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Robotic Hepatectomy Shows Promise in Treating Malignant Liver Diseases

This groundbreaking study analyzed the outcomes of robotic hepatectomy for five major malignant liver diseases. Among the 210 patients who underwent this procedure, including cases like colorectal liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma, the results were promising. A favorable 5-year overall survival benefit was observed across these disease processes. The robotic platform demonstrated its prowess in enabling precise surgical dissection for complex hepatobiliary surgeries, leading to high rates of successful resections and excellent clinical outcomes.

Journal Article by Dugan MM, Sucandy I (…) Rosemurgy A et 4 al. in Am J Surg

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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EUS-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation: A Safe and Effective Alternative for Left Adrenal Tumors

Researchers conducted a study at Asan Medical Center to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) for treating left adrenal tumors. The results were promising, with a 100% technical success rate in performing EUS-RFA. Most patients (73%) achieved a complete response after a median of 2 EUS-RFA sessions. Importantly, no moderate or severe adverse events were reported, indicating that EUS-RFA is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for patients at high surgical risk with left adrenal tumors.

Journal Article by Cho SH, Kim DH (…) Lee SK et 4 al. in Gastrointest Endosc

Copyright © 2023 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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EUS-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Safer Than Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in High-Risk Patients

In high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis, a systematic review and meta-analysis compared two alternative treatments: endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents (EUS-GBD-LAMS) and percutaneous cholecystostomy (PTGBD). The study found that while the two groups had similar early adverse events, EUS-GBD-LAMS was associated with significantly lower rates of delayed and overall adverse events. Additionally, patients undergoing EUS-GBD-LAMS had shorter hospital stays compared to PTGBD, making it a safer and more efficient option for non-surgical candidates with acute cholecystitis.

Journal Article by Hayat U, Al Shabeeb R (…) Adler DG et 7 al. in Gastrointest Endosc

Copyright © 2023 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Conflict of Interest Disclosures Fall Short in Robotic Surgery Studies

A study scrutinized conflict of interest (COI) disclosures in gastrointestinal and abdominal wall surgery research related to robotics. It found that a substantial majority (86.4%) of these studies had inaccurate or undisclosed COI statements. Moreover, many authors who received funding from robotics companies failed to report it in their disclosures. These findings emphasize the need for improved COI definitions and standardized reporting processes in the field. Accurate disclosure statements are vital to maintaining research integrity and transparency.

Journal Article by Jafar U, Usama M (…) Aziz H et 4 al. in J Am Coll Surg

Copyright © 2023 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy Holds Its Own in Short-Term Outcomes for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

In a randomized clinical trial, researchers compared laparoscopic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study found that, despite longer operative times, laparoscopic procedures led to less blood loss. Both groups had similar 90-day mortality, rates of complications, and postoperative length of stay. The results suggest that laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, when performed by experienced surgeons in specialized institutions, yields comparable short-term outcomes to open surgery for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Journal Article by Wang M, Pan S (…) Qin R et 28 al. in JAMA Surg

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Colorectal Mixed Neuroendocrine-Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Benefit from Adjuvant Chemotherapy

This study delved into the rare world of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms in colorectal cancer and their more aggressive counterpart, neuroendocrine carcinomas. They found that adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved survival for patients with stage III mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms and neuroendocrine carcinomas. The median survival for these groups was similar, emphasizing the importance of adjuvant treatment in enhancing survival rates. The study highlights the need for further research to identify specific patient subsets that would benefit the most from adjuvant therapy.

Journal Article by Suraju MO, Freischlag K (…) Hassan I et 7 al. in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Robotic Surgery May Improve Surgeon Wellness and Reduce Work-Related Pain

A survey of 79 surgeons in an academic hospital system compared workload, physical discomfort, and neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMSDs) across four surgical modalities: endoscopic, laparoscopic, open, and robot-assisted (Da Vinci). Physical demand and mental workload were highest in open surgery. Robotic surgeons reported lower shoulder and finger discomfort and a significantly lower prevalence of NMSDs (7%) compared to other modalities (60-67%). These findings highlight the potential benefits of robotic surgery in improving surgeon well-being and reducing work-related pain.

Journal Article by Norasi H, Hallbeck MS (…) Pak R et 3 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2023. The Author(s).

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Transanal Surgery Shows Advantages Over Laparoscopy in Rectal Cancer

This meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) versus laparoscopic TME (LaTME) for rectal cancer. Analyzing data from 22 studies comprising 5056 patients, including randomized controlled trials and prospective studies, revealed that TaTME had a lower conversion rate and better circumferential resection margin (CRM) outcomes than LaTME. There were no significant differences in several other parameters, making TaTME a promising choice for rectal cancer surgery, particularly due to its benefits in reducing conversion and improving CRM.

Journal Article by Yi X, Zhang X, Li Q and Ouyang J in Surg Endosc

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

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Inequities in Bariatric Surgery Access for Medicaid Patients: A Program-Specific Divide

This study delves into bariatric surgery access for Medicaid patients and reveals stark disparities among programs. Involving a comprehensive data registry spanning 14 years and 43 programs, it highlights that the proportion of Medicaid cases varies significantly between institutions. Programs with more Medicaid patients treated individuals with greater disease severity but also faced longer wait times and higher complication rates. These findings underscore the need for standardizing insurance and implementing program-centered incentives to ensure equitable access to bariatric surgery, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status.

Journal Article by Somerset AE, Wood MH (…) Varban OA et 4 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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Persistent NIR Fluorescent Tattoos Improve Tumor Localization in Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery

This innovative study tackles the challenge of precisely locating tumors during minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Traditionally, blue dye has been used for preoperative marking, but it can lead to complications when spilled inside the body. The researchers introduced a new method using a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent marker called AFS81x. In experiments on pigs, they successfully created NIR fluorescent tattoos in the colon, which remained clearly visible for at least 10 days. These persistent NIR tattoos promise to enhance tumor localization without hindering the recognition of surgical structures during laparoscopy.

Journal Article by Thomaschewski M, Lipp M (…) Mittmann K et 4 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2023. The Author(s).

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