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AI outperforms clinicians in post-surgical decisions for colorectal cancer

In a rigorous analysis of 202 T1 colorectal cancer cases, large language models (ChatGPT-4o and DeepSeek) outclassed human clinicians in adherence to treatment guidelines after endoscopic resection. The study revealed a worrying guideline adherence rate below 80% among clinicians, while AI tools significantly improved decision accuracy across varied experience levels and professional backgrounds, regardless of language input. This underlines the transformative potential of AI in enhancing surgical decision-making.

Journal Article by Zeng L, Qinxing C (…) Liu F et 3 al. in Int J Surg

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

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Poor Liver Function Significantly Raises Surgery Risks in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

Child-Pugh scores reveal a sharp correlation between liver function and surgical outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Among 167,680 surgeries analyzed, those with a score of 9 faced significantly increased surgical mortality—31.8% after distal gastrectomy and 20.7% after right hemicolectomy. Even after adjusting for risk factors, these patients exhibited much higher mortality rates compared to those with a score of 5. The findings underscore the necessity for heightened caution in patients with diminished liver function.

Journal Article by Shimada A, Endo H (…) Shirabe K et 5 al. in Int J Surg

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

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Non-cancer deaths now exceed cancer-related fatalities post-surgery in many patients.

A groundbreaking analysis of over 3.4 million cancer patients reveals a striking shift in postoperative mortality. For 14 of 21 solid tumors, non-cancer deaths—including cardiovascular diseases and infections—now dominate, accounting for nearly half of post-surgical fatalities. Surgical interventions amplifying these risks require urgent attention, especially for lung and pancreatic cancer patients. While short-term mortality has improved, deeper disparities persist, highlighting an acute need for comprehensive post-operative care focused on managing non-cancer comorbidities.

Journal Article by Hao Y, Liang C (…) Zhao B et 8 al. in Int J Surg

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

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Tailored Surveillance Improves Outcomes in Mucinous Appendix Cancer

Mucinous appendix cancer (MAC) recurrence varies significantly by histology and critical postoperative periods. In a study of 385 patients, relapse risk was highest shortly after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: 1.0, 2.6, and 3.8 per 10 person-years for low-grade, high-grade, and signet-ring cell cancers, respectively. Researchers recommend individualized follow-up schedules every 5.5 to 18 months for low-grade and every 2-24 months for high-grade cases to optimize monitoring and intervention.

Journal Article by Kovalik V, Sardi A (…) Gushchin V et 5 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Portal vein circulating tumor cells predict poor outcomes in liver cancer

Nearly 46% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients exhibited circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the portal vein, surpassing hepatic vein detection rates. Portal vein CTC positivity linked to microscopic invasion, significantly reducing disease-free and overall survival. Notably, PD-L1-positive CTCs in this cohort correlated with dire prognoses. These findings underscore portal vein CTCs as critical prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in managing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Journal Article by Takei D, Kobayashi T (…) Ohdan H et 7 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Surgical intervention offers survival edge in metastatic pancreatic cancer

Surgical treatment significantly improves overall, 1-year, and 3-year survival rates for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, particularly in patients with liver-only metastases. Compared to chemotherapy and palliative care, surgical options reduce mortality risk (HR: 0.42). Despite promising results, outcomes vary based on metastatic sites, with no survival benefit observed for lung-only metastases. Further prospective trials are essential to validate findings and refine patient selection for surgical interventions.

Meta-Analysis by Tarek K, Amine TM (…) Tullio P et 4 al. in Langenbecks Arch Surg

© 2025. The Author(s).

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Robot-assisted surgery outperforms traditional methods in rectal cancer outcomes

Robot-assisted rectal cancer surgery significantly reduces complications and hospital stays while achieving superior 5-year overall survival (95%) and relapse-free survival (93%). In a cohort of 28,711 patients, robot-assisted procedures demonstrated the highest success rates compared to laparoscopic and open surgeries. Although short-term advantages are evident, the long-term benefits continue to be scrutinized, marking robot-assisted techniques as a promising new standard for rectal cancer treatment.

Journal Article by Hanaoka M, Kagawa H (…) Kinugasa Y et 6 al. in Ann Gastroenterol Surg

© 2025 The Author(s). Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.

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Japan’s Rectal Cancer Surgery Shows Improved Outcomes Post-Pandemic

Analysis of over 109,000 low anterior resections reveals a significant reduction in major complications after the COVID-19 pandemic, with anastomotic leakage rates dropping from 9.8% to 7.1%. The use of robotic surgery surged from 16.8% to 41.2% of procedures, highlighting a shift in surgical practice. Although surgeries declined during the pandemic, rates returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating resilience in the healthcare system and improved surgical outcomes in rectal cancer treatment.

Journal Article by Seishima R, Endo H (…) Kitagawa Y et 11 al. in Ann Gastroenterol Surg

© 2025 The Author(s). Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.

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New Scoring System Identifies Risk Factors for Prolonged Robotic Rectal Surgery

A novel predictive scoring system for robot-assisted low anterior resection reveals eight preoperative risk factors linked to prolonged pelvic operation time. Analyzing data from 343 patients, factors such as male sex, high BMI, and tumor proximity to the anal verge emerged as critical indicators. This model demonstrates high performance, with an area under the curve of 0.88, and could enhance surgical training and operating room efficiency through improved case selection.

Journal Article by Yao K, Kasai S (…) Kinugasa Y et 7 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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New Antiseptic Olanexidine Cuts Surgical Site Infection Rates in Gastroenterology

Olanexidine gluconate (OLG) outperforms traditional antiseptics in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) during gastroenterological surgeries, according to a meta-analysis of nine studies involving 7,807 patients. OLG significantly decreased both overall and incisional SSIs without increasing adverse skin reactions, marking it as a promising alternative for preoperative disinfection. These findings suggest potential improvements in SSI management and reductions in related healthcare costs.

Review by Matsuda A, Yamada T (…) Yoshida H et 2 al. in Ann Gastroenterol Surg

© 2025 The Author(s). Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.

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