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 […]
Category: General Surgery
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%) […]
Transanal Surgery Shows Advantages Over Laparoscopy in Rectal Cancer
This meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) versus laparoscopic TME (LaTME) for rectal cancer. Analyzing data from 22 studies comprising 5056 patients, including randomized controlled trials and prospective studies, revealed that TaTME had a lower conversion rate and better circumferential resection margin (CRM) outcomes than LaTME. There were no significant differences […]
Inequities in Bariatric Surgery Access for Medicaid Patients: A Program-Specific Divide
This study delves into bariatric surgery access for Medicaid patients and reveals stark disparities among programs. Involving a comprehensive data registry spanning 14 years and 43 programs, it highlights that the proportion of Medicaid cases varies significantly between institutions. Programs with more Medicaid patients treated individuals with greater disease severity but also faced longer wait […]
Persistent NIR Fluorescent Tattoos Improve Tumor Localization in Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
This innovative study tackles the challenge of precisely locating tumors during minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Traditionally, blue dye has been used for preoperative marking, but it can lead to complications when spilled inside the body. The researchers introduced a new method using a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent marker called AFS81x. In experiments on pigs, they successfully […]