Laparoscopic transverse abdominis plane block: how I do it and a cost efficiency analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and efficiency of laparoscopic transverse abdominis plane block (Lap-TAP) in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy and gastrectomy compared to those of ultrasound-guided TAP (US-TAP). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients who underwent open or minimally invasive (MIS) pancreatoduodenectomy and major gastrectomy with the use of Lap-TAP or US-TAP at our institution between November 1, 2018, and September 30, 2021. We compared the estimated time and cost associated with Lap-TAP and US-TAP. We also compared postoperative opioid use and pain scores between patients who underwent open laparotomy with these TAPs. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were included. Overall, 114 patients (59%) underwent pancreatectomy, and 80 patients (41%) underwent gastrectomy. Additionally, 138 patients (71%) underwent an open procedure, and 56 patients (29%) underwent MIS. A total of 102 patients (53%) underwent US-TAP, and 92 (47%) underwent Lap-TAP. The median time to skin incision was significantly shorter in the Lap-TAP group (US-TAP, 59 min vs. Lap-TAP, 45 min; P < 0.001), resulting in an estimated reduction in operation cost by $602. Pain scores and postoperative opioid use were similar between Lap-TAP and US-TAP among open surgery patients, indicating equivalent pain control between Lap-TAP and US-TAP. CONCLUSION: Lap-TAP was equally effective in pain control as US-TAP after pancreatectomy and gastrectomy, and Lap-TAP can reduce operation time and cost. Lap-TAP is considered the preferred approach for MIS pancreatectomy and gastrectomy, which occasionally needs conversion to laparotomy.

What is "Value"? Results of a Survey of Cancer Patients and Providers.

BACKGROUND: We measured the importance patients with gastrointestinal cancer and health care providers place on treatment outcomes, quality of life, and costs. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted between June 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020. We identified surviving patients who had been treated or were anticipating treatment for pancreatic or gastric cancer at our single institution from January 1, 2000 through January 31, 2020. Surveys assessed the importance patients and providers placed on outcomes, well-being, costs, and experiences. Surveys measured how these values had changed over time. We compared the importance patients and providers place on each of the attributes of value. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients and 164 providers responded. Providers felt experience, emotional well-being, and costs were more important than patients themselves did (all p < 0.05). Patients more commonly reported that survival had become more important to them over time, while providers believed that emotional well-being, experience, and costs had become more important to patients (all p < 0.05). Postoperative patients ranked functional well-being as more important than preoperative patients did (p = 0.031). Patients of lower income and education levels more reported concerns of costs over the course of their care (both p < 0.05). Younger age was associated with concern for direct (r = -0.167, p = 0.004) and indirect costs (r = -0.318, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although there are consistencies amongst the views of cancer patients and providers, there remain discordances in the perception of value. Patients' values differed across their treatment and survivorship course. These data demonstrate the importance of accounting for multistakeholder perspectives in assessments of value in health care.

Analysis of Opioid Use in Patients Undergoing Open Versus Robotic Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive, robotic gastrectomy is associated with better short-term outcomes and quicker functional recovery. However, the degree to which the robotic approach influences postoperative pain and opioid use after gastrectomy is unknown. Our primary aim was to determine whether the robotic approach to gastrectomy reduces postoperative opioid use compared with the open approach. METHODS: Patients who underwent gastrectomy (November 2018 to September 2021) were identified retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, short-term surgical outcomes, oral morphine equivalent (OME) use, and pain scores were collected. Both groups were managed through an enhanced recovery program in the perioperative period. RESULTS: Of 81 patients, 50 underwent open and 31 underwent robotic gastrectomy. Compared with open gastrectomy patients, robotic gastrectomy patients had longer surgery time (360 vs. 288 min), less blood loss (50 vs. 138 mL), and shorter hospital stay (4 vs. 6 days) (all medians, P < 0.001). Robotic gastrectomy patients used lower OMEs on postoperative days 0-4 (all P < 0.05) and in total for days 0-4 (total mean dose 65.0 vs. 169.5 mg; P < 0.001) than did open gastrectomy patients. The robotic gastrectomy patients were prescribed a lower mean OME dose than the open gastrectomy patients (19.0 vs. 29.0 mg, respectively; P = 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that robotic approach was associated with lower opioid use (odds ratio 3.70; 95% CI 1.01-14.3; P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with open gastrectomy, robotic gastrectomy reduces opioid use in the early postoperative period and is associated with fewer OME discharge prescriptions and shorter hospital stay.

Surgical Outcomes in Cancer Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery After Recovering from Mild-to-Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients with cancer diagnoses and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection will require surgical treatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection increases the risk of adverse postoperative events following surgery in patients with cancer. METHODS: This was a propensity-matched cohort study from April 6, 2020 to October 31, 2020 at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Cancer patients were identified who underwent elective surgery after recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection and matched to controls based on patient, disease, and surgical factors. Primary study outcome was a composite of the following adverse postoperative events that occurred within 30 days of surgery: death, unplanned readmission, pneumonia, cardiac injury, or thromboembolic event. RESULTS: A total of 5682 patients were included for study, and 114 (2.0%) had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. The average time from infection to surgery was 52 (range 20-202) days. Compared with matched controls, there was no difference in the rate of adverse postoperative outcome (14.3% vs. 13.4%, p = 1.0). Patients with a SARS-CoV-2-related inpatient admission before surgery had increased odds of postoperative complication (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.4 [1.6-34.3], p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A minimal wait time of 20 days after recovering from minimally symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be safe for cancer patients undergoing low-risk elective surgery. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections requiring inpatient treatment were at increased risk for adverse events after surgery. Additional wait time may be required in those with more severe infections.

Assessment of physical function by subjective and objective methods in patients undergoing open gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to measure physical functioning in perioperative care for patients with gynecological (GYN) tumors. METHODS: 180 patients with GYN tumors undergoing open surgery participated in this longitudinal study. The physical functioning was measured by a subjective PRO tool, the Interference subscales of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-I); as well as by an objective tool, the Timed Up & Go test (TUGT), perioperatively. Longer time (>20 s) needed to complete the TUGT was defined as "Prolonged". Patients completed EuroQoL-5D as well. The association between the scores of MDASI-I items and TUGT was assessed via the Spearman correlation coefficient. The known-group validity was assessed using the t-test and Cohen's D effect size. RESULTS: Compliance rates at preoperative, discharge and postoperative time points of MDASI-I were 98%, 95%, 96%; while TUGT completion rates were 92%, 75%, and 80%, respectively. Patients who had refused TUGT at discharge reported a significantly worse "MDASI-general activity" score compared to patients who completed TUGT (mean score of 7.00 vs. 5.38, P = 0.020). Patient-reported "Walking" on MDASI-I significantly differentiated patients with prolonged vs. those with frail/normal TUGT at discharge (mean score of 4.89 vs. 2.79, Cohen's d effect size = 0.82, P < 0.001). MDASI-I demonstrated excellent known-group validity per performance status and for the EuroQoL-5D subscales. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported physical functioning impairment after GYN surgery correspond with observed worse scores of the objective functioning measure test (TUGT). MDASI-I assessment represents a feasible and valid tool to evaluate functional status and warrants further implementation in the perioperative setting.

Developing a Value Framework: Utilizing Administrative Data to Assess an Enhanced Care Initiative.

BACKGROUND: There remains no tool to quantify the total value of comparative processes in health care. Hospital administrative data sets are emerging as valuable sources to evaluate performance. Thus, we use a framework to simultaneously assess multiple domains of value associated with an enhanced recovery initiative using national administrative data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Risk-stratified clinical pathways for patients undergoing pancreatic surgery were implemented in 2016 at our institution. We used a national administrative database to characterize changes in value associated with this initiative. Value metrics assessed included in-hospital mortality, complication rates, length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rates, and institutional costs. We compared our performance with other hospitals both before and after implementation of the pathways. Metrics were graphed on radar charts to assess overall value. RESULTS: 22,660 cases were assessed. Comparing 75 cases at our institution and 5520 cases at all other hospitals before pathway implementation, mean in-hospital LOS was 9.6 versus 10.8 d, in-hospital mortality was 0.0% versus 1.9%, mean costs were $23,585 versus $21,387, 30-day readmission rates were 1.3% versus 7.4%, and complication rates were 8.0% versus 11.2%, respectively. Comparing 334 cases at our institution and 16,731 cases at all other hospitals after pathway implementation, mean in-hospital LOS was 7.7 versus 10.3 d, in-hospital mortality was 0.3% versus 1.6%, mean costs were $19,428 versus $22,032, 30-day readmission rates were 6.6% versus 7.5%, and complication rates were 6.3% versus 10.3%, respectively. Notably, LOS and institutional costs were reduced at our institution after implementation of the enhanced clinical care pathways. Our costs were higher than comparators before implementation, but lower than comparators after implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we used an analytic framework and used national administrative data to assess the value of an enhanced care initiative as benchmarked with data from other hospitals. We thus illustrate how to identify and measure opportunities for targeted improvements in health care delivery. We also recognize the limitations of the use of administrative data in a comprehensive assessment of value in health care.

Implementation of a perioperative-enhanced recovery protocol in patients undergoing open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes before and after implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) in gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We included patients who underwent open gastrectomy for gastric cancer before (January 2016 to September 2018) or after (October 2018 to September 2020) ERP implementation. The primary outcome was the postoperative length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included 90-day readmission rates and Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3 complications. RESULTS: One hundred patients underwent gastrectomy before (pre-ERP group) and 52 underwent gastrectomy after (ERP group) protocol implementation. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were similar. The median (interquartile range) postoperative LOS was shorter in the ERP group (7.0 days [6.0-8.0] vs. 8.0 days [7.0-11.0]; p < 0.001). The ERP group had similar rates of readmission (33% vs. 24%; p = 0.34) and grade ≥ 3 complications (19% vs. 19%; p = 1.0) compared to the pre-ERP group, but experienced lower rates of surgical wound complications (0% vs. 19%; p < 0.001). Rates of other complications were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an ERP in patients undergoing open gastrectomy for gastric cancer is feasible and safe and has the potential to decrease postoperative LOS without increasing complication rates.

Effect of reversal of deep neuromuscular block with sugammadex or moderate block by neostigmine on shoulder pain in elderly patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: For some laparoscopic procedures, deep neuromuscular block has been shown to facilitate lower insufflation pressures and lower patient pain scores, and enhance postoperative recovery. We investigated the impact of deep neuromuscular block and its reversal on postoperative shoulder pain and outcomes after robotic prostate surgery. METHODS: Elderly men undergoing robotic prostatectomy were randomised to deep neuromuscular block (target post-tetanic twitch of 1-2 at the facial nerve) with sugammadex reversal or moderate neuromuscular block (target 1-2 train-of-four ratio) with neostigmine reversal. The primary endpoint was postoperative shoulder pain. The secondary endpoints included intraoperative insufflation pressure, surgical rating score, incidence of residual neuromuscular block, and postoperative recovery. RESULTS: A total of 50 subjects for each treatment arm were included in the analysis. The degree of neuromuscular block had no effect on the incidence of shoulder pain (deep block group 12% vs moderate block group 10%; P=1.0) or average insufflation pressure (median [inter-quartile range]) (13.3 [12.5-13.6] mm Hg vs 13.3 [11.7-14] mm Hg, P=0.86). After surgery, the deep block group had a higher normalised train-of-four ratio (0.98 [0.79-1.11] vs 0.85 [0.74-1.00]; P=0.008). The presence of postoperative shoulder pain was associated with higher BMI (31.8 [28-33.9] kg m-2vs 28 [24.8-31.1] kg m-2; P=0.036) and longer insufflation time (186 [156-257] min vs 154 [126-198] min; P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The use of deep neuromuscular block during surgery does not decrease postoperative shoulder pain or enhance recovery after robotic prostatectomy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03210376.

Determining the Safety and Efficacy of Enhanced Recovery Protocols in Major Oncologic Surgery: An Institutional NSQIP Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced-recovery (ER) protocols are increasingly being utilized in surgical practice. Outside of colorectal surgery, however, their feasibility, safety, and efficacy in major oncologic surgery have not been proven. This study compared patient outcomes before and after multispecialty implementation of ER protocols at a large, comprehensive cancer center. METHODS: Surgical cases performed from 2011 to 2016 and captured by an institutional NSQIP database were reviewed. Following exclusion of outpatient and emergent surgeries, 2747 cases were included in the analyses. Cases were stratified by presence or absence of ER compliance, defined by preoperative patient education and electronic medical record order set-driven opioid-sparing analgesia, goal-directed fluid therapy, and early postoperative diet advancement and ambulation. RESULTS: Approximately half of patients were treated on ER protocols (46%) and the remaining on traditional postoperative (TP) protocols (54%). Treatment on an ER protocol was associated with decreased overall complication rates (20% vs. 33%, p < 0.0001), severe complication rates (7.4% vs. 10%, p = 0.010), and median hospital length of stay (4 vs. 5 days, p < 0.0001). There was no change in readmission rates (ER vs. TP, 8.6% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.701). Subanalyses of high magnitude cases and specialty-specific outcomes consistently demonstrated improved outcomes with ER protocol adherence, including decreased opioid use. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment of a large-scale ER implementation in multispecialty major oncologic surgery indicates its feasibility, safety, and efficacy. Future efforts should be directed toward defining the long-term oncologic benefits of these protocols.

Patterns and predictors of outpatient opioid use after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Long-term opioid use is a well-known complication after surgery. In this retrospective study of adults who had undergone cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC), we sought to determine the rates and factors associated with outpatient opioid use within the sixth and twelfth postoperative months. Methods: Records of 288 opioid-naïve patients were included. Logistic regression models were used to determine factors prognostic of outpatient opioid use. Results: The median patient age was 54 years, and 63% were female. Rates of outpatient opioid use within the sixth and twelfth postoperative months were 21 and 13%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, every doubling in the amount of in-hospital postoperative opioid consumption was associated with a 44% increase in odds of opioid use within the sixth postoperative month (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.87, p = .006) and a 70% increase within the twelfth postoperative month (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.70-2.37, p = .001). Other factors associated with opioid use within the sixth postoperative month included physical status (OR 5.26, 95% CI 1.08-25.55, p = .039) and recent additional surgery (OR 23.02, 95% CI 2.03-261.30, p = .011). Age (OR 4.39, 95% CI 1.77-10.89, p = .001) and tumor grade (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.31-8.41, p = .012) were associated with opioid use within the twelfth postoperative month. Conclusion: In this study, the amount of in-hospital postoperative opioid consumption was an important contributory factor to outpatient opioid use in the sixth and twelfth postoperative months. Synopsis In this study of adults who had undergone CRS-HIPEC, higher postoperative opioid consumption during hospitalization was associated with higher odds of opioid use within the sixth and twelfth postoperative months.

Association between intravenous acetaminophen and reduction in intraoperative opioid consumption during transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pain during and after transsphenoidal surgeries originates from stimulation of branches of the trigeminal cranial nerve that supply the inner aspect of the nose cavity and dura mater. Thereby, patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery may require moderate-to-large amounts of analgesics including opioids. Intravenous acetaminophen provides analgesia and reduces opioid consumption for a wide variety of surgeries. We hypothesized that the use of intravenous acetaminophen is associated with a reduction in intraoperative opioid consumption and provides significant analgesia during and after transsphenoidal surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 413 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. The primary outcome of this study was intraoperative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale scores, and nausea and vomiting upon arrival to postoperative anesthesia care unit. Patients were divided into two groups based on the intraoperative acetaminophen use. A prospensity score matching analysis was used to balance for important variables between the two groups of treatment. Regression models were fitted after matching the covariates. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After matching, 126 patients were included in each group of treatment. Patients in the acetaminophen group required significantly less amount (a decrease by 14.9%) of opioids during surgery than those in the non-acetaminophen group. Postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and sedation scores were not significantly different between patients who received intravenous acetaminophen and those who did not. CONCLUSION: Intravenous acetaminophen is associated with a reduction in intraoperative opioids during transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Postoperative Thoracic Epidural Analgesia Versus Intravenous Patient-controlled Analgesia After Major Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this randomized trial was to compare thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) for pain control over the first 48 hours after hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery. Secondary endpoints were patient-reported outcomes, total narcotic utilization, and complications. BACKGROUND: Although adequate postoperative pain control is critical to patient and surgeon success, the optimal analgesia regimen in HPB surgery remains controversial. METHODS: Using a 2.5:1 randomization strategy, 140 patients were randomized to TEA (N = 106) or intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (N = 34). Patient-reported pain was measured on a Likert scale (0-10) at standard time intervals. Cumulative pain area under the curve was determined using the trapezoidal method. RESULTS: Between the study groups key demographic, comorbidity, clinical, and operative variables were equivalently distributed. The median area under the curve of the postoperative time 0- to 48-hour pain scores was lower in the TEA group (78.6 vs 105.2 pain-hours, P = 0.032) with a 35% reduction in patients experiencing ≥7/10 pain (43% vs 62%, P = 0.07). Patient-reported outcomes and total opiate use further supported the benefit of TEA on patient experience. Anesthesia-related events requiring change in analgesic therapy were comparable (12.2% vs 2.9%, respectively, P = 0.187). Grade 3 or higher surgical complications (6.6% vs 9.4%), median length of stay (6 days vs 6 days), readmission (1.9% vs 3.1%), and return to the operating room (0.9% vs 3.1%) were similar (all P > 0.05). There were no mortalities in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In major HPB surgery, TEA provides a superior patient experience through improved pain control and less narcotic use, without increased length of stay or complications.

Identification of Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury After Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risks factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) after esophageal cancer surgery. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTING: Single academic center. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with non-metastatic esophageal cancer. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years and had missing data. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Primary outcome of the study was AKI according to AKI Network criteria. Demographic and perioperative variables were compared in patients with and without AKI. A multivariate Cox proportional model was used to assess the association between perioperative variables and AKI; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. AKI was found in 107 (11.9%) of the 898 patients included in the study. The multivariate analysis also showed that BMI (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.11), number of comorbidities (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93, p = 0.001), and preoperative creatinine concentrations (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.14-4.92, p = 0.02) were independent predictors for AKI. The use of dexamethasone was associated with a reduced risk for AKI. CONCLUSIONS: In support of previous reports in the literature, the authors found that AKI was not an uncommon complication after esophageal surgery. Obesity, cardiovascular comorbidities, and high preoperative concentrations were predictors of AKI. Dexamethasone administration during surgery appeared to have a protective effect. This finding opens an opportunity to further study in a randomized controlled trial the efficacy of dexamethasone in the prevention of AKI.

Inflammation and pro-resolution inflammation after hepatobiliary surgery.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of the perioperative inflammatory response plays a role in surgical outcomes. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms of the resolution of inflammation in the context of surgery. Here, we described the temporal kinetics of interleukin-6, cortisol, lipoxin A4, and resolvin D in patients who underwent oncologic liver resections. METHODS: All patients gave written informed consent. Demographic and perioperative surgical data were collected, along with blood samples, before surgery and on the mornings of postoperative days 1, 3, and 5. Interleukin-6, cortisol, lipoxin-A4, and resolvin D were measured in plasma. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included in the study. Liver resection for colorectal metastatic disease was the most commonly performed surgery. The plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 were highest on day 1 after surgery and remained higher than the baseline up to postoperative day 1. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 (24%) patients. Cortisol concentrations spiked on postoperative day 1. The concentrations of lipoxin A4 and resolvin D were lowest on day 1 after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory response associated with hepatobiliary surgery is associated with low circulating concentrations of lipoxin A4 and resolvin D that mirror, in an opposite manner, the kinetics of interleukin 6 and cortisol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01438476.

Intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine is associated with decreased overall survival after lung cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim is to evaluate the association between the use of intraoperative dexmedetomidine with an increase in recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a propensity score-matched (PSM) retrospective study. Single academic center. The study comprised patients with Stage I through IIIa NSCLC. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years. Primary outcomes of the study were RFS and OS. RFS and OS were evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models after PSM (n = 251/group) to assess the association between intraoperative dexmedetomidine use and the primary outcomes. The value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After PSM and adjusting for significant covariates, the multivariate analysis demonstrated no association between the use of dexmedetomidine and RFS (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval (CI)]: HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.91-1.53; P = 0.199). The multivariate analysis also demonstrated an association between the administration of dexmedetomidine and reduced OS (HR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03-1.59; P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine to NSCLC patients was not associated with a significant impact on RFS and but worsening OS. A randomized controlled study should be conducted to confirm the results of this study.

Positive Impact of Epidural Analgesia on Oncologic Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested that the use of regional anesthesia can reduce recurrence risk after oncologic surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of epidural anesthesia on recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). METHODS: After approval of the institutional review board, the records of all adult patients who underwent elective hepatic resection between January 2006 and October 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized according to use of perioperative epidural analgesia versus intravenous analgesia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors influencing RFS and OS. RESULTS: Of 510 total patients, 390 received epidural analgesia (EA group) and 120 patients received intravenous analgesia (IVA group). Compared with the IVA group, more patients in the EA group underwent associated surgical procedures with consequently longer operative times (p < 0.001). In addition, the EA group received more intraoperative fluids and had higher urine output volumes (p ≤ 0.001). Five-year RFS was longer in the EA group (34.7%) compared with the IVA group (21.1%). On multivariate analysis, the receipt of epidural analgesia was an independent predictor of improved RFS (p = 0.036, hazard ratio [HR] 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.95), but not OS (p = 0.102, HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.49-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an association between epidural analgesia and improved RFS, but not OS, after CLM resection. These results warrant further prospective, randomized studies on the benefits of regional anesthesia on oncologic outcomes after hepatic resection for CLM.

Evaluating the Impact of Total Intravenous Anesthesia on the Clinical Outcomes and Perioperative NLR and PLR Profiles of Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on the perioperative inflammatory profile and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC was performed. Patients receiving a combination of preoperative tramadol extended release (ER), celecoxib, and pregabalin, along with combined intraoperative infusions of propofol, dexmedetomidine, lidocaine, and ketamine were classified as receiving a TIVA regimen (TIVA group). The second group consisted of patients receiving volatile-opioid-based anesthesia (VO group). The neutrophil:leukocyte (NLR) and platelet: leukocyte (PLR) ratios were calculated to evaluate the perioperative inflammatory status of both groups. Length of stay (LOS) and complications of both groups were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in the study-139 in the VO group and 74 in the TIVA group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to their postoperative inflammatory profiles, LOS, or complications by organ system; however, the incidence of renal complications was higher in the TIVA group (8.1 vs. 2.2 %) and approached statistical significance (p = 0.068). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC, the combined use of preoperative celecoxib, tramadol ER and pregabalin followed by intraoperative TIVA with infusions of propofol, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, and lidocaine was not associated with a reduction in LOS or complications by organ system. Postoperative NLR and PLR profiles were also not significantly impacted.