Lessons Learned in Elective Surgeries After 6 Pandemic Waves of SARS-CoV-2. A Single European Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: The reported high surgical morbidity and mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 prompted preoperative screening and modification of surgical protocols. Although vaccination and treatment of COVID-19 have resulted in lower hospitalization rates and infection severity, publications on postoperative results have not been updated. The aim of the study was to analyze the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery in two periods with high incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, before and after vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing surgery in two periods: March-June 2020 (Group2020) and December 2021-February 2022 (Group2022) (after massive vaccination). RESULTS: In total, 618 patients who underwent surgery were included in the analysis (Group2020: 343 vs. Group2022: 275). Significantly more oncological procedures were performed in Group2020, and there were no differences in postoperative complications. Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in 4 patients in Group2020 and 1 patient in Group2022. In Group 2022, 70 patients (25.4%) had COVID-19 prior to surgery, and 68 (97.1%) were vaccinated. Comparative analysis between patients with past COVID-19 and those without showed no difference in postoperative morbidity and mortality. According to the time elapsed between SARS-CoV-2 infection and surgery (≤ 7 or > 7 weeks), comparative analysis showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: The establishment of preoperative screening protocols for SARS-CoV-2 infection results in a low incidence of nosocomial infection and optimal postoperative outcomes. Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaccinated patients was not associated with increased postoperative complications, even in shorter periods after infection. In surgical patients, individualized preoperative evaluation after SARS-CoV-2 infection may be more important than strict time limitation.

Appendiceal diverticulitis diagnosed by ultrasound.

Appendiceal diverticulitis is a rare entity that may present clinically simulating appendicitis. The importance of its diagnosis lies in the higher risk of complications including malignant transformation. The presence of small cystic appendicular peripheral images with thickened wall and hyperechoic surrounding fat are the diagnostic key.

[Analysis of the broadcasting and perceived utility through the implementation of a virtual training platform during the pandemic]. / Análisis de la difusión y utilidad percibida a través de la implementación de una plataforma de formación virtual durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected training opportunities for healthcare professionals partly because face to face courses were cancelled. This study analyzes the results of participation and satisfaction of the AEC Virtual Classroom sessions during the first year. Methods: The AEC Virtual Classroom includes a combined format of weekly Webinar broadcast live that can be viewed on a delayed basis in a virtual platform. In this study, the results in its first year are evaluated considering the number of live participants, the delayed views and the global reach; as well as the results of the satisfaction survey in each of the sessions (0-10). Results: From 16/04/2020 to 15/04/2021, 50 sessions of the Virtual Classroom AEC were held. The average scope of the sessions was 509 ± 288 views with a range between 196 and 149. At the times of highest incidence of cases during the pandemic, a decrease in live participants was observed 275 ± 135 vs. 391 ± 233 (p = 0.032). The mean score on the format was 8.46 ± 0.31/10. The best-scored sessions were those of the subject related to coloproctology with a statistically significant difference in the mean score 8.79 ± 0.42 vs. 8.39 ± 0.27 (p = 0.035). 90% of users considered the sessions useful. 97.2% of respondents believe that the sessions should be maintained after the pandemic. Conclusions: The AEC Virtual Classroom has a very good results in the first year, proving to be a useful surgical teaching tool that will foreseeably survive once the pandemic is over.

Analysis of the broadcasting and perceived utility through the implementation of a virtual training platform during the pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected training opportunities for healthcare professionals partly because face to face courses were cancelled. This study analyzes the results of participation and satisfaction of the AEC Virtual Classroom sessions during the first year. METHODS: The AEC Virtual Classroom includes a combined format of weekly Webinar broadcast live that can be viewed on a delayed basis in a virtual platform. In this study, the results in its first year are evaluated considering the number of live participants, the delayed views and the global reach; as well as the results of the satisfaction survey in each of the sessions (0-10). RESULTS: From 16/04/2020 to 15/04/2021, 50 sessions of the Virtual Classroom AEC were held. The average scope of the sessions was 509 ± 288 views with a range between 196 and 149. At the times of highest incidence of cases during the pandemic, a decrease in live participants was observed 275 ± 135 vs. 391 ± 233 (P = 0.032). The mean score on the format was 8.46 ± 0.31/10. The best-scored sessions were those of the subject related to coloproctology with a statistically significant difference in the mean score 8.79 ± 0.42 vs. 8.39 ± 0.27 (P = 0.035). 90% of users considered the sessions useful. 97.2% of respondents believe that the sessions should be maintained after the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The AEC Virtual Classroom has had very good results in the first year, proving to be a useful surgical teaching tool that will foreseeably survive once the pandemic is over.

Recommendations on intervention for hepatobiliary oncological surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. / Recomendaciones de actuación en cirugía oncológica hepatobiliopancreática durante la pandemia COVID-19.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic requires an analysis in the field of oncological surgery, both on the risk of infection, with very relevant clinical consequences, and on the need to generate plans to minimize the impact on possible restrictions on health resources. The AEC is making a proposal for the management of patients with hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) malignancies in the different pandemic scenarios in order to offer the maximum benefit to patients, minimising the risks of COVID-19 infection, and optimising the healthcare resources available at any time. This requires the coordination of the different treatment options between the departments involved in the management of these patients: medical oncology, radiotherapy oncology, surgery, anaesthesia, radiology, endoscopy department and intensive care. The goal is offer effective treatments, adapted to the available resources, without compromising patients and healthcare professionals safety.

Hepatic reactive lymphoid hyperplasia: a difficult differential diagnosis with hepatocarcinoma.

Hepatic reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (HRLH) is an uncommon lesion. We present the case of a 58-year-old patient with a liver nodule incidentally found by abdominal ultrasonography (US). Liver function, tumor markers, viral serology and immunology were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 16 mm nodule in segment VI-VII, with hypervascular enhancement in the arterial phase, wash-out in late phases, without contrast-retention in the hepatobiliary phase and restriction on diffusion-weighted imaging, suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CD133 + cell infusion in patients with colorectal liver metastases going to be submitted to a major liver resection (CELLCOL): A randomized open label clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma is surgical resection. However, only 10-15% of the patients in this context will be candidate for curative resection arising other 10-13% after response to neoadyuvant chemotherapy. In order to perform the liver metastases surgery, it is necessary to have a sufficient remnant liver volume (RLV) which allows maintaining an optimal liver function after resection. Studies on liver regeneration have determined that CD133 + stem cells are involved in liver hypertrophy developed after an hepatectomy with encouraging results. As presented in previous studies, CD133 + stem cells can be selected from peripheral blood after stimulation with G-CSF, being able to obtain a large number of them. We propose to treat patients who do not meet criteria for liver metastases surgery because of insufficient RLV (<40%) with CD133 + cells together with portal embolization, in order to achieve enough liver volume which avoids liver failure. METHODS: /Design: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative PVE plus the administration of CD133 + mobilized from peripheral blood with G-CSF compared to PVE only. SECONDARY AIMS ARE: to compare the grade of hypertrophy, speed and changes in liver function, anatomopathological study of hypertrophied liver, to determine the safety of the treatment and analysis of postoperative morbidity and surveillance. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized longitudinal phase IIb clinical trial, open, to evaluate the efficacy of portal embolization (PVE) together with the administration of CD133 + cells obtained from peripheral blood versus PVE alone, in patients with hepatic metastasis of colorectal carcinoma (CCRHM). DISCUSSION: The number of CD133 + obtained from peripheral blood after G -CSF stimulation will be far greater than the number obtained with direct puncture of bone marrow. This will allow a greater intrahepatic infusion, which could have a direct impact on achieving a larger and quicker hypertrophy. Consequently, it will permit the treatment of a larger number of patients with an increase on their survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT03803241.

Safety and feasibility of cholecystectomy in octogenarians. Analysis of a single center series of 316 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. However, outcomes for patients over 80years of age are not well studied. The primary aim of this study was to describe the safety and feasibility of cholecystectomy, including in the acute setting, in a cohort of patients≥80 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients aged≥80 years submitted to cholecystectomy at a single institution from January 2013 to January 2018 was performed. Severity of acute cholecystitis was graded according to the updated Tokyo Guidelines 18. Early cholecystectomy was defined as being performed within the first 48h after admission and delayed when performed beyond 48h of the admission. RESULTS: In total 316 patients underwent cholecystectomy. The indication was acute cholecystitis in 113 (36%) patients. Of the 316 patients 289 (92%) were attempted laparoscopically and 30 (10%) were converted to open. Major complications occurred in 44 patients (14%) and mortality rate was 4%. No bile duct injuries were observed. For those patients with mild or moderate acute cholecystitis (n = 103), there was no differences in outcomes when comparing early vs delayed surgery. CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy in patients≥80 years of age is safe and feasible. Outcomes did not differ between early and delayed surgery for mild/moderate acute cholecystitis.

Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S). One to three-year follow-up.

Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a new operation for morbid obesity based on the biliopancreatic diversion in which a sleeve gastrectomy is followed by an end-to-side duodeno-ileal diversion. The preservation of the pylorus makes possible the reconstruction in one loop, which reduces operating time and needs no mesentery opening. We review the results obtained on the first 50 operated patients with 1 to 3 years follow-up. Eighteen men and 32 women with a mean BMI of 44 kg/m(2) were operated on. Hypertension was present in 50%, sleep apnea in 30%, hypertriglyceridemia in 60% and hypercholesterolemia in 43%.There were 27 type two diabetics, most of them on insulin therapy. There were two gastric staple-line leaks and one long-term subphrenic abscess. Follow-up is complete for 98% of the patients. Excess weight loss reached 94.7% at 1 year, and it was maintained over the second and third year. At 1 year, mild anemia has been detected in 10% of the cases. Albumin concentration was under normal levels in 8% of the patients in the first postoperative year, but all patients recovered to normal levels by the third postoperative year. All diabetic patients have normalized glucose or HbA1c levels after the sixth postoperative month with no need of anti-diabetic therapy. SADI-S is a promising operation which offers excellent weight loss and metabolic results. The elimination of one anastomosis reduces operative time and decreases the possibility of surgically related complications.

Prophylactic closure of trocar orifices with an intraperitoneal mesh (ventralex) in laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery reduces, but not eliminates, the rate of incisional hernia. It is accepted that large trocar orifices should be sutured, in order to prevent future herniation. In morbidly obese patients, the closure of the anterior fascia is a very difficult job, and it does not prevent from preperitoneal herniation. Ventralex composite mesh is a very easy-to-place device, which closes satisfactorily both the peritoneal opening and the subcutaneous trocar pathway. We recommend its use for large diameter orifices and Hasson orifices in bariatric patients.

Expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 as prognostic markers in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present work is to clarify the role of metalloproteinase-9 and its inhibitor in the evolution of gastric cancer after surgical resection. METHODOLOGY: We have studied 44 gastric cancer patients submitted to surgery. There were 13 proximal tumors, 16 located in the middle third and 15 in the distal one. Overall survival was 26% at 6 years. Metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase concentrations were investigated by means of ELISA in frozen samples of tumoral and normal gastric mucosa. RESULTS: Mean concentration of metalloproteinase-9 in tumoral tissue was 42 ng/mg of total protein, and this value was 6.9 times greater than the mean concentration in non-tumoral tissue. Cancer tissue also expressed higher levels of TIMP-1, 7.25 versus 4.39 ng/mg of protein. Higher levels of metalloproteinase expression in tumoral tissue, greater [metalloproteinase in tumor]/[metalloproteinase in non-tumor] ratio and greater [metalloproteinase]/[inhibitor] ratio in tumor cells, were all of them statistically related to a worse prognosis when T1 and T2 tumors were considered. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of metalloproteinase-9 or its inhibitor is related to a more aggressive phenotype of gastric cancer.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) is a rare tumor of vascular origin, which occurs at sites such as soft tissues, liver, or lung, and has a highly unpredictable malignant potential. It is an intermediate entity between well-differentiated hemangioma and angiosarcoma. We present two cases of this rare disease in which the tumor was detected fortuitously and the definitive diagnosis was based on histological evidence. Both our cases are highly illustrative of the two ways in which hepatic EH can present (nodular or diffuse) and of its diagnostic and therapeutic management. Neoplastic cells expressed the factor VIII-related antigen, CD31 or CD34. Treatment was surgical resection in one patient and liver transplant in the other. Although EH of the liver has a better prognosis than other hepatic neoplasms, conservative treatment is not recommended. Our cases highlight the importance of a histological diagnosis to avoid it being mistaken for another entity.