External Validation of the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator in Elderly Patients Undergoing General Surgery Operations.

Preoperative risk stratification in the elderly surgical patient is an essential part of contemporary perioperative care and can be done with the use of the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS-SRC). However, data on the generalizability of the ACS-SRC in the elderly is scarce. In this study, we report an external validation of the ACS-RC in a geriatric cohort. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed including patients aged > 65 who underwent general surgery procedures during 2012−2017 in a Greek academic centre. The predictive ability of the ACS-SRC for post-operative outcomes was tested with the use of Brier scores, discrimination, and calibration metrics. 471 patients were included in the analysis. 30-day postoperative mortality was 3.2%. Overall, Brier scores were lower than cut-off values for almost all outcomes. Discrimination was good for serious complications (c-statistic: 0.816; 95% CI: 0.762−0.869) and death (c-statistic: 0.824; 95% CI: 0.719−0.929). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration for all outcomes examined. Predicted and observed length of stay (LOS) presented significant differences for emergency and for elective cases. The ACS-SRC demonstrated good predictive performance in our sample and can aid preoperative estimation of multiple outcomes except for the prediction of post-operative LOS.

A Comparison of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) Tool for Older Patients Undergoing General Surgery.

The optimal malnutrition screening tool in geriatric surgery has yet to be determined. Herein, we compare two main tools in older patients undergoing general surgery operations. Older patients (>65 years old) who underwent general surgery operations between 2012 and 2017 in a tertiary centre were included. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) were used for nutritional risk assessment. Preoperative variables as well as postoperative outcomes were recorded prospectively. Agreement between tools was determined with the weighted kappa (κ) statistic. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the association of the screening tools with postoperative outcomes. A total of 302 patients (median age 74 years, range: 65-92) were included. A similar number of patients were classified as medium/high risk for malnutrition with the MNA-SF and MUST (26% vs. 36%, p = 0.126). Agreement between the two tools was moderate (weighted κ: 0.474; 95%CI: 0.381-0.568). In the multivariate analysis, MNA-SF was associated significantly with postoperative mortality (p = 0.038) and with postoperative length of stay (p = 0.001). MUST was associated with postoperative length of stay (p = 0.048). The MNA-SF seems to be more consistently associated with postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing general surgery compared with the MUST tool.

Primary Repair of Traumatic Complete Pancreatic Rupture.

Isolated pancreatic injury with transection of the pancreatic duct is generally treated with pancreatic resection, but the optimal management is not based on high-level evidence. Herein, we report a case of primary repair of complete rupture of the pancreas and pancreatic duct after a blunt abdominal trauma and a review of the literature. A 33-year-old patient had an isolated pancreatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma. At laparotomy, an even transection was found with minimal necrosis and tissue loss and an end-to-end anastomosis of the duct and the parenchyma with omental patch was performed. Patient's postoperative course was complicated by a 6 cm pseudocyst and a low output pancreatic fistula which did not require any intervention and were self-limited. In the literature, 17 cases with primary repair of similar grade IV pancreatic injuries have been reported. Postoperative complications included mostly fistulas and pseudocysts.

Factors Associated with Malnutrition and Its Impact on Postoperative Outcomes in Older Patients.

Malnutrition is associated with dismal treatment outcomes in older patients but its impact in geriatric surgery has not been studied extensively. Herein, we report the prevalence of malnutrition risk, its risk factors and its association with postoperative outcomes in older patients undergoing operations of general surgery. This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including patients older than 65 years who were to undergo general surgery operations between 2012 and 2017. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used for nutritional risk. Demographics, socioeconomic data, site and magnitude of the operation, various measures of comorbidity and functional dependence as well as postoperative complications based on Clavien-Dindo classification and length of stay were recorded. There were 501 patients. A total of 28.6% of them were at intermediate malnutrition risk (MUST = 1) and 14.6% were at high malnutrition risk (MUST ≥ 2). Variables independently associated with malnutrition risk (MUST ≥ 1) were smoking (Odds Ratio, OR:1.6, p = 0.041), upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract surgery (OR:20.4, p < 0.001), hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery (OR:3.7, p = 0.001), lower GI surgery (OR:5.2, p < 0.001) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III/IV (OR:2.8, p = 0.001). In the multiple regression analysis adjusted for several confounding variables, the MUST score was significantly associated with postoperative death (OR:9.1, p = 0.047 for MUST = 1 and OR:11.9, p = 0.035 for MUST score ≥ 2) and postoperative hospital stay (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.3, p = 0.041 for MUST = 1 and 1.7, p < 0.001 for MUST ≥ 2). Malnutrition risk was highly prevalent in this sample, particularly in patients with operations of the gastrointestinal tract, in patients with poor physical status and it was associated with postoperative mortality and length of stay.

Extended perfusion protocol for MS lesion quantification.

This study aims to examine a time-extended dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) protocol and report a comparative study with three different pharmacokinetic (PK) models, for accurate determination of subtle blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This time-extended DCE-MRI perfusion protocol, called Snaps, was applied on 24 active demyelinating lesions of 12 MS patients. Statistical analysis was performed for both protocols through three different PK models. The Snaps protocol achieved triple the window time of perfusion observation by extending the magnetic resonance acquisition time by less than 2 min on average for all patients. In addition, the statistical analysis in terms of adj-R 2 goodness of fit demonstrated that the Snaps protocol outperformed the conventional DCE-MRI protocol by detecting 49% more pixels on average. The exclusive pixels identified from the Snaps protocol lie in the low k trans range, potentially reflecting areas with subtle BBB disruption. Finally, the extended Tofts model was found to have the highest fitting accuracy for both analyzed protocols. The previously proposed time-extended DCE protocol, called Snaps, provides additional temporal perfusion information at the expense of a minimal extension of the conventional DCE acquisition time.

Investigating the Role of Model-Based and Model-Free Imaging Biomarkers as Early Predictors of Neoadjuvant Breast Cancer Therapy Outcome.

Imaging biomarkers (IBs) play a critical role in the clinical management of breast cancer (BRCA) patients throughout the cancer continuum for screening, diagnosis, and therapy assessment, especially in the neoadjuvant setting. However, certain model-based IBs suffer from significant variability due to the complex workflows involved in their computation, whereas model-free IBs have not been properly studied regarding clinical outcome. In this study, IBs from 35 BRCA patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were extracted from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) data with two different approaches, a model-free approach based on pattern recognition (PR), and a model-based one using pharmacokinetic compartmental modeling. Our analysis found that both model-free and model-based biomarkers can predict pathological complete response (pCR) after the first cycle of NAC. Overall, eight biomarkers predicted the treatment response after the first cycle of NAC, with statistical significance (p-value < 0.05), and three at the baseline. The best pCR predictors at first follow-up, achieving high AUC and sensitivity and specificity more than 50%, were the hypoxic component with threshold 2 (AUC 90.4%) from the PR method, and the median value of kep (AUC 73.4%) from the model-based approach. Moreover, the 80th percentile of ve achieved the highest pCR prediction at baseline with AUC 78.5%. The results suggest that the model-free DCE-MRI IBs could be a more robust alternative to complex, model-based ones such as kep and favor the hypothesis that the PR image-derived hypoxic image component captures actual tumor hypoxia information able to predict BRCA NAC outcome.

Newly recognized extratumoral features of colorectal cancer challenge the current tumor-node-metastasis staging system.

One of the most common malignant tumors in humans, colorectal cancer has been extensively studied during the past few decades. Staging colorectal cancer allows clinicians to obtain precise prognostic information and apply specific treatment procedures. Apart from remote metastases, the depth of tumor infiltration and lymph node involvement have traditionally been recognized as the most important factors predicting outcome. Variations in the molecular signature of colorectal cancer have also revealed differences in phenotypic aggressiveness and therapeutic response rates. This article presents a review of the extratumoral environment in colorectal surgery.

A Comparison of Two Preoperative Frailty Models in Predicting Postoperative Outcomes in Geriatric General Surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: Frailty in a surgical geriatric population may identify patients at increased risk of complications. However, the optimal method to diagnose it remains to be identified. This study aims to compare two common frailty models and assess their association with postoperative adverse outcomes in elderly patients undergoing general surgical procedures. METHODS: Prospective study including 298 patients age 65 years or older undergoing elective general surgical operations in a tertiary hospital. Frailty phenotype (FP) was classified using a validated scale which included weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowed walking speed and low physical activity. A preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was performed including managing daily activities (ADL), instrumental ADL, cognitive status, comorbidities, polypharmacy and nutritional status. Main outcomes measures were postoperative complications and length of stay. RESULTS: There were 135 (46%), 114 (38%) and 46 (15%) minor/intermediate, major and major + procedures, respectively. The agreement between the FP and CGA was moderate (kappa index: 0.45). FP was significantly associated with postoperative complications with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.3, (95% confidence interval 1.4-3.8, p < 0.01). The association of CGA with postoperative complications did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in both CGA frailty (p < 0.001) and FP (p = 0.001) groups compared to the fit population. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for ASA and POSSUM category, FP retained its significance as a predictor of postoperative complications (OR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.03-3.3, p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: FP was associated more consistently than CGA with adverse postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing general surgical procedures.

Frailty predicts outcome of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a phenotype characterized by complex and challenging medical problems and higher susceptibility to adverse health outcomes. It can be derived at by a multidimensional process known as comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), which assesses the functional reserves of the elderly. In this study we report for the first time on a prospective evaluation of the association between CGA and postoperative complications after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary disease. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients older than 65 years who were to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated biliary disease were prospectively examined. Preoperative CGA was performed and the patients were categorized as fit or frail. The main outcome of the study was the rate of any postoperative complication within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: There were 29 women (50.9 %) and the median (interquartile range) age of the cohort was 73 (8.8) years. Thirty-two patients (56.1 %) were categorized as frail and 25 (43.9 %) as fit. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 23.7 %, most of which were grade I and II (18.8 %). Frail patients, according to the CGA assessment, experienced a significantly higher incidence of postoperative complications compared to their fit counterparts (84.6 vs. 15.4 %, p = 0.023). Frail patients experienced a significantly higher frequency of prolonged (more than 2 days) postoperative hospital stay compared with their fit counterparts (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CGA may predict postoperative complications and prolonged postoperative hospital stay of elderly patients who undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Larger-scale studies independently assessing this association are warranted.

Indications for surgery and significance of unrecognized cancer in endemic multinodular goiter.

BACKGROUND: The exclusion of cancer in endemic goiter is often difficult mainly because of the high number of nodules and the as-yet unclear natural history of diagnosed cancer in endemic goiter patients. In a large number of consecutive patients who were to undergo total thyroidectomy for endemic multinodular goiter, we assessed indications for surgery and thyroid cancer outcome. METHODS: All patients who were to undergo total thyroidectomy for diffuse multinodular goiter on histological examination between January 1990 and October 2008 were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1,161 patients included in the study, 252 were cases of thyroid cancer (21.7%). Sensitivity of thyroid ultrasound (US) and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for cancer detection was 30.3 and 64.1%, respectively. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma accounted for most of the tumors (96%), with 54.8% of them being papillary microcarcinomas, while bilateral-multicentric cancer occurred in 20.3%. In multivariate analysis, younger age (p = 0.06), sonographic findings (p = 0.03), and presence of histological thyroiditis (p = 0.09) were independently associated with the occurrence of tumors with diameter greater than 2 cm. The percentage of transient and permanent postoperative complications were approximately 25 and below 2%, respectively. After a median follow-up time of 78.5 months, overall recurrence rate was 6.7% and disease-specific mortality was 1.2%. CONCLUSION: As US and FNAC did not consistently detect cancer in patients with diffuse multinodular goiter in our endemic area, evidence-based indications for surgery in this group of patients is needed, although radical surgery and favorable tumor histology offer favorable outcomes in commonly diagnosed thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy for endemic multinodular goiter.

Incarcerated spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia.

INTRODUCTION: Prolapse of abdominal viscera into the thoracic subcutis through the chest wall is known as transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TIH). Herein, we present the first case of spontaneous TIH presenting as a thoracoabdominal emergency. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 78-year-old male presented with acute left thoracoabdominal pain following a sudden bulge at the left posterolateral chest wall corresponding to a partially reducible soft tissue mass with ecchymosis at the overlying skin. Paroxysmal cough during the last four days was also reported along with a prolonged daily application of a special tight abdominal belt that used while milking sheep. CT-scan of the abdomen showed intrathoracic proptosis of the splenic flexure through a defect of the left hemidiaphragm and subcutaneous prolapse of the herniated colon through the 7th intercostal space. On laparotomy, the herniated colon showed signs of ischemic necrosis leading to segmental colectomy followed by repair of the diaphragmatic defect. DISCUSSION: The clinical diagnosis of spontaneous TIH demands very high index of suspicion and thorough patient's history. In this case the daily elevation of the intraabdominal pressure due to an abdominal milking belt might have caused gradual slimming and loosening of the diaphragm and the intercostals muscles rendering them vulnerable to sudden increases of the thoracoabdominal pressure due to violent coughing. Such a hypothesis is reasonable in the absence of traumatic injury in this patient. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous TIH should be suspected in patients presenting with a sudden palpable chest wall bulge and associated thoracoabdominal symptoms in the absence of preceding injury.