Cost burden following esophagectomy: A single centre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Cost analyses of patients undergoing esophagectomy is valuable for identifying modifiable expenditure drivers to target and curtail costs while improving the quality of care. We aimed to define the cost-complication relationship after esophagectomy and delineate the incremental contributions to costs. AIM: To assess the relationship between the hospital costs and potential cost drivers post esophagectomy and investigate the relationship between the cost-driving variables (predicting variables) and hospital costs (dependent variable). METHODS: In this retrospective single center study, the severity of complications was graded using the Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification system. Key esophagectomy complications were categorized and defined according to consensus guidelines. Raw costing data included the in-hospital costs of the index admission and any unplanned admission within 30 postoperative days. We used correlation analysis to assess the relationship between key clinical variables and hospital costs (in United States dollars) to identify cost drivers. A mediation model was used to investigate the relationship between these variables and hospital costs. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients underwent primary esophageal resection. The median admission cost was $47822.7 (interquartile range: 35670.2-68214.0). The total effects on costs were $13593.9 (95%CI: 10187.1-17000.8, P < 0.001) for each increase in CD severity grade, $4781 (95%CI: 3772.7-5789.3, P < 0.001) for each increase in the number of complications, and $42552.2 (95%CI: 8309-76795.4, P = 0.015) if a key esophagectomy complication developed. Key esophagectomy complications drove the costs directly by $11415.7 (95%CI: 992.5-21838.9, P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The severity and number of complications, and the development of key esophagectomy complications significantly contributed to total hospital costs. Continuous institutional initiatives and strategies are needed to enhance patient outcomes and minimize costs.

Textbook outcomes after oesophagectomy: a single-centre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Textbook outcomes is a composite quality assurance tool assessing the ideal perioperative and postoperative course as a unified measure. Currently, its definition and application in the context of oesophagectomy in Australia is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the textbook outcomes after oesophagectomy in a single referral centre of Australia and investigate the association between textbook outcomes and patient, tumour, and treatment characteristics. METHODS: An observational study was retrospectively performed on patients undergoing open, laparoscopic, or hybrid oesophagectomy between January 2010 and December 2019 in a single cancer referral centre. A textbook outcome was defined as the fulfillment of 10 criteria: R0 resection, retrieval of at least 15 lymph nodes, no intraoperative complications, no postoperative complications greater than Clavien-Dindo grade III, no anastomotic leak, no readmission to the ICU, no hospital stay beyond 21 days, no mortality within 90 days, no readmission related to the surgical procedure within 30 days from admission and no reintervention related to the surgical procedure. The proportion of patients who met each criterion for textbook outcome was calculated and compared. Selected patient-related parameters (age, gender, BMI, ASA score, CCI score), tumour-related factors (tumour location, tumour histology, AJCC clinical T and N stage and treatment-related factor [neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical approach]) were assessed. Disease recurrence and one year survival were also evaluated. RESULTS: 110 patients who underwent oesophagectomy were included. The overall textbook outcome rate was 24%. The difference in rates across the years was not statistically significant. The most achieved textbook outcome parameters were 'no mortality in 90 days' (96%) and 'R0 resection' (89%). The least frequently met textbook outcome parameter was 'no severe postoperative complications' (58%), followed by 'no hospital stays over 21 days' (61%). No significant association was found between patient, tumour and treatment characteristics and the rate of textbook outcome. Tumour recurrence rate and overall long term survival was similar between textbook outcome and non-textbook outcome groups. Patients with R0 resection, no intraoperative complication and a hospital stay less than 21 days had reduced mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Textbook outcome is a clinically relevant indicator and was achieved in 24% of patients. Severe complications and a prolonged hospital stay were the key criteria that limited the achievement of a textbook outcome. These findings provide meticulous evaluation of oesophagectomy perioperative care and provide a direction for the utilisation of this concept in identifying and improving surgical and oncological care across multiple healthcare levels.

Financial burden of postoperative complications following oesophagectomy: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid rise in the incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has resulted in an increasing number of patients undergoing oesophagectomy. Although novel surgical techniques are enhancing surgical outcomes, postoperative complications remain pervasive. Despite this, there are limited reviews mapping the cost of postoperative complications following oesophagectomy, and none has compared cost differences between patient groups. Such information would be invaluable in appreciating the financial burden on the healthcare system and serving to guide hospital financing decisions. This scoping review protocol outlines an approach to reviewing the literature to precipitate and inform discussions surrounding financing oesophagectomy procedures as well as funding requirements for upper gastrointestinal surgical units. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Adhering to the pertinent components of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review Protocols guidelines, a systematic exploration will be conducted across electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and Econolit, with further reference tracking of eligible studies. This review will encompass studies related to the costs associated with complications following oesophagectomy. All studies published prior to 31 October 2023 are eligible for inclusion. The process of screening and extracting data will be undertaken by two independent reviewers. Subsequently, the amassed data will be pooled and subjected to comprehensive analysis and presented descriptively, using both a mixed methods and a narrative approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required. The results will be communicated through established professional networks, conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The impact of intraoperative and postoperative fluid balance on complications for transthoracic esophagectomy: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Transthoracic esophagectomy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is imperative to optimize perioperative management and minimize complications. In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated the association between fluid balance and esophagectomy complications at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, with a particular focus on respiratory morbidity and anastomotic leaks. Cumulative fluid balance was calculated intraoperatively, postoperatively in recovery postoperative day (POD) 0, and on POD 1 and 2. High and low fluid balance was defined as greater than or less than the median fluid balance, respectively, and postoperative surgical complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: In total, 109 patients, with an average age of 64 years, were included in this study. High fluid balance on POD 0, POD1 and POD 2 was associated with a higher incidence of anastomotic leak (OR 8.59; 95%CI: 2.64-39.0). High fluid balance on POD 2 was associated with more severe complications (of any type) (OR 3.33; 95%CI: 1.4-8.26) and severe pulmonary complications (OR 3.04; 95%CI: 1.27-7.67). For every 1 L extra cumulative fluid balance in POD 1, the odds of a major complication increase by 15%, while controlling for body mass index (BMI) and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class. The results show that higher cumulative fluid balance is associated with worsening postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy. Restricted fluid balance, especially postoperatively, may mitigate the risk of postoperative complications - however prospective trials are required to establish this definitively.

An unexpected diagnosis of primary omental endometrial stromal sarcoma in a patient with acute right abdominal pain: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Extrauterine Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (EESS) is an extremely rare mesenchymal tumour that simulates other pathologies, and therefore poses a diagnostic challenge. This report outlines a case of EESS arising from the greater omentum mimicking a colonic tumour, with review of literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 47-year-old woman, with history of hysterectomy for menorrhagia and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), presented with right sided abdominal pain and localized peritonism. On exploratory laparoscopy an omental tumour, suspected to arise from the transverse colon was identified and biopsied. The histological features suggested an EESS. Colonoscopy ruled out colonic lesion. A laparoscopic tumour resection and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) was performed. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis. No additional lesions or associated endometriosis were found. Resection was followed by adjuvant medroxyprogesterone-acetate therapy. DISCUSSION: We reviewed 20 cases of EESS originating from extragenital abdominopelvic organs reported since 1990. Acute presentation is rare, as well as upper abdominal occurrence. Isolated omental involvement was previously reported in only one case. Endometriosis is a risk factor for development of EESS and history and/or histological evidence for endometriosis is usually present. HRT is another acknowledged risk factor, mostly on the background of endometriosis. To our knowledge, this is the only report of EESS occurring in a woman on HRT treatment without background of endometriosis. CONCLUSION: EESS can occur without endometriosis and HRT may be an aetiological factor. The condition can mimic a chronic or acute abdominal pathology and laparoscopic core biopsy is the best way to achieve a diagnosis and formulate management.

Can We Use the Disposable Laparoscopic Clip Appliers as Suture Anchors? An In Vitro Feasibility Study.

INTRODUCTION: Intracorporeal suturing is time-consuming and could be difficult in certain operative circumstances. Instead of knot tying, specially designed clips have been introduced to anchor and secure the end of a single strand or suture. Although these clips provide a maximal required holding grip (HG), they considerably increase the cost of the procedure. The aim of this in vitro study was to identify the feasibility, and means of achieving the best HG, of commonly used disposable automatic clip appliers (LCAs) over regular strands. METHODS: We placed 2-0 PDS (rigid) and 2-0 Vicryl (soft) sutures through fresh gastric wall specimens. Six different commercial-type LCAs, all having large or medium/large clips, were applied at the distal end of each suture. An IMDA manual digital force gauge was used to measure the HG of each clip at 2 positions: the middle clip position and the angle (at the crouch) position. A total of 192 measurements were taken. The results were classified into 3 HG levels measured by Newton units (N): the strongest grip (> 1 N), medium grip (> 0.5 and < 1 N), and weak grip (< 0.5 N). RESULTS: The strongest HG was obtained by applying 10 to 12 mm LCAs with large or medium/large clips over PDS at an angle position (HG = 1.1 ± 0.2 to 1.6 ± 0.3 N). The weakest grip was obtained by applying any type of LCA over Vicryl at the middle position (HG = 0.08 ± 0.04 to 0.2 ± 0.06 N, P < 0.001). The latter was associated with clips freely falling off the sutures even before applying any force. In general, more force was needed to dislodge any brand clip from the PDS compared with Vicryl suture (0.8 ± 0.6 vs. 0.4 ± 0.3 N, P < 0.001). The angle position was always stronger than the middle position (0.9 ± 0.6 vs. 0.3 ± 0.2 N, P < 0.001). There was a trend for the 10 to 12 mm LCA to have a better HG than the 5 mm ones (0.65 ± 0.5 vs. 0.51 ± 0.5 N, P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: We propose that 10 to 12 mm LCAs generate enough HG to secure a single strand when clips are placed at the angle position. This is especially true over PDS (hard) strands. The application of 5 mm LCA clips to secure the end of the Vicryl strand is not recommended. Further clinical studies are warranted.

Gastric emptying is not prolonged in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with a poor anesthetic risk, in part because of the greater aspiration rates. A greater gastric residue and lower stomach pH have been implicated. The relationship of obesity to gastric emptying is ill-defined. with contradicting reports stating shorter, similar, and longer times compared with nonobese subjects. The aim of the present study was to compare gastric emptying in obese and nonobese subjects at a university hospital. METHODS: A total of 19 obese (body mass index [BMI] >40 kg/m(2)) and 20 nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m(2)) subjects underwent a standardized scintigraphic gastric emptying study. The participants consumed a standard semisolid, technetium-99m-labeled meal. Images were acquired immediately and 1, 2, and 4 hours after meal completion. The interval to evacuate one half of the counts measured at meal completion) and retention (the percentage of counts in stomach at each measurement point) were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age and BMI was 35 years and 45 kg/m(2) in the obese and 44 years and 26 kg/m(2) in the nonobese group, respectively. No differences were found between the 2 groups regarding gastric emptying. Regression analysis showed no statistical association between the BMI and gastric emptying, including multivariate analysis, considering BMI, age, and gender. CONCLUSION: A scintigraphy test of a labeled meal was used to evaluate gastric emptying in obese and nonobese subjects. In accordance with other published data, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups. The anesthetic risks in the obese should be attributed to factors other than delayed gastric emptying (i.e., anatomic variation, increased rates of hiatal hernia and reflux).