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Tracking Antibody Levels Key for Post-Surgery Follow-up in Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 01/11/2023
Categories In General Surgery, HPB & Spleen

Researchers conducted a retrospective study with 88 patients who underwent liver resection for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. They found that monitoring anti-recEm18 antibody levels was a valuable tool for post-surgical surveillance. Specifically, patients with elevated preoperative anti-recEm18 values can rely on this marker to confirm the success of curative surgery at the 12-month follow-up, enabling effective long-term monitoring and reducing the clinical challenges associated with disease recurrence.

Journal Article by Gloor S, Jiang W (…) Beldi G et 8 al. in HPB (Oxford)

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Conventional Hot-Snare Resection Preferred Over Hybrid Technique for Papillary Lesions

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, HPB & Spleen, Surgical Endoscopy, Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Researchers investigated a hybrid hot-snare plus cold-snare resection (HR) technique compared to conventional hot-snare resection (CR) for managing laterally spreading papillary adenomas (LSL-P) in the papilla. HR showed higher rates of recurrent or residual adenoma (RRA) compared to CR (58.8% vs. 29.8%), with an odds ratio of 3.6 times higher for recurrence. While both methods had similar bleeding risks, HR required more procedures to treat RRA. The study concluded that CR remains the preferred option for LSL-P management due to its lower recurrence rates and similar safety profile.

Journal Article by Gupta S, Craciun A (…) Bourke MJ et 9 al. in Gastrointest Endosc

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Metal Stents Outshine Plastic Stents in Biliary Drainage for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, HPB & Spleen, Surgical Endoscopy

A retrospective international study compared the effectiveness of self-expanding metal stents (SEMs) to plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCCA). Among 474 patients who received stents, SEMs showed significantly lower rates of stent failure and cholangitis. Both stenting methods led to comparable surgical outcomes, but SEMs excelled in preventing stent dysfunction. The findings suggest that SEMs are a more effective choice for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable PCCA patients, demonstrating their potential in improving clinical outcomes.

Journal Article by de Jong DM, Gilbert TM (…) van Driel LMJW et 11 al. in Gastrointest Endosc

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KRAS Mutation in Colon Cancer Linked to Poorer 2-Year Survival

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, Intestine and Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

In a study on non-metastatic colon cancer patients, researchers explored conditional overall survival (COS) considering laterality, microsatellite instability (MSI), and KRAS mutation status. Among 4,838 patients, those with mutated KRAS experienced worse COS, implying a more aggressive disease course, with a higher risk of death 2 years post-diagnosis. While laterality and MSI status didn’t significantly affect COS, evaluating KRAS status could aid in prognosis and identifying individuals who may benefit from modified follow-up protocols.

Journal Article by Tran CG, Goffredo P (…) Hassan I et 5 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

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Social Determinants of Health Impact Acute Care Surgery Outcomes

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In Appendix, Gallbladder and Surgical Emergencies, General Surgery

This study investigated the influence of social determinants of health on the outcomes of patients needing emergency general surgery or trauma care. The research used patient data from 2017 to 2020 in California and looked at the impact of social determinants of health codes related to socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. The findings showed that patients with documented social determinants of health codes had a lower risk of postoperative death and complications, although they experienced longer hospital stays and had a higher likelihood of being discharged to skilled nursing facilities.

Journal Article by Diaz A, Azap L (…) Pawlik TM et 2 al. in BMC Surg

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Emotional Intelligence Mitigates Burnout in Medical and Surgical Residents

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities

A 3-year study investigated the connection between emotional intelligence and burnout in medical and surgical residents. The research, conducted at a Michigan hospital, revealed a significant rise in burnout levels during the first year of residency. Emotional exhaustion increased by 44% but later decreased by 23% in the third year. Both medical and surgical residents experienced reduced well-being, particularly in the first year. Notably, emotional intelligence was linked to lower emotional exhaustion, highlighting its role in combating burnout during medical and surgical residency.

Journal Article by Wasfie T, Kirkpatrick H (…) Vogel M et 3 al. in BMC Surg

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North American Center Achieves Global Benchmark for Laparoscopic Liver Resections

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, HPB & Spleen

A single-center study evaluated laparoscopic liver resections at Toronto General Hospital to compare their performance with established global benchmarks. Out of 178 cases analyzed, 25% qualified as low-risk cases. For these low-risk cases, the postoperative major morbidity and 90-day mortality rates after different types of liver resections were all at 0%. High-risk cases post-2017 had good outcomes except for one category, while high-risk cases operated before 2017 had some outcomes that didn’t meet the global cut-off. The study demonstrates that the North American center achieved outcomes comparable to global benchmarks for laparoscopic liver resections.

Journal Article by Choi WJ, Babakhani S (…) Sapisochin G et 12 al. in BMC Surg

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Fragmented Care in Pancreatic Cancer Doesn’t Impact Survival

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, HPB & Spleen

A study on localized pancreatic cancer investigated whether fragmented care, where patients receive systemic therapy at a different facility than their surgery, affected survival. Among over 11,000 patients, those treated in Commission on Cancer accredited facilities were more likely to receive neoadjuvant therapy, but overall survival didn’t significantly differ compared to non-fragmented care or fragmented care in non-accredited facilities. The study suggests that the accreditation status of the treatment facility doesn’t substantially impact the survival of patients with localized pancreatic cancer.

Journal Article by Park SS, Verm RA (…) Baker MS et 6 al. in BMC Surg

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Preoperative Smoking Cessation Interventions: Impact and Variability

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities

A systematic review analyzed nine articles from 1998 to 2019 to evaluate pre-hospital smoking cessation interventions’ impact on smoking rates for surgery patients. These interventions included methods like nicotine replacement therapy, e-cigarettes, counseling, and medications. Among 1,762 patients in the studies, six reported smoking status on the day of surgery, with four studies showing differences in smoking cessation rates. The research highlights the need for further investigation into the best practices for successful pre-surgery smoking cessation, considering the variability in interventions, settings, and outcomes.

Journal Article by Ricker AB, Manning D (…) Reinke CE et 3 al. in Am J Surg

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Impact of COVID-19 on Female Surgeons: New Normal Work Environment

Post author By STITCHES Newsletter
Post date 31/10/2023
Categories In General Surgery, Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities

A survey of 139 female surgeons conducted in 2021 explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. The study revealed that 71.2% of respondents felt the pandemic worsened their clinical practice, with 30.9% experiencing a decrease in income. Many faced challenges, including caring for children, elderly family members, and increased household chores. These findings highlight the need for awareness and support to address the evolving needs of female surgeons in a changing work environment.

Journal Article by Oropallo A, Ratnasekera A (…) Reyna C et 3 al. in Am J Surg

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