A Second Ductoscopy Procedure in Patients with Recurrent and Persistent Pathological Nipple Discharge.

Background: Most patients suffering from pathological nipple discharge (PND) undergo local surgical procedures because standard radiological imaging often fails to reveal the cause. Ductoscopy is a minimally invasive endoscopic technique that enables direct intraductal visualization and can avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgical procedures. Hence, patients with recurrent or persistent PND after an unsuccessful ductoscopy procedure still undergo unnecessary surgery. This study describes the experience of a second ductoscopy procedure in patients with recurrent or persistent PND without suspicious radiological findings. Methods: Patients with recurrent or persistent PND who underwent two ductoscopy procedures between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The second ductoscopy was performed when the first ductoscopic attempt was unsuccessful due to technical problems. The primary outcome was the number of preventable surgical procedures. Results: A total of 17 patients underwent two ductoscopy procedures. The first ductoscopy showed a polypoid lesion in 10 patients (58.8%), no abnormalities in 3 patients (17.6%), and in 4 patients (23.5%), it was not possible to visualize the ductal tree. Post-procedure, all patients suffered from PND. After two ductoscopic attempts, PND stopped in 10 patients (58.8%), and 7 patients (41.2%) still suffered from PND and were operated on. Pathology of the resection specimens showed no abnormalities in 1 patient, a papilloma in 5 patients, and ductal carcinoma in situ in 1 patient. Conclusion: A second ductoscopy procedure can be considered in the diagnostic work-up of patients suffering from persistent or recurrent PND after an unsuccessful first ductoscopic attempt to avoid unnecessary surgery in about 59% of the cases.

Risk factors of postoperative intensive care unit admission during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Background: During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, intensive care unit (ICU) capacity was scarce. Since surgical patients also require ICU admission, determining which factors lead to an increased risk of postoperative ICU admission is essential. This study aims to determine which factors led to an increased risk of unplanned postoperative ICU admission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study investigated all patients who underwent surgery between 9 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. The primary endpoint was the number of surgical patients requiring postoperative ICU admission. The secondary endpoint was to determine factors leading to an increased risk of unplanned postoperative ICU admission, calculated by multivariate analysis with odds ratios (OR's) and 95% confidence (CI) intervals. Results: One hundred eighty-five (4.6%) of the 4051 included patients required unplanned postoperative ICU admission. COVID-19 positive patients were at an increased risk of being admitted to the ICU compared to COVID-19 negative (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.06-9.33; p = 0.040) and untested patients (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.32-0.70; p = 0.001). Other predictors were male gender (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.02-1.82; p = 0.046), body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.08; p = 0.001), surgical urgency and surgical discipline. Conclusion: A confirmed COVID-19 infection, male gender, elevated BMI, surgical urgency, and surgical discipline were independent factors for an increased risk of unplanned postoperative ICU admission. In the event of similar pandemics, postponing surgery in patients with an increased risk of postoperative ICU admission may be considered.

Systematic review and meta-analysis determining the effect of implemented COVID-19 guidelines on surgical oncology volumes and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To provide for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) healthcare capacity, (surgical oncology) guidelines were established, forcing to alter the timing of performing surgical procedures. It is essential to determine whether these guidelines have led to disease progression. This study aims to give an insight into the number of surgical oncology procedures performed during the pandemic and provide information on short-term clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed on all COVID-19 articles including operated patients, published before March 21, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed to visualize the number of performed surgical oncology procedures during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Random effects models were used for evaluating short-term clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies containing 6762 patients who underwent a surgical oncology procedure during the pandemic were included. The number of performed surgical procedures for an oncological pathology decreased (-26.4%) during the pandemic. The number of performed surgical procedures for breast cancer remained stable (+0.3%). Moreover, no difference was identified in the number of ≥T2 (OR 1.00, P = 0.989), ≥T3 (OR 0.95, P = 0.778), ≥N1 (OR 1.01, P = 0.964) and major postoperative complications (OR 1.55, P = 0.134) during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The number of performed surgical oncology procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased. In addition, the number of performed surgical breast cancer procedures remained stable. Oncological staging and major postoperative complications showed no significant difference compared to pre-pandemic practice. During future pandemics, the performed surgical oncology practice during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic seems appropriate for short-term results.

Meta-analysis of COVID-19 prevalence during preoperative COVID-19 screening in asymptomatic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic and are able to transmit COVID-19 during a surgical procedure, resulting in increased pressure on healthcare and reduced control of COVID-19 spread. There remains uncertainty about the implementation of preoperative screening for COVID-19 in asymptomatic surgical patients. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of preoperative COVID-19, confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), in asymptomatic patients. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed and Embase databases were searched through 20 February 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All COVID-19 articles including preoperative asymptomatic patients were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 with 95% CI. Moreover, estimated positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value, false-positives (FP) and false-negatives were calculated for preoperative asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies containing 27 256 asymptomatic preoperative screened patients were included, of which 431 were positive for COVID-19 by RT-PCR test. In addition, the meta-analysis revealed a pooled COVID-19 prevalence of 0.76% (95% CI 0.36% to 1.59%). The calculated PPV for this prevalence is 40.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The pooled COVID-19 prevalence in asymptomatic patients tested preoperatively was 0.76%, with low corresponding PPV. Consequently, nearly three-quarters of postponed surgical procedures in asymptomatic preoperative patients may be FP. In the event of similar pandemics, modification of preoperative mandatory RT-PCR COVID-19 testing in asymptomatic patients may be considered.

Factors affecting 30-day postoperative complications after emergency surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak: A multicentre cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has influenced (surgical) care worldwide. Measures were taken to prioritize surgical care in order to maintain capacity for COVID-19 healthcare. However, the influence of these measures on emergency surgery is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the trends in emergency surgery and determine the factors influencing the risk of postoperative complications during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This multicentre retrospective cohort study investigated all emergency patients operated on from March 9th to June 30th, 2020. The primary endpoint was identifying the number of emergency surgical procedures performed. Secondary endpoints were determining the number of postoperative complications and factors determining the risk of postoperative complications, which were calculated by multivariate analysis with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence (CI) intervals. RESULTS: In total, 1399 patients who underwent an emergency surgical procedure were included. An increase in the number of emergency vascular and trauma surgical procedures occurred during the study period. In contrast, the number of emergency general and oncological surgical procedures performed remained stable. An increased age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02; p = 0.024), American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09-1.64; p = 0.005), and surgical discipline were independent predictors for an increased risk of postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The performance of emergency vascular and trauma surgical procedures increased. The performance of emergency general and oncological surgical procedures remained stable. In addition, increased age, ASA, and surgical discipline were independent predictors for an increased risk of postoperative complications.

Quality of life in patients with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. For inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastrointestinal surgeries were postponed and changes in treatment and diagnostic procedures were made. As abrupt changes in treatment regimens may result in an increased morbidity and consequent well-being of patients with IBD, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with IBD. DESIGN: All patients with IBD who completed both Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire between 31 August and 13 September 2020 were included in our cohort study. The primary end point was to determine the HRQoL in patients with IBD, measured by the IBDQ and SF-36 questionnaire. The secondary end point was determining which factors influence the HRQoL in patients with IBD. RESULTS: 582 patients with IBD filled in the IBDQ and SF-36 questionnaire. The HRQoL in our study population was low according to the questionnaires on both physical and mental subscales. In addition, multivariate analysis showed that increased age, female sex and patients who underwent surgery had a significantly lower HRQoL, most frequently on the physical domains in both questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Patients with IBD had an overall low HRQoL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, older patients, women and patients who underwent surgical procedures had the lowest physical HRQoL.

Detection of breast cancer precursor lesions by autofluorescence ductoscopy.

PURPOSE: Autofluorescence is an image enhancement technique used for the detection of cancer precursor lesions in pulmonary and gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study evaluated the feasibility of addition of autofluorescence to ductoscopy for the detection of intraductal breast cancer precursor lesions. METHODS: An autofluorescence imaging system, producing real-time computed images combining fluorescence intensities, was coupled to a conventional white light ductoscopy system. Prior to surgery, ductoscopy with white light and autofluorescence was evaluated under general anaesthesia in women scheduled for therapeutic or prophylactic mastectomy. Endoscopic findings in both modes were compared, marked and correlated with histology of the surgical specimen. RESULTS: Four breast cancer patients and five high-risk women, with a median age of 47 years (range 23-62) were included. In autofluorescence mode, two intraductal lesions were seen in two breast cancer patients, which had an increase in the red-to-green fluorescence intensity compared with the surrounding tissue. One lesion had initially been missed by white light ductoscopy but was clearly visible in subsequent autofluorescence mode. One endoscopic finding was classified as suspicious by white light, but was negative in autofluorescence mode and showed normal histology. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time the in vivo feasibility of autofluorescence ductoscopy to detect pathologically confirmed breast cancer precursor lesions in both breast cancer patients and high-risk women that were occult under white light.

The Effect of Radioactive Iodine Therapy on Ovarian Function and Fertility in Female Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Thyroid cancer is one of the most common carcinomas diagnosed in adolescents and young adults, with a rapidly rising incidence for the past three decades. Surgery is the standard treatment for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), and when indicated, followed by radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of RAI therapy on ovarian function and fertility in women. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched up to January 2020. In addition, a meta-analyses were performed for anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels after RAI, comparison of AMH levels prior and 1 year after RAI, and pregnancy rates in patient with thyroid cancer receiving RAI compared with patients with thyroid cancer who did not receive RAI. Results: A total of 36 studies were eligible for full-text screening and 22 studies were included. The majority of the studies had a retrospective design. Menstrual irregularities were present in the first year after RAI in 12% and up to 31% of the patients. Approximately 8-16% of the patients experienced amenorrhea in the first year after RAI. Women who received RAI treatment (median dose 3700 MBq [range 1110-40,700 MBq]); had menopause at a slightly younger age compared with women who did not receive RAI treatment, 49.5 and 51 years, respectively (p < 0.001). Pooled AMH of the seven studies reporting AMH concentrations after RAI was 1.79 ng/mL. Of these, four studies reported AMH concentrations prior and 1 year after RAI. The mean difference was 1.50 ng/mL, which was significant. Finally, meta-analysis showed that patients undergoing RAI were not at a decreased risk of becoming pregnant. Conclusions: Most of the studies indicate that RAI therapy for DTC is not associated with a long-term decrease in pregnancy rates although meta-analyses show a significant decrease in AMH levels after RAI therapy. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these results. We recommend counseling patients about the possible effects of 131I and incorporate today's knowledge in multidisciplinary counseling.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.

Network Meta-analysis for the Diagnostic Approach to Pathologic Nipple Discharge.

Pathologic nipple discharge (PND) is one of the most common breast-related complaints for referral because of its supposed association with breast cancer. The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound, mammogram, cytology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ductoscopy in patients with PND, as well as to determine the best diagnostic strategy to assess the risk of malignancy as cause for PND. Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were searched to collect relevant literature from the inception of each of the diagnostic methods until January 27, 2020. The search yielded 1472 original citations, of which 36 studies with 3764 patients were finally included for analysis. Direct and indirect comparisons were performed using an NMA approach to evaluate the combined odd ratios and to determine the surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA) of the diagnostic value of different imaging methods for the detection of breast cancer in patients with PND. Additionally, a subgroup meta-analysis comparing ductoscopy to MRI when conventional imaging was negative was also performed. According to this NMA, sensitivity for detection of malignancy in patients with PND was highest for MRI (83%), followed by ductoscopy (58%), ultrasound (50%), cytology (38%), and mammogram (22%). Specificity was highest for mammogram (93%) followed by ductoscopy (92%), cytology (90%), MRI (76%), and ultrasound (69%). Diagnostic accuracy was the highest for ductoscopy (88%), followed by cytology (82%), MRI (77%), mammogram (76%), and ultrasound (65%). Subgroup meta-analysis (comparing ductoscopy to MRI when ultrasound and mammogram were negative) showed no significant difference in sensitivity, but ductoscopy was statistically significantly better with regard to specificity and diagnostic accuracy. The results from this NMA indicate that although ultrasound and mammogram may remain low-cost useful first choices for the detection of malignancy in patients with PND, ductoscopy outperforms most imaging techniques (especially MRI) and cytology.

Galectin-3 and heart failure: prognosis, prediction & clinical utility.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of mortality in the western world. Despite advances in the treatment of HF, like the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, ß-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and implantable cardiac defibrillators, prognosis of HF patients remains poor. For clinicians dealing with HF patients, risk prediction in both acute, chronic, and new onset HF remains a challenge. Biomarkers might help in risk stratification and may guide the proper use of limited resources and therapy. Galectin-3 is an emerging biomarker which has been linked to tissue fibrosis, a hallmark in cardiac remodeling and HF. Galectin-3 can reliably be measured in the circulation, and several recent studies have shown the prognostic value of galectin-3 in acute and chronic HF, and its potential utility in the general population. The purpose of this review was to summarize the literature and explore the potential role of galectin-3 as a biomarker in HF.