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Real-time lymphatic mapping could redefine colon cancer surgery margins

A phase II trial aims to assess the effectiveness of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence-guided lymph node mapping in determining bowel resection margins for patients with colon cancer. By tailoring lymph node dissection based on individual anatomy, the approach seeks to balance extensive dissection and potential complications while optimizing oncological outcomes. If sensitivity exceeds 96% after 101 cases, ICG mapping may offer a new standard for personalized surgical margins in colon cancer interventions.

Journal Article by Panaiotti L, Karachun A, Muravtseva A and Petrov A in Int J Surg Protoc

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Prehabilitation Program Cuts Postoperative Complications for Sarcopenic Liver Surgery Patients

A 6-week multimodal prehabilitation program significantly slashed postoperative morbidity in patients with sarcopenia undergoing major hepatectomy. The prehabilitation group experienced a mere 13.3% complication rate compared to 50% in the standard care arm, translating to a 36.7% absolute risk reduction. All major complications occurred in the control group. Beyond lowering complications, the program also enhanced muscle mass and strength, underscoring the potential of exercise and nutrition in preoperative care.

Journal Article by Berardi G, Cucchetti A (…) Ettorre GM et 11 al. in JAMA Surg

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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 mitigate a common yet challenging postoperative complication.

Journal Article by Yu Y, Yu F (…) Li Y et 13 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Robotic NICE procedure cuts costs in colorectal surgery significantly

The robotic NICE procedure delivers superior cost-effectiveness in left-sided colorectal resections, showing a median direct cost of $9,946—well below laparoscopic ($16,389), robotic ($14,473), and open surgery ($10,427). Total costs mirror this trend, with NICE at $22,263, contrasted with $29,324 for laparoscopic, $32,908 for robotic, and $22,915 for open. Adjusted analyses reveal NICE results in up to $6,393 savings compared to laparoscopic options, underscoring its economic advantages and potential for better patient outcomes.

Journal Article by Bistre-Varon J, Elhadi M (…) Haas EM et 11 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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Mobile App Enhances Bowel Preparation Compliance and Quality for Colonoscopy

A mobile app for bowel preparation training outperformed standard instructions in ensuring compliance and quality among colonoscopy patients. In a trial of 160 adults, those using the app achieved a 94.9% adequacy rate compared to 83.8% for the control group. Compliance with dietary protocols also surged, and patients reported fewer difficulties. Anxiety levels, however, remained unchanged between groups. The results underscore the potential of mobile health tools in improving pre-procedural education.

Journal Article by Şengör K, Keskin M and Akyüz N in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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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, and 5 years. Their robust performance suggests they could replace the n-category for better survival risk assessment in clinical applications.

Journal Article by Wang LF, Sun ML (…) Chen YR et 4 al. in World J Surg Oncol

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Conversion therapy extends survival for locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients

Conversion therapy (CT) significantly improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LA-ICCA). In a retrospective analysis of 115 patients, median overall survival reached 45.53 months and progression-free survival was 18.23 months post-propensity score matching, both superior to systemic therapy (ST) outcomes. CT emerged as an independent factor linked to better results, indicating its potential as a transformative approach in treating this aggressive malignancy.

Journal Article by Lu J, Zhou L (…) Huang B et 3 al. in J Surg Oncol

© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Surgical Oncology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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Overweight Older Adults Experience Lower Postoperative Mortality After Major Surgery

A cohort of 414 older adults undergoing major elective surgery revealed striking results: those classified as overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) had an astonishingly low 30-day all-cause mortality rate of just 0.8%. In stark contrast, normal-weight patients faced an 18.8% mortality rate, while underweight individuals experienced a serious 75% mortality rate. Adjusted analyses reinforced the protective association of being overweight against early postoperative mortality, challenging the notion that overweight status uniformly contributes to surgical risk in older populations.

Journal Article by Canales C, Anderson M (…) Sarkisian C et 6 al. in JAMA Netw Open

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Autonomous Laparoscope System Cuts Surgical Time and Resource Load

A new multi-task compliant control framework for robotic camera manipulation promises substantial gains in laparoscopic surgery. By integrating deep learning with robotic kinematics, this system autonomously adjusts the field of view and adheres to key constraints, achieving a mean response time under two seconds. Results reveal minimal tracking errors and successful scalability to prevent tissue collisions, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the burden on healthcare providers.

Journal Article by Shi J, Zhou C (…) Feng D et 6 al. in Int J Med Robot

© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Liver Cancer Rates Surge Across Europe Amid Rising Health Disparities

The burden of liver cancer in Europe has escalated significantly from 1990 to 2021, with age-standardized incidence rising from 3.04 to 4.20 per 100,000. Males experienced disproportionately higher rates, particularly in older populations. Key risk factors include hepatitis C, alcohol consumption, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, with Andorra recording the highest rates and Ukraine the lowest. The findings underline urgent needs for improved prevention, early detection, and equitable healthcare access as lifestyle, obesity, and demographic changes drive trends.

Journal Article by Kazi O, Hamidzadeh S (…) Khadembashiri MA et 4 al. in Ann Med Surg (Lond)

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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