The effects of bariatric surgery on cardiac function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with alterations in cardiac structure and haemodynamics leading to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Culminating evidence suggests improvement of cardiac structure and function following bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on cardiac structure and function in patients before and after bariatric surgery. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting pre- and postoperative cardiac structure and function parameters on cardiac imaging in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Eighty studies of 3332 patients were included. Bariatric surgery is associated with a statistically significant improvement in cardiac geometry and function including a decrease of 12.2% (95% CI 0.096-0.149; p < 0.001) in left ventricular (LV) mass index, an increase of 0.155 (95% CI 0.106-0.205; p < 0.001) in E/A ratio, a decrease of 2.012 mm (95% CI 1.356-2.699; p < 0.001) in left atrial diameter, a decrease of 1.16 mm (95% CI 0.62-1.69; p < 0.001) in LV diastolic dimension, and an increase of 1.636% (95% CI 0.706-2.566; p < 0.001) in LV ejection fraction after surgery. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery led to reverse remodelling and improvement in cardiac geometry and function driven by metabolic and haemodynamic factors.

The Use of Indocyanine Green and Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging Versus Blue Dye in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Cutaneous Melanoma: A Retrospective, Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared fluorescence imaging is a promising option for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in cutaneous melanoma. The study objective was to compare the performance of ICG and blue dye at detecting SLNs with radioisotope nanocolloid (technetium-99). METHODS: Between April 2018 and June 2022, 293 consecutive patients with cutaneous melanoma (Breslow thickness ≥ 0.8 mm) underwent wide local excision and SLN biopsy. Patients were divided into group A (ICG; n = 122) and group B (blue dye; n = 163). All patients underwent SPECT/CT imaging preoperatively. SLN detection parameters and complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 285 patients had complete data and were included in the analysis. The median age was 62.0 (range 10-91) years, and 139 (48.8%) were female patients. The mean Breslow thickness was 2.6 mm, 89 (31.2%) patients had ulceration, and 179 (62.8%) patients had mitosis ≥ 1 mm2. The mean number of SLNs detected per patient in group A was 1.58 and group B was 1.48. In groups A and B, the SLN detection rate was 96.7% versus 89.6% (p = 0.022) and the pathological SLN detection rate was 92.3% versus 97.1% (p = 0.481), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ICG had a higher SLN detection rate and equal pathological SLN detection rate to blue dye. ICG may not be inferior to blue dye and is a useful adjunct to radioisotope in SLN biopsy in cutaneous melanoma.

Risk Factors for the Development of Early Recurrence in Patients with Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Disease recurrence after retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) surgery is common, and resection may offer no benefit for patients who experience recurrence early. This study examined the incidence of early recurrence (EREC) in RPS patients, and the association between EREC and prognosis, aiming to identify the factors associated with EREC. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for primary RPS from 2008 to 2019 at two tertiary RPS centers were analyzed. The study defined EREC as any evidence of local recurrence and/or distant metastases on the CT scan up to 6 months after surgery. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of EREC. RESULTS: Of the 692 patients who underwent surgery during the study period, 657 were included in the analysis. Sixty-five of these patients (9.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.7-12.4%) developed EREC. Five-year OS was 3% for the patients with EREC versus 76% for those without EREC (p < 0.001). Patient characteristics were compared between the EREC and non-EREC patients, and EREC was found to be significantly associated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (p = 0.006), tumor histology (p = 0.002), tumor grading (p < 0.001), radiotherapy (p = 0.04), and postoperative complications measured as a comprehensive complications index value (p = 0.003). However, the only significant independent predictor of EREC in the multivariable analysis was grade 3 tumors, with an odds ratio of 14.8 (95% CI, 4.44-49.2; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Early recurrence is associated with a poor prognosis, and a high tumor grade is an independent predictor for the development of EREC. Patients with EREC may benefit the most from new therapeutic options such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Vagal Nerve Therapy in the Management of Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The vagus nerve has an important role in satiety, metabolism, and autonomic control in upper gastrointestinal function. However, the role and effects of vagal nerve therapy on weight loss remain controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of vagal nerve therapy on weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and obesity-related conditions. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched for studies up to April 2022 that reported on percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) or BMI at 12 months or remission of obesity-related conditions following vagal nerve therapy from January 2000 to April 2022. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated, meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. RESULTS: Fifteen studies, of which nine were randomised controlled trials, of 1,447 patients were included. Vagal nerve therapy led to some improvement in %EWL (WMD 17.19%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.94-23.44; p < 0.001) and BMI (WMD -2.24 kg/m2; 95% CI: -4.07 to -0.42; p = 0.016). There was a general improvement found in HbA1c following vagal nerve therapy when compared to no treatment given. No major complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Vagal nerve therapy can safely result in a mild-to-moderate improvement in weight loss. However, further clinical trials are required to confirm these results and investigate the possibility of the long-term benefit of vagal nerve therapy as a dual therapy combined with standard surgical bariatric interventions.

Breath Testing in the Surgical Setting: Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The potential for exhaled breath to be a valuable diagnostic tool is often overlooked as it can be difficult to imagine how a barely visible sample of breath could hold such a rich source of information about the state of our health. However, technological advances over the last 50 years have enabled us to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath, and this provides the key to understanding the wealth of information contained within these readily available samples. SUMMARY: VOCs are produced as a by-product of metabolism; hence, changes in the underlying physiological processes will be reflected in the exact composition of VOCs in exhaled breath. It has been shown that characteristic changes occur in the breath VOC profile associated with certain diseases including cancer, which may enable the non-invasive detection of cancer at primary care level for patients with vague symptoms. The use of breath testing as a diagnostic tool has many advantages. It is non-invasive and quick, and the test is widely accepted by patients and clinicians. However, breath samples provide a snapshot of the VOCs present in a particular patient at a given point in time, so this can be heavily influenced by external factors such as diet, smoking, and the environment. These must all be accounted for when attempting to draw conclusions about disease status. This review focuses on the current applications for breath testing in the field of surgery, as well as discussing the challenges encountered with developing a breath test in a clinical environment. The future of breath testing in the surgical setting is also discussed, including the translation of breath research into clinical practice. KEY MESSAGES: Analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath can identify the presence of underlying disease including cancer as well as other infectious or inflammatory conditions. Despite the patient factors, environmental factors, storage, and transport considerations that must be accounted for, breath testing demonstrates ideal characteristics for a triage test, being non-invasive, simple, and universally acceptable to patients and clinicians. Many novel biomarkers and diagnostic tests fail to translate into clinical practice because their potential clinical application does not align with the requirements and unmet needs of the healthcare sector. Non-invasive breath testing, however, has the great potential to revolutionise the early detection of diseases, such as cancer, in the surgical setting for patients with vague symptoms.

Association Between Ageing and Short-Term Survival Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: As the population ages, more elderly patients are receiving surgery for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). However, high-quality data investigating associations between ageing and prognosis are lacking. Our study aimed to investigate whether ageing is associated with inferior short-term survival outcomes after RPS surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for primary RPS between 2008 and 2019 at two tertiary sarcoma centres were analysed. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality, and the primary explanatory variable was patient age, classified as: < 55, 55-64, 65-74 or 75+ years. RESULTS: The 692 patients undergoing surgery (mean age 60.8 ± 13.8 years) had a 1-year mortality rate of 9.4%, which differed significantly by age (p < 0.001), with rates of 7.2%, 6.9%, 8.7% and 22.8% for the < 55, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+ years groups, respectively. The distribution of causes of death also differed significantly by age (p = 0.023), with 22% and 28% of deaths in the 65-74 and 75+ years groups caused by post-operative complications, versus none in the < 55 and 55-64 years groups. On multivariable analysis, age of 75+ years (versus < 55 years) was a significant independent predictor of 1-year mortality [odds ratio (OR) 7.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.63-18.9, p < 0.001]; no significant increase in risk was observed in the 55-64 (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.28-1.87) or 65-74 (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.37-2.15) years groups. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative complications are an important cause of deaths in elderly patients. These findings are relevant to decision-making and counselling when surgery is considered for patients with RPS.

Can surgical skills be taught using technological advances online? A comparative study of online and face-to-face surgical skills training.

INTRODUCTION: Online teaching has rapidly emerged as a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face education. How to teach surgical skills in the online environment, however, has not yet been fully established nor evaluated. METHODS: An international 1-day online surgical skills course consisting of lectures, pre-recorded virtual workshops, live demonstrations and along with surgical skills teaching in breakout rooms was organised. Based on existing learning theories, new methods were developed to deliver skills teaching online. Simultaneously, traditional in-person surgical skills teaching was also conducted and used as a benchmark. Skills development was assessed by trained demonstrators and self-reported competency scores were compared between the online and face-to-face event. RESULTS: 553 delegates from 20 different countries attended the online course. Of these, 64 were trained in breakout rooms with a 1:5 demonstrator-to-delegate ratio whilst the remaining 489 delegates participated in didactic skills development sessions. In a separate face-to-face course, 20 delegates were trained with traditional methods. Demonstrators rated the competency of delegates for suturing, tendon repair and vascular anastomosis. There was no significant difference in the competency ratings of delegates receiving online teaching or face-to-face teaching (p = 0.253, p = 0.084, p = 1.00, respectively). The development of the same skills to "articulation" were not different between formats (p = 0.841, p = 0.792, p = 1.00, respectively). Post course self-rated competency scores improved for all technical skills (p < 0.001). Small group sessions, both online and face-to-face, received higher satisfaction ratings compared to large group sessions in terms of clarity of instructions, answers to questions and demonstrator feedback. Overall feedback on teaching quality, however, was equivalent across both groups. DISCUSSION: Online teaching of surgical skills for early training years is an appropriate alternative to face-to-face teaching.

Requirement of preoperative blood typing for cholecystectomy and appendectomy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Blood typing, or group and save (G&S) testing, is commonly performed prior to cholecystectomy and appendectomy in many hospitals. In order to determine whether G&S testing is required prior to these procedures, we set out to evaluate the relevant literature and associated rates of perioperative blood transfusion. METHODS: Studies from January 1990 to June 2021 assessing the requirement of preoperative G&S testing for elective or emergency cholecystectomy and appendectomy were retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases. The search was performed on 6th July 2021 (PROSPERO registration number CRD42021267967). Number of patients, co-morbidities, operation performed, number of patients that underwent preoperative G&S testing, perioperative transfusion rates and financial costs were extracted. RESULTS: We initially screened 194 studies of which 15 retrospective studies, a total of 477,437 patients, specifically met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies reported on cholecystectomy, two studies on appendectomy and three studies included both procedures. Where reported, a total of 177,539/469,342 (37.8%) patients underwent preoperative G&S testing with a perioperative transfusion rate of 2.1% (range 0.0 to 2.1%). The main preoperative risk factors associated with perioperative blood transfusion identified include cardiovascular co-morbidity, coagulopathy, anaemia and haematological malignancy. All 15 studies concluded that routine G&S is not warranted. CONCLUSION: The current evidence suggests that G&S is not necessarily required for all patients undergoing cholecystectomy or appendectomy. Having a targeted G&S approach would reduce delays in elective and emergency lists, reduce the burden on the blood transfusion service and have financial implications.

Clinical outcomes of single-stage versus two-stage laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass in the management of obesity (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2): a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in patients with obesity, BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2, can be a challenging operation. Weight loss with intra-gastric balloon (IGB) insertion prior to LRYGB may improve operative outcomes. METHODS: Between June 2000 and June 2020, patients with a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 underwent either IGB insertion followed by LRYGB (two-stage group), or LRYGB as the definitive bariatric procedure (single-stage group) in our institution. The two-stage procedure was adopted for high risk individuals. Primary outcome measures were percentage total weight loss (%TWL) at 24 months, length of stay and postoperative morbidity. Propensity score analysis was used to account for differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 155 (mean age 42.9 years ± 10.60; mean BMI 54.6 kg/m2 ± 4.53) underwent either the two-stage (n = 30) or single-stage procedure (n = 125) depending on preoperative fitness. At 6 months following LRYGB, there was a significant difference in %TWL between the groups in a matched analysis (11.9% vs 23.7%, p < 0.001). At 24 months, there was no difference in %TWL (32.0% vs 34.7%, p = 0.13). Median hospital stay following LRYGB was 2.0 (1-4) days with the two-stage vs 2.0 (0-14) days for the single-stage approach (p = 0.75). There was also no significant difference in complication rates (p = 0.058) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in weight loss after one or two-stage procedures in the treatment of patients with a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 super obesity in a propensity score weighted analysis at 24 months. Length of stay and perioperative complications were similar for high risk patients; however, the two-stage approach was associated with delayed weight loss. Single-stage management is recommended for moderate risk patients, particularly with significant metabolic disorders, whilst two-stage approach is a safe and feasible pathway for high risk individuals.

Omalizumab versus intranasal steroids in the post-operative management of patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis.

PURPOSE: Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is a common disorder with a high prevalence and a very high incidence of recurrence. Management includes surgery and medical treatment in the form of local and/or systemic steroids. However, some cases are resistant to the action of steroids and further treatment is warranted. Being an immune-mediated disorder, targeting IgE seems a logical step. Immunotherapy drugs acting on the IgE (e.g. omalizumab) can modify the clinical course of the disease. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of omalizumab on the clinical course of patients undergoing surgery for AFRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a two-arm prospective, randomized, single blind clinical trial among patients with AFRS. Twenty patients were included and randomly divided into two groups: Group A; 10 patients received a single subcutaneous injection of omalizumab (Xolair ' Novartis) (150 mg) 2 weeks postoperatively. Group B: 10 patients received local steroids nasal sprays (budesonide or mometasone furoate, 100 µg twice daily for 6 months, starting 2 weeks postoperatively. All patients underwent history, examination, CT scan and IgE level estimation and were submitted to endoscopic sinus surgery. They were evaluated at 4 weeks interval for 6 months. RESULTS: In both groups there were highly significant differences between pre/post-operative SNOT-20 scores, TNSS scores, total IgE level and Philpott-Javer staging scores. Comparison between the two study groups at 24 weeks showed a highly significant difference (p = 0.001) between post-operative SNOT 20 and TNSS scores in favour of group A. There was no statistically significant difference between the two study groups as regarding postoperative total IgE or Philpott-Javer scores. There were two recurrences in both arms, but no significant side effects. DISCUSSION: We compared a single post operative injection of omalizumab with twice daily intranasal steroid spray for 6 months. Both treatments were effective, but the omalizumab group showed a more significant clinical and endoscopic response. There were no significant side effects in both arms. This novel approach used a single low dose injection of omalizumab increased the compliance of the patients with minimal complications. Longer follow-up of the patients is ongoing to determine the optimal time for re-injection. The only downside was the higher cost of omalizumab compared to that of local steroids.

Maternal outcomes following massive obstetric haemorrhage in an inner-city maternity unit.

This retrospective study evaluates the effects of a massive postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) on maternal outcomes in an inner-city London hospital. One hundred and eighty-four cases of a massive primary PPH (>2000 mL) were identified over a seven-year period. A sub-group analysis was performed to assess whether 2000-3000 mL blood loss (134 cases) was associated with specific maternal characteristics or reduced adverse outcomes compared with >3000 mL blood loss (50 cases). Bakri balloon tamponade (BBT) was the most frequent form of surgical management in both groups (21 vs. 46%), followed by compression sutures (16.4 vs. 24%), the 'uterine sandwich' technique (6.7 vs. 14%) and the hysterectomy (0 vs. 4%). There were significant differences between these groups in placenta praevia as the cause of blood loss (8 vs. 22%, p = .01), length of stay (4.6 vs. 5.9 d, p = .02), use of BBT (p = <.01) and hysterectomy (p = .03). PPH is associated with premature maternal morbidity and mortality. The incidence is increasing in high income countries despite various guidelines, skills training and identification of risk factors. A prediction and assessment of blood loss remain the very cornerstone for a prompt, effective management. Our study shows that the morbidity is clearly related to the amount of blood loss and highlights the existing variable practices for the management of PPH. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? A postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Massive PPH (>2000 mL) rates continue to rise in developed countries. The management of PPH includes the medical treatment followed by surgical methods including the Bakri balloon tamponade (BBT), compression sutures or a hysterectomy. What do the results of this study add? This retrospective study evaluates the effects of a massive PPH (blood loss >2000 mL) on maternal outcomes. One hundred and eighty-four cases of a massive PPH were identified over a seven-year period. Sub-group analysis was performed to assess whether a 2000-3000 mL blood loss was associated with specific maternal characteristics and differences in obstetric practice compared with a >3000 mL blood loss. There were significant differences between these groups in placenta praevia, as the cause of blood loss, the length of stay, the use of BBT and the hysterectomy rates. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? An early identification of the risk factors of a massive PPH is essential to improve maternal outcomes and is an important part of the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum period. The prediction and assessment of blood loss remain key for a prompt, effective management. The amount of blood loss is related to adverse maternal outcomes and the management techniques applied. BBT has an essential role to play and should be included as part of the core training in the management of a PPH.

Retrospective Cohort Study to Assess Outcomes, Cost-Effectiveness, and Patient Satisfaction in Primary Vaginal Ovarian Cystectomy versus the Laparoscopic Approach.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare surgical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction in women undergoing primary vaginal or laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for benign ovarian cysts. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Gynecologic unit at a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty patients who underwent primary ovarian cystectomy either through the vaginal route via posterior colpotomy (n = 29) or laparoscopic route (n = 21). INTERVENTIONS: Nonmalignant ovarian cysts were initially determined by transvaginal ultrasonography and serum tumor markers. The index group of women (n = 29) underwent vaginal ovarian cystectomy via a posterior colpotomy incision, whereas the control group (n = 21) comprised women who had laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy using the traditional "grasp and peel" technique. The following outcomes were evaluated: duration of surgery, intraoperative complications, estimated blood loss, length of inpatient stay, and postoperative pain (visual analogue scale). The average cost of both surgical methods was calculated by factoring in theater time, equipment required, and the length of hospital stay. Patients were then surveyed to compare postoperative pain and satisfaction scores as well as the time taken to return to work (in days). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The 2 groups had similar mean ages (35.79 vs 36.72 years) and cyst diameter (6.8 vs 6.6 cm) (p > .05 in both cases). Vaginal ovarian cystectomy took a mean of 13.7 minutes longer (91.7 vs 78.0 minutes, p < .001) to perform and resulted in a greater mean estimated blood loss (116.1 vs 95 mL, p < .001). The spillage rate in the index group was 6-fold less compared with control cases (6% ± 2.4% vs 35% ± 4.6, p < .01). Although patients from the index group spent a mean of 2 hours longer as inpatients (10.9 vs 8.9 hours, p < .001), they reported a lower mean visual analogue pain score (2.01/10 vs 3.95/10, p < .05) and higher patient satisfaction scores (8.2/10 vs 6.5/10, p < .001). Mean perioperative cost of women who underwent vaginal ovarian cystectomy was lower (£1690.13 vs 1761.67) and they returned to work quicker compared with the laparoscopic group (13.6 vs 39.2 days, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Vaginal ovarian cystectomies took longer to perform and led to longer inpatient stay. However, these women had less postoperative pain and reported higher satisfaction scores compared with laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, with a quicker return to work. The vaginal approach is a viable and cost-effective alternative to the laparoscopic approach in carefully selected patients.

Surgical Management of Primary Anorectal Melanoma: Is Less More?

PURPOSE: Ano-uro-genital (AUG) Mucosal Melanoma UK guidelines recommended a less radical surgical strategy for anorectal melanoma (ARM) where possible. We report our experience of ARM consistent with that approach including clinical presentation, intervention undertaken and prognosis. METHODS: We present a retrospective study of 15 consecutive patients with ARM surgically treated between November 2014 and April 2023. Patients were divided into the two surgery types: wide local excision (WLE, n = 9) and abdominoperineal resection (APR, n = 6). Data on demographics, diagnosis, treatment and oncological outcomes were assessed between the groups. RESULTS: The mean age was 65.3 ± 17.4 years and 6 (40.0%) were female patients. Nine patients (60.0%) were diagnosed with stage I and six patients (40.0%) with stage II disease. R0 margins were achieved in all cases. The overall mean length of stay was lower following WLE compared to APR (2.6 ± 2.4 days versus 14.0 ± 9.8 days, p = 0.032). Two complications were observed in the WLE group compared to four complications after APR (p = 0.605). Five patients (55.5%) developed local/distant recurrence in the WLE group compared to three patients (50.0%) in the APR group (p = 0.707), with a median overall survival of 38.5 (12-83) months versus 26.5 (14-48) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving clear margins by the least radical fashion may have equivalent oncological outcomes to radical surgery, potentially reducing patient morbidity and preserving function. In our experience, the surgical management of ARM consistent with the 'less is more' approach adhering to AUG guidelines has acceptable outcomes.

Oncological outcomes of local excision versus radical surgery for early rectal cancer in the context of staging and surveillance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Local resection (LR) methods for rectal cancer are generally considered in the palliative setting or for patients deemed a high anaesthetic risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare oncological outcomes of LR and radical resection (RR) for early rectal cancer in the context of staging and surveillance assessment. METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase and Emcare databases was performed for studies that reported data on clinical outcomes for both LR and RR for early rectal cancer from January 1995 to April 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect models and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. The quality of assessment was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool for randomised controlled trials. RESULTS: Twenty studies with 12,022 patients were included: 6,476 patients had LR and 5,546 patients underwent RR. RR led to an improvement in 5-year overall survival (OR 1.84; 95 % CI 1.54-2.20; p < 0.0001; I2 20 %) and local recurrence (OR 3.06; 95 % CI 2.02-4.64; p < 0.0001; I2 39 %) when compared to LR. However, when staging and surveillance methods were clearly adopted in LR cases, there was an improvement in R0 rates (96.7 % vs 85.6 %), 5-year disease-free survival (93.0 % vs 77.9 %) and overall survival (81.6 % vs 79.0 %) compared to when staging and surveillance was not reported/performed. CONCLUSIONS: LR may be appropriate for selected patients without poor prognostic factors in early rectal cancer. This study also highlights that there is currently no single standardised staging or surveillance approach being adopted in the management of early rectal cancer. A more specified and standardised preoperative staging for patient selection as well as clinical and image-based surveillance protocols is needed.

Magnetic sphincter augmentation in the management of gastro-esophageal reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) through placement of the LINX device is an alternative to fundoplication in the management of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess efficacy, quality of life and safety in patients that underwent MSA, with a comparison to fundoplication. METHODS: A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases was performed for studies that reported data on outcomes of MSA, with or without a comparison group undergoing fundoplication, for GERD from January 2000 to January 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect models and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies with 8,075 patients were included: 6,983 patients underwent MSA and 1,092 patients had laparoscopic fundoplication procedure. Ten of these studies (seven retrospective and three prospective) directly compared MSA with fundoplication. A higher proportion of individuals successfully discontinued proton-pump inhibitors (P<0.001; WMD 0.83; 95% CI 0.72-0.93; I2=96.8%) and had higher patient satisfaction (P<0.001; WMD 0.85; 95% CI 0.78-0.93; I2=85.2%) following MSA when compared to fundoplication. Functional outcomes were better after MSA than after fundoplication including ability to belch (P<0.001; WMD 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.98; I2=67.8) and emesis (P<0.001; WMD 0.92; 95% CI 0.89-0.95; I2=42.8%), and bloating (P=0.003; WMD 0.20; 95% CI 0.07-0.33; I2=97.0%). MSA had higher rates of dysphagia (P=0.001; WMD 0.41; 95% CI 0.17-0.65; I2=97.3%) when compared to fundoplication. The overall erosion and removal rate following MSA was 0.24% and 3.9% respectively, with no difference in surgical re-intervention rates between MSA and fundoplication (P=0.446; WMD 0.001; 95% CI -0.001-0.002; I2 =78.5%). CONCLUSIONS: MSA is a safe and effective procedure at reducing symptom burden of GERD and can potentially improve patient satisfaction and functional outcomes. However, randomized controlled trials directly comparing MSA with fundoplication are necessary to determine where MSA precisely fits in the management pathway of GERD.

Development and Evaluation of a Quality Assessment Tool for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos: A Review and Comparison of Academic and Online Video Resources.

BACKGROUND: Video recording of surgical procedures is increasing in popularity. They are presented in various platforms, many of which are not peer-reviewed. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) videos are widely available; however, there is limited evidence supporting the use of reporting guidelines when uploading LSG videos to create a valuable educational video. We aimed to determine the variations and establish the quality of published LSG videos, in both peer-reviewed literature and on YouTube, using a newly designed checklist to improve the quality and enhance the transparency of video reporting. METHODS: A quality assessment tool was designed by using existing research and society guidelines, such as the Bariatric Metabolic Surgery Standardization (BMSS). A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was performed on MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify video case reports (academic videos) and a similar search was performed on the commercial YouTube platform (commercial videos) simultaneously. All videos displaying LSG were reviewed and scored using the quality assessment tool. Academic and commercial videos were subsequently compared and an evidence-based checklist was created. RESULTS: A total of 93 LSG recordings including 26 academic and 67 commercial videos were reviewed. Mean score of the checklist was 5/11 and 4/11 for videos published in articles and YouTube, respectively. Academic videos had higher rates of describing instruments used, such as orogastric tube (P < 0.001) and stapler information (P = 0.04). Fifty-four percent of academic videos described short-term patient outcomes, while not reported in commercial videos (P < 0.001). Sleeve resection status was not universally reported. CONCLUSIONS: Videos published in the academic literature are describing steps in greater detail with more emphasis on specific technical elements and patient outcomes and thus have a higher educational value. A new quality assessment tool has been proposed for video reporting guidelines to improve the reliability and value of published video research.