Researchers belted out a 3-year follow-up tune on the NEOCRTEC-1601 stage, where docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (TPF) took the spotlight. For those with borderline-resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (BR-ESCC), the act featured 54.4% survival rates at the 3-year mark. Surgery danced into the spotlight for 57.4% of patients, confirming TPF’s encore as a promising rhythm […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Omentectomy Dilemma: Radical Move or Not for Gastric Cancer?
Researchers staged a retrospective showdown between total omentectomy (TO) and partial omentectomy (PO) in the radical gastrectomy arena for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with serosal invasion. The verdict? No VIP pass for TO in preventing peritoneal recurrence. PO stole the spotlight with comparable recurrence-free survival and a better 5-year overall survival. Turns out, for T4a […]
RoboSlim: Navigating Bariatric Revisions with Robotics
In the quest for post-bariatric excellence, researchers dived into the robotic realm for revisional bariatric surgery (RBS). Surveying 106 patients who embarked on this robotic journey, the results spoke volumes. With a focus on patients experiencing insufficient weight loss, the team uncovered a success story—significant weight loss, improved comorbidities, and relieved symptoms. The RoboSlim saga […]
Hepatic Vagotomy: A Lipid Makeover for Obesity
In the battle against the expanding empire of obesity, researchers delved into hepatic vagotomy’s (HV) potential to rewrite the cholesterol story. Following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the HV squad at the six-month checkpoint showcased a significant victory with lower total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratios. While not all hypotheses stood strong, the study unveiled a promising narrative […]
Cholangiocarcinoma Unveiled: Early-Onset Warriors’ Triumph
In the epic battle against cholangiocarcinoma, researchers scoured the SEER database (1975-2020) for insights. Early-onset warriors (EOC), comprising 274 out of 4037 fighters, emerged with a distinct profile—often non-white, intrahepatic warriors. Despite facing a more advanced enemy at diagnosis, EOCs defied the odds. They opted for surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, influencing their fate. Cox analysis […]
COVID-19 Impact on Surgeons’ Pockets: A Payment Plunge
As the COVID-19 storm hit, the financial tango between surgeons and industry partners took a hit. Examining payments from 2014 to 2021, researchers found a 47% drop in general payments and a 26.5% dip in research payments from 2019 to 2020. All surgical subspecialties felt the squeeze, with travel/lodging payments witnessing the most significant shake-up. […]
Navigating Blunt Trauma: CT Scores’ Quest for Bowel Injury Truth
In the realm of blunt trauma, researchers unleashed the Faget Score and Bowel Injury Prediction Score (BIPS) to unmask the mystery of surgical need for bowel and mesenteric injuries. Scrutinizing 62 warriors from a sea of 14,897, the Faget and BIPS scores showed decent specificity but modest sensitivity. However, when an attending radiologist took the […]
Strategic Growth: Portal Vein Boost for Liver Resection in Cholangiocarcinoma
When facing borderline resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), inducing hypertrophy pre-resection is a game-changer. In this single-center study, researchers found that portal vein embolization (PVE) prepped the battleground without raising perioperative issues. Overall survival (OS) matched non-PVE cases, but additional risks (multifocal tumors, lymph node involvement) threw a curveball, slashing OS notably. The takeaway? PVE proves […]
A Deep Dive into Anti-Obesity Medications
The battle against obesity is no one-size-fits-all, and this study delves into the arsenal—lifestyle tweaks, anti-obesity meds (AOMs), gadgets, and surgery. Researchers stress the need for a personalized approach, factoring in patient quirks, goals, and health hiccups. In this trial-and-error game, no crystal ball predicts the perfect AOM match. The takeaway? Prescribe sequentially, maybe mix […]
Lighting the Way: Fluorescent Tech Nails Esophageal Surgery
Researchers lit up esophageal cancer surgery with near-infrared indocyanine green, exposing the elusive thoracic duct (TD) in 94% of cases. Injecting ICG into inguinal nodes during minimal access esophagectomy, the team showcased real-time TD imaging. The glow guided ligation in 16 cases, minimizing chyle leaks and sidestepping adverse reactions. This illuminating approach, sustaining fluorescence throughout, […]