A retrospective cohort study of incidental abdominal aortic aneurysms on routine abdominal computed tomography scans in Te Tairawhiti (2018-2019).

AIM: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is associated with a high mortality rate which, is especially significant in rural and provincial regions. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Maori experience higher rates of AAA and worse overall medium-term survival following AAA repair. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of incidental AAA on routine abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans over 12 months. METHOD: A retrospective review of all abdominal CT scans performed on patients ≥50 years at Gisborne Hospital between 1 December 2018-1 December 2019 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 811 scans were reviewed, with 42 incidental AAA detected (5.2%). The majority of incidental AAA were in males aged ≥65 (65.8%), with a higher prevalence for Maori compared to New Zealand European (NZE) (16.2% vs 8.1%, p=0.052). This pattern was also seen in females, aged ≥65 (10.9% in Maori vs 3.8% in NZE, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: The detection of AAA on routine abdominal CT scans appears to be a useful adjunct in lieu of targeted AAA screening in our region. A high prevalence of incidental AAA (5.2%) over 12 months, with a significantly higher prevalence noted in Maori males and females ≥65 years (16.2% and 10.9%), was observed.

Recurrence after transanal endoscopic microsurgery for benign and malignant rectal tumours: experience of a single New Zealand centre.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is an established technique for the resection of rectal adenomas and selected malignant tumours. It avoids the morbidity of radical resection for tumours not amenable to endoscopic resection. An important marker of quality is the local recurrence rate. The primary objective was to determine local recurrence rates for benign and malignant rectal tumours. METHODS: We identified index TEM excisions of rectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas in patients age 18 and over at Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand, between 2000 and 2020, from a prospective database. Surveillance data were collected via chart review. The primary outcome was recurrence rate for adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Secondary outcomes included time to recurrence, association of recurrence with recognized risk factors, and adverse event rates. RESULTS: We identified 100 patients for analysis. Of 75 benign cases, 11 (14.7%) developed local recurrence, with 63.6% identified within 1 year. Of the 25 malignant cases (19 T1, 5 T2, 1 T3), 9 (36%) developed recurrence, with 77.8% identified within 2 years. Adverse events occurred in 26% of patients, with no reoperations or deaths. CONCLUSION: Our adenoma recurrence rate was at the higher end of the reported range of 2.4-16%. Minor complications were common, but not major morbidity. The propensity for rectal tumours to recur commonly and early reinforces the importance of regular standardized endoscopic surveillance.

Transfer Validity of Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fracture Pin Placement Practice on In-Theater Performance by Orthopedic Trainees Using an Augmented Reality Simulator: Protocol for a Pilot Interventional Cohort Study With a Retrospective Comparator Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHF) are a common cause of orthopedic morbidity in pediatric populations across the world. The treatment of this fracture is likely one of the first procedures involving x-ray-guided wire insertion that trainee orthopedic surgeons will encounter in their career. Traditional surgical training methods of "see one, do one, teach one" are reliant on the presence of real-world cases and must be conducted within an operative environment. We have developed an augmented reality simulator that allows trainees to practice this procedure in a radiation-free environment at no extra risk to patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine whether training on a simulator in addition to traditional surgical training improves the in-theater performance of trainees. METHODS: This multicenter, interventional cohort study will involve orthopedic trainees from New Zealand in their first year of advanced training between 2019 and 2023. Advanced trainees with no simulator exposure who were in their first year in 2019-2021 will form the comparator cohort, while those in the years 2022-2023 will receive additional regular simulator training as the intervention cohort. The comparator cohort's performance in pediatric SCHF surgery will be retrospectively audited using routinely collected operative outcomes and parameters over a 6-month period. Data on the performance of the intervention cohorts will be collected in the same way over a comparable period. The data collected for both groups will be used to determine whether additional training with an augmented reality training shows improved real-world surgical outcomes compared to traditional surgical training. RESULTS: As of February 2022, a total of 8 retrospective comparator trainees have been recruited by email. The study is financially supported through an external grant from the Wishbone Orthopaedic Research Foundation of New Zealand (September 2021) and an internal research grant from the University of Otago (July 2021). CONCLUSIONS: This protocol has been approved by the University of Otago Health Ethics committee (reference HD21/087), and the study is due for completion in 2024. This protocol may assist other researchers conducting similar studies in the field. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12623000816651; https://tinyurl.com/mtdkecwb. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/38282.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of FAPI PET/CT in Oncologic Studies: Systematic Review and Metaanalysis.

Fibroblast-activation protein is a promising target for oncologic molecular imaging. Studies show that fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) radiotracers are accurate diagnostics with favorable tumor-to-background ratios across various cancers. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and metaanalysis to assess the diagnostic performance of FAPI PET/CT in comparison with [18F]FDG PET/CT, the most widely used radiotracer in oncology. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, relevant trial registries, and bibliographies. The search consisted of combinations of terms for 3 topics: neoplasia, PET/CT, and FAPI. Two authors independently screened retrieved articles using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted the data. Study quality was assessed using the criteria of QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2). For each study, the sensitivity, specificity, and 95% CIs were calculated to determine diagnostic accuracy for primary, nodal, and metastatic lesions. A random-effects metaanalysis was used for pooling the data, and heterogeneity was assessed (I2 index). Results: Thirty-nine studies (1,259 patients) investigating the use of FAPI PET/CT were included. On a patient-based analysis, pooled sensitivity was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97-1.0) for the detection of primary lesions. Pooled sensitivity for nodal and distant metastases was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.81-0.96) and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.96-1.0), respectively. On a paired analysis between FAPI and [18F]FDG PET/CT, FAPI had a higher sensitivity in the detection of primary, nodal, and metastatic lesions (all P < 0.001). The differences in sensitivities between FAPI and [18F]FDG were statistically significant. In terms of heterogeneity, analyses on primary lesions were moderately affected, distant metastatic lesions were highly affected, and the nodal metastatic analyses had negligible heterogeneity. Conclusion: The diagnostic performance of FAPI PET/CT is superior to that of [18F]FDG in the detection of primary, nodal, and distant metastases. However, further studies are needed to better evaluate its utility and indication in specific cancer types and clinical settings.

Association of Preoperative High-Intensity Interval Training With Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Postoperative Outcomes Among Adults Undergoing Major Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Preoperative high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is associated with improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and may improve surgical outcomes. Objective: To summarize data from studies comparing the association of preoperative HIIT vs standard hospital care with preoperative CRF and postoperative outcomes. Data Sources: Data sources included Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Library, and Scopus databases with no language constraints, including abstracts and articles published before May 2023. Study Selection: The databases were searched for randomized clinical trials and prospective cohort studies with HIIT protocols in adult patients undergoing major surgery. Thirty-four of 589 screened studies met initial selection criteria. Data Extraction and Synthesis: A meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were extracted by multiple independent observers and pooled in a random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was change in CRF, as measured by either peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2 peak) or 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications; hospital length of stay (LOS); and changes in quality of life, anaerobic threshold, and peak power output. Results: Twelve eligible studies including 832 patients were identified. Pooled results indicated several positive associations for HIIT when compared with standard care either on CRF (V̇o2 peak, 6MWT, anaerobic threshold, or peak power output) or postoperative outcomes (complications, LOS, quality of life), although there was significant heterogeneity in study results. In 8 studies including 627 patients, there was moderate-quality evidence of significant improvement in V̇o2 peak (cumulative mean difference, 2.59 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, 1.52-3.65 mL/kg/min; P < .001). In 8 studies including 770 patients, there was moderate-quality evidence of a significant reduction in complications (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.32-0.60; P < .001). There was no evidence that HIIT differed from standard care in hospital LOS (cumulative mean difference, -3.06 days; 95% CI, -6.41 to 0.29 days; P = .07). The analysis showed a high degree of heterogeneity in study outcomes and an overall low risk of bias. Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that preoperative HIIT may be beneficial for surgical populations through the improvement of exercise capacity and reduced postoperative complications. These findings support including HIIT in prehabilitation programs before major surgery. The high degree of heterogeneity in both exercise protocols and study results supports the need for further prospective, well-designed studies.

The correlation between different ultrasound planes and computed tomography measures of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Introduction: Ultrasound measurements of the aorta are typically taken in the axial plane, with the transducer perpendicular to the aorta, and diameter measurements are obtained by placing the callipers from the anterior to the posterior wall and the transverse right to the left side of the aorta. While the 'conventional' anteroposterior walls in both sagittal and transverse plains may be suitable for aneurysms with less complicated geometry, there is controversy regarding the suitability of this approach for complicated, particularly tortuous aneurysms, as they may offer a more challenging situation. Previous work undertaken within our research group found that when training inexperienced users of ultrasound, they demonstrated more optimal calliper placement to the abdominal aorta when approached from a decubitus window to obtain a coronal image compared to the traditional ultrasound approach. Purpose: To observe the level of agreement in real-world reporting between computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound measurements in three standard planes; transverse AP, sagittal AP and coronal (left to right) infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) diameter. Methodology: This is a retrospective review of the Otago Vascular Diagnostics database for AAA, where ultrasound and CT diameter data, available within 90 days of each other, were compared. In addition to patient demographics, the infrarenal aorta ultrasound diameter measurements in transverse AP and sagittal AP, along with a coronal decubitus image of the aorta was collected. No transverse measurement was performed from the left to the right of the aorta. Results: Three hundred twenty-five participants (238 males, mean age 76.4 ± 7.5) were included. Mean ultrasound outer to the outer wall, transverse AP and sagittal AP diameters were 48.7 ± 10.5 mm and 48.9 ± 9.9 mm, respectively. The coronal diameter measurement of the aorta from left to right was 53.9 ± 12.8 mm in the left decubitus window. The mean ultrasound max was 54.3 ± 12.6 mm. The mean CT diameter measurement was 55.6 ± 12.7 mm. Correlation between the CT max and ultrasound max was r 2 = 0.90, and CT with the coronal measurement r 2 = 0.90, CT and AP transverse was r2=0.80, and CT with AP sagittal measurement was r 2 = 0.77. Conclusion: The decubitus ultrasound window of the abdominal aorta, with measurement of the coronal plane, is highly correlated and in agreement with CT scanning. This window may offer an alternative approach to measuring the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and should be considered when performing surveillance of all infra-renal AAA.

Near Infrared Fluorescence Imaging to Demonstrate Reflux in the Superficial Microvenous Network of the Leg.

OBJECTIVE: Reflux within the superficial microvenous network may play a critical role in the development of skin changes which can be associated with chronic venous insufficiency. This study aimed to determine if near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging could be used to accurately determine superficial venous reflux in the leg. METHODS: A total of nine limbs were examined ex vivo from patients undergoing limb amputation for peripheral arterial disease. Cannulation of the distal great saphenous vein was used to sequentially perform Xray contrast enhanced venography, NIRF imaging, and venous corrosion casts. RESULTS: Fluorescence imaging visualised a range of different microvenous reflux patterns ex vivo, which were generally not evident by Xray venography but were consistent with retrograde resin vascular casts. These included both focal and diffuse regions of fluorescence within the skin and, consistent with previous observations, the vascular casts indicated that regions of venous reflux were typically associated with incompetent valves. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest a potential method for investigating early stage superficial venous disease, prior to the appearance of visible signs of advanced venous disease, such as skin changes. However, further studies are required to confirm the in vivo clinical utility of these observations.

The Impact of Suprarenal Diameter on Outcomes Following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between suprarenal aortic diameters and complications that may be attributed to a dilating phenotype following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. DESIGN: This study is a retrospective review. METHODS: We measured the abdominal aortas of 147 consecutive patients with a mean age of 78.5 (range 60-93) years, who had a mean Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) follow-up of 3 years (6 months to 8 years) at a public Hospital. Aortic calibres measured 5 mm above the highest renal artery were recorded, patients were categorised according to suprarenal diameter; Group A: greater than 25 mm, Group B: less than or equal to 25 mm. Stent migration, aneurysmal sac growth, presence of an endoleak and its type, occlusion events, rupture, interventions and mortality, as well as clinical history and demographic data were compared between groups. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher occurrence of stent migration (11% v 0%; P = .01) in patients with larger suprarenal aortas (Group A). The occurrence of any endoleak did not differ between the groups, however, significantly more complications resulting in secondary intervention, excluding occlusions, were noted in Group A (34% vs 17%, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study suggest that patients with above-average suprarenal diameters (categorised as dilators) may have a higher occurrence of specific complications following EVAR. A more detailed study to establish the association of suprarenal calibre with types of complications following EVAR is warranted.

Has network meta-analysis resolved the controversies related to bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery?

AIM: There are discrepancies in the guidelines on preparation for colorectal surgery. While intravenous antibiotics (IV) are usually administered, the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and/or oral antibiotics (OA) is controversial. A recent network meta-analysis (NMA) demonstrated that the addition of OA reduced incisional surgical site infections (iSSIs) by more than 50%. We aimed to perform a NMA including only the highest quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in order to determine the ranking of different treatment strategies and assess these RCTs for methodological problems that may affect the conclusions of the NMAs. METHOD: A NMA was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RCTs of adult patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with appropriate antibiotic cover and with at least 250 participants recruited, clear definition of endpoints and duration of follow-up extending beyond discharge from hospital were included. The search included Medline, Embase, Cochrane and SCOPUS databases. Primary outcomes were iSSI and anastomotic leak (AL). Statistical analysis was performed in Stata v.15.1 using frequentist routines. RESULTS: Ten RCTs including 5107 patients were identified. Treatments compared IV (2218 patients), IV + OA (460 patients), MBP + IV (1405 patients), MBP + IV + OA (538 patients) and OA (486 patients). The likelihood of iSSI was significantly lower for IV + OA (rank 1) and MBP + IVA + OA (rank 2), reducing iSSIs by more than 50%. There were no differences between treatments for AL. Methodological issues included differences in definition, assessment and frequency of primary endpoint infections and the limited number of participants included in some treatment options. CONCLUSION: While this NMA supports the addition of OA to IV to reduce iSSI it also highlights unanswered questions and the need for well-designed pragmatic RCTs.

The impact of prolonged delay to loop ileostomy closure on postoperative morbidity and hospital stay: A retrospective cohort study.

AIM: There is increasing evidence that delayed loop ileostomy closure is associated with an increase in postoperative morbidity. In the context of a publicly funded health service with constrained theatre access, we review the impact of delay in loop ileostomy closure. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing loop ileostomy closure at the Dunedin Public Hospital between 2000-2017 was performed. Cases and complications were identified from the prospectively maintained Otago Clinical Audit database. Patient demographics, ASA score, indications for ileostomy, reasons for delay in closure, length of stay (LOS) after ileostomy closure and complications were collected. LOS and overall complication rate were assessed using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 292 patients were included in the study, of whom 74 (25.3%) were waiting for longer than 12 months for ileostomy closure. The overall complication rate was 21.5%. This was 8% up to 90 days, 20% between 90-360 days, 28% between 360-720 days and 54% after 720 days. Delay was associated with an increased risk of any complication (RR 1.06 for every 30 days with stoma, p < 0.001), including Ileus (OR [95% CI] 1.06 [1.00-1.11], p = 0.024). Overall mean LOS was 5.9 days (range 1-63), being 4.6 days up to 180 days, 5.6 between 180-720 days and 8.7 after 720 days. LOS significantly increased with increasing stoma duration (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Increasing time with loop ileostomy is detrimental for patients, being associated with an increase in complication rates, and is detrimental for hospitals due to increased length of stay. Resources should be allocated for timely closure of loop ileostomies.

Short-term high-intensity interval training improves fitness before surgery: A randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Improving cardiopulmonary reserve, or peak oxygen consumption( V ˙ O2peak ), may reduce postoperative complications; however, this may be difficult to achieve between diagnosis and surgery. Our primary aim was to assess the efficacy of an approximate 14-session, preoperative high-intensity interval training(HIIT) program to increase V ˙ O2peak by a clinically relevant 2 ml·kg-1 ·min-1 . Our secondary aim was to document clinical outcomes. METHODOLOGY: In this prospective study, participants aged 45-85 undergoing major abdominal surgery were randomized to standard care or 14 sessions of HIIT over 4 weeks. HIIT sessions involved approximately 30 min of stationary cycling. Interval training alternated 1 min of high (with the goal of reaching 90% max heart rate at least once during the session) and low/moderate-intensity cycling. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing(CPET) measured the change in V ˙ O2peak from baseline to surgery. Clinical outcomes included postoperative complications, length of stay(LOS), and Short Form 36 quality of life questionnaire(SF-36). RESULTS: Of 63 participants, 46 completed both CPETs and 50 completed clinical follow-up. There was a significant improvement in the HIIT group's mean ± SD V ˙ O2peak (HIIT 2.87 ± 1.94 ml·kg1 ·min-1 vs standard care 0.15 ± 1.93, with an overall difference of 2.73 ml·kg1 ·min-1 95%CI [1.53, 3.93] p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between groups for clinical outcomes, although the observed differences consistently favored the exercise group. This was most notable for total number of complications (0.64 v 1.16 per patient, p = 0.07), SF-36 physical component score (p = 0.06), and LOS (mean 5.5 v 7.4 days, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant improvement in V ˙ O2peak with a four-week preoperative HIIT program. Further appropriately powered work is required to explore the impact of preoperative HIIT on postoperative clinical outcomes.

Strategies for Antibiotic Administration for Bowel Preparation Among Patients Undergoing Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Network Meta-analysis.

Importance: There are discrepancies in guidelines on preparation for colorectal surgery. While intravenous (IV) antibiotics are usually administered, the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), enemas, and/or oral antibiotics (OA) is controversial. Objective: To summarize all data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that met selection criteria using network meta-analysis (NMA) to determine the ranking of different bowel preparation treatment strategies for their associations with postoperative outcomes. Data Sources: Data sources included MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases with no language constraints, including abstracts and articles published prior to 2021. Study Selection: Randomized studies of adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery with appropriate aerobic and anaerobic antibiotic cover that reported on incisional surgical site infection (SSI) or anastomotic leak were selected for inclusion in the analysis. These were selected by multiple reviewers and adjudicated by a separate lead investigator. A total of 167 of 6833 screened studies met initial selection criteria. Data Extraction and Synthesis: NMA was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. Data were extracted by multiple independent observers and pooled in a random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were incisional SSI and anastomotic leak. Secondary outcomes included other infections, mortality, ileus, and adverse effects of preparation. Results: A total of 35 RCTs that included 8377 patients were identified. Treatments compared IV antibiotics (2762 patients [33%]), IV antibiotics with enema (222 patients [3%]), IV antibiotics with OA with or without enema (628 patients [7%]), MBP with IV antibiotics (2712 patients [32%]), MBP with IV antibiotics with OA (with good IV antibiotic cover in 925 patients [11%] and with good overall antibiotic cover in 375 patients [4%]), MBP with OA (267 patients [3%]), and OA (486 patients [6%]). The likelihood of incisional SSI was significantly lower for those receiving IV antibiotics with OA with or without enema (rank 1) and MBP with adequate IV antibiotics with OA (rank 2) compared with all other treatment options. The addition of OA to IV antibiotics, both with and without MBP, was associated with a reduction in incisional SSI by greater than 50%. There were minimal differences between treatments in anastomotic leak and in any of the secondary outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: This NMA demonstrated that the addition of OA to IV antibiotics were associated with a reduction in incisional SSI by greater than 50%. The results support the addition of OA to IV antibiotics to reduce incisional SSI among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Impact of Incisional Surgical Site Infections on Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction after General Surgery: A Case Controlled Study.

Background: Most incisional surgical site infections (ISSI) are now diagnosed after discharge from hospital. In this context, it is important to document the impact ISSI has on our patients. Patients and Methods: Our surgical department sent a validated questionnaire to patients after they had been discharged. This documented incision problems, the 36-Item Short Form Health (SF-36) qualify of life questionnaire, and a patient satisfaction survey (PSS). We retrospectively reviewed records for 115 patients with an ISSI and 115 matched controls with no documented complications. Patient demographics and outcomes were collected. Differences in physical component summary (PCS) score and mental component summary (MCS) score and the PSS score were compared. Results: A majority (87%) of ISSIs were diagnosed after discharge from hospital. There were no differences in demographics, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade, or length of stay (LOS) between groups. Two months after surgery, ISSI was associated with lower post-operative SF-36 scores. The PCS was 42.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 41.3-44.8) for ISSI cases and 47.0 (95% CI, 45.1-48.7) for controls (p ≤ 0.001). The MCS was 45.8 (95% CI, 43.7-47.9) and 50.2 (95% CI, 48.0-52.3), respectively (p = 0.01). Patients had less vitality, increased pain, and a reduction in physical activities and roles. The PSS score was 82.5 (95% CI, 79.6-85.4) in the control group and 74.1 (95% CI, 71.1-77.0) in the ISSI group (p < 0.001). Patients with ISSI reported worse satisfaction ratings with the quality of information received (p = 0.005) and their satisfaction with surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Incisional surgical site infection was correlated with lower quality of life and PSS scores for up to two months after surgery. Prospective studies with pre-operative and post-operative quality of life are required to confirm causality.

Role for colorectal teams to support non-colorectal teams to improve clinical outcomes and adherence to ERAS guidelines for segmental colectomy: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To identify whether compliance with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations is associated with length of stay (LOS) in a New Zealand hospital for patients undergoing segmental colectomy in mixed acute and elective general surgery wards. METHODS: Consecutive elective colorectal surgeries (n = 770) between October 2012 and February 2019 were audited. Patients with non-segmental colectomies, multi-organ surgeries, LOS > 14 days, and those who died were excluded. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between patient demographics, compliance with ERAS guidelines, and suboptimal LOS (> 4 days). RESULTS: Analysis included 376 patients. Age, surgery prior to 2014, surgical approach, non-colorectal surgical team, operation type, and complications were significantly associated with suboptimal LOS. Non-compliance with ERAS recommendations for laparoscopy [OR 8.9, 95% CI (4.52, 19.67)], removal of indwelling catheters (IDC) [OR 3.14, 95% CI (1.85, 5.51)], use of abdominal drains [OR 4.27, 95% CI (0.99, 18.35)], and removal of PCA [OR 8.71, 95% CI (1.78, 157.27)], were associated with suboptimal LOS (univariable analysis). Multivariable analysis showed that age, surgical team, late removal of IDC, and open approach were independent predictors of suboptimal LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Non-compliance with ERAS guidelines for laparoscopic approach and early removal of IDC was higher among procedures performed by non-colorectal surgery teams, and was also associated with adverse postoperative events and suboptimal LOS. This study demonstrates the importance of the surgical team's expertise in affecting surgical outcomes, and did not find significant independent associations between most individual ERAS guidelines and suboptimal LOS once adjusting for other factors.

Safety and outcomes after oesophagectomy in southern New Zealand: a 25-year audit of a low volume centre.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 2 decades, outcomes for oesophageal cancer have improved due to advances in surgical and oncological practice. Optimizing outcomes by centralization of oesophagectomy to high-volume centres has been observed. The aim of this study was to establish if technical and oncological outcomes after oesophagectomy in southern New Zealand are comparable to recent benchmarks. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing oesophagectomy for cancer and benign pathology at Dunedin Hospital from 1995 to 2019 were prospectively audited. For malignant cases, histology was obtained retrospectively along with details of neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapy. The primary outcome was disease-specific survival, stratified by time, resection margin, and TNM staging. Secondary outcomes included mortality and morbidity of oesophagectomy. Complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Oesophagectomy was performed in 108 patients, and 99 patients had surgery for oesophageal malignancy. The median survival was 35.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 30.0-93.4) months and the 5-year survival overall was 41.7%. Comparing survival in patients undergoing oesophagectomy up to 2006 and afterwards showed an improvement in 5-year survival (30.3%, 95% CI (14.2-60.0) versus 47.8%, 95% CI (32.5, not reached), respectively, P = 0.041). There were two perioperative deaths (1.8%), six clinical anastomotic leaks (5.5%), four anastomotic strictures (3.7%) and five chylothoraces (4.6%). CONCLUSION: This 25-year survey of oesophagectomy in southern New Zealand audits the results of a low volume centre, where a variety of neo-adjuvant treatments have been used. Despite this, perioperative morbidity, mortality and survival are comparable to those achieved by international high-volume centres.

Loop ileostomy closure: a retrospective comparison of three techniques.

BACKGROUND: Loop ileostomy (LI) formation is a common practice for patients undergoing low anterior resection or restorative ileo-anal pouch surgery. Ileostomy closure can be performed using a stapled or hand-sewn technique, with or without resection. If hand-sewn, the closure can be one or two layers. Randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated one technique to be superior, and meta-analyses are limited by the heterogeneity of published studies. Our primary aim is to compare stapled ileostomy closure with single- and two-layer hand-sewn closures. METHODS: This retrospective, single-centre cohort study included patients undergoing LI closure between January 1999 and April 2016. Patient demographics, anastomotic technique, operative time and patient outcomes were collected. RESULTS: Our analysis included 244 patients (median age 67 years, 43.4% female). There were no significant differences in mean operative times (71.5, 73.1 and 88.5 min, for stapled, single- and two-layer hand-sewn closures, respectively, adjusted overall P = 0.262), or morbidity (21.5% versus 20.4% versus 17.6%, adjusted overall P = 0.934) between stapled or hand-sewn anastomoses, and no mortality. Once adjusting for age, sex, American College of Anaesthesiology grade, and consultant surgeon, the length of stay was different (overall P = 0.034), being similar between stapled and single-layer closures (4.2 versus 5.5 days, P = 0.105), but significantly different between stapled and two-layer closures (4.2 versus 8.3 days, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Stapled and single-layered hand-sewn closures are similar in length of procedure, length of stay and complication rates. A two-layer, hand-sewn technique is associated with a significant increase in stay compared to a stapled ileostomy closure.