High symptom burden in patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is little data describing symptom burden before or after gastrectomy for patients with cancer. We aimed to examine the perioperative patterns of symptom severity in patients undergoing gastrectomy. METHODS: In this single-institution prospective cohort study, patients scheduled to undergo gastrectomy for cancer completed serial symptom measurement questionnaires preoperatively, at postoperative day (POD) 1-3, and POD 4-7. The percent of patients with moderate to severe scores was calculated at each time point. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients completed 94 surveys. Preoperatively, 46% reported at least one moderate/severe symptom. This increased to 88% during POD 1-3 and 79% during POD 4-7. During the preoperative period, 25% of patients reported moderate to severe interference in at least one aspect of daily life. This increased to 73% of patients at both POD 1-3 and POD 4-7. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer frequently experience symptoms that interfere with daily life. A better understanding of these symptoms may improve patients' experiences with, and recovery from, gastrectomy.

What Drove Program Participants to Initially Attend Congregate Meals? Socialization, Health, and Other Reasons.

The Congregate Nutrition Services support efforts to keep older Americans independent and engaged in their communities. We examined participants' self-reported reasons for initially attending the congregate meals program and whether reasons differed by participant characteristics. Descriptive statistics and tests of differences were used to compare participants (n = 1,072). Individuals attended congregate meals for several reasons, with the top two being socialization (36.3%) and age- or health-related reasons (18.7%). Those attending for socialization were less likely to be lower income, have food insecurity, or live with 3+ ADL limitations while participants who first attended due to age or health-related reasons were more likely to be low income, food insecure, and from historically marginalized populations. Health and social service professionals and community organizations could expand data collection on older adults in their communities and partner with congregate meal providers to encourage participation for individuals with unmet nutritional, health, and socialization needs.

The Need for Primary Care Beyond the Postnatal Period: Uncontrolled Hypertension-Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy in a 32-Year-Old With a History of Preeclampsia Presenting Three Months Postpartum.

A 32-year-old African American female with a past medical history of uncontrolled hypertension and preeclampsia with severe features presented to the emergency department with three days of shortness of breath, chest pain, bloody cough, and non-bloody diarrhea without any known prior viral syndrome. On presentation, she was diagnosed with a hypertensive emergency with renal and cardiac dysfunction. Laboratory workup revealed leukocytosis, normocytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The remainder of the laboratory data were significant for hemolysis. Differential diagnosis included thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)/hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS); therefore, the patient was initiated on TTP treatment of pulsed dose steroids and plasma exchange. However, once the ADAMTS13 test returned negative, plasma exchange was stopped and the patient's profile returned to normal with supportive care and aggressive blood pressure control, as she had hypertension-induced thrombotic microangiopathy.

Short-Term and Textbook Surgical Outcomes During the Implementation of a Robotic Gastrectomy Program.

BACKGROUND: Whether gastric cancer patients derive greater benefit from robotic gastrectomy (RG), or open gastrectomy (OG) is unknown. We initiated a RG program in 2018, with prospective short-term outcome monitoring to ensure safety. We hypothesized that the RG program for gastric cancer can be safely implemented with equivalent safety and oncological textbook outcomes (TOs) to conventional open gastrectomy (OG). METHODS: The study included patients who underwent curative-intent OG or RG for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2018 and December 2021. TO metrics were negative surgical margins, ≥ 15 lymph nodes examined, no severe (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ IIIa) postoperative complications, no reinterventions within 90 days after surgery, no ICU admission, no prolonged length of stay (LOS; > 10 days), no 90-day postoperative mortality, and no readmission within 90 days after surgery. Overall TO was achieved when all these metrics were met. RESULTS: Of 161 patients, 120 underwent OG, and 41 underwent RG. The two groups' demographic and disease characteristics did not differ significantly. Compared with OG patients, RG patients had a longer median surgery time (348 vs. 282 min), smaller median blood loss volume (50 vs. 150 mL), lower mean prescribed opioid dose at discharge (12 vs. 45 mg), and shorter median LOS (4 vs. 7 days; all p < 0.001). The groups' postoperative complication rates (10% vs. 17%) did not differ significantly (p = 0.283). The overall TO rate of the RG group (73%) was higher than that of the OG group (60%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.131). CONCLUSION: We were able to implement the RG program safely, without compromising safety or oncological outcomes.

Prognostic significance of acellular mucin in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) for appendiceal neoplasms.

INTRODUCTION: Appendiceal neoplasms have a propensity for peritoneal dissemination. The standard of care for select individuals is CRS/HIPEC. In the current 8th AJCC Staging system, a finding of only intraperitoneal acellular mucin (M1a) is classified as Stage IVa. There is concern that the current AJCC system may over-stage patients. METHODS: This was a single-institution retrospective review of 164 cases of mucinous appendiceal neoplasm. Patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC with M1a disease were compared to patients with peritoneal deposits containing tumor cells (well-differentiated adenocarcinoma; low-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei-M1b,G1). Overall and recurrence-free survival were assessed. RESULTS: Median age was 51 years, 70% were female, and 75% White. Sixty-four patients had M1a disease and 100 M1b,G1 disease. M1a disease had a lower median PCI score (11 vs. 20, p = .0001) and a higher rate of complete CRS (62% vs. 50%, p = .021). Median follow-up was 7.6 years (IQR 5.6-10.5 years). For M1a disease, there were no recurrences and only one patient died during the study interval. In comparison, for M1b disease, 66/100 (66%) recurred with a 5-year RFS of 40.5% (HR 8.0, 95% CI 4.9-15.1, p < .0001), and 31/100 (31%) died with a 5-year OS of 84.8% (HR 4.5, 95% CI 2.2-9.2, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Acellular mucin (M1a disease) after CRS/HIPEC for appendiceal neoplasm is associated with longer OS and RFS compared to M1b, G1 disease. Current AJCC staging does not accurately reflect the differing outcomes of these two patient populations. The presence of acellular mucin in the peritoneal cavity should not be perceived as a metastatic equivalent.

Communication Frameworks for Palliative Surgical Consultations: A Randomized Study of Advanced Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether patients with advanced cancer prefer surgeons to use the best case/worst case (BC/WC) communication framework over the traditional risk/benefit (R/B) framework in the context of palliative surgical scenarios. BACKGROUND: Identifying the patient's preferred communication frameworks may improve satisfaction and outcome measures during difficult clinical decision-making. METHODS: In a video-vignette-based randomized, double-blinded study from November 2020 to May 2021, patients with advanced cancer viewed 2 videos depicting a physician-patient encounter in a palliative surgical scenario, in which the surgeon uses either the BC/WC or the R/B framework to discuss treatment options. The primary outcome was the patients' preferred video surgeon. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five patients were approached to participate; 66 were randomized and 58 completed the study (mean age 55.8 ± 13.8 years, 60.3% males). 22 patients (37.9%, 95% CI: 25.4%-50.4%) preferred the surgeon using the BC/WC framework, 21 (36.2%, 95% CI: 23.8%-48.6%) preferred the surgeon using the R/B framework, and 15 (25.9%, 95% CI: 14.6%-37.2%) indicated no preference. High trust in the medical profession was inversely associated with a preference for the surgeon using BC/WC framework (odds ratio: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.98, P = 0.03). The BC/WC framework rated higher for perceived surgeon's listening (4.6 ± 0.7 vs 4.3±0.9, P = 0.03) and confidence in the surgeon's trustworthiness (4.3 ± 0.8 vs 4.0 ± 0.9, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon use of the BC/WC communication framework was not universally preferred but was as acceptable to patients as the traditional R/B framework and rated higher in certain aspects of communication. A preference for a surgeon using BC/WC was associated with lower trust in the medical profession. Surgeons should consider the BC/WC framework to individualize their approach to challenging clinical discussions.

Cytoreduction and HIPEC for Gastric Carcinomatosis: Multi-institutional Analysis of Two Phase II Clinical Trials.

INTRODUCTION: There are no approved locoregional therapies for peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric adenocarcinoma (GA). Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) represents a potential treatment for advanced GA with isolated peritoneal metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two separate single-institution phase II, single-arm studies evaluating CRS-HIPEC using cisplatin with mitomycin C (NIH: NCT03092518, MDACC: NCT02891447) in patients with GA and confirmed peritoneal metastasis were analyzed. The primary endpoint of each trial was overall survival (OS). Clinical, pathologic, and treatment variables were analyzed for association with outcomes. RESULTS: Over 4 years, 41 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from GA underwent CRS-HIPEC. All patients had synchronous peritoneal metastasis and received systemic chemotherapy as front-line therapy. A total of 23 patients also received laparoscopic HIPEC prior to open CRS-HIPEC. The majority (63%, n = 26) were male, and median PCI score at CRS-HIPEC was 2. Median OS was 24.9 months from diagnosis and 14.4 months from CRS-HIPEC. Three-year OS was 25% from diagnosis and 22% from CRS-HIPEC. Median RFS was 7.4 months. The rate of 30-day Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3 complications was 32%; specifically, the rate of anastomotic leak was 22%. Multivariable analysis identified the number of pathologically positive lymph nodes as an independent predictor of postoperative OS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and isolated peritoneal metastasis treated with CRS-HIPEC, 3-year OS was 22% from CRS-HIPEC, and complications were common. The number of pathologic lymph node metastases was inversely correlated with overall survival. Further investigation of CRS-HIPEC for GA should include patient selection based on response to systemic chemotherapy or incorporate novel intraperitoneal treatment strategies.

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.

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.

Use of Informal Support as a Predictor of Home- and Community-Based Services Utilization.

OBJECTIVES: Home- and community-based services (HCBS) help older adults remain living safely in their homes by delaying or preventing the need for institutionalization. This analysis is guided by the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use to examine the association between informal support and use of HCBS. METHOD: Health and Retirement Study data from 2011 and 2012 are used in the bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models to examine differences in HCBS utilization among extremely vulnerable older adults who have informal caregivers and those who do not. RESULTS: For extremely vulnerable older adults who report difficulties with any instrumental or basic activities of daily living, use of HCBS is not strongly associated with access to informal caregivers. However, for this same population of extremely vulnerable older adults, those who live alone have roughly 3 times the odds of using any HCBS compared to those who do not live alone. DISCUSSION: Among already vulnerable older adults, this study revealed that living alone is an important enabling factor of the Andersen Behavioral Model as applied in HCBS research. Further investigation is needed to see if more resources should be allocated to senior centers and local providers to identify vulnerable older adults who live alone and may have unmet needs.

Identifying Core Principles of Palliative Care Consultation in Surgical Patients and Potential Knowledge Gaps for Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Palliative medicine is an important component of care for patients with advanced cancer. Previous studies demonstrated that surgeons tend to underuse palliative care in comparison with medical services. In addition, little is known about the specific use of palliative care services among surgical oncology practices. Therefore, we designed and performed this study to evaluate the use of palliative care in medical and surgical oncology patients. STUDY DESIGN: A single-institution retrospective review of consecutive palliative care consultations within a large National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in 2016 to 2017 was conducted. RESULTS: We analyzed 120 patients (60 surgical and 60 medical). Patient demographics in the 2 groups were similar. The surgical oncology patients were more likely to undergo consultation for advanced care planning (32% vs 13%; p = 0.02). Medical oncology patients were more likely to undergo consultation for pain management (97% vs 62%; p < 0.001). Symptom assessment scores for medical patients more frequently demonstrated dyspnea and malignancy-related pain than in surgical patients. Also, palliative care recommendations and interventions for surgical patients more frequently included end-of-life discussions and transfer to the inpatient palliative care unit. For medical oncology patients, recommendations more often included changes in pain and bowel regimen medication. In addition, despite more frequent consults for advanced care planning in the surgical patients, code status was changed to DNR more frequently in the medical patient cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical patients were less likely to undergo palliative care consultation for assistance with symptom management and more likely to undergo consultation for assistance with end-of-life discussions than were medical oncology patients. Advanced care planning and end-of-life discussions should be an area of focus in palliative care education for surgeons.

Assessment of nephrotoxicity associated with combined cisplatin and mitomycin C usage in laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been used to treat various peritoneal malignancies. Cisplatin and mitomycin C (MMC) are agents commonly used in these procedures and, individually, each has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). There is limited literature on the complications associated with the use of both agents in HIPEC. Therefore, we sought to determine the incidence of nephrotoxicity and electrolyte abnormalities in patients undergoing laparoscopic HIPEC using this chemotherapeutic combination. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients undergoing laparoscopic HIPEC for gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma using both cisplatin and MMC. Sodium thiosulfate was given for renal protection and kidney function was evaluated daily up to postoperative day #2. Details regarding patient characteristics, selection criteria, chemotherapeutic regimen, perioperative lab values and anesthetic management were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients underwent 31 laparoscopic HIPEC procedures. Fifteen (65%) were male and the median age was 57 (range 21-75). Thirteen procedures were associated with an elevation in creatinine (Cr) with the median difference between POD#2 and baseline being 0.09 mg/dL (range 0-0.43). The glomerular filtration rate median difference between POD#2 and baseline was -17 mL/min/1.37 sq. m (range -42 to 11). No cases demonstrated AKI, defined as a 50% increase in Cr levels above baseline. An 84% incidence of postoperative hypophosphatemia (26/31) and 94% incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia (29/31) was observed. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach to HIPEC using both cisplatin and MMC in our cohort was not associated with an increased incidence of AKI. The incidence of hypophosphatemia and hypocalcemia needs further evaluation to determine the exact etiology. Precis' statement: We retrospectively studied the association of AKI with the combined use of cisplatin and MMC in laparoscopic HIPEC.

Stratification of outcomes for mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastasis by histological grade.

AIM: To investigate the importance of a three-tiered histologic grade on outcomes for patients with mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma (MAA). METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-five patients with MAA undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy were identified from a prospective database from 2004 through 2014. All pathology was reviewed by our gastrointestinal subspecialty pathologists and histological grade was classified as well-differentiated, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated. Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: There were 201 (75.8%) well-, 45 (16.9%) moderately- and 19 (7.2%) poorly-differentiated tumors. Histological grade significantly stratified the 5-year overall survival (OS), 94%, 71% and 30% respectively (P < 0.001) as well as the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) 66%, 21% and 0%, respectively (P < 0.001). Independent predictors of DFS included tumor grade (HR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.21-2.63, P = 0.008), lymph node involvement (HR = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.11-0.98, P < 0.02), previous surgical score (HR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.1-1.65, P = 0.03) and peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) (HR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.02-1.08, P = 0.002). Independent predictors of OS include tumor grade (HR = 2.79, 95%CI: 1.26-6.21, P = 0.01), PCI (HR = 1.10, 95%CI: 1.03-1.16, P = 0.002), and complete cytoreduction (HR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.11-0.92, P = 0.03). Tumor grade and PCI were the only independent predictors of both DFS and OS. Furthermore, histological grade and lymphovascular invasion stratified the risk of lymph node metastasis into a low (6%) and high (40%) risk groups. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrates that moderately differentiated MAA have a clinical behavior and outcome that is distinct from well- and poorly-differentiated MAA. The three-tier grade classification provides improved prognostic stratification and should be incorporated into patient selection and treatment algorithms.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Moderately and Poorly Differentiated Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma: Survival Outcomes and Patient Selection.

BACKGROUND: Moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the appendix represents an aggressive histological variant with a high risk of recurrence and death. METHODS: Overall, 178 patients with moderately and poorly differentiated appendiceal adenocarcinoma were identified from a prospective database. Clinical, pathologic, and treatment factors were analyzed for outcomes. RESULTS: Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) identified radiographic occult peritoneal metastasis in 25 (42%) patients. These patients had a significantly lower peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) and improved overall survival (OS) compared with those with radiographic disease. Twenty-seven (41%) patients were excluded from cytoreductive surgery (CRS) because of findings on DL, while 116 (65%) patients underwent CRS and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), with a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 23 months. Mucinous histology (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, p = 0.04) and PCI (HR 1.054, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of DFS. The median OS following CRS and HIPEC was 48 months. Mucinous histology (HR 0.352, p = 0.018), signet ring cells (HR 3.34, p = 0.02), positive peritoneal cytology (HR 0.081, p = 0.04), and PCI (HR 1.076, p = 0.004) were independently associated with OS. Eight-five (73.3%) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 40 (47.1%) patients achieved a radiographic response; 36 (42.3%) had stable disease, while 9 (10.6%) had progressive disease. Stable or responsive disease was associated with improved median OS of 44 months, compared with 21 months for those with progressive disease (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, long-term survival can be obtained. Mucinous histology, absence of signet ring cells, negative peritoneal cytology, PCI ≤ 20, and response/stable disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are important selection criteria for CRS and HIPEC.

Home and community-based service and other senior service use: Prevalence and characteristics in a national sample.

We report on the use of home and community-based services (HCBS) and other senior services and factors affecting utilization of both among Americans over age 60 in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Those using HCBS were more likely to be older, single, Black, lower income, receiving Medicaid, and in worse health. Past use of less traditional senior services, such as exercise classes and help with tax preparation, were found to be associated with current use of HCBS. These findings suggest use of less traditional senior services may serve as a "gateway" to HCBS that can help keep older adults living in the community.