Cost and clinical outcomes of postoperative intensive care unit versus general floor management in head and neck free flap reconstructive surgery patients.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical, surgical, and cost outcomes in patients undergoing head and neck free-flap reconstructive surgery in the setting of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) against general floor management. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of head and neck free-flap reconstructive surgery patients at a single tertiary academic medical center. Clinical data was obtained from medical records. Cost data was obtained via the Mayo Clinic Rochester Cost Data Warehouse, which assigns Medicare reimbursement rates to all professional billed services. RESULTS: A total of 502 patients were included, with 82 managed postoperatively in the ICU and 420 on the general floor. Major postoperative outcomes did not differ significantly between groups (Odds Ratio[OR] 1.54; p = 0.41). After covariate adjustments, patients managed in the ICU had a 3.29 day increased average length of hospital stay (Standard Error 0.71; p < 0.0001) and increased need for take-back surgery (OR 2.35; p = 0.02) when compared to the general floor. No significant differences were noted between groups in terms of early free-flap complications (OR 1.38;p = 0.35) or late free-flap complications (Hazard Ratio 0.81; p = 0.61). Short-term cost was $8772 higher in the ICU (range = $5640-$11,903; p < 0.01). Long-term cost did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Postoperative management of head and neck oncologic free-flap patients in the ICU does not significantly improve major postoperative outcomes or free-flap complications when compared to general floor care, but does increase short-term costs. General floor management may be appropriate when cardiopulmonary compromise is not present.

Bilateral Spigelian Hernias Robotic Repair: A Novel Approach to a Rare Surgical Entity.

Spigelian hernias are an uncommon protrusion defect noted between the rectus abdominis and the transversus abdominis muscles, at the semilunar line, with a low incidence of approximately 0.12% to 2% of all ventral hernias. Furthermore, the incidence of bilateral cases is noted to be even lower in the general population. They are associated with bowel incarceration and strangulation; hence surgical repair is indicated. Therapeutic alternatives for Spigelian hernias include open repair, however laparoscopic repair stands as the standard of care in these cases. Feasible and successful robotic repair has been reported, with associated advantages in terms of visualization and surgical instrument dexterity. We present the first ever reported cases of bilateral Spigelian hernias repaired using robotic approach. Two female Puerto Rican patients referred to our institution complaining of abdominal pain, where imaging studies found bilateral Spigelian hernias. In both cases, a transabdominal preperitoneal repair was performed using the Da Vinci Surgical System. Both patients were discharged home tolerating oral intake with adequate wound healing. On follow up visits, patients denied abdominal discomfort and had adequate wound healing. Robotic surgery for Spigelian hernias poses an advantage over laparoscopic repair as improved visualization, mobility, and precision in movements allow for more gentle tissue manipulation. Furthermore, this is the first evidence of safe and effective repair in the uncommon entity of bilateral cases, providing a newer alternative in the setting of such presentation.

Promoter DNA methylation patterns in oral, laryngeal and oropharyngeal anatomical regions are associated with tumor differentiation, nodal involvement and survival.

Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) can be used as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in precision medicine workflows. DNA from 21 HNSCC and 10 healthy oral tissue samples was hybridized to a genome-wide tiling array to identify DMRs in a discovery cohort. Downstream analyses identified differences in promoter DNA methylation patterns in oral, laryngeal and oropharyngeal anatomical regions associated with tumor differentiation, nodal involvement and survival. Genome-wide DMR analysis showed 2,565 DMRs common to the three subsites. A total of 738 DMRs were unique to laryngeal cancer (n=7), 889 DMRs were unique to oral cavity cancer (n=10) and 363 DMRs were unique to pharyngeal cancer (n=6). Based on the genome-wide analysis and a Gene Ontology analysis, 10 candidate genes were selected to test for prognostic value and association with clinicopathological features. TIMP3 was associated with tumor differentiation in oral cavity cancer (P=0.039), DAPK1 was associated with nodal involvement in pharyngeal cancer (P=0.017) and PAX1 was associated with tumor differentiation in laryngeal cancer (P=0.040). A total of five candidate genes were selected, DAPK1, CDH1, PAX1, CALCA and TIMP3, for a prevalence study in a larger validation cohort: Oral cavity cancer samples (n=42), pharyngeal cancer tissues (n=25) and laryngeal cancer samples (n=52). PAX1 hypermethylation differed across HNSCC anatomic subsites (P=0.029), and was predominantly detected in laryngeal cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P=0.043) and Cox regression analysis of overall survival (P=0.001) showed that DAPK1 methylation is associated with better prognosis in HNSCC. The findings of the present study showed that the HNSCC subsites oral cavity, pharynx and larynx display substantial differences in aberrant DNA methylation patterns, which may serve as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Bedside Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Recurrent Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, an Alternative to Current Methods in a Low-Resource Tertiary Center.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a condition presenting with tumors of the abdominal cavity presenting which could lead abdominal distention and ascites secondary to mucus production. Tumors of this type are potentially fatal due to their obstructing of abdominal structures. The current management of the condition includes surgical debulking with intraoperative or postoperative chemotherapy with protocols such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), respectively. We describe herein a case in which a tumor debulking surgery was performed. Afterwards, we placed intraperitoneal catheters so that a 4-day regimen of bedside intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy could be administered on her bedside. Chemotherapy was infused and removed with the use of Hemovac and Jackson-Pratt drainage catheter systems attached to suction, for the intrahospital management of recurrent PMP in a young Hispanic female patient. Though it requires further study, we propose this method as a safe and effective alternative to current strategies at low income or resources centers.

A novel combined transoral and transcervical surgical approach for recurrent metastatic medullary thyroid cancer to the parapharyngeal space.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) represents less than 1% of all thyroid cancers. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for locoregional disease. Unfortunately, patients with recurrence may present with metastasis to challenging anatomic locations. We describe the first case of a recurrent MTC metastatic to the parapharyngeal space (PPS) that was managed using a combined transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and transcervical (TC) approach. We review the presentation, natural history, diagnosis and management of recurrent MTC, and describe a novel combined TORS-TC surgical approach for the treatment of PPS metastasis. A 66-year-old male with history of MTC treated with total thyroidectomy in 2000 and a liver resection in 2011 for metastatic MTC was referred to our Head and Neck Surgery Clinic in October 2016 due to increased calcitonin and CEA levels. Exam was significant for mild right tonsillar/pharyngeal bulging and induration. Imaging with PET-CT and MRI showed an enlarging ovoid mass centered within the right PPS without the presence of another systemic metastasis. FNA was consistent with MTC. The patient was taken to the operating room for a combined TORS-TC approach. Final pathology was consistent with metastatic MTC. Until recently, PPS tumors have been managed using highly morbid and cosmetically disfiguring open surgical approach. TORS provides a safe and effective alternative.