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Gastrectomy at university hospitals reduces mortality in gastric cancer.

A nationwide study in Finland found that patients undergoing gastrectomy at university hospitals experience lower short-term and long-term mortality rates compared to those treated at nonuniversity hospitals. An analysis of 10,455 patients from 1987 to 2016 indicated that university hospital patients were younger and had more comorbidities. Notably, survival rates at university hospitals were higher at 30 days and five years, although differences in recent years were not statistically significant. Further research on these findings is warranted.

Journal Article by Maharjan U and Kauppila JH in J Gastrointest Surg

Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Darvadstrocel shows improved long-term effectiveness for complex perianal fistulas

A recent study indicates that darvadstrocel (DVS) outperformed standard of care (SOC) in treating complex perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease, with patients experiencing shorter times to remission and longer intervals before relapse. Among 513 patients analyzed from both clinical trials and real-world data, a significantly higher proportion achieved clinical and patient-centric remission at 24 and 48 months with DVS compared to SOC. This integrated approach offers valuable insights into long-term treatment outcomes for this challenging condition.

Journal Article by Karki C, Hantsbarger G (…) Panés J et 4 al. in BMC Gastroenterol

© 2024. Takeda Pharmaceutical.

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Surgical navigation enhances successful lymph node removal outcomes

Surgical navigation significantly improves successful retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection outcomes, achieving an 85% success rate compared to 50% in conventional methods. The trial, involving 69 participants, demonstrated that navigation aided surgeons in localizing targeted lymph nodes more effectively. Both complication rates were similar across both groups, and surgeons rated the navigation system favorably. These findings indicate the potential of advanced surgical navigation techniques to enhance surgical precision in challenging dissection scenarios.

Journal Article by Groen HC, Wit EMK (…) Ruers TJM et 9 al. in EClinicalMedicine

© 2024 The Authors.

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Self-gripping meshes reduce surgical time in hernia repair

In a comparative study of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs, self-gripping meshes (SGMs) demonstrated a significant reduction in surgical time (58.9 minutes) compared to fixation means for meshes (FMMs), which averaged 68.1 minutes (p = 0.0004). Additionally, while post-operative pain showed a trend towards reduction in the SGM group (p = 0.08), no recurrences were observed after a median follow-up of 18 months. SGMs are presented as a safe and efficient alternative.

Journal Article by Aragone L, Pasquini MT (…) Pirchi D et 2 al. in J Minim Access Surg

Copyright © 2024 Journal of Minimal Access Surgery.

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Transaminase levels predict survival after liver cancer surgery

Changes in perioperative serum transaminase levels, specifically aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, were found to predict long-term survival following liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. A murine model demonstrated that hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury led to increased tumor recurrence. Analyzing the ratio of aspartate to alanine aminotransferase on postoperative days one and three may help identify patients at higher risk of recurrence and mortality, thus potentially guiding postoperative management and patient counseling.

Journal Article by Lu J, Wang F (…) Pawlik TM et 20 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Multimodal prehabilitation enhances recovery in frail gastric cancer patients

Multimodal prehabilitation significantly improved physical capacity and reduced chronic inflammation in frail elderly patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery. The intervention, encompassing physical training, nutritional support, and psychosocial treatment over two weeks, resulted in a mean 6-min walk test change of +28 meters (p < 0.001). Notably, inflammation-related indicators improved, and proinflammatory cytokine release decreased, with a significant reduction in postoperative IL-6 levels (p = 0.036). These findings highlight its potential in enhancing surgical outcomes.

Journal Article by Sun Y, Tian Y (…) Zhou Y et 11 al. in Eur J Surg Oncol

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.

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Sutureless harmonic scalpel reduces complications in thyroidectomy

A meta-analysis of 43 randomized controlled trials involving 10,361 patients reveals that the sutureless focus harmonic scalpel significantly lowers the risk of complications during thyroidectomy. The transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was reduced to 3.99% with the scalpel compared to 5.23% with the clamp-and-tie technique. Additionally, transient hypocalcemia rates were lower (11.3% vs. 15.4%). These findings indicate that energy-based devices empower surgeons to minimize nerve and gland injuries effectively.

Journal Article by Cirocchi R, Matteucci M (…) Sorrenti S et 9 al. in Int J Surg

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Interventions can combat low health literacy in surgical patients

Over one-third of surgical patients experience low health literacy, notably affecting older, rural, and Black populations. This condition leads to poor compliance with medical instructions, extended hospital stays, increased readmission rates, and higher healthcare costs. However, health literacy is modifiable, prompting opportunities for impactful interventions at patient, provider, and system levels. Researchers advocate for enhanced communication and visual aids, alongside improving hospital organizational health literacy to mitigate disparities and optimize patient outcomes.

Review by English NC, Jones BA and Chu DI in Clin Colon Rectal Surg

Thieme. All rights reserved.

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Enhancing Surgical Care Access in Rural Areas

Addressing surgical care access in rural populations reveals significant challenges, including geographical barriers, workforce reduction, and financial strains on hospitals. These factors contribute to health disparities between rural and urban residents. The study highlights colorectal care as a focal point for improving service delivery, emphasizing strategies such as optimizing care locations, enhancing coordination, and fostering policy support to strengthen rural health systems. Recent federal initiatives aim to sustain local healthcare while addressing these challenges.

Review by Schaefer SL and Ibrahim AM in Clin Colon Rectal Surg

Thieme. All rights reserved.

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Endoscopic submucosal dissection is safe for selected colorectal cancer patients.

In a review of 1,398 patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection for early-stage colorectal cancer, findings indicated that 14% exhibited lymph node metastasis post-oncologic colon resection. Significant predictors for metastasis included a submucosal invasion depth of ≥2.00 mm, correlating with an 18.7 odds ratio. Conversely, lesions exceeding 20 mm in diameter had a lower likelihood of metastasis. The study supports endoscopic dissection as a viable treatment for selected early-stage colorectal cancer patients.

Journal Article by Ulkucu A, Erkaya M (…) Gorgun E et 6 al. in BMC Surg

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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