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Chewing gum accelerates recovery after gastrointestinal surgery, study reveals

Chewing gum significantly reduces time to first postoperative flatus and bowel movement by over 12 and 19 hours, respectively, while cutting hospital stays by nearly a day. It also lowers the incidence of bowel obstruction. Involving nearly 5,000 patients across 35 trials, this systematic review endorses gum as an effective, safe, and cost-efficient addition to postoperative care protocols, although it prompts further research into long-term impacts and best practices.

Review by Wang C, Li B (…) Li Z et 6 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Key Factors in Reducing Anastomotic Leakage Risk in Gastrointestinal Surgery

Anastomotic leakage (AL) poses a significant threat to recovery in gastrointestinal surgeries. Key risk factors include ASA scores of 3-4, male gender, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics can markedly decrease AL incidence. Additionally, intraoperative techniques—like collagen sealants and indocyanine green imaging—effectively mitigate risks. However, NSAID use correlates with increased AL rates. Future studies should focus on multicenter trials for improved prevention strategies.

Journal Article by Bao X, Yi K (…) Xu P et 8 al. in Int J Surg

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

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Machine Learning Accurately Predicts Recurrence and Death in Liver Cancer Patients

A novel random survival forest model effectively stratifies hepatocellular carcinoma patients into high- and low-risk groups for recurrence and mortality post-surgery. Utilizing critical clinicopathological features and molecular markers, the model demonstrates significant differences in 5-year recurrence and death probabilities. For instance, in the training cohort, high-risk patients faced an 87.3% recurrence rate compared to 51.5% for low-risk patients. This stratification aids surgeons in devising targeted post-surgical management plans, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Journal Article by Jia JJ, Wang YY (…) Jiang HJ et 3 al. in Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int

Copyright © 2025 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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New Quality Standard for Laparoscopic Stone Removal Improves Surgical Outcomes

A new composite criterion, coined the textbook outcome (TO), evaluates laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for choledocholithiasis. Analyzing 225 patients, 74.2% achieved TO, defined by key perioperative benchmarks such as no residual stones and no severe complications. High ASA scores emerged as a critical risk factor for TO failure. This innovative approach promises to standardize surgical quality assessments and enhance patient care, potentially reducing healthcare costs while aligning with patient preferences.

Journal Article by Teng D and Xu Y in Front Surg

© 2025 Teng and Xu.

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Robot-Assisted Surgery Adoption Surge: From 1% to 33% Nationwide

Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) adoption in the Netherlands skyrocketed over the last decade, jumping from 1% to 33% for pancreatic resections. The trend reflects broader integration across gastrointestinal and thoracic surgeries, with RAS now utilized in 20% of all procedures. Notably, rectal surgeries experienced the greatest uptick, with adoption peaking at 45%. This growth offers significant implications for surgical outcomes, patient management, and resource allocation within the healthcare system.

Journal Article by Visser MR, Amelung FJ (…) Ruurda JP et 21 al. in Ann Surg

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

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Endoscopy Outperforms CT in Diagnosing Serious Esophageal Corrosive Injuries

Esophageal corrosive injuries, predominantly from intentional alkaline ingestion, present serious medical hurdles, with a mortality rate of 6.2% and stricture formation occurring in 24.7% of cases. A comprehensive meta-analysis of 44 studies highlighted that endoscopy demonstrates higher sensitivity (82.4%) than computed tomography (63.8%) for predicting adverse outcomes. The study emphasizes a critical need for targeted management strategies for high-risk patients, especially those with grade III injuries, to mitigate morbidity and mortality.

Review by Papaconstantinou D, Katsaros I (…) Schizas D et 6 al. in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Preoperative Factors Dominate Surgery Choice for Small Bowel Obstruction

In small bowel obstruction cases, younger patients with fewer comorbidities are more likely to undergo laparoscopic surgery, which is linked to fewer complications and lower mortality compared to open surgery. Etiology plays a key role; adhesive obstructions favor laparoscopy while hernias prompt open procedures. Notable predictors of conversion from laparoscopic to open include abdominal malignancy and free fluid on CT scans. Optimal outcomes arise from preoperative assessments paired with adaptable intraoperative strategies.

Journal Article by Martinez-Casas I, Kaplan LJ (…) Bass GA et 6 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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Optimal Fibrinogen to Erythrocyte Ratio May Impact Surgical Outcomes

Enhancing the fibrinogen-to-erythrocyte suspension ratio could significantly reduce mortality and improve functional outcomes in major perioperative bleeding scenarios. The ADEFES study focuses on patients undergoing surgeries that entail substantial blood loss, evaluating the relationship between fibrinogen supplementation and critical recovery metrics. By scrutinizing the effect on both all-cause and bleeding-specific mortality alongside daily living scores, this multicenter observational study aims to fill a crucial gap in clinical guidance for blood product replacement during surgery.

Multicenter Study by Demir ZA, Kavak Akelma F (…) Aydın Güzey N et 10 al. in BMJ Open

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.

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Innovative Therapies Aim to Transform Biliary Stricture Treatment

Biliary strictures, often resulting from various causes, disrupt bile flow and lead to significant complications. Traditional surgical methods are now complemented by advanced strategies, including molecular therapies targeting fibrosis pathways, gene-editing technologies, and tissue-engineered scaffolds. These approaches promise improved, safer treatment options tailored for precision medicine, addressing the complex pathology and enhancing outcomes for patients with biliary stricture.

Review by Peng B, Zhang J and Xiang Y in Front Med (Lausanne)

Copyright © 2025 Peng, Zhang and Xiang.

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Robotic-assisted liver surgeries outperform laparoscopic and open methods in complex cases

Minimally invasive liver surgeries demonstrate significant benefits over open resections, especially in advanced cases. Among 686 patients, robotic-assisted procedures reduced major complications to 8%, compared to 17% for laparoscopic and 23% for open surgeries. Both laparoscopic and robotic approaches showed lower blood loss and shorter hospital stays across various difficulty levels, emphasizing their safety and effectiveness. Tailoring surgical techniques to case complexity is crucial for optimal outcomes.

Journal Article by Abdelhadi S, El-Ahmar M (…) Sandra-Petrescu F et 7 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s).

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