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NIRF and SCEUS enhance detection of colorectal liver metastases

A dual-center study involving 69 patients demonstrated that near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF) combined with Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SCEUS) significantly improves the detection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) during laparoscopic surgery. NIRF+SCEUS identified 285 lesions, outpacing the 234 detected by white light and intraoperative ultrasound. Notably, this approach changed the surgical strategy for 40.6% of patients without increasing postoperative complications or mortality, showcasing its effectiveness in enhancing surgical outcomes.

Journal Article by Wang J, Xu J (…) Yang J et 3 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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Prehabilitation reduces complications in digestive cancer surgeries.

A recent network meta-analysis evaluated prehabilitation strategies for patients undergoing digestive system cancer surgery. It involved 26 randomized controlled trials with 2042 patients, revealing significant benefits: a 1.12-day reduction in hospital stay and decreased postoperative complications by 29%. Exercise-based prehabilitation emerged as the top intervention, particularly for reducing complications and improving functional recovery, while multimodal approaches excelled in enhancing quality of life and addressing depressive symptoms. Individual patient factors should guide strategy selection.

Journal Article by Wang Z, Li J, Zhang Q and Chen X in J Gastrointest Surg

Copyright © 2025 Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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New machine learning models improve diagnosis of obstructive jaundice

A comprehensive study analyzing 5,726 patients with obstructive jaundice has identified key etiologies, revealing cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and common bile duct stones as predominant causes. Despite traditional markers lacking accuracy, two machine learning models were successfully developed, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.862 for differentiating benign and malignant causes. This innovative approach offers clinicians a rapid, reliable diagnostic tool while enhancing decision-making transparency.

Journal Article by Wen N, Wang Y (…) Cheng N et 9 al. in Clin Transl Gastroenterol

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.

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Advances in treating peritoneal oligometastasis in gastric cancer

Peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer significantly impacts prognosis, but advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are transforming patient outcomes. A peritoneal cancer index (PCI) threshold of ≤6 identifies patients with oligometastasis who may benefit from aggressive therapies. Cytoreductive surgery coupled with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy remains essential for curative intent. Emerging techniques like normothermic and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy are broadening treatment options, emphasizing individualized approaches for improved survival rates in previously challenging cases.

Review by Kim HI and Badgwell BD in J Gastric Cancer

Copyright © 2025. Korean Gastric Cancer Association.

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Augmented reality eliminates conversion rates in liver surgeries.

A retrospective analysis reveals augmented reality (AR) enhances tumour localisation in minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS), achieving a zero conversion rate for the AR group, compared to six conversions in the non-AR group. While AR increased operative times by 10%, it did not adversely affect resection margins or postoperative complications. The findings suggest AR’s potential to improve surgical precision without increasing risks, making it a valuable tool in liver surgeries performed from 2017 to 2023.

Journal Article by Martinet-Kosinski F, Le Roy B (…) Buc E et 2 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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Mixed-reality feedback aids in assessing surgical training proficiency

A study evaluated visual attention and mental workload in novice surgeons using laparoscopic box trainers, revealing that eye-tracking metrics can effectively differentiate proficiency levels. Notably, trainees exhibited shorter fixation durations with pediatric trainers compared to adult ones, and their pupil diameters varied based on training starter modality. However, mixed-reality feedback did not significantly impact these visual or workload measures. Findings emphasize the potential for objective skill assessment and adaptive training programs in surgical education.

Journal Article by Khanfar AF, Motamedi S (…) Miller S et 3 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Trauma patients face significant delays despite access to care

A recent analysis of over 102,000 incident reports from Riyadh reveals a troubling prevalence of delays and undertriage among trauma patients. Although 66.8% of critically injured patients were transported to adequate trauma centers, 21.1% faced delays exceeding one hour, with some areas reaching up to 57.7%. Additionally, 28.7% were undertriaged to non-trauma centers. Implementing a regional prehospital database may enhance triage accuracy, revealing trauma patterns and addressing these critical timing issues in care.

Journal Article by Khan L, Aldarsouni F (…) Alsubaie N et 3 al. in World J Surg

© 2025 The Author(s). World Journal of Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).

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Postoperative delirium significantly increases risks for older adults.

A national study of over 5.5 million hospitalizations highlights that older adults undergoing major noncardiac surgery with postoperative delirium face markedly increased risks. Patients with delirium had 3.5 times higher odds of death or major complications, nearly 2.8 times the risk of dying within 30 days, and four times higher odds of nonhome discharges. Variations in hospital rates of delirium suggest targeted interventions may improve perioperative brain health if screening and coding accuracy are enhanced.

Journal Article by Lander HL, Dick AW (…) Glance LG et 11 al. in JAMA Netw Open

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Machine learning predicts prolonged surgery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A recent study revealed that machine learning can effectively predict prolonged operative times in fluorescent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, identifying 29% of patients at risk. Key predictive factors included type of cholecystitis, puncture ports, gallbladder adhesion, pre-surgery antibiotics, and gallbladder thickness. Using the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) model, researchers achieved an impressive AUC of 0.876, indicating strong model performance and clinical utility for surgeons in assessing operative time risks.

Journal Article by Wang C, Wen J, Su Z and Yu H in Front Surg

© 2025 Wang, Wen, Su and Yu.

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Scheduled imaging proves beneficial for identifying complications.

A multicenter trial found that scheduled repeat imaging within 48-72 hours significantly aids in identifying complications in patients with moderate to high-grade blunt liver and spleen injuries. Of the 2,341 liver injury and 2,143 spleen injury patients observed, 35.1% and 27.9% underwent repeat imaging, respectively. Complications were detected in 7.1% of liver and 7.5% of spleen patients, with a substantial number requiring intervention, highlighting the advantage of proactive imaging.

Journal Article by Perea LL, Fletcher KL (…) Hazelton JP et 84 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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