Investigating preoperative myoglobin level as predictive factor for acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a retrospective observational study

Abstract Background: Early identification of patients at risk of AKI after cardiac surgery is of critical importance for optimizing perioperative management and improving outcomes. This study aimed to identify the association between preoperative myoglobin levels and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing valve surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: This retrospective study included 293 patients aged over 17 years who underwent valve surgery or CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass. We excluded 87 patients as they met the exclusion criteria. Therefore, 206 patients were included in the final analysis. The patients' demographics as well as intraoperative and postoperative data were collected from electronic medical records. AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification system. Results: Of the 206 patients included in this study, 77 developed AKI. The patients who developed AKI were older, had a history of hypertension, underwent valve surgery with concomitant CABG, had lower preoperative hemoglobin levels, and experienced prolonged extracorporeal circulation (ECC) times. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative myoglobin levels and ECC time were correlated with the development of AKI. A higher preoperative myoglobin level was an independent risk factor for the development of cardiac surgery-associated AKI. Conclusions: Higher preoperative myoglobin levels may enable physicians to identify patients at risk of developing AKI and optimize management accordingly.

Complicaciones de cirugía de Whipple en un paciente pediátrico con tumor pseudopapilar de páncreas / Complications of Whipple procedure in a pediatric patient with pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

Las neoplasias de páncreas son una entidad poco frecuente en pediatría; el tumor pseudopapilar de páncreas (TSP) es el más comúnmente diagnosticado. Habitualmente, se localizan en la cabeza del páncreas. La cirugía de Whipple o pancreatoduodenectomía es la técnica elegida para el tratamiento de los tumores benignos o malignos de páncreas. Si bien la mortalidad conocida ha descendido en los últimos años, debido a la mayor experiencia de los cirujanos y al mejor cuidado pre- y posoperatorio, la morbilidad se ha mantenido elevada secundaria a las complicaciones asociadas. Dentro de estas se destacan retardo en el vaciamiento gástrico, colecciones intraabdominales, fístula pancreática, reestenosis del sitio quirúrgico y hemorragia pospancreatectomía. Se presenta el caso clínico de una niña de 13 años con diagnóstico de TSP que recibió tratamiento quirúrgico efectivo desde el punto de vista oncológico, pero que requirió una internación prolongada secundaria a las complicaciones quirúrgicas.

Pancreatic neoplasms are rare in pediatrics; the pseudopapillary tumor (PPT) of the pancreas is the most common. PPTs of the pancreas are usually located in the head of the pancreas. A pancreaticoduodenectomy or Whipple procedure is the technique of choice for the treatment of benign or malignant pancreatic tumors. Although mortality for this cause has decreased in recent years, due to the greater experience of surgeons and improved pre- and postoperative care, morbidity has remained high secondary to associated complications. These include delayed gastric emptying, intra-abdominal collections, pancreatic fistula, surgical site restenosis, and post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage. Here we describe the clinical case of a 13-year-old girl diagnosed with PPT of the pancreas who underwent an effective surgery in terms of cancer treatment, but who required a prolonged hospitalization secondary to surgical complications.

Incidencia de Hipocalcemia Post Tiroidectomía. Factores predictores (PTH, Fósforo, Magnesio) y protocolo de manejo con alta precoz / Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia: Incidence, Prediction, and Outpatient Management Strategies Based on PTH and Calcium Levels

Se ha propuesto la medición de PTH como predictor de hipocalcemia postoperatoria transitoria y permanente. No hay un estándar de punto de corte o tiempo de toma de muestra. El OBJETIVO es reportar la incidencia de hipocalcemia post tiroidectomía en un grupo quirúrgico de alto volumen y proponer un protocolo de manejo ambulatorio (esquemas de I a V) según niveles postoperatorios (PO) de calcemia, PTHi (normal, baja o indetectable) y síntomas. Y determinar valores de PTH postoperatoria como predictores de hipocalcemia. En 106 pacientes con tiroidectomía total entre 2019 y 2021 se realiza medición de niveles pre y postoperatorios de calcio, magnesio, fosforo y PTHi. Se observó 29% y 1% de hipocalcemia transitoria ( 12 meses). Los puntos de corte para predecir hipocalcemia fueron PTH < 8,8 pg/ml y < 80% de descenso de % de PTH (d % PTH) al día siguiente. Con el manejo propuesto se indica el alta precoz (promedio 1.05 días) y el costo de la prescripción es acotado. No hay asociación significativa de hipomagnesemia e hiperfosfemia PO con la hipocalcemia PO. El tratamiento más utilizado es de carbonato de calcio exclusivo (esquemas I y II). Los pacientes se mantienen con síntomas leves a las 2 semanas PO en 5% y logran suspender el tratamiento vía oral en 93% en este mismo período. Los protocolos de medición de PTH como predictor de hipocalcemia son muy variados. Cada centro debe conocer y establecer sus propios protocolos de manejo. Con esta experiencia demostramos la utilidad y seguridad de un esquema de manejo basado en calcemia, PTH (normal, baja o indetectable) y síntomas, con indicación de tratamiento profiláctico para todos los pacientes y ajuste ambulatorio seguro y de menor costo que una hospitalización prolongada.

INTRODUCTION: PTH measurement has been proposed to predict transient and permanent postoperative hypocalcemia. There is no standard cut-off point or time for sampling. Aim: To report the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia in a high-volume surgical group and propose an outpatient management protocol according to postoperative (PO) calcium levels, iPTH (normal, low, or undetectable), and symptoms. Furthermore, determine postoperative PTH values as predictors of hypocalcemia. Methods: In 106 patients with total thyroidectomy between 2019 and 2021, pre-and postoperative levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iPTH were measured. Results: Transient ( 12 months) hypocalcemia was observed in 29% and 1%. Cut-off points to predict hypocalcemia were PTH < 8.8 pg/mL and < 80% decrease in % PTH (d% PTH) the day after surgery. With the proposed management, early discharge is indicated (an average of 1.05 days), and the prescription cost is limited. There is no significant association between PO hypomagnesemia and hyperphosphatemia with PO hypocalcemia. The most widely used treatment is exclusive calcium carbonate (schemes I and II). Patients remain with mild symptoms at two weeks PO in 5% and discontinue oral treatment in 93% in this period. Conclusions: Protocols for measuring PTH as a hypocalcemia predictor vary. Each center must know and establish its management protocols. With this experience, we demonstrate the usefulness and safety of a management scheme based on calcium, PTH (normal, low, or undetectable), and symptoms with an indication of prophylactic treatment for all patients and a safe outpatient setting at a lower cost than prolonged hospitalization.

Implementation of an ERAS program in patients undergoing thoracic surgery at a third-level university hospital: an ambispective cohort study

Abstract Objective To analyze the effects of an ERAS program on complication rates, readmission, and length of stay in patients undergoing pulmonary resection in a tertiary university hospital. Methods Ambispective cohort study with a prospective arm of 50 patients undergoing thoracic surgery within an ERAS program (ERAS group) versus a retrospective arm of 50 patients undergoing surgery before the protocol was implemented (Standard group). The primary outcome was the number of patients with 30-day surgical complications. Secondary outcomes included ERAS adherence, non-surgical complications, mortality, readmission, reintervention rate, pain, and hospital length of stay. We performed a multivariate logistic analysis to study the correlation between outcomes and ERAS adherence. Results In the univariate analysis, we found no difference between the two groups in terms of surgical complications (Standard 18 [36%] vs. ERAS 12 [24%], p = 0.19). In the ERAS group, only the readmission rate was significantly lower (Standard 15 [30%] vs. ERAS 6 [12%], p = 0.03). In the multivariate analysis, ERAS adherence was the only factor associated with a reduction in surgical complications (OR [95% CI] = 0.02 [0.00, 0.59], p = 0.03) and length of stay (HR [95% CI] = 18.5 [4.39, 78.4], p < 0.001). Conclusions The ERAS program significantly reduced the readmission rate at our hospital. Adherence to the ERAS protocol reduced surgical complications and length of stay.

Early mobilization after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a substudy of the POWER. 2 study

Abstract Background Early mobilization after surgery is a cornerstone of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs in total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our goal was to determine the time to mobilization after this surgery and the factors associated with early mobilization. Methods This was a predefined substudy of the POWER.2 study, a prospective cohort study conducted in patients undergoing THA and TKA at 131 Spanish hospitals. The primary outcome was the time until mobilization after surgery as well as determining those perioperative factors associated with early mobilization after surgery. Results A total of 6093 patients were included. The median time to achieve mobilization after the end of the surgery was 24 hours [16-30]. 4,222 (69.3%) patients moved in ≤ 24 hours after surgery. Local anesthesia [OR = 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.90); p= 0.001], surgery performed in a self-declared ERAS center [OR = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.55-0.60); p< 0.001], mean adherence to ERAS items [OR = 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92-0.93); p< 0.001], and preoperative hemoglobin [OR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98); p< 0.001] were associated with shorter time to mobilization. Conclusions Most THA and TKA patients mobilize in the first postoperative day, early time to mobilization was associated with the compliance with ERAS protocols, preoperative hemoglobin, and local anesthesia, and with the absence of a urinary catheter, surgical drains, epidural analgesia, and postoperative complications. The perioperative elements that are associated with early mobilization are mostly modifiable, so there is room for improvement.

Factors associated with readmission within three months of surgery for gastric cancer and their long-term effects on patients' nutritional status and quality of life / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with readmission within three months of surgery for gastric cancer and the impact of readmission on patients' long-term nutritional status and quality of life. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study comprising patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in the Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from October 2018 to August 2019. Patients who failed to complete postoperative follow-up, whose body mass index (BMI) could not be accurately estimated, or who were unable to complete a quality-of-life questionnaire were excluded. The patients were followed up for 12 months. Time to, cause(s) of, and outcomes of readmission were followed up 1, 2 and 3 months postoperatively. BMI was followed up 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results of blood tests were collected and patients' nutritional status and quality of life were assessed 12 months postoperatively. Nutritional status was evaluated by BMI, hemoglobin, albumin, and total lymphocyte count. Quality of life was evaluated using the European Organization for Research in the Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life scale. The higher the scores for global health and functional domains, the better the quality of life, whereas the higher the score in the symptom domain, the worse the quality of life. Results: The study cohort comprised 259 patients with gastric cancer, all of whom were followed up for 3 months and 236 of whom were followed up for 12 months. Forty-four (17.0%) patients were readmitted within 3 months. The commonest reasons for readmission were gastrointestinal dysfunction (16 cases, 36.3%), intestinal obstruction (8 cases, 18.2%), and anastomotic stenosis (8 cases, 18.2%). Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score ≥ 4 points (OR=1.481, 95% CI: 1.028‒2.132), postoperative complications (OR=3.298, 95%CI:1.416‒7.684) and resection range (OR=1.582, 95% CI:1.057‒2.369) were risk factors for readmission within 3 months of surgery. Compared with patients who had not been readmitted 12 months after surgery, patients who were readmitted within 3 months of surgery tended to have greater decreases in their BMI [-2.36 (-5.13,-0.42) kg/m2 vs. -1.73 (-3.33,-0.33) kg/m2, Z=1.850, P=0.065), significantly lower hemoglobin and albumin concentrations [(122.1±16.6) g/L vs. (129.8±18.4) g/L, t=2.400, P=0.017]; [(40.9±5.0) g/L vs. (43.4±3.3) g/L, t=3.950, P<0.001], and significantly decreased global health scores in the quality of life assessment [83 (67, 100) vs. 100 (83, 100), Z=2.890,P=0.004]. Conclusion: Preoperative nutritional risk, total or proximal radical gastrectomy, and complications during hospitalization are risk factors for readmission within 3 months of surgery for gastric cancer. Perioperative management and postoperative follow-up should be more rigorous. Readmission within 3 months after surgery may be associated with a decline in long-term nutritional status and quality of life. Achieving improvement in long-term nutritional status and quality of life requires tracking of nutritional status, timely evaluation, and appropriate interventions in patients who need readmission.

Surgical skills and precautions of pelvic exenteration combined with pelvic wall resection / 中华胃肠外科杂志

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) or locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) has been a difficulty and challenge in the field of advanced rectal cancer, while pelvic exenteration (PE), as an important way to potentially achieve radical treatment of LARC and LRRC, has been shown to significantly improve the long-term prognosis of patients. The implementation of PE surgery requires precise assessment of the extent of invasion of LARC or LRRC and adequate preoperative preparation through multidisciplinary consultation before surgery. The lateral pelvis involves numerous tissues, blood vessels, and nerves, and resection is most difficult, and the ureteral and Marcille triangle approaches are recommended; while the supine transabdominal approach combined with intraoperative change to the prone jacket position facilitates adequate exposure of the surgical field and enables precise overall resection of the bony pelvis and pelvic floor muscle groups invaded by the tumor. Empty pelvic syndrome has always been an major problem to be solved during PE. The application of extracellular matrix biological mesh to reconstruct pelvic floor defects and isolate the abdominopelvic cavity is expected to reduce postoperative pelvic floor related complications. Reconstruction of the urinary system and important vessels after PE is essential, and the selection of appropriate reconstruction methods helps to improve the patient's postoperative quality of life, while more new methods are also being continuously explored.

Recognition of empty pelvic syndrome and its prevention and treatment / 中华胃肠外科杂志

With the development of existing surgical techniques, equipment and treatment concepts, more and more medical centers begin to carry out extensive resection for recurrent pelvic malignant tumors or those with multivisceral invasion. Exenteration may facilitate curative resection and improve the outcome of the patients. Therefore, pelvic exenteration has gradually become the standard of care for locally advanced pelvic malignancies. At present, pelvic exenteration leads to high intraoperative and postoperative complications and mortality, and therefore compromise the safety and long-term quality of life. Cumulating evidences suggest remnant cavity after exenteration might trigger the pathophysiological process and cause downstream complications which can be defined as empty pelvis syndrome. The literature related to empty pelvic syndrome was summarized, the possible cause of empty pelvic syndrome was analyzed. After the pelvic exenteration, the closed pelvic residual cavity formed continuous negative pressure with the gradual absorption of air in the cavity, bacterial propagation, and accumulation of fluid, which had an impact on the distribution of organs in the abdominal and pelvic cavity. At the same time, whether physical processes also play a role in the occurrence of empty pelvic syndrome remains to be explored. It is concluded that the diagnosis is mainly based on the patient's medical history, clinical manifestations and radiological findings, and the history of pelvic exenteration is the most important indicator in the diagnosis. In terms of prevention measures, we should identify the high-risk groups of the occurrence of empty pelvic syndrome, and then take accurate and individualized preventive measures. Various new biomaterials have more advantages in preventive pelvic cavity filling than traditional human tissue filling. Mesentery plays an important role in the morphology, peristalsis and arrangement of the small intestine. More attention should be paid to reducing the ectopic placement of the small intestine into the pelvic cavity by protecting the mesentery structure and restoring or rebuilding the mesentery morphology. In terms of treatment measures, there is still a lack of standard treatment pathway for empty pelvic syndrome.

Cross-sectional study of low anterior resection syndrome in patients who have survived more than 5 years after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients who had survived for more than 5 years after sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer and to analyze its relationship with postoperative time. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study. The study cohort comprised patients who had survived for at least 5 years (60 months) after undergoing sphincter- preserving radical resection of pathologically diagnosed rectal adenocarcinoma within 15 cm of the anal verge in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital from January 2005 to May 2016. Patients who had undergone local resection, had permanent stomas, recurrent intestinal infection, local recurrence, history of previous anorectal surgery, or long- term preoperative defecation disorders were excluded. A LARS questionnaire was administered by telephone interview, points being allocated for incontinence for flatus (0-7 points), incontinence for liquid stools (0-3 points), frequency of bowel movements (0-5 points), clustering of stools (0-11 points), and urgency (0-16 points). The patients were allocated to three groups based on these scores: no LARS (0-20 points), minor LARS (21-29 points), and major LARS (30-42 points). The prevalence of LARS and major LARS in patients who had survived more than 5 years after surgery, correlation between postoperative time and LARS score, and whether postoperative time was a risk factor for major LARS and LARS symptoms were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up time of the 160 patients who completed the telephone interview was 97 (60-193) months; 81 (50.6%) of them had LARS, comprising 34 (21.3%) with minor LARS and 47 (29.4%) with major LARS. Spearman correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between LARS score and postoperative time (correlation coefficient α=-0.016, P=0.832). Multivariate analysis identified anastomotic height (RR=0.850, P=0.022) and radiotherapy (RR=5.760, P<0.001) as independent risk factors for major LARS; whereas the postoperative time was not a significant risk factor (RR=1.003, P=0.598). The postoperative time was also not associated with LARS score rank and frequency of bowel movements, clustering, or urgency (P>0.05). However, the rates of incontinence for flatus (3/31, P=0.003) and incontinence for liquid stools (8/31, P=0.005) were lower in patients who had survived more than 10 years after surgery. Conclusions: Patients with rectal cancer who have survived more than 5 years after sphincter-preserving surgery still have a high prevalence of LARS. We found no evidence of major LARS symptoms resolving over time.

Machine learning model predicts the occurrence of acute kidney injury after open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a pathological condition in which the abdominal aorta is dilated beyond 3.0 cm. The surgical options include open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) after OSR is helpful for decision-making during the postoperative phase. To find a more efficient method for making a prediction, this study aims to perform tests on the efficacy of different machine learning models.@*METHODS@#Perioperative data of 80 OSR patients were retrospectively collected from January 2009 to December 2021 at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. The vascular surgeon performed the surgical operation. Four commonly used machine learning classification models (logistic regression, linear kernel support vector machine, Gaussian kernel support vector machine, and random forest) were chosen to predict AKI. The efficacy of the models was validated by five-fold cross-validation.@*RESULTS@#AKI was identified in 33 patients. Five-fold cross-validation showed that among the 4 classification models, random forest was the most precise model for predicting AKI, with an area under the curve of 0.90±0.12.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Machine learning models can precisely predict AKI during early stages after surgery, which allows vascular surgeons to address complications earlier and may help improve the clinical outcomes of OSR.

Indications and complications prevention and management of phaseⅡ implantation of Provox Vega voice prosthesis after total laryngectomy / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To explore the indications and management of common postoperative complications of phase II tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) for Provox Vega voice prosthesis after total laryngectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 20 patients undergoing phase II TEP for Provox Vega voice prosthesis in our hospital between May 2021 and January 2022 were analyzed. Among them, there were 19 males and 1 female, aged from 37 to 76 years, with an average age of (60.0±8.4)years. The surgical indications and the prevention and treatment of common postoperative complications were summarized. Descriptive analysis was used in this research. Results: The basic surgical indications were as following: after total laryngectomy, there was no stenosis of the stoma and esophagus entrance, no scar constitution, no mouth opening restriction, no stiffness and backward restraint of the neck after radiotherapy, and more than half a year apart surgery or radiotherapy. Among the 20 patients, 18 underwent implantation successfuly, 1 failed in the operation, and for 1 patient, the prosthesis was removed due to bleeding 1 week after implantation. The common postoperative complications included TEP fistula infection (2 cases), the TEP fistula bleeding(1 case), deep neck (prevertebral) abscess (1 case), granulation at the inner side of the TEP fistula (1 case), invagination of the prosthesis (2 cases) and leakage around the prosthesis (2 cases). All patients were cured with different interventions. Conclusions: The Provox Vega voice prosthesis is generally safe for phase Ⅱ implantatione, but implantation indications need to be established. Common postoperative complications can be solved through preventive and remedial interventions.

Comparative study of laparoscopic Keyhole and Sugarbaker technique in the treatment of terminal paracolostomy hernia / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To compare laparoscopic Keyhole repair with Sugarbaker repair in consecutive patients with parastomal hernia. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2021, 117 patients with parastomal hernia were treated with Keyhole or Sugarbaker laparoscopy repairs in the Department of Hernia and Bariatrci Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 45 males and 72 females, aged (68.6±8.6) years (range: 44 to 84 years). Laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair was performed in 89 cases, and Keyhole repair was performed in 28 cases. The t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test and Fisher exact test were used to compare the observation indicators between the two groups, such as operation time, incidence of operation-related complications, and postoperative recurrence rate. Results: The follow-up period was (M(IQR)) 33 (36) months (range: 12 to 84 months). Compared to the Sugarbaker group, the hernia ring area of the Keyhole group was bigger (35 (26) cm2 vs. 25 (16) cm2, Z=1.974, P=0.048), length of stay was longer ((22.0±8.0) d vs. (14.1±6.2) d, t=5.485, P<0.01), and the postoperative rate of recurrence was higher (28.6% (8/28) vs. 6.7% (6/89), χ2=7.675, P=0.006). There was no difference in operation time and postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair is superior to Keyhole repair in the recurrence rate of parastomal hernia treated with compsite mesh (not funnel-shaped mesh). There are no differences in operation time and postoperative complications between the two groups.

Advances in the study of postpancreatectomy acute pancreatitis / 中华外科杂志

Postpancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) is an acute inflammation of the remnant pancreas in the early postoperative period caused by a variety of factors. With the progress of related research,PPAP has been confirmed as an independent risk factor for many severe complications such as postoperative pancreatic fistula. In some cases, it progresses to necrotizing PPAP, increasing the risk of mortality. Currently, the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery has standardized and graded PPAP as an independent complication, taking into account factors including serum amylase, radiological features, and clinical impact. This review summarizes how the concept of PPAP was proposed, as well as the latest progress in the research related to its etiology, prognosis, prevention, and treatment. However, given the large heterogeneity of relevant studies and the fact that they were mostly retrospective, in the future, it is necessary to place more emphasis on PPAP and elucidate the problems through more standardized studies to optimize strategies for the prevention and management of complications after pancreatic surgery.

Risk factors for complications of endoscopic full-thickness resection of upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To analyze the risk factors for complications of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs). Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. The indications for EFTR included: (1) SMTs originating from the muscularis propria layer and growing out of the cavity or infiltrating the deep part of the muscularis propria layer; (2) SMTs diameter <5 cm; and (3) tumor identified as closely adherent to the serous layer during endoscopic submucosal dissection or endoscopic mucosal resection. This study included patients with SMTs originating from the muscularis propria layer in upper digestive tract, diagnosed preoperatively by endoscopic ultrasonography or computed tomography, who were successfully treated with EFTR. Those with incomplete clinical data were excluded. The clinical data of 154 patients with upper gastrointestinal SMTs who underwent EFTR at the Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Post-EFTR complications (such as delayed perforation, delayed bleeding, and postoperative infection, including electrocoagulation syndrome) were monitored and the risk factors for them were analyzed. Results: Among the 154 study patients, 33 (21.4%) developed complications, including delayed bleeding in three (1.9%), delayed perforation in two (1.3%), and postoperative infection in 28 (18.2%). One patient with bleeding was classified as having a major complication (hospitalized for more than 10 days because of complication). According to univariate analysis, complication was associated with tumor diameter >15 mm, operation time >90 minutes, defect closure method(purse string suture), and diameter of resected specimen ≥20 mm (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that operation time >90 minutes (OR=6.252, 95%CI: 2.530-15.446, P<0.001) and tumor diameter >15 mm (OR=4.843, 95%CI: 1.985-11.817, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for complications after EFTR in patients with upper gastrointestinal SMTs. The independent risk factors for postoperative infection in these patients were operation time>90 minutes (OR=4.993, 95%CI:1.964-12.694, P=0.001) and purse string suture (OR=7.142, 95%CI: 1.953-26.123, P=0.003). Conclusion: Patients with upper gastrointestinal SMTs undergoing EFTR with tumor diameter >15 mm or operation time >90 minutes have a significantly increased risk of postoperative complications. Postoperative monitoring is important for these patients with SMTs.

Network meta-analysis comparing the clinical outcomes and safety of robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection for rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To methodically assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of robot-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (RTME), laparoscopic-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (laTME), and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection (taTME). Methods: A computer search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases to identify English-language reports published between January 2017 and January 2022 that compared the clinical efficacy of the three surgical procedures of RTME, laTME, and taTME. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the NOS and JADAD scales for retrospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, respectively. Direct meta-analysis and reticulated meta-analysis were performed using Review Manager software and R software, respectively. Results: Twenty-nine publications comprising 8,339 patients with rectal cancer were ultimately included. The direct meta-analysis indicated that the length of hospital stay was longer after RTME than after taTME, whereas according to the reticulated meta-analysis the length of hospital stay was shorter after taTME than after laTME (MD=-0.86, 95%CI: -1.70 to -0.096, P=0.036). Moreover, the incidence of anastomotic leak was lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.91, P=0.018). The incidence of intestinal obstruction was also lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.94, P=0.037). All of these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the three surgical procedures regarding the number of lymph nodes cleared, length of the inferior rectal margin, or rate of positive circumferential margins (all P>0.05). An inconsistency test using nodal analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the results of direct and indirect comparisons of the six outcome indicators (all P>0.05). Furthermore, we detected no significant overall inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence. Conclusion: taTME has advantages over RTME and laTME, in terms of radical and surgical short-term outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

Preliminary experience of gasless transoral vestibular robotic thyroidectomy / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To explore the feasibility and safety of the gasless transoral vestibular robotic thyroidectomy using skin suspension. Methods: The clinical data of 20 patients underwent gasless transoral vestibular robotic thyroidectomy in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from February 2022 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 18 were females and 2 were males, aged (38.7±8.0) years old. The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative drainage volume, postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, postoperative swallowing function swallowing impairment score-6 (SIS-6), postoperative aesthetic VAS score, postoperative voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) voice quality, postoperative pathology and complications were recorded. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The operations were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery in all patients. Pathological examination showed papillary thyroid carcinoma in 18 cases, retrosternal nodular goiter in 1 case, and cystic change in goiter in 1 case. The operative time for thyroid cancer was 161.50 (152.75, 182.50) min [M (P25, P75), the same below] and the average operative time for benign thyroid diseases was 166.50 minutes. The intraoperative blood loss 25.00 (21.25, 30.00) ml. In 18 cases of thyroid cancer, the mean diameter of the tumors was (7.22±2.02) mm, and lymph nodes (6.56±2.14) were dissected in the central region, with a lymph node metastasis rate of 61.11%. The postoperative pain VAS score was 3.00 (2.25, 4.00) points at 24 hours, the mean postoperative drainage volume was (118.35±24.32) ml, the postoperative hospital stay was 3.00 (3.00, 3.75) days, the postoperative SIS-6 score was (4.90±1.58) points at 3 months, and the postoperative VHI-10 score was 7.50 (2.00, 11.00) points at 3 months. Seven patients had mild mandibular numbness, 10 patients had mild cervical numbness, and 3 patients had temporary hypothyroidism three months after surgery and 1 patient had skin flap burn, but recovered one month after surgery. All patients were satisfied with the postoperative aesthetic effects, and the postoperative aesthetic VAS score was 10.00 (10.00, 10.00). Conclusion: Gasless transoral vestibular robotic thyroidectomy using skin suspension is a safe and feasible option with good postoperative aesthetic effect, which can provide a new treatment option for some selected patients with thyroid tumors.

The guideline for prevention and treatment of common complications after pancreatic surgery (2022) / 中华外科杂志

In order to further standardize the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications of pancreatic surgery, the editorial board of the Chinese Journal of Surgery organized relevant experts to formulate this guideline under the promotion of the Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery in China Society of Surgery of Chinese Medical Association and Pancreatic Disease Committee of China Research Hospital Association. According to the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation system, this guide discusses the hot issues on postoperative complications such as pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, chylous fistula, post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, abdominal infection, delayed gastric emptying, etc., quantitatively evaluates the level of evidence in clinical studies, and forms recommendations after repeatedly consulting. It is hoped to provide reference for pancreatic surgeons in the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications.

Current status and future prospects of robotic surgical system in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Robotic gastrectomy (RG) has always been a hot topic in the field of minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. More and more studies have confirmed that short- and long-term outcomes of RG are similar to those of laparoscopic gastrectomy. Robotic surgical systems have more advantages in specific regional lymph node dissection. More delicate operation can reduce intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of postoperative complications. Robotic surgical systems are also more ergonomically designed. However, there are also some problems such as high surgical cost, lack of tactile feedback and prolonged total operation time. In the future, robotic surgical system may be further developed in the direction of miniaturization, intelligence and modularity. At the same time, the robotic surgical system deeply integrated with artificial intelligence technology may realize the automation of some operation steps to some extent.

Influence of postoperative complications on prognosis of gastric cancer-The manifestation of gastric surgeon's skill, responsibility and empathy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Radical gastrectomy combined with perioperative comprehensive treatment is the main curable strategy for gastric cancer patients, and postoperative complications are the issue that gastric surgeons have to face. Complications not only affect the short-term postoperative recovery, but also facilitate tumor recurrence or metastasis, thus resulting in poor prognosis. Therefore, unifying the diagnostic criteria for postoperative complications, bringing the surgeons' attention to complications, and understanding the potential mechanism of complications undermining long-term survival, will be helpful to the future improvement of the clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as prognosis for gastric cancer patients in China. Meanwhile, surgeons should constantly hone their operative skills, improve their sense of responsibility and empathy, and administer individualized perioperative management based on patients' general conditions, so as to minimize the occurrence of postoperative complications and their influence on prognosis.