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Timely Closure of Ileostomies: A Regional Australian Hospital’s Experience

This study explores the timing and reasons for delaying loop ileostomy closure in regional Australian hospitals. Of the 123 patients who received loop ileostomies between 2010 and 2020, 86.2% had their stomas reversed. Patients with rectal cancer experienced a median time to closure of 8.5 months, while non-rectal cancer patients had a median closure time of 5.2 months. Delays were often due to clinical concerns and non-clinical factors. The study recommends early waiting list placement and improved coordination for faster reversal surgery and reduced complications.

Journal Article by Chau TC, Nguyen H (…) Yang CM et 4 al. in ANZ J Surg

© 2023 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

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How Compensation Models Influence Academic Surgeons

This qualitative study delves into the world of academic surgeons, exploring how compensation structures, whether based on clinical productivity incentives or fixed salaries, impact their experiences. While incentivizing high-quality patient care, education, and innovation is the ideal aim, the interplay between compensation models and clinical activities, practice development, and surgeon well-being has remained uncharted territory. By examining the perceived implications, this study provides insights into the complex relationship between compensation and academic surgical practice.

Journal Article by Finn CB, Syvyk S (…) Kelz RR et 4 al. in JAMA Surg

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Thoraco-Abdominal Chemo and Surgery for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Is It Safe and Effective?

This study delves into the safety and effectiveness of combining hyperthermic intraoperative thoraco-abdominal chemotherapy (HITAC) with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) who need diaphragm resection. Researchers compared HITAC to traditional intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Results show that HITAC is a viable option with similar safety profiles, and it might offer benefits for pleural progression. The key findings were no significant differences in adverse events, time to progression, or overall survival between the two approaches. Some factors, like age and specific types of cancer, influenced outcomes.

Journal Article by Liu G, Ji ZH (…) Li Y et 7 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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The Great Gastric Cancer Debate: Is Neoadjuvant Radiation Worth Adding to Chemo?

This study navigates the ongoing debate over whether neoadjuvant radiation should be combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of resectable gastric cancer. While awaiting results from specific clinical trials, experts discuss the pros and cons. Neoadjuvant radiation may be better tolerated and improve pathologic response, especially for certain tumor locations. However, it hasn’t shown a clear survival benefit when surgery is already adequate, as gastric cancer often recurs distantly. This discussion helps shape optimal neoadjuvant strategies for these patients while waiting for trial outcomes.

Journal Article by Daniel SK, Badgwell BD (…) Poultsides GA et 2 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Diverse Asian American Groups Show Varying Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates

This study delves into pancreatic cancer outcomes in the disaggregated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population, which is often underrepresented in scientific research. Analyzing data from 296,448 patients, it reveals that AANHPI patients, as a whole, exhibited better median survival than Caucasians and African Americans. Notably, survival rates varied among AANHPI subpopulations, with Asian Indians having the highest median survival and the Japanese subpopulation the lowest. The research highlights the significance of disaggregated data to address disparities in cancer care.

Journal Article by Kooragayala K, Lou J, Dibato J and Hong YK in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Not Linked to Ovarian Cancer Survival

Researchers examined the role of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) in digestive resection for advanced ovarian cancer (OC) with peritoneal metastases. Out of 159 patients, 77 underwent digestive resection, with 61.1% having MLNs examined, and 56.8% showed involvement. Surprisingly, MLN status didn’t significantly impact overall survival or progression-free survival. This calls for further systematic and standardized studies to verify these results, highlighting the need for more research on the subject.

Journal Article by Channawi A, Pop FC (…) Liberale G et 5 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2023. The Author(s).

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Repeat Cytoreduction and HIPEC Boost Survival in Recurrent Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma

When dealing with recurring mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma, undergoing repeat cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be a game-changer. This study from MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that patients who opt for repeat CRS/HIPEC enjoy similar recurrence-free survival compared to those initially treated, and even better overall survival than patients relying solely on systemic chemotherapy. These findings emphasize the potential benefits of this treatment strategy, especially when administered by experienced teams in high-volume centers.

Journal Article by Bhutiani N, Grotz TE (…) Fournier KF et 12 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2023. The Author(s).

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Sarcopenia Development During Neoadjuvant Therapy Spells Trouble for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Patients

This study explored how sarcopenia, muscle loss often seen in cancer patients, impacts outcomes for esophageal adenocarcinoma patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy. Among 71 patients, those who developed sarcopenia before surgery had significantly worse overall survival compared to those who were sarcopenic at diagnosis or experienced no change in muscle status. The cause of death in many cases was not cancer-related. Developing sarcopenia during neoadjuvant therapy could be a negative predictor of overall survival in patients requiring esophagogastrectomy.

Journal Article by Pierce K, Philips P (…) Martin RC et 2 al. in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Women Fare Better in Surgical Outcomes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In this study, researchers delved into surgical outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease patients based on their sex. Analyzing data from over 3,000 patients, they discovered that women had lower odds of serious adverse events compared to men. This difference was particularly notable in patients with ulcerative colitis, where women had a 54% lower risk of serious adverse events compared to men. These findings offer valuable insights for tailoring surgical planning and perioperative care in a patient-centered manner.

Journal Article by Sundel MH, Newland JJ (…) Bafford AC et 3 al. in Dis Colon Rectum

Copyright © The ASCRS 2023.

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Innovative Imaging Technique Shows Promise for Assessing Organ Perfusion During Laparoscopic Surgery

This groundbreaking study introduces Imaging Photoplethysmography (IPPg) as a new method for quantitatively evaluating organ perfusion during laparoscopic surgeries. In clinical settings, researchers successfully used a laparoscope connected to a digital monochrome camera, along with green light illumination, to assess organ perfusion in cancer patients. They found that IPPg could visualize and quantify perfusion gradients in organs before and after resection, even during physiological tests. This innovative technique shows great potential for intra-abdominal perfusion assessment during minimally invasive surgeries.

Journal Article by Kashchenko VA, Lodygin AV (…) Kamshilin AA et 2 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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