In a retrospective study spanning 2013 to 2022, researchers delved into healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) post-pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Among 2632 patients, HAIs decreased over time, especially in open PD (OPD). Robotic PD (RPD) exhibited significantly fewer HAIs (5.8% vs. 9.6% in OPD). RPD correlated with reduced infections, shorter hospital stays, and higher costs. Notably, attention should be […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Gallbladder Polyps: Size Matters in Predicting Cancer Risk
In this cohort study on 438 patients with gallbladder polyps (GPs), the risk of gallbladder cancer was 0.7% for all polyps, escalating to 5.9% for those ≥10 mm. GP size emerged as the sole predictor of malignancy (p = 0.0001), with a 21 mm cutoff indicating cancer risk. Patient’s age, symptoms, number of polyps, and […]
Big Data Shapes Future of Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Surgery
In the realm of surgical oncology, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often face recruitment and standardization challenges. This study dives into hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancer surgery, spotlighting the pivotal role of large databases. While RCTs provide crucial evidence, big data steps in where they fall short. Beyond justifying current practices, this research maps the future of HPB […]
Survival in the Spotlight: 3-Year Encore for TPF Therapy in Esophageal Cancer
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 […]
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 […]