Laparoscopic treatment of perforated peptic ulcers significantly cuts mortality and postoperative complications compared to open surgery. A network meta-analysis of 16 studies with 1,259 patients revealed lower odds of death (OR 0.36) and fewer wound infections (OR 0.15) and ileus (OR 0.33) with laparoscopic methods. While alternative strategies lacked sufficient evidence, this analysis confirms laparoscopic […]
Category: Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
Key Risk Factors Identified for Anastomotic Leakage and Gastroparesis Post-Gastrectomy
Hypoalbuminemia and significant intraoperative blood loss elevate anastomotic leakage risk after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Conversely, total gastrectomy offers protection against this complication. Among patients post-distal gastrectomy, smoking, pyloric obstruction, and Roux-en-Y anastomosis correlate with increased gastroparesis syndrome risk. This robust analysis of 3,779 patients clarifies factors influencing postoperative complications, challenging previous management paradigms for proximal […]
Active Surveillance Emerges as a Viable Option for Oesophageal Cancer Treatment
An organ-sparing approach via active surveillance shows promise for oesophageal cancer patients achieving complete clinical response after neoadjuvant therapy. Trials validate a comprehensive diagnostic strategy while early results suggest comparable survival rates and improved quality of life versus immediate surgery. Despite concerns over delayed interventions upon recurrence, data indicate no significant compromise in surgical outcomes. […]
Indocyanine Green Imaging Enhances Long-Term Survival in Gastric Cancer Surgery
In a pivotal 5-year follow-up of the FUGES-012 trial, patients who underwent indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence-guided laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer exhibited significantly improved overall survival and disease-free survival compared to the non-ICG cohort. The ICG group also showed fewer recurrences, with a notable reduction in locoregional recurrences and an earlier recurrence peak in the […]
Salivary Pepsin Testing Reveals Key Reflux Factors Post-Esophagectomy
Salivary pepsin testing objectively tracks reflux trajectories in post-esophagectomy patients. The study identifies redundancy of conduit as a significant risk factor for increased reflux, while maintaining a semi-fowler position and pre-sleep fasting for at least two hours offers protective benefits. These findings highlight essential modifiable elements that can enhance recovery pathways for patients, aiming to […]
New lymph node classification systems outperform AJCC in predicting gastric cancer survival
Log odds of positive lymph nodes (lodds) and positive lymph node ratio (lnr) demonstrate superior predictive capabilities for survival in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (gsrc) patients compared to the traditional AJCC n-category. Multivariate analysis reveals both lodds and lnr as significant prognostic factors, with improved sensitivity and specificity in predicting outcomes at 1, 3, […]
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 […]
Targeting Anastomotic Leakage Could Transform Outcomes Post-Gastrectomy
Postoperative complications plagued 24.1% of 7829 gastrectomy patients, with anastomotic leakage bearing the brunt of negative outcomes. It significantly escalated care needs and upped 30-day mortality rates by 26.6%. Along with pulmonary complications, it remained a critical target for healthcare quality improvement. Barriers to effective resource allocation persist, yet focusing on these complications could drastically […]
New Italian Guidelines Streamline GERD Diagnosis and Management
Italian experts recommend a symptom-based strategy for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), emphasizing the exclusion of alarm symptoms and non-GERD causes. For those with alarm features or unresponsive to standard treatments, more invasive tests like esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy are advised. Treatment protocols advocate a 4-8 week course of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for most patients, reserving higher […]
Removing 19 or More Negative Lymph Nodes Enhances Survival in Esophageal Cancer
A systematic review reveals that removing 19 or more negative lymph nodes (NLNs) during esophageal cancer surgery correlates with significantly improved survival rates, particularly in adenocarcinoma patients. Specifically, the hazard ratio indicates a 12% improved survival compared to those with fewer than 19 NLNs removed. This finding underscores the importance of surgical strategy, suggesting that […]