Validation of Perioperative Troponin Levels for Predicting Postoperative Mortality and Long-Term Survival in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Hepatopancreato and biliary (HPB) tumors represent some of the leading cancer-related causes of death worldwide, with the majority of patients undergoing surgery in the context of a multimodal treatment strategy. Consequently, the implementation of an accurate risk stratification tool is crucial to facilitate informed consent, along with clinical decision making, and to compare surgical outcomes among different healthcare providers for either service evaluation or clinical audit. Perioperative troponin levels have been proposed as a feasible and easy-to-use tool in order to evaluate the risk of postoperative myocardial injury and 30-day mortality. The purpose of the present study is to validate the perioperative troponin levels as a prognostic factor regarding postoperative myocardial injury and 30-day mortality in Greek adult patients undergoing HPB surgery. Method: In total, 195 patients undergoing surgery performed by a single surgical team in a single tertiary hospital (2020-2022) were included. Perioperative levels of troponin before surgery and at 24 and 48 h postoperatively were assessed. Model accuracy was assessed by observed-to-expected (O:E) ratios, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Survival at one year postoperatively was compared between patients with high and normal TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively. Results: Thirteen patients (6.6%) died within 30 days of surgery. TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively were associated with excellent discrimination and provided the best-performing calibration. Patients with normal TnT levels at 24 h postoperatively were associated with higher long-term survival compared to those with high TnT levels. Conclusions: TnT at 24 h postoperatively is an efficient risk assessment tool that should be implemented in the perioperative pathway of patients undergoing surgery for HPB cancer.

The Surgical Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Comprehensive Review.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe cardiac complication with high mortality rates, especially when surgical intervention is delayed or absent. This review addresses the expanding role of surgery in managing IE, focusing on the variation in surgical treatment rates, the impact of patient demographics, and the effectiveness of different surgical approaches. Despite varying global data, a notable increase in surgical interventions for IE is evident, with over 50% of patients undergoing surgery in tertiary centres. This review synthesizes information from focused literature searches up to July 2023, covering preoperative to postoperative considerations and surgical strategies for IE. Key preoperative concerns include accurate diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial treatment, and the timing of surgery, which is particularly crucial for patients with heart failure or at risk of embolism. Surgical approaches vary based on valve involvement, with mitral valve repair showing promising outcomes compared to replacement. Aortic valve surgery, traditionally favouring replacement, now includes repair as a viable option. Emerging techniques such as sutureless valves and aortic homografts are explored, highlighting their potential advantages in specific IE cases. The review also delves into high-risk groups like intravenous drug users and the elderly, emphasizing the need for tailored surgical strategies. With an increasing number of patients presenting with prosthetic valve endocarditis and device-related IE, the review underscores the importance of comprehensive management strategies encompassing surgical and medical interventions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence in the surgical management of IE, highlighting the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach and ongoing research to optimize patient outcomes.

Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation (HTx) remains the last therapeutic resort for patients with advanced heart failure. The present work is a clinically focused review discussing current issues in heart transplantation. Several factors have been associated with the outcome of HTx, such as ABO and HLA compatibility, graft size, ischemic time, age, infections, and the cause of death, as well as imaging and laboratory tests. In 2018, UNOS changed the organ allocation policy for HTx. The aim of this change was to prioritize patients with a more severe clinical condition resulting in a reduction in mortality of people on the waiting list. Advanced heart failure and resistant angina are among the main indications of HTx, whereas active infection, peripheral vascular disease, malignancies, and increased body mass index (BMI) are important contraindications. The main complications of HTx include graft rejection, graft angiopathy, primary graft failure, infection, neoplasms, and retransplantation. Recent advances in the field of HTx include the first two porcine-to-human xenotransplantations, the inclusion of hepatitis C donors, donation after circulatory death, novel monitoring for acute cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection, and advances in donor heart preservation and transportation. Lastly, novel immunosuppression therapies such as daratumumab, belatacept, IL 6 directed therapy, and IgG endopeptidase have shown promising results.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Tight Junction Proteins Demonstrates the Aberrant Expression and Function of Zona Occludens 2 (ZO-2) Protein in Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic aortic aneurysm dissection (TAAD) represents a cardiac surgery emergency characterized by the disrupted integrity of the aortic wall and is associated with poor prognosis. In this context, the identification of biomarkers implicated in the pathobiology of TAAD is crucial. Our aim in the present original in silico study is to assess the differential gene expression profile of the tight junction proteins (TJPs) in patients with TAAD and to propose novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of this disease. METHODS: We implemented bioinformatics methodology in order to construct the gene network of the TJPs family, identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pathologic aortic tissue excised from patients with TAAD as compared to healthy aortic tissue, and assess the related biological functions and the associated miRNA families. RESULTS: Data regarding the transcriptomic profile of selected genes were retrieved and incorporated from three microarray datasets, including 23 TAAD and 20 healthy control samples. A total of 32 TJPs were assessed. The zona occludens 2 (ZO-2) protein encoded by the gene TJP2 was significantly under-expressed in patients with TAAD compared to the control group (p = 0.009). ZO-2 was associated with fair discrimination and calibration traits in predicting the TAAD presentation. CpG islands of ZO-2 were demonstrated. No important difference was found regarding ZO-2 expression between aneurysmal non-dissected and healthy control aortic tissue. Finally, we performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and uncovered the major biological functions and miRNA families (hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-2118-5p, hsa-miR-4691-3p, and hsa-miR-1229-3p) relevant to ZO-2. CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes demonstrated the important role of ZO-2 in the pathobiology of TAAD.

Surgery and Reason: The End of History and the Last Surgeon.

Arguably, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel has been one of the most influential philosophers of the 19th century [...].

Lessons learned from the EACTS-MSTCVS quality fellowship: a call to action for continuous improvement of cardiothoracic surgery outcomes in Europe.

The Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (MSTCVS), a pioneer in initiating and nurturing quality improvement strategies in statewide cardiothoracic surgery, has been running the Quality Collaborative (MSTCVS-QC) program since 2001. This initiative has significantly grown over the years, facilitating at least 4 in-person meetings annually. It actively engages cardiac and general thoracic surgeons, data managers and researchers from all 32 non-federally funded cardiothoracic surgery sites across Michigan. Broadening its influence on joint learning and clinical outcomes, the MSTCVS-QC formed a strategic partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state's largest private insurer, to further promote its initiatives. The MSTCVS-QC, operating from a dedicated QC centre employs an STS-associated database with additional aspects for data collection and analysis. The QC centre also organizes audits, facilitates collaborative meetings, disseminates surgical outcomes and champions the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives related to cardiothoracic surgery in Michigan. Recognizing the MSTCVS-QC's successful efforts in advancing quality improvement, the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS) introduced a fellowship program in 2018, facilitated through the EACTS Francis Fontan Fund (FFF). This program allows early-career academic physicians to spend 4-6 months with the MSTCVS-QC team in Ann Arbor. This article chronicles the evolution and functionality of the MSTCVS-QC, enriched by the experiences of the inaugural 4 EACTS/FFF fellows. Our objective is to emphasize the critical importance of fostering a culture of quality improvement and patient safety in the field of cardiothoracic surgery with open discussion of audited, high-quality data points. This principle, while implemented locally, has implications and value extending far beyond Europe, resonating globally.

The Emerging Role of "Failure to Rescue" as the Primary Quality Metric for Cardiovascular Surgery and Critical Care.

We conducted a thorough literature review on the emerging role of failure to rescue (FTR) as a quality metric for cardiovascular surgery and critical care. For this purpose, we identified all original research studies assessing the implementation of FTR in cardiovascular surgery and critical care from 1992 to 2023. All included studies were evaluated for their quality. Although all studies defined FTR as mortality after a surgical complication, a high heterogeneity has been reported among studies regarding the included complications. There are certain factors that affect the FTR, divided into hospital- and patient-related factors. The identification of these factors allowed us to build a stepwise roadmap to reduce the FTR rate. Recently, FTR has further evolved as a metric to assess morbidity instead of mortality, while being also evaluated in the context of interventional cardiology. All these advances are further discussed in the current review, thus providing all the necessary information to surgeons, anesthesiologists, and physicians willing to implement FTR as a metric of quality in their establishment.

ERS International Congress 2022: highlights from the Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation Assembly.

The thoracic surgery and lung transplantation assembly (Assembly 8) of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) is delighted to present the highlights from the 2022 ERS International Congress that took place in a hybrid version in Barcelona, Spain. We have selected the four main sessions that discussed recent advances across a wide range of topics including the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 on thoracic surgery and the challenges regarding lung transplantation in connective tissue diseases and common variable immunodeficiency. The sessions are summarised by early career members in close collaboration with the assembly faculty. We aim to provide the reader with an update and enhanced insight into the highlights of the conference in the fields of thoracic surgery and lung transplantation.

Validation of the Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) and SORT v2 for Predicting Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer surgery is related to significant mortality, thus necessitating the accurate assessment of perioperative risk to enhance treatment decision making. A Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) and SORT v2 have been developed to provide enhanced risk stratification. Our aim was to validate the accuracy of SORT and SORT v2 in pancreatic cancer surgery. METHOD: Two hundred and twelve patients were included and underwent pancreatic surgery for cancer. The surgeries were performed by a single surgical team in a single tertiary hospital (2016-2022). We assessed a total of four risk models: SORT, SORT v2, POSSUM (Physiology and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity), and P-POSSUM (Portsmouth-POSSUM). The accuracy of the model was evaluated using an observed-to-expected (O:E) ratio and the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate was 3.3% (7 patients). Both SORT and SORT v2 demonstrated excellent discrimination traits (AUC: 0.98 and AUC: 0.98, respectively) and provided the best-performing calibration in the total analysis. However, both tools underestimated the 30-day mortality. Furthermore, both reported a high level of calibration and discrimination in the subgroup of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, with previous ERCP, and CA19-9 ≥ 500 U/mL. CONCLUSIONS: SORT and SORT v2 are efficient risk-assessment tools that should be adopted in the perioperative pathway, shared decision-making (SDM) process, and counseling of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing surgery.

Demystifying the Value of Minimal Clinically Important Difference in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Context.

The aim of this review is to describe the different statistical methods used in estimating the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the assessment of quality of life (QOL)-related and clinical improvement interventions, along with their implementation in cardiothoracic surgery. A thorough literature search was performed in three databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar) for relevant articles from 1980 to 2022. We included articles that implemented and assessed statistical methods used to estimate the concept of MCID in cardiothoracic surgery. MCID has been successfully implemented in several medical specialties. Anchor-based and distribution-based methods are the most common approaches when evaluating the MCID. Nonetheless, we found only five studies investigating the MCID in the context of cardiothoracic surgery. Four of them used anchor-based approaches, and one used both anchor-based and distribution-based methods. MCID values were very variable depending on the methods applied, as was the clinical context of the study. The variables of interest were certain QOL measuring questionnaires, used as anchors. Multiple anchors and methods were applied, leading to different estimations of MCID. Since cardiothoracic surgery is related to important perioperative morbidity, MCID might represent an important and efficient adjunct tool to interpret clinical outcomes. The need for MCID methodology implementation is even higher in patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery. More studies are needed to validate different MCID methods in this context.

Differences in long-term survival outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting using single vs multiple arterial grafts: a meta-analysis with reconstructed time-to-event data and subgroup analyses.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the available literature on patients with coronary artery disease undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with either single (SAG) or multiple arterial grafting (MAG). METHODS: Original research studies that evaluated the long-term survival of MAG versus SAG were identified, from 1995 to 2022. The median overall survival (OS) and event-free OS were the primary endpoints. Comparison of median OS between the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) and radial artery (RA) as a second arterial conduit was the secondary endpoint. Subgroup analyses were performed regarding patients older than 70 years, with diabetes mellitus, and females. A sensitivity analysis was performed with the leave-one-out method. RESULTS: Forty-four studies were included in the qualitative and thirty-nine in the quantitative synthesis. After pooling data from 180 to 459 patients, the MAG group demonstrated a higher OS (HR, 0.589; 95% CI, 0.58-0.60; p < 0.0001) and event-free OS compared with the SAG group (HR, 0.828; 95% CI, 0.80-0.86; p < 0.0001). In addition, RITA was associated with superior OS compared with RA as a second arterial conduit (HR, 0.936; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98; p = 0.009). MAG was also superior to SAG in patients over 70 years, females, and patients with diabetes mellitus. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated a small-size study effect on the female subgroup analysis. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis indicates that MAG is associated with enhanced survival outcomes compared to SAG for patients undergoing isolated CABG.

Bioinformatic Analysis of the BCL-xL/BCL2L1 Interactome in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyze the differential gene expression of BCL-xL/BCL2L and the associated genetic, molecular, and biologic functions in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by employing advanced bioinformatics to investigate potential candidate genes implicated in the pathogenesis of PDAC. Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic techniques were employed to build the gene network of BCL-xL, to assess the translational profile of BCL-xL in PDAC, assess its role in predicting PDAC, and investigate the associated biologic functions and the regulating miRNA families. Results: Microarray data extracted from one dataset was incorporated, including 130 samples (PDAC: 69; Control: 61). In addition, the expression level of BCL-xL was higher in PDAC compared to control samples (p < 0.001). Furthermore, BCL-xL demonstrated excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.83 [95% Confidence Intervals: 0.76, 0.90]; p < 0.001) and calibration (R squared: 0.31) traits for PDAC. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated the molecular functions and miRNA families (hsa-miR-4804-5p, hsa-miR-4776-5p, hsa-miR-6770-3p, hsa-miR-3619-3p, and hsa-miR-7152-3p) related to BCL-xL. Conclusions: The current findings unveil the biological implications of BCL-xL in PDAC and the related molecular functions and miRNA families.

Meta-analysis of survival after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) versus pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) for malignant pleural mesothelioma in the context of macroscopic complete resection (MCR).

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the available literature on patients with MPM undergoing either extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) or pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). METHODS: Original research studies that evaluated long-term outcomes of P/D versus EPP were identified, from January 1980 to February 2022. The 30-days and 90-day mortality, along with the 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-year survival, the median overall survival, the macroscopic complete resection (MCR) rate, and the complications were calculated according to both a fixed and a random effect model. The Q and I2 statistic were used to test for heterogeneity among the studies. Sensitivity analysis was performed including only studies that incorporated the MCR concept. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included, incorporating a total of 4,852 patients treated with EPP and P/D. The 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the EPP group (OR: 2.79 [95% CI 1.30, 6.01]; p = 0.009). The median overall survival was higher in the P/D group (WMD:-4.55 [-6.05, -3.04]; p < 0.001). No differences were found regarding the 90-day mortality, MCR rate, and the 1-, 2-,3-, 5-year survival between the EPP and P/D groups. These findings were validated by the sensitivity analysis. The incidence of atrial fibrillation, hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, air leak, and reoperation was significantly increased in the EPP group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis indicates that P/D is associated with enhanced outcomes regarding 30-day mortality, median overall survival, and complications. The P/D approach should be preferred when technically feasible. However, the procedure of choice should be decided based on the goal of MCR in the safest approach for the patient.

Meta-analysis of robot-assisted versus video-assisted McKeown esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

We aim to review the available literature on patients with esophageal cancer treated with robot-assisted (RAME) or video-assisted McKeown's esophagectomy (VAME), to compare the efficacy and safety of the two approaches. Original research studies that evaluated perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RAME versus VAME were identified, from January 1990 to July 2022. The 90-day mortality, the R0 resection rate, the dissected lymph nodes, the perioperative parameters, and the complications were calculated according to a fixed and a random effect model. The Q statistics and I2 statistic were used to test for heterogeneity among the studies. Seven studies were included, incorporating a total of 1617 patients treated with RAME or VAME. The 90-day mortality was similar between the two groups. No difference was found regarding the R0 resection rate and the number of dissected lymph nodes. In addition, the perioperative parameters, along with the total complications were similar between RAME and VAME. Nonetheless, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was higher in the VAME group (OR:0.67 [95% CI: 0.49, 0.93]; p = 0.02). Finally, our outcomes were further validated by sensitivity analysis including only studies performing propensity score-matched analysis. Our meta-analysis showed that RAME was equivalent to VAME in terms of safety, feasibility, and oncologic adequacy. These results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of included studies. New Randomized Controlled trials, that are currently active, will provide further evidence with greater clarity to assess the effectiveness and safety of RAME for esophageal cancer.

Establishment of Patient-derived Orthotopic Xenografts (PDX) as Models for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. The purpose of the present study was to establish a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft model (PDOX) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), thus providing a tumor microenvironment resembling that of the human pancreas to identify novel potential biomarkers and treatment regimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PDAC tissue samples were received from 35 patients, following informed consent, and three mouse strains were implemented. RESULTS: Successful PDOX engraftment was performed in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) and NOD/SCID gamma (NSG) mice. Nonetheless, we found a higher rate of successful engraftment and tumor growth in NSG compared to NOD/SCID mice, possibly owning to the different level of immunosuppression and more specifically of the natural killer cells presence. CONCLUSION: Our suggested PDOX model represents a preclinical cancer research model with a high affinity for the patient's tumor microenvironment, thus enabling the acceleration of PDAC research.

Proximal versus extensive repair in acute type A aortic dissection: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare the safety and efficacy of proximal repair (PR) versus extensive repair (ER) for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). METHODS: A literature search in three databases was performed according to the PRISMA statement. Studies comparing PR versus ER for ATAAD were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 27 studies incorporating 7113 patients (PR: 5080; ER: 2033) were included. Patients undergoing PR presented decreased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.67 [95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.53-0.85]; p < 0.01) and post-operative bleeding (OR 0.75 [95% CI 0.60-0.95]; p = 0.02) compared to ER. Meta-regression analysis revealed that in-hospital mortality was not influenced by differences regarding the extent of dissection (p = 0.43). Cardiopulmonary bypass time (SMD:-0.93 [95% CI - 1.22, - 0.66]; p < 0.01) and length of hospital stay (SMD:-0.19 [95% CI - 0.34, - 0.05]; p = 0.01) were also lower in the PR group, while there was no difference in terms of renal failure and permanent neurological deficit. The ER approach demonstrated a lower post-discharge mortality compared to PR (OR 1.46 [95% CI 1.09, 1.97]; p = 0.01), while the post-discharge reoperation rate was comparable between the two groups. 1 and 3-year overall survival (OS) were comparable between PR and ER (OR 1.05, [95% CI 0.77-1.44]; p = 0.76) and (OR 1.27 [95% CI 0.86-1.86]; p = 0.23), respectively. The 5-year OS (OR 1.67 [95% CI 1.16-2.41]; p = 0.01) was in favor of the PR arm. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ATAAD, PR was associated with lower odds of in-hospital mortality but higher odds of late mortality. ER and PR demonstrated similar post-operative complication and reoperation rates.