the importance of adjuvant treatment in […]
Robotic Surgery May Improve Surgeon Wellness and Reduce Work-Related Pain
A survey of 79 surgeons in an academic hospital system compared workload, physical discomfort, and neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMSDs) across four surgical modalities: endoscopic, laparoscopic, open, and robot-assisted (Da Vinci). Physical demand and mental workload were highest in open surgery. Robotic surgeons reported lower shoulder and finger discomfort and a significantly lower prevalence of NMSDs (7%) […]