Locally advanced pancreatic cancer: Is surgical palliation associated with improved clinical outcome relative to medical palliation?

BACKGROUND: The value of palliative surgery in pancreatic cancer is not well-defined. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database for patients undergoing curative-intent resection, palliative surgery or medical palliation for clinical stage cT4N0-2M0 pancreatic cancer. Cohorts were 1:1:1 propensity-score-matched for comorbidities and stage. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare overall survival for matched cohorts. RESULTS: 9,107 patients met inclusion criteria: 3,567 (39 â€‹%) underwent curative intent surgery, 1608 (18 â€‹%) surgical palliation, 3932 (43 â€‹%) medical palliation. Patients undergoing resection and surgical palliation had significant hospitalizations (11.0 â€‹± â€‹0.4 vs. 10.0 â€‹± â€‹0.3 days; p â€‹= â€‹0.821) and rates of readmission (8.1 â€‹% vs. 2.0 â€‹%; p â€‹< â€‹0.001). Patients undergoing surgical palliation demonstrated marginal increases in survival relative to those undergoing medical palliation (8.54 vs. 7.36 months; p â€‹< â€‹0.0001). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing care for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, palliative surgery is associated with marginal improvement in survival but significant lengths of hospitalization and risk of readmission.

Implementation of a novel peer review academy by Surgery and the Association of Women Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: A novel Peer Review Academy was developed as a collaborative effort between the Association of Women Surgeons and the journal Surgery to provide formal training in peer review. We aimed to describe the outcomes of this initiative using a mixed methods approach. METHODS: We developed a year-long curriculum with monthly online didactic sessions. Women surgical trainee mentees were paired 1:1 with rotating women surgical faculty mentors for 3 formal peer review opportunities. We analyzed pre-course and post-course surveys to evaluate mentee perceptions of the academy and assessed changes in mentee review quality over time with blinded scoring of unedited reviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted upon course completion. RESULTS: Ten women surgical faculty mentors and 10 women surgical trainees from across the United States and Canada successfully completed the Peer Review Academy. There were improvements in the mentees' confidence for all domains of peer review evaluated, including overall confidence in peer review, study novelty, study design, analytic approach, and review formatting (all, P ≤ .02). The mean score of peer review quality increased over time (59.2 ± 10.8 vs 76.5 ± 9.4; P = .02). In semi-structured interviews, important elements were emphasized across the Innovation, Implementation Process, and Individuals Domains, including the values of (1) a comprehensive approach to formal peer review education; (2) mentoring relationships between women faculty and resident surgeons; and (3) increasing diversity in the scientific peer review process. CONCLUSION: Our novel Peer Review Academy was feasible on a national scale, resulting in significant qualitative and quantitative improvements in women surgical trainee skillsets, and has the potential to grow and diversify the existing peer review pool.

Rectal neuroendocrine tumors: Can they be observed?

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing approaches to managing rectal neuroendocrine tumors are underpowered by institutional series. The efficacy of expectant management relative to local excision and radical resection is poorly defined. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting with non-metastatic rectal neuroendocrine tumors between 2004 and 2019. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with expectant management. Cox modeling was used to identify factors associated with all-cause mortality. Patients undergoing expectant management were 1:1:1 propensity score matched for demographics and comorbid disease to those undergoing radical resection and local excision. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare overall survival profiles for matched cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 6,316 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 5,211 (83%) underwent local excision, 600 (9.5%) radical resection, and 505 (8%) expectant management. On multivariable regression, factors associated with expectant management included Black race, government insurance, and tumor size <2.0 centimeters. On Cox modeling, factors associated with mortality included age >65 years, male sex, government insurance, comorbidity score >0, tumor size >2 centimeters, and poorly differentiated histology. On comparison of matched cohorts: patients undergoing radical resection had longer hospitalizations and higher readmission rates than those undergoing local excision; there was no difference in overall survival between cohorts in patients with stage 1 disease; in stage 2 and 3 diseases, patients undergoing local excision and radical resection demonstrated improved rates of overall survival relative to those undergoing expectant management. CONCLUSION: Expectant management is a reasonable approach for patients with stage 1 rectal neuroendocrine tumors. Local excision should be the preferred treatment option for those presenting with stage 2/3 disease.

Prognosis of Unresected vs Resected Small Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that overall survival after lung resection for pulmonary carcinoid tumors is favorable. It is unclear what the prognosis is for observation rather than resection for small carcinoid tumors. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting with primary pulmonary carcinoid tumors between 2004 and 2017. We included patients with small (<3 cm) primary pulmonary carcinoids, who were observed or underwent a lung resection. To minimize confounding by indication, we used propensity score matching, while accounting for age, sex, race, insurance type, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, typical and atypical histology, tumor size, and year of diagnosis. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analyses to compare 5-year overall survival in the matched cohorts. RESULTS: Of 8435 patients with small pulmonary carcinoids, 783 (9.3%) underwent observation and 7652 (91%) underwent surgical resection. After propensity score matching, surgical resection was associated with improved 5-year overall survival (66% vs 81%, P < .001). No significant difference in overall survival was found between wedge and anatomic resection (88% vs 88%, P = .83). In patients undergoing resection, lymph node sampling at the time of wedge and anatomic resection increased 5-year overall survival (90% vs 86%, P = .0042; 88% vs 82%, P = .04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of small pulmonary carcinoids is associated with improved survival compared with observation. When surgical resection is performed, wedge and anatomic resection result in similar survival, and lymph node sampling improves survival.

Early-Stage Ampullary Cancer: Is Local Excision an Effective Alternative to Radical Resection?

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of local excision (transduodenal or endoscopic ampullectomy) in treating early-stage ampullary cancer has not been well defined. STUDY DESIGN: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing either local tumor excision or radical resection for early-stage (cTis-T2, N0, M0) ampullary adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2018. Cox modeling was used to identify factors associated with overall survival. Patients undergoing local excision were then 1:1 propensity score-matched for demographics, hospital level, and histopathological factors to those undergoing radical resection. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare overall survival (OS) profiles for matched cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 1,544 patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 218 (14%) underwent local tumor excision, and 1,326 (86%) radical resection. On propensity score matching, 218 patients undergoing local excision were successfully matched to 218 patients undergoing radical resection. On comparison of matched cohorts, those undergoing local excision had lower rate of margin-negative (R0) resection (85.1% vs 99%, p < 0.001) and lower median lymph node count (0 vs 13, p < 0.001) but had significantly shorter length of initial hospitalization (median days: 1 vs 10 days, p < 0.001), lower rate of 30-day readmission (3.3% vs 12.0%, p = 0.001), and lower rate of 30-day mortality (1.8% vs 6.5%, p = 0.016) than patients undergoing radical resection. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the matched cohorts (46.9% vs 52.0%, p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting with early-stage ampullary adenocarcinoma, local tumor excision is associated with higher rate of R1 resection but accelerated postprocedure recovery and patterns of OS comparable with those after radical resection.

Association of Resident Independence With Short-term Clinical Outcome in Core General Surgery Procedures.

Importance: Prior studies evaluating the effect of resident independence on operative outcome draw from case mixes that cross disciplines and overrepresent cases with low complexity. The association between resident independence and clinical outcome in core general surgical procedures is not well defined. Objective: To evaluate the level of autonomy provided to residents during their training, trends in resident independence over time, and the association between resident independence in the operating room and clinical outcome. Design, Setting, and Participants: Using the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005 to 2021, outcomes in resident autonomy were compared using multivariable logistic regression and propensity score matching. Data on patients undergoing appendectomy, cholecystectomy, partial colectomy, inguinal hernia, and small-bowel resection in a procedure with a resident physician involved were included. Exposures: Resident independence was graded as the attending surgeon scrubbed into the operation (AS) or the attending surgeon did not scrub (ANS). Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes of interest included rates of postoperative complication, severity of complications, and death. Results: Of 109 707 patients who met inclusion criteria, 11 181 (10%) underwent operations completed with ANS (mean [SD] age of patients, 61 [14] years; 10 527 [94%] male) and 98 526 (90%) operations completed with AS (mean [SD] age of patients, 63 [13] years; 93 081 [94%] male). Appendectomy (1112 [17%]), cholecystectomy (3185 [11%]), and inguinal hernia (5412 [13%]) were more often performed with ANS than small-bowel resection (527 [6%]) and colectomy (945 [4%]). On multivariable logistic regression adjusting for procedure type, age, body mass index, functional status, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, wound class, case priority, admission status, facility type, and year, factors associated with a complication included increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.19 [95% CI, 1.16-1.22]), emergent case priority (aOR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.33-1.50]), and resident independence (aOR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.03-1.22]). On propensity score matching, AS cases were score matched 1:1 to ANS cases based on the variables listed above. Comparing matched cohorts, there was no difference in complication rates (817 [7%] vs 784 [7%]) or death (91 [1%] vs 102 [1%]) based on attending physician involvement. Conclusions and Relevance: Core general surgery cases performed by senior-level trainees in such a way that the attending physician is not scrubbed into the case are being done safely with no significant difference in rates of postoperative complication.

Laparoscopic and robotic paraesophageal hernia repair in United States veterans: Clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with reoperation recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Despite surgical advances, rates of paraesophageal hernia recurrence remain high. We evaluate outcomes of paraesophageal hernia repair in United States veterans, safety of robotic technology, and risk factors for reoperation for recurrence. METHODS: The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic paraesophageal hernia repair from 2010 to 2021. The effect of patient and operative characteristics on outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS: 2,444 patients underwent paraesophageal hernia repair. 62 (2.5%) had a reoperation for recurrence. Emergent priority (aOR 18.3 [5.9-56.2]) and younger age (aOR 0.7 [0.5-0.9]) were associated with increased risk of reoperation. On comparison of propensity matched cohorts, repairs done robotically took longer (4.17 vs. 3.57 h, p < 0.001) but had 30-day outcomes and rates of reoperation for recurrence equivalent to laparoscopic repairs (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Emergent priority and younger age are associated with increased risk of reoperation for recurrent paraesophageal hernia. Robotic approaches take longer but are safe.

Use of a national registry to define a composite quality metric for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Quality assessment in oncologic surgery has traditionally involved reporting discrete metrics that may be difficult for patients and referring providers to interpret. We define a composite quality metric (CQM) for resection in rectal cancer. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing low anterior resection for clinical stage II-III rectal adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2017. CQM was defined as appropriate neoadjuvant therapy, margin-negative resection, appropriate lymph node assessment, postoperative length of stay (LOS) < 75th percentile, and no 30-day readmission or mortality. RESULTS: 19,721 patients met inclusion criteria; 8,083 (41%) had a CQM. The most common reasons for failure to achieve CQM: inadequate node assessment (27%), prolonged LOS (26%). On Cox modeling, CQM (aHR 0.70, 95% CI [0.66, 0.75]) was associated with improved overall survival. CONCLUSION: CQM is independently associated with improved survival in rectal cancer and may be an effective measure of quality.

The role of endoscopic resection in early-stage esophageal adenocarcinoma: Esophagectomy is associated with improved survival in patients presenting with clinical stage T1bN0 disease.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating endoscopic resection for early-stage (cT1N0M0) esophageal adenocarcinoma include small numbers of patients with T1b tumors. The role of endoscopic resection in esophageal adenocarcinoma remains incompletely defined. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting with esophageal adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2017. Those treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and endoscopic ablation were excluded. Patients undergoing endoscopic resection for cT1a and cT1b tumors were separately 1:1 propensity matched for relevant demographic and tumor factors to those undergoing esophagectomy for disease of like clinical stage. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare 5-year overall survival for matched cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 3,157 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 2,024 (64.1%) had cT1a and 1133 (35.9%) had cT1b disease. Among those with cT1a tumors, 461 (22.8%) underwent esophagectomy, 1,357 (67.0%) endoscopic resection, and 206 (10.2%) treatment with chemoradiotherapy alone. Among those with cT1b tumors, 649 (57.3%) underwent esophagectomy, 293 (25.9%) endoscopic resection, and 191 (16.8%) chemoradiotherapy. On unadjusted comparison, patients treated for esophageal adenocarcinoma with chemoradiotherapy had a lower rate of overall survival than those treated with endoscopic resection or esophagectomy (26.1% vs 73.1% vs 75.5%, P < .001). On comparison of matched cohorts, patients undergoing endoscopic resection for cT1b tumors demonstrated lower rates of overall survival than those undergoing esophagectomy (60.6% vs 74.1%, P = .0013), whereas those undergoing endoscopic resection for cT1a tumors demonstrated rates of overall survival statistically similar to those undergoing esophagectomy (77.8% vs 80.2%, P = .75). CONCLUSION: Esophagectomy is associated with improved overall survival relative to endoscopic resection in patients presenting with cT1bN0M0 but not in those with cT1a esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Is local excision an appropriate treatment modality in patients presenting with early-stage (cT1 N0 M0) rectal adenocarcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Prior studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of local excision relative to surgical resection in early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma have primarily included low rectal cancers treated with abdominoperineal resection as control comparison cohorts. The role of local excision in early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma is incompletely defined. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients with cT1 N0 M0 rectal adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2019. Patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection were excluded. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with use of local excision instead of low anterior resection. Patients undergoing local excision were propensity score matched for age, sex, demographic characteristics, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity class score, and tumor grade and size to those undergoing low anterior resection. Short-term clinical outcomes and 5-year overall survival for matched cohorts were compared by standard methods. RESULTS: A total of 5,693 patients met inclusion criteria; 1,973 patients underwent local excision and 3,720 low anterior resection. Age (adjusted odds ratio 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.37), tumor histology (poorly differentiated histology: adjusted odds ratio 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.86), and size (>4 cm: adjusted odds ratio 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.25) were associated with choice of intervention. On comparison of matched cohorts, patients undergoing LE demonstrated shorter hospital stay (2.4 ±9.8 vs 5.6 ±8.1 days; P < .001) and lower readmission rate (4% vs 7%; P = .002) but higher margin-positive resection rates (8% vs 2%; P < .001). Overall survival profiles for patients undergoing local excision were comparable with those for low anterior resection. CONCLUSION: In patients with cT1 N0 M0 rectal adenocarcinoma, local excision is associated with a higher margin-positive resection rate than low anterior resection but affords accelerated postprocedure recovery and comparable rates of overall survival.

A matched cohort comparison of endoscopic resection, chemoradiation and esophagectomy in the treatment of early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of endoscopic resection in early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has not been defined. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting with cT1N0M0 esophageal squamous cell cancer between 2004 and 2017. Transitive match methods were used to 1:1:1 propensity match patients undergoing endoscopic resection to patients undergoing esophagectomy and those undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy. Kaplan Meier method was used to compare 5-year overall survival profiles for matched cohorts. RESULTS: 301 patients (19%) underwent endoscopic resection; 497 (32%) esophagectomy; 767 (49%) chemoradiation. On comparison of matched cohorts, patients undergoing chemoradiation demonstrated lower rates of survival than those undergoing esophagectomy (32% vs. 59%, p < 0.0001) while those undergoing endoscopic resection demonstrated rates comparable to patients undergoing esophagectomy (53% vs. 59%, p = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: For cT1N0M0 esophageal squamous cell cancer, endoscopic resection is associated with rates of survival similar to those following esophagectomy and better than those following definitive chemoradiation.

The art of peer review: Guidelines to become a credible and constructive peer reviewer.

Peer review is a learned skill set that requires knowledge of study design, review construct, ethical considerations, and general expertise in a field of study. Participating in peer review is a rewarding and valuable experience in which all academic physicians are encouraged to partake. However, formal training opportunities in peer review are limited. In 2021, the Association of Women Surgeons and the journal Surgery collaborated to develop a Peer Review Academy. This academy is a 1-year longitudinal course that offers a select group of young women surgical trainees across all specialties a curriculum of monthly lectures and multiple formal mentored peer review opportunities to assist them in developing the foundation necessary to transition to independent peer review. The trainees and faculty mentors participating in the Association of Women Surgeons-Surgery Peer Review Academy compiled a summary of best peer review practices, which is intended to outline the elements of the skill set necessary to become a proficient peer reviewer.

Increased social media utilization and content creation by cardiothoracic surgery programs during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the landscape of professional activities, emphasizing virtual meetings and social media (SoMe) presence. Whether cardiothoracic programs increased their SoMe presence is unknown. We examined SoMe use and content creation by cardiothoracic surgery programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to identify all cardiothoracic surgery residency programs (n = 122), including independent (n = 74), integrated (n = 33), and congenital (n = 15) training programs at 78 US cardiothoracic surgery teaching institutions. We then manually searched Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to identify the associated residency and departmental accounts. The timeline for our search was between 10/2021 and 4/2022. March 2020 was used as the starting point for the COVID-19 pandemic. We also contacted the account managers to identify account content creators. The data are descriptively reported and analyzed. Results: Of 137 SoMe accounts from 78 US cardiothoracic surgery teaching institutions, 72 of 137 (52.6%) were on Twitter, 34 of 137 (24.8%) on Facebook, and 31 of 137 (22.6%) on Instagram. Most accounts were departmental accounts (105/137 = 76.6%) versus 32 of 137 (23.4%) training program accounts. Most training program-specific SoMe accounts across all platforms were created after the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas departmental accounts were pre-existing (P < .001). The most pronounced SoMe growth was on Instagram at the training program level, with 91.7% of Instagram accounts created after the pandemic. Trainees are the content creators for 94.4% of residency accounts and 33.3% of departmental accounts. Facebook's presence was stagnant. Congenital training programs did not have a specific SoMe presence. Conclusions: SoMe presence by cardiothoracic surgery training programs and departments has increased during the pandemic. Twitter is the most common platform, with a recent increased trend on Instagram. Trainees largely create content. SoMe education and training pathways may be needed for involved trainees to maximize their benefits.

The benefit of liver transplant beyond Milan criteria: An analysis using the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Published studies examining the efficacy of liver transplantation in patients presenting with hepatocellular cancer beyond the traditional Milan criteria for liver transplantation have primarily been single institution series with limited ability to compare outcomes to alternative methods of management. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting between 2004 and 2016 with histologically confirmed clinical stage III and IVA hepatocellular cancer. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with liver transplantation. Patients undergoing liver transplantation were 1:1 propensity score-matched for age, demographics, comorbid disease, clinical stage, and histologic resection margin to those undergoing surgical resection. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare overall survival profiles for matched cohorts. RESULTS: Seven hundred and ninety-two patients met inclusion criteria-590 (74.5%) underwent surgical resection and 202 (25.5%) liver transplantation. On adjusted analysis, patients undergoing liver transplantation were less likely to have advanced age (>60 years; odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval [0.21-0.71]) and to be of Black race (odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval [0.23-0.73]) or Asian (odds ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval [0.11-0.53]) ethnicity but were more likely to have advanced (Charlson score >2) comorbidity scores, (odds ratio 2.48, 95% confidence interval [1.58-3.90]) and more likely to have private health insurance (odds ratio 4.17, 95% confidence interval [1.31-18.66]) than those undergoing surgical resection. On Kaplan-Meier analysis of matched cohorts, patients undergoing liver transplantation demonstrated significantly better rates of 5-year overall survival (65.3% vs 26.3%, P < .0001) and longer median overall survival times than those undergoing resection (53.1 ± 2.78 vs 26.9 ± 1.20 months, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation offers the potential to be an effective treatment modality in select patients presenting with stage III and IVA hepatocellular cancer.

Are Residents Able to Perform a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Acceptable Outcomes When the Attending Is Not Scrubbed?

BACKGROUND: Recent socioeconomic pressures in healthcare and work hour resections have limited opportunities for resident autonomy and independent decision-making. We sought to evaluate whether contemporary senior residents are being given the opportunity to operate independently and whether patient outcomes are affected when the attending is not directly involved in an operation. STUDY DESIGN: The VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) Database was queried to identify patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 2004 and 2019. Cases were categorized as "attending" or "resident" depending on whether the attending surgeon was scrubbed. Cohorts were 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) for demographics, comorbidities, and facility case-mix. Clinical outcomes for matched cohorts were compared by standard methods. RESULTS: There were 23,831 records for patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy; 20,568 (86%) performed with the attending scrubbed, and 3,263 (14%) without the attending scrubbed. Over time there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cases without the attending scrubbed, 18% in 2004-2009 to 13% in 2015-2019 (p < 0.001). On PSM, 3,263 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the residents without the attending scrubbed were successfully matched (1:1) to cases with the attending scrubbed. On comparison of matched cohorts, procedures performed without the attending scrubbed were statistically longer (102 vs 98 minutes, p = 0.001) but with no difference in rates of postoperative complications (5% vs 5%, p = 0.9). CONCLUSION: In comparison with cases done with more direct attending involvement, residents perform laparoscopic cholecystectomies efficiently without increased complications. Over time, attendings are more frequently scrubbed for the operation.

Contemporary Matched-Cohort Comparison of Surgical Approach to Inguinal Hernia Repair: Are Minimally Invasive Approaches Associated with Higher Rates of Recurrence?

BACKGROUND: Current studies evaluating outcomes for open, laparoscopic, and robotic inguinal hernia repair, in general, include small numbers of robotic cases and are not powered to allow a direct comparison of the 3 approaches to repair. STUDY DESIGN: We queried the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database to identify patients undergoing initial elective inguinal hernia repair between 2013 and 2017. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to make risk-adjusted assessments of association between surgical approach and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 39,358 patients underwent initial elective inguinal hernia repair; 32,881 (84%) underwent an open approach, 6,135 (16%) underwent a laparoscopic approach, and 342 (1%) underwent a robotic-assisted approach. Two hundred sixty-six (1%) patients had a recurrent repair performed during follow-up. On univariate comparison, patients undergoing a robotic-assisted approach had longer operative times for unilateral repair than those undergoing either an open or laparoscopic (73 ± 31 vs 74 ± 29 vs 107 ± 41 minutes; p < 0.001) approach. On multivariable logistic regression, patients with a higher BMI had an increased adjusted risk of a postoperative complication, but there was no association between surgical approach and complication rate. Three hundred forty-two patients undergoing robotic repair were 1:3:3 propensity score matched to 1,026 patients undergoing laparoscopic and 1,026 undergoing open repair. On comparison of matched cohorts, there were no statistical differences between approaches regarding recurrence (0.6% vs 0.8% vs 0.6%, p > 0.05) or complication rate (0.6% vs 1.2% vs 1.2%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing initial elective inguinal hernia repair, rates of hernia recurrence are low independent of surgical approach. Both robotic and laparoscopic approaches demonstrate rates of early postoperative morbidity and recurrence similar to those for the open approach. The robotic approach is associated with longer operative time than either laparoscopic or open repair.

Low and moderate grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma: Is adjuvant radiotherapy associated with improved survival in patients undergoing R1 resection?

BACKGROUND: Few studies evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy (aXRT) in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma undergoing resection to histologically positive (R1) margins. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing R1 resection for localized, large (>5 cm) low and moderate grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma between 2004 and 2016. Kaplan Meier method was used to compare overall survival (OS) for patients receiving aXRT to a 1:2 propensity-matched cohort of patients undergoing resection alone. RESULTS: A total of 322 (76.5%) patients underwent R1 resection alone, while 99 (23.5%) underwent resection followed by aXRT. The 99 receiving aXRT were successfully 1:2 propensity-score matched to 198 undergoing resection alone. There was no difference in 5-year OS between matched cohorts (69.7% vs 76.2%, p = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing R1 resection of moderate- and well-differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma, use of aXRT is not associated with an improvement in OS.

Textbook oncologic outcome in pancreaticoduodenectomy: Do regionalization efforts make sense?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few empiric studies evaluate the effects of regionalization on pancreatic cancer care. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for clinical stage I/II pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2015. Facilities were categorized by annual pancreatectomy volume. Textbook oncologic outcome was defined as a margin negative resection, appropriate lymph node assessment, no prolonged hospitalization, no 30-day readmission, no 90-day mortality, and timely receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariable regression adjusted for comorbid disease, pathologic stage, and facility characteristics was used to evaluate the relationship between facility volume and textbook outcome. RESULTS: Sixteen thousand six hundred and two patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy; 3566 (21.5%) had a textbook outcome. Operations performed at high volume centers increased each year (45.8% in 2006 to 64.2% in 2015, p < 0.001) as did textbook outcome rates (14.3%-26.2%, p < 0.001). Surgical volume was associated with textbook outcome. High volume centers demonstrated higher unadjusted rates of textbook outcome (25.4% vs. 11.8% p < 0.01) and increased adjusted odds of textbook outcome relative to low volume centers (odds ratio: 2.39, [2.02, 2.85], p < 0.001). Textbook outcome was associated with improved overall survival independent of volume. CONCLUSIONS: Regionalization of care for pancreaticoduodenectomy to high volume centers is ongoing and is associated with improved quality of care.

Supervised independence in elective inguinal hernia repairs performed by surgical residents is not associated with compromised short clinical outcome or rates of reoperation for recurrence.

BACKGROUND: We evaluate the association between attending surgeon involvement and clinical outcome in elective inguinal hernia repairs performed by residents. METHODS: Patients undergoing initial elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair between 2004 and 2019 were identified using the Veterans Administration Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. The level of attending surgeon involvement was categorized as active (attending scrubbed [AS]) or passive (supervising the resident's performance but not scrubbed [ANS]). AS and ANS herniorrhaphies were 1:1 propensity matched for patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical approach, resident postgraduate level, and year of repair. Rates of complication and recurrence for matched cohorts were compared by standard methods. RESULTS: 30,784 patients met inclusion criteria. 5136 (17%) repairs were performed without the attending scrubbed. On comparison of matched-cohorts, overall complication rates (1.7% vs 1.2%, p = 0.07) and rates of recurrence (1.9% vs 1.4%, p = 0.041) for patients undergoing herniorrhaphy AS were statistically similar to those performed ANS. CONCLUSION: Supervised independence in elective inguinal hernia repair performed by surgical residents is not associated with inferior clinical outcomes.

Does resident autonomy in colectomy procedures result in inferior clinical outcomes?

BACKGROUND: The amount of time surgical trainees spend operating independently has been reduced by work-hour restrictions and shifts in the health care environment that impede autonomy. Few studies evaluate the association between clinical outcome and resident autonomy. METHODS: The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify patients undergoing partial colectomy for neoplasm between 2004 and 2019. Rectal resections, emergency procedures, and those involving postgraduate year 1 and 2 residents were excluded. Records were categorized as performed with the attending scrubbed or not scrubbed. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with operative time, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: In total, 7,347 patients met inclusion criteria; 6,890 (93.6%) were categorized as attending scrubbed and 457 (6.4%) as attending not scrubbed. The cohorts were similar in terms of patient demographics, including age, race, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class. There were no differences between cohorts in terms of operative time (attending not scrubbed 3.02 hours, attending scrubbed 3.07 hours, P = .42). On hierarchical logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, race, body mass index, functional status, cancer location, facility operative level, wound class, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, length of operation, operative modality (open or minimally invasive), postgraduate year of resident, and year, there were no differences in odds of complications, major morbidity, or mortality based on attending involvement. CONCLUSION: Colectomies performed by residents with appropriate levels of autonomy are efficient and safe. Our results indicate that attending surgeon judgment regarding resident autonomy is sound and that educational environments can be designed to foster resident independence and preserve clinical quality, safety, and efficiency.