The Value of Systemic Inflammatory Indices for Predicting Early Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Cancer.

Background and Objectives: Systemic inflammatory indices have been largely investigated for their potential predictive value in multiple inflammatory, infectious, and oncological diseases; however, their value in colorectal cancer is still a subject of research. This study investigates the dynamics of pre- and postoperative values of NLR, PLR, SII, and MLR in patients with colorectal cancer and their predictive value for early postoperative outcomes. Materials and Methods: A 2-year retrospective cohort study was performed on 200 patients operated for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Systemic inflammatory indices were calculated based on complete blood count preoperatively and on the first and sixth postoperative days. The patients were divided into two groups based on their emergency or elective presentation. The pre- and postoperative values of serum inflammatory biomarkers and their correlations with postoperative outcomes were separately analyzed for the two study subgroups. Results: There were no significant differences in sex distribution, addressability, associated comorbidities, or types of surgery between the two groups. Patients in the emergency group presented higher preoperative and postoperative values of WBC, neutrophils, NLR, and SII compared to elective patients. The postsurgery hospital stays correlated well with pre- and postoperative day one and day six values of NLR (p = 0.001; 0.02; and <0.001), PLR (p < 0.001), SII (p = 0.037; <0.001; <0.001), and MLR (p = 0.002; p = 0.002; <0.001). In a multivariate analysis, reintervention risk was higher for emergency presentation and anemia, and lower in right colon cancer. In the emergency group, a multivariate model including age, MLR PO1, and pTNM stage was predictive for severe postoperative complications (AUC ROC 0.818). First-day postoperative inflammatory indices correlated well with sepsis, with the best predictive value being observed for the first postoperative day NLR (AUC 0.836; sensibility 88.8%; specificity 66.7%) and SII (AUC 0.796; sensitivity 66.6%; specificity 90%). For elective patients, the first postoperative day PLR and anemia were included in a multivariate model to predict Clavien-Dindo complications graded 3 or more (AUC ROC 0.818) and reintervention (AUC ROC 0.796). Conclusions: Easy-to-calculate and inexpensive systemic inflammatory biomarkers could be useful in predicting early postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer for both elective and emergency surgery.

Complement Inhibitors for Geographic Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration-A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the main causes of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Intravitreal complement inhibitors are an emergent approach in the treatment of AMD, which have had encouraging results. This systematic review analyzes the outcomes and safety of complement inhibitor therapies for GA in AMD cases. METHODS: A comprehensive search on the PubMed and Web of Science databases returned 18 studies involving various complement inhibitor agents, with a total of 4272 patients and a mean follow-up of 68.2 ± 20.4 weeks. RESULTS: Most treated patients were white (96.8%) and female (55.8%), with a mean age of 78.3 ± 7.8 years and a mean GA area of 8.0 ± 3.9 mm2. There were no differences in visual function change between treated and control participants. The mean GA area change was 2.4 ± 0.7 mm2 in treated participants vs. 2.7 ± 0.8 mm2 in control groups (p < 0.001). The ocular and systemic side effects were similar to those of intravitreal anti-VEGF. A less-understood effect was that of the onset of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in 1.1-13% of patients; this effect was found to be more frequent in patients with neovascular AMD in the fellow eye or nonexudative CNV in the study eye at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Complement inhibitors may represent a useful therapy for GA in AMD, but a personalized approach to patient selection is necessary to optimize the outcomes.

Metastatic Nodular Melanoma with Angiosarcomatous Transdifferentiation-A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Diagnosing cutaneous melanomas relies mainly on histopathological analysis, which, in selected cases, can be aided by immunohistochemical evaluation of conventional melanocytic markers. Nevertheless, these malignancies, particularly in metastatic settings, may display divergent differentiation with unusual histological and immunohistochemical features. In this context, we present the case of a 65-year-old male diagnosed with typical superficial spreading melanoma who developed recurrence and metastatic lesions featuring angiosarcomatous differentiation. The diagnosis of the initial tumour and the subsequently dedifferentiated lesions was confirmed by ample immunohistochemical analysis, which included several melanocytic markers, as well as mesenchymal and vascular markers. The recurrent tumour and lymph nodes metastases were completely negative for Melan-A and PRAME, and focally positive for SOX10. Additionally, they also displayed diffuse, intense positivity for CD10 and WT1 and focal positivity for CD99, ERB, and CD31. Thus, the diagnosis of primary cutaneous melanoma with recurrent and metastatic divergent angiosarcomatous differentiation was established. This occurrence is particularly rare and can pose important diagnostic challenges. Therefore, in addition to presenting this highly unusual case, we also performed a comprehensive review of the literature on divergent differentiation in melanomas.

Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Near-Infrared Indocyanine Green (NIR/ICG) in Lymphatic Mapping for Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

As laparoscopy gained global popularity in oncologic surgery, the challenge of detecting lymph nodes spurred researchers to explore innovative techniques and approach the situation from a fresh perspective. While many proposed methods have faded into obscurity, the utilization of indocyanine green (ICG) in the surgical treatment of oncologic patients has continued to advance. The immense potential of this dye is widely acknowledged, yet its full extent and limitations in lymphatic mapping for colorectal cancer remain to be precisely determined. This article aims to assess the magnitude of its potential and explore the constraints based on insights from clinical studies published by pioneering researchers. A systematic review of the existing literature, comprising articles in English, was conducted using the Scopus, PubMed, and Springer Link databases. The search employed keywords such as "colorectal cancer" AND/OR "indocyanine green," "fluorescence" AND/OR "lymphatic mapping" AND/OR "lymph nodes." Initially identifying 129 articles, the application of selection criteria narrowed down the pool to 10 articles, which served as the primary sources of data for our review. Despite the absence of a standardized protocol for the application of ICG in colorectal cancer, particularly in the context of lymphatic mapping, the detection rates have exhibited considerable variation across studies. Nevertheless, all authors unanimously regarded this technique as beneficial and promising. Additionally, it is advocated as an adjunctive tool to enhance the accuracy of cancer staging. Near-infrared (NIR)-enhanced surgery holds the promise of transforming the landscape of oncologic surgery, emerging as a valuable tool for surgeons. However, the absence of a standardized technique and the subjective nature of result assessment impose limitations on the potential of this method. Consequently, it can be inferred that the establishment of a universally accepted protocol, encompassing parameters such as dose, concentration, technique, and site of administration of ICG, along with the optimal time needed for fluorescence visualization, would enhance the outcomes. Emphasizing the accurate selection of patients is crucial to prevent the occurrence of false-negative results.

Predictive Factors for Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies in Acute Cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment in acute cholecystitis. However, one in six cases is expected to be difficult due to intense inflammation and suspected adherence to and involvement of adjacent important structures, which may predispose patients to higher risk of vascular and biliary injuries. In this study, we aimed to identify the preoperative parameters with predictive value for surgical difficulties. A retrospective study of 255 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted in emergency was performed between 2019 and 2023. Patients in the difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) group experienced more complications compared to the normal LC group (33.3% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.001). Age (p = 0.009), male sex (p = 0.03), diabetes (p = 0.02), delayed presentation (p = 0.03), fever (p = 0.004), and a positive Murphy sign (p = 0.007) were more frequently encountered in the DLC group. Total leukocytes, neutrophils, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were significantly higher in the DLC group (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 respectively). The Tongyoo score (AUC ROC of 0.856) and a multivariate model based on serum fibrinogen, thickness of the gallbladder wall, and transverse diameter of the gallbladder (AUC ROC of 0.802) showed a superior predictive power when compared to independent parameters. The predictive factors for DLC should be assessed preoperatively to optimize the therapeutic decision.

Association Between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) With Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide, but an effective screening is challenging due to limited available retina specialists. Finding novel biomarkers could help clinical decision in prioritizing ophthalmological consultation in patients at risk of developing severe DR. This study aims to investigate the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the presence and severity of DR in patients with T2DM. A retrospective study was performed on 90 patients with T2DM admitted in the Ophthalmology Clinic, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest in Bucharest, Romania, between March 2022 and March 2023, for routine cataract surgery. The cases were divided into three groups according to the severity of DR: no DR (noDR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR) groups. NLR values raised significantly in the PDR group, no DR group (p = 0.003), and NPDR group (p = 0.026), while PLR values did not differ statistically significant among the groups (p = 0.059). No difference in terms of age, sex, HbA1C, and comorbidities were observed. In the multivariate analysis, the NLR (OR = 2.01, [1.29; 3.14], p = 0.0019) and diabetic nephropathy (OR = 3.84, [1.23; 11.98], p = 0.0203) were associated with higher rates of PDR. NLR may be a promising tool in the risk stratification of T2DM patients with DR.

The Significance of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII) in Predicting Severity and Adverse Outcomes in Acute Calculous Cholecystitis.

The prediction of severity in acute calculous cholecystitis (AC) is important in therapeutic management to ensure an early recovery and prevent adverse postoperative events. We analyzed the value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammatory index (SII) to predict advanced inflammation, the risk for conversion, and postoperative complications in AC. Advanced AC was considered the cases with empyema, gangrene, perforation of the gallbladder, abscesses, or difficulties in achieving the critical view of safety. A 3-year retrospective was performed on 235 patients admitted in emergency care for AC. The NLR was superior to the PLR and SII in predicting advanced inflammation and risk for conversion. The best predictive value was found to be at an NLR "cut-off" value of >4.19, with a sensitivity of 85.5% and a specificity of 66.9% (AUC = 0.824). The NLR, SII, and TG 13/18 correlate well with postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade IV (p < 0.001 for all variables) and sepsis. For predicting early postoperative sepsis, TG 13/18 grading >2 and NLR > 8.54 show the best predicting power (AUC = 0.931; AUC = 0.888, respectively), although not significantly higher than that of the PLR and SII. The NLR is a useful biomarker in assessing the severity of inflammation in AC. The SII and PLR may be useful in the prediction of systemic inflammatory response.

When Not to Operate on Acute Cases-A Surgeon's Perspective on Rapid Assessment of Emergency Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography.

Clinical problem solving evolves in parallel with advances in technology and discoveries in the medical field. However, it always reverts to basic cognitive processes involved in critical thinking, such as hypothetical-deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, and compilation models. When dealing with cases of acute abdominal pain, clinicians should employ all available tools that allow them to rapidly refine their analysis for a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, we propose a standardized method for the quick assessment of abdominopelvic computed tomography as a supplement to the traditional clinical reasoning process. This narrative review explores the cognitive basis of errors in reading imaging. It explains the practical use of attenuation values, contrast phases, and windowing for non-radiologists and details a multistep protocol for finding radiological cues during CT reading and interpretation. This systematic approach describes the salient features and technical tools needed to ascertain the causality between clinical patterns and abdominopelvic changes visible on CT scans from a surgeon's perspective. It comprises 16 sections that should be read successively and that cover the entire abdominopelvic region. Each section details specific radiological signs and provides clear explanations for targeted searches, as well as anatomical and technical hints. Reliance on imaging in clinical problem solving does not make a decision dichotomous nor does it guarantee success in diagnostic endeavors. However, it contributes exact information for supporting the clinical assessments even in the most subtle and intricate conditions.

Transabdominal Preperitoneal Versus Lichtenstein Procedure for Inguinal Hernia Repair in Adults: A Comparative Evaluation of the Early Postoperative Pain and Outcomes.

Inguinal hernia repairs are one of the most common procedures in general surgery. In addition to classical open surgery, laparoscopic techniques, such as transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair, have gained acceptance and are increasingly used for inguinal hernia repairs, and these three techniques are the only standards for inguinal hernia repairs. This study aimed to compare the results of inguinal hernia repairs in adult patients using the TAPP patch technique and Lichtenstein techniques regarding the level of pain perceived one day after surgery and the number of days of hospitalization. A two-year study was performed on 129 patients who underwent TAPP vs. 109 patients who underwent Liechtenstein hernia repair. Our results revealed statistical significance for both variables (Tpain(233) = -7.12, p< 0.001, d=2.92; Tdays of hospitalization(233) = -31.34, p< 0.001, d=4.01). TAPP is a safe method for inguinal hernia repairs, allowing quick recovery and less postoperative pain than the classical Liechtenstein technique.

When Critical View of Safety Fails: A Practical Perspective on Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

The incidence of common bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) remains three times higher than that following open surgery despite numerous attempts to decrease intraoperative incidents by employing better training, superior surgical instruments, imaging techniques, or strategic concepts. This paper is a narrative review which discusses from a contextual point of view the need to standardise the surgical approach in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies, the main strategic operative concepts and techniques, complementary visualisation aids for the delineation of anatomical landmarks, and the importance of cognitive maps and algorithms in performing safer LC. Extensive research was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier databases using the terms "difficult cholecystectomy", "bile duct injuries", "safe cholecystectomy", and "laparoscopy in acute cholecystitis". The key content and findings of this research suggest there is high intersocietal variation in approaching and performing LC, in the use of visualisation aids, and in the application of safety concepts. Limited papers offer guidelines based on robust data and a timid recognition of the human factors and ergonomic concepts in improving the outcomes associated with difficult cholecystectomies. This paper highlights the most relevant recommendations for dealing with difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

Clinical and therapeutic features of acute cholecystitis in diabetic patients.

The present study aimed to compare the clinical, paraclinical, intraoperative findings, and postoperative complications in acute cholecystitis in diabetic patients vs. non-diabetic patients. A 2-year retrospective study was performed on the patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis between 2017 and 2019 at the 4th Department of Surgery, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest. The diabetic subgroup numbered 46 eligible patients and the non-diabetic one 287 patients. Demographics, the severity of the clinical forms, biological variables (including white cell count, urea, creatinine, coagulation and liver function tests) comorbidity status, surgical approach, postoperative complications, and hospital stay were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed to assess comparative results between the aforementioned data (SPSS V 13.0). The CCI and ASA risk classes were increased in the diabetic group, with 34.78% of patients having 3 or more associated comorbidities. No statistically significant associations were demonstrated between diabetes and the severity of the cholecystitis and risk for conversion. Postoperatively both minor complications such as surgical site infections and major cardiovascular events were more common in the diabetic subgroup (P=0.0254), well associated with the preoperative status and baseline cardiovascular comorbidities. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure for diabetic patients, which can provide the best outcomes, by decreasing the risks of surgical wounds. Attentive perioperative care and good glycemic control must be provided to minimize the risk of complications.

Indocyanine Green-Enhanced Colorectal Surgery-between Being Superfluous and Being a Game-Changer.

Nowadays, surgical innovations incorporate new technological conquests and must be validated by evidence-based medicine. The use of augmented reality-assisted indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has generated a myriad of intraoperative applications such as demonstration of key anatomical landmarks, sentinel lymph nodes, and real-time assessment of local blood flow. This paper presents a systematic review of the clinical evidence regarding the applications of ICG near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence in colorectal surgery. After we removed duplicate publications and screened for eligibility, a total of 36 articles were evaluated: 23 on perfusion assessment, 10 on lymph node mapping, and 3 on intraoperative identification of ureters. Lack of homogenous studies, low statistical power, and confounding evidence were found to be common amongst publications supporting the use of ICG in colorectal surgery, raising concerns over this seductive technique's cost efficiency and redundancy. The compiled data showed that ICG NIR fluorescence may be a game-changer in particular situations, as proven for low colorectal anastomosis or lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, but it remains controversial for routine use and sentinel lymph node assessment. Further randomized studies are needed to confirm these conclusions. Future research directions include tumor-targeted fluorescence imaging and digital software for quantitative evaluation of fluorescence.

Fatal outcome of gastric perforation due to infection with Sarcina spp. A case report.

Sarcina ventriculi is an extremely rare pathogen. These gram-positive cocci bacteria are rarely identified in gastric biopsies and usually described in the scientific literature as an incidental finding, particularly in patients with delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis, emphysematous gastritis or gastric perforation. It occurs most commonly in adult women and can be identified easily by its distinctive morphologic features, such as basophilic staining, cuboidal shape, tetrad arrangement, red blood cell-sized packets, flattened cell walls, and refractile nature in bright field microscopy. Although the pathogenesis of the microorganism is highly debated in humans, this bacterium is a well-known pathogen in livestock. Fewer than 30 cases of human infection have been described in the scientific literature so far, but none mentioned this micro-organism as a potential cause of death. We report the case of a 76-year-old patient with gastric perforation due to massive infection with Sarcina ventriculi. To date, this is the first report of human infection with Sarcina ventriculi in Romania.