The learning curve of laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery of millennial surgeons: Lessons for a safe implementation in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the learning curve (LC) in laparoscopic rectal cancer resections of 2 millennial surgeons during the implementation of the first laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery programme in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) cancer centre. Methods: All consecutive patients operated by two millennial surgeons for primary rectal adenocarcinoma between January 2018 and March 2020 were included. The LC was analysed for operative duration and conversion to open surgery using both cumulative sum (CUSUM) and/or variable life-adjusted display (VLAD) charts. Results: Eighty-four patients were included, 45 (53.6%) men with a mean age of 57.3 years. Abdominoperineal resection was performed in 31 (36.9%) cases and resections were extended to other organs in 20 (23.8%) patients. Thirteen patients (15.5%) had conversion to open surgery. Using CUSUM, Learning curve based on conversion was completed at 12 cases for the first surgeon versus 10 cases for the second. While using VLAD and learning curve-CUSUM (LC-CUSUM), the cases needed were 26 vs 24 respectively. The median operative duration was 314 min with a LC completed at cases (17 vs. 26), and (18 vs. 29) using, respectively, standard and LC-CUSUM. Conclusions: This study shows a safe and short LC of millennial surgeons during the implementation of a laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery in an LMIC cancer centre, and the valuable use of modern statistical methods in the prospective assessment of LC safety during surgical training.

Available prediction scores of conversion for laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery seem to be unsuitable for nowadays rectal cancer management.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to externally evaluate the accuracy of four predictive scores for conversion to open surgery after rectal laparoscopic resection. None of the four scores achieved external validation previously. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of two prospectively maintained databases from two academic centers in France and Morocco. All consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for rectal adenocarcinoma between 2005 and 2020 were included. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the factors present in the four scores and conversion. The accuracy of each score was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). Observed and predicted conversion rates were compared for each score using the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test. RESULTS: Four hundred patients were included. There were 264 men (66%) with a mean age of 65.95 years (standard deviation 12.2). The median tumor height was 7 cm (quartiles 4-11) and 29% of patients had low rectal tumors. Conversion rate was 21.75%. The accuracy to predict conversion was low with an AUC lower than 0,62 for the four models. The observed conversion rates were significantly different from the predicted rates, except for one score. CONCLUSIONS: The four models had low accuracy in predicting the conversion to open surgery for laparoscopic rectal resection. There is a need for new well-designed studies, analyzing more specific variables, in a multicentric design to ensure generalizability of the results for daily surgical practice.

Community-acquired neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection: case report / Infecção neonatal por SARS-CoV-2 adquirida na comunidade: relato de caso / Infección neonatal por SARS-CoV-2 adquirida en la comunidad: reporte de caso

Background and Objectives: Data collection on the incidence of COVID-19 is conducted less frequently in newborns (NB) than in adults. In view of the small number of described neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections, in this study, we report a clinical case of community-acquired COVID-19 infection in a newborn. Methods: Clinical characteristics were collected from the medical records from April 2021 until the final outcome of the newborn in May 2021. Results: This article discusses the case of a full-term male newborn aged 38 weeks. On the 17th day of life, this newborn was admitted to the pediatric unit with fever and zone 4 jaundice, mild lower chest retraction and tachypnea. The mother was diagnosed with COVID-19. Late neonatal sepsis with pulmonary focus was detected. The newborn was hospitalized and the antigen test for COVID-19 came back positive. The condition of the neonate rapidly deteriorated and he was referred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he was intubated and placed on pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation. During his second week in the NICU, he developed severe pulmonary hypertension with decreased peripheral oxygen saturation and tachycardia. The newborn required blood transfusion and was put into prone position during part of the treatment. Reductions in mechanical ventilation parameters were not tolerated by the NB's organism and he developed progressive hypoxemia. The newborn died 1 month and 3 days after hospitalization. Conclusion: Our study shows a case of community-acquired COVID-19 that progressed to the severe form of the disease.(AU)

Justificativa e Objetivos: A coleta de dados sobre a ocorrência de covid-19 em recém-nascidos (RN) não é tão frequente quanto em adultos. Portanto, devido ao baixo número de infecções neonatais por SARS-CoV-2 descritas, relatamos, neste estudo, um caso clínico de infecção por covid-19 adquirida na comunidade em um recém-nascido. Métodos: As características clínicas foram coletadas dos prontuários desde abril de 2021 até o último desfecho do RN, em maio de 2021. Resultados: Este artigo abordará um RN do sexo masculino, a termo, com 38 semanas. No 17º dia de vida, o RN deu entrada na unidade pediátrica com quadro de febre e icterícia zona 4, leve retração torácica inferior e taquipneia. A mãe foi diagnosticada com covid-19. Foi detectada sepse neonatal tardia com foco pulmonar. O RN foi internado e o teste de antígeno para covid-19 foi positivo. O quadro do RN regrediu rapidamente, sendo encaminhado à unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal (UTIN), onde foi entubado e adaptado à ventilação mecânica em modo pressão controlada. Na segunda semana de internação na UTIN, desenvolveu hipertensão pulmonar grave com diminuição da saturação periférica de oxigênio e taquicardia. O RN necessitou de transfusão sanguínea e a posição prona foi realizada por períodos. Reduções nos parâmetros do ventilador mecânico não foram toleradas e o RN apresentou hipoxemia progressiva. O RN faleceu um mês e três dias após a internação. Conclusão: Nossos achados apresentam um caso de covid-19 adquirida na comunidade que evoluiu para a forma grave da doença.(AU)

Justificación y Objetivos: La recolección de datos sobre los contagios por covid-19 en recién nacidos (RN) no es tan frecuente como en adultos. En este contexto, y debido al bajo número de infecciones neonatales por SARSCoV-2 descritas, en este estudio se describe un caso clínico de infección posnatal por covid-19 en un recién nacido en la comunidad. Métodos: Se recogieron características médicas de las historias clínicas desde abril de 2021 hasta el último resultado del RN en mayo de 2021. Resultados: Este artículo reporta el caso de un RN del sexo masculino, a término de 38 semanas. Al 17.º día de vida, el RN ingresó a la unidad de pediatría con fiebre e ictericia zona 4, leve retracción torácica inferior y taquipnea. La madre dio positivo para covid-19. En el RN se detectó sepsis neonatal tardía con foco pulmonar. Lo hospitalizaron, y la prueba de antígenos para covid-19 dio como resultado positivo. El estado del RN empeoró rápidamente, lo remitieron a la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN), donde requirió intubación y ventilación mecánica controlada por presión. En la segunda semana en la UCIN, desarrolló hipertensión pulmonar grave con disminución de la saturación periférica de oxígeno y taquicardia. El RN requirió transfusión sanguínea, y lo pusieron en posición prona por períodos. El paciente no soportó las reducciones en los parámetros del ventilador mecánico y presentó una hipoxemia progresiva. El RN falleció un mes y tres días después de la hospitalización. Conclusión: Los hallazgos muestran un caso del covid-19 adquirido en la comunidad que progresó a la forma grave de la enfermedad.(AU)