Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile ducts: a comparative study of a rare disease in Europe and Nagoya, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile ducts (IPNB) is a rare disease in Western countries. The aim of this study was to compare tumor characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes between Western and Eastern patients who underwent surgical resection for IPNB. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective series of patients with IPNB undergoing surgery between January 2010 and December 2020 was gathered under the auspices of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA), and at Nagoya University Hospital, Japan. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients (51% male; median age 66 years) from 28 E-AHPBA centers were compared to 91 patients (64% male; median age 71 years) from Nagoya. Patients in Europe had more multiple lesions (23% vs 2%, P < .001), less invasive carcinoma (42% vs 85%, P < .001), and more intrahepatic tumors (52% vs 24%, P < .001) than in Nagoya. Patients in Europe experienced less 90-day grade >3 Clavien-Dindo complications (33% vs 68%, P < .001), but higher 90-day mortality rate (7.0% vs 0%, P = .03). R0 resections (81% vs 82%) were similar. Overall survival, excluding 90-day postoperative deaths, was similar in both regions. DISCUSSION: Despite performing more extensive resections, the low perioperative mortality rate observed in Nagoya was probably influenced by a combination of patient-, tumor-, and surgery-related factors.

Gastric plexiform fibromyxoma, an uncommon mesenchymal tumor.

Plexiform fibromyxoma (PF) is an uncommon primary tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, with a mesenchymal origin and a benign behavior. Herein, we report a case and provide a literature review. A 41-year-old male patient underwent surgery in our unit for a PF at the gastric antrum, after being admitted due to vomiting and weight loss. As illustrated by our case, the mean age at presentation is around 40 years, the antrum is the most common location and abdominal pain the most widely reported manifestation. None of the reviewed cases involved regional or distant spread.

Outcomes of liver transplantation with thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion: a matched-controlled initial experience in Spain.

Thoracoabdominal (TA) normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) should allow the safe recovery of heart and liver grafts simultaneously in the context of controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD). We present the initial results of cDCD liver transplantation with simultaneous liver and heart procurement in Spain until October 2021. Outcomes were compared with a matched cohort of cDCD with abdominal NRP (A-NRP) from participating institutions. Primary endpoints comprised early allograft dysfunction (EAD) or primary non-function (PNF), and the development of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL). Six transplants were performed using cDCD with TA-NRP during the study period. Donors were significantly younger in the TA-NRP group than in the A-NRP group (median 45.6 years and 62.9 years respectively, p = 0.011), with a median functional warm ischemia time of 12.5 min in the study group and 13 min in the control group. Patient characteristics, procurement times, and surgical baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. No patient in the study group developed EAD or PNF, and over a median follow-up of 9.8 months, none developed ITBL or graft loss. Extending A-NRP to TA-NRP for cardiac procurement may be technically challenging, but it is both feasible and safe, showing comparable postoperative outcomes to A-NRP.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct: a European retrospective multicenter observational study (EUR-IPNB study).

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare disease in Western countries. The main aim of this study was to characterize current surgical strategies and outcomes in the mainly European participating centers. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective series of patients with a diagnosis of IPNB undergoing surgery between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020 was gathered under the auspices of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. The textbook outcome (TO) was defined as a non-prolonged length of hospital stay plus the absence of any Clavien-Dindo grade at least III complications, readmission, or mortality within 90 postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 28 centers contributed 85 patients who underwent surgery for IPNB. The median age was 66 years (55-72), 49.4% were women, and 87.1% were Caucasian. Open surgery was performed in 72 patients (84.7%) and laparoscopic in 13 (15.3%). TO was achieved in 54.1% of patients, reaching 63.8% after liver resection and 32.0% after pancreas resection. Median overall survival was 5.72 years, with 5-year overall survival of 63% (95% CI: 50-82). Overall survival was better in patients with Charlson comorbidity score 4 or less versus more than 4 ( P =0.016), intrahepatic versus extrahepatic tumor ( P =0.027), single versus multiple tumors ( P =0.007), those who underwent hepatic versus pancreatic resection ( P =0.017), or achieved versus failed TO ( P =0.029). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that not achieving TO (HR: 4.20; 95% CI: 1.11-15.94; P =0.03) was an independent prognostic factor of poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing liver resection for IPNB were more likely to achieve a TO outcome than those requiring a pancreatic resection. Comorbidity, tumor location, and tumor multiplicity influenced overall survival. TO was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival.

Analysis of learning styles in a laparoscopic technical skills course. Implications for surgical training.

INTRODUCTION: Learning surgical techniques is a dynamic process. In the 1980s David Kolb described developed a learning model that enabled teaching styles to adapt for better learner outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the Kolb learning styles of the participants in a laparoscopic technical skills course and to check see if there was any relationship with performance. METHODS: An observational descriptive study was conducted with 64 participants in an intensive course in which they performed laparoscopic manual intestinal anastomoses. All completed Kolb's inventory of learning styles. For each anastomosis, join quality was assessed and the performing time recorded. After that, they were analyzed through statistical studies. RESULTS: The most frequent learning style was assimilating type (39.1%). No significant differences were observed between different learning styles and gender, professional category, the time taken or the quality of the anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: Assimilating type was the most frequent Kolb learning style, with no differences observed between categories, age or gender. There is no relationship between the learning style of the participants and the results obtained in the course.

Analysis of learning styles in a laparoscopic technical skills course. Implications for surgical training. / Análisis de los estilos de aprendizaje en un curso de habilidades técnicas laparoscópicas. Implicaciones para el entrenamiento quirúrgico.

INTRODUCTION: Learning surgical techniques is a dynamic process. In the 1980s David Kolb described developed a learning model that enabled teaching styles to adapt for better learner outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the Kolb learning styles of the participants in a laparoscopic technical skills course and to check see if there was any relationship with performance. METHODS: An observational descriptive study was conducted with 64 participants in an intensive course in which they performed laparoscopic manual intestinal anastomoses. All completed Kolb's inventory of learning styles. For each anastomosis, join quality was assessed and the performing time recorded. After that, they were analyzed through statistical studies. RESULTS: The most frequent learning style was assimilating type (39.1%). No significant differences were observed between different learning styles and gender, professional category, the time taken or the quality of the anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: Assimilating type was the most frequent Kolb learning style, with no differences observed between categories, age or gender. There is no relationship between the learning style of the participants and the results obtained in the course.

Influence of previous experience on the benefits of laparoscopic surgical training based on simulation. / Influencia de la experiencia previa en los beneficios del entrenamiento quirúrgico laparoscópico basado en la simulación.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical training based on simulation seeks the acquisition of skills in novice participants and ongoing sill development in experts. The aim of this study is to assess the evolution of students in an intensive laparoscopic anastomosis course and to analyse their results depending on their level and previous experience. METHODS: The students of all the anastomosis courses conducted during 30 months in the Valdecilla virtual hospital (Santander) were analysed. Manual side-to-side intestinal anastomoses with porcine 'ex vivo' viscera were performed in a laparoscopic endotrainer. The technical and quality differences between the first and the last anastomoses were analyzed and the progression between residents and specialists was compared. RESULTS: We analyzed 45 participants, 22 of them residents and 23 specialists. A statistically significant improvement of 80.5% was observed in all procedural parameters (94.8% residents vs. 67.3% specialists). The time was reduced by 48.1% in the residents and 43.2% in the specialists (p<.001). In terms of quality, significant improvements were obtained in the group of residents: an increase of 90% in adequate tension, and a reduction of 75% of everted edges and 60% of leaks. In addition, they obtained results comparable to the specialists (27.3% leak in the last anastomosis vs. 34.8% by the specialists, p=.59), which presented improvement without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The group of residents presented a major and significant improvement in procedural skills and in the quality of the technique, reaching the level of the specialists after completion of the course.