Pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients < 75 years versus ≥ 75 years old: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of < 75-year-old patients and ≥ 75-year-old patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic head and periampullary region tumors. METHODS: Patients who underwent PD in our hospital between February 2019 and December 2023 were evaluated. Demographics, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) scores, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, comorbidities, hospital stays, complications, and clinicopathological features were analyzed. Patients were divided into < 75 years (Group A) and ≥ 75 years (Group B) groups and compared. RESULTS: The median age of the entire cohort (n = 155) was 66 years (IQR = 16). There was a significant difference between Group A (n = 128) and Group B (n = 27) regarding the ECOG-PS and ASA scores. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding postoperative complications. The 30-day mortality rate was greater in Group B (p = 0.017). Group B had a cumulative median survival of 10 months, whereas Group A had a median survival of 28 months, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). When age groups were stratified according to ECOG-PS, for ECOG-PS 2-3 Group A, survival was 15 months; for ECOG-PS 2-3 Group B, survival was eight months, and the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.628). CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing aging population, patient selection for PD should not be based solely on age. This study demonstrated that PD is safe for patients older than 75 years. In older patients, performance status and the optimization of comorbidities should be considered when deciding on a candidate's suitability for surgery.

YouTube as a source of information on Helicobacter pylori: Content and quality analysis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common cause of infectious diseases worldwide, and management is a current and vital problem for physicians and patients. One of the online platforms that people use most to access health information is YouTube. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of H. pylori information videos on YouTube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The "Helicobacter pylori" keyword was searched with default filters on YouTube. Two hundred videos were evaluated. The source of videos was categorized as academic institutions, professional organizations, physicians, healthcare professionals other than physicians, health information websites, and independent users. The target audience of the videos was classified as patients and healthcare professionals. The Global Quality Scale (GQS), JAMA, and modified DISCERN video scores were obtained by taking the average of the scores given by the two authors. RESULTS: Seventy-four videos were analyzed, and the median duration was 9.25 (range: 1.14-121) min. The target audience of 43 (58.1%) videos was healthcare professionals, and 31 (41.9%) videos were for patients. There was no correlation between likes, dislikes, views, and the quality-usefulness of the videos. Video characteristics such as duration, likes, number of views, and time since video upload day were not associated with the source. The JAMA and DISCERN scores were significantly higher in academic institutions than in other sources. Health information websites had a significantly higher GQS score than other video sources (p = .01). In comparison, there was no significant difference between the target audience (patients and healthcare professionals) in terms of JAMA, modified DISCERN, and GQS scores. CONCLUSIONS: YouTube has numerous videos for healthcare information nowadays. Although the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on H. pylori are average according to common scoring systems, we recommend videos produced by academic institutions and health information websites to inform patients.

Prognostic significance of metastatic lymph node ratio in gastric cancer: a Western-center analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging is the central gastric cancer (GC) staging system, but it has some disadvantages. However, the lymph node ratio (LNR) can be used regardless of the type of lymphadenectomy and is considered an important prognostic factor. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between LNR and survival in patients who underwent curative GC surgery. METHODS: All patients who underwent radical gastric surgery between January 2014 and June 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological features of tumors, TNM stage, and survival rates were analyzed. LNR was defined as the ratio between metastatic lymph nodes and total lymph nodes removed. The LNR groups were classified as follows: LNR0 = 0, 0.01 < LNR1 ≤ 0.1, 0.1 < LNR2 ≤ 0.25 and LNR3 > 0.25. Tumor characteristics and overall survival (OS) of the patients were compared between LNR groups. RESULTS: After exclusion, 333 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 62 ± 14 years. According to the LNR classification, no difference was found between groups regarding age and sex. However, TNM stage III disease was significantly more common in LNR3 patients. Most patients (43.2%, n = 144) were in the LNR3 group. In terms of tumor characteristics (lymphatic, vascular, and perineural invasion), the LNR3 group had significantly poorer prognostic factors. The Cox regression model defined LNR3, TNM stage II-III disease, and advanced age as independent risk factors for survival. Patients with LNR3 demonstrated the lowest 5-year OS rate (35.7%) (estimated mean survival was 30 ± 1.9 months) compared to LNR 0-1-2. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a high LNR was significantly associated with poor OS in patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. LNR can be used as an independent prognostic predictor in GC patients.

Assessment of Esophagectomy Videos on YouTube: Is Peer Review Necessary for Quality?

INTRODUCTION: Various online platforms, such as YouTube, are used for surgical education. Esophageal surgery is sophisticated and surgical videos may help reduce the time it takes for surgeons to learn these complicated operations. There is no clear consensus regarding the quality and reliability of esophagectomy videos on YouTube. We aimed to evaluate esophageal surgery videos published on YouTube in terms of quality and reliability. METHODS: The keywords "esophagectomy" and "surgery" were both searched on YouTube and the first 150 results were evaluated. Eighty two videos were included in the analysis. The quality and reliability of the videos were determined using the esophagectomy scoring system (ESS) developed by the authors, the Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria, and the video power index. RESULTS: A total of 82 videos were reviewed. About two-thirds of the videos demonstrated the Ivor Lewis technique and included surgeries performed using the thoracoscopic/laparoscopic method. The videos were analyzed as per the source of the upload: academic (25.7%), industry-sponsored (9.7%), or individual (64.6%). When the scores were compared by the origin of the videos, industry-sponsored videos scored significantly higher than the videos produced by individuals and academic centers (P = 0.01). While the ESS and Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria scores were significantly correlated (P = 0.00), no correlation was found between video length, video power index score, and ESS score. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting a professional evaluation of videos before they are published on YouTube may enhance video quality. Moreover, valuable videos of better quality can be produced by improving the ESS and by assessing more videos.

Enhanced recovery after pancreatic surgery: A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is a perioperative care bundle designed to achieve early healing after surgical procedures. This study aims to investigate the effect of the ERAS protocol on postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and readmission rates in pancreatic surgery patients. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective and randomized controlled study between January 2016 and November 2018 on pancreatic surgery patients. A total of 38 patients were analyzed, 18 of whom were in the ERAS group and 20 in the control group. Patient demographics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The groups were similar regarding age, sex, surgery type, American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and laboratory results. There was no significant difference in the intraoperative variables. Early oral feeding was preferred, mostly in the ERAS group compared to the control group. Perioperative complication rates, including delayed gastric emptying and pancreatic fistula, LOS, and readmission rates, were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The ERAS protocol provided a minimal decrease in the total complication rates and had no effect on severe complications. Therefore, the ERAS protocol seems feasible and can be applied safely in pancreatic surgery patients.

Laparoscopic repair vs open repair for perforated peptic ulcers: Quality of life assessment.

PURPOSE: Studies reporting patient-centered outcomes, including quality of life and satisfaction, in perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) treatment are insufficient. This study was designed to assess the relative efficacy of laparoscopic repair (LR) as opposed to open surgical repair (OR) in the treatment of and its impact on quality of life. METHODS: This investigation performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent treatment for PPU at a secondary care hospital between January 2017 and April 2020. Patients were categorized into 2 separate groups according to the type of surgical procedure received: LR and OR. Comparisons were made based on a variety of factors, such as demographic data, intra- and postoperative metrics, pain control, patient contentment, and quality of life indicators. RESULTS: In the analysis, there were no statistically significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between the LR (n = 35) and OR (n = 62) groups (P > .05). Conversely, the rates of incisional hernia and surgical site infection were significantly greater in the OR group (P < .05). Moreover, the LR exhibited benefits such as a shorter length of hospital stay (P < .05), more rapid resumption of a normal diet, and fewer surgical site infections-factors that contributed to a lower rate of overall postoperative complications. According to the quality-of-life questionnaire, the LR group exhibited significantly greater scores for physical function, role, pain, and general health by the 30th postoperative day (P = .003, P < .001, P = .006, and P = .001, respectively), and by the 1-year follow-up, the LR group showed substantial improvements in physical function, physical role, emotional role, pain and general health (P = .047, P = .004, P = .039, P = .001, and P = .021, respectively), indicating its effectiveness in patient recovery and quality of life enhancement after surgery. CONCLUSION: This study showed that LR could provide certain benefits in managing PPUs, such as reduced lengths of hospital stay and lower incidences of surgical site infections. Although LR reported promising directions in patient satisfaction and quality of life indicators, the limited duration of postoperative monitoring necessitates caution in broadly applying these results.

Clinicopathological outcomes of microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer.

AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the histopathological features and prognostic parameters of tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI) compared with those without MSI in patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). SETTING AND DESIGN: Follow-up for CRC at Istanbul Sultan 2. Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital was retrospectively evaluated between March 2017 and March 2021. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The patients were divided into two groups: those with and without MSI. Groups were compared in survival parameters. As a secondary result, groups were compared in pathological parameters such as stage, tumor diameter, degree of differentiation, and lymphovascular, and perineural invasion. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Survival calculations were performed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis method. The effects of various prognostic factors related to tumor and patient characteristics on disease-free and overall survival (OS) were investigated by log-rank test. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen patients were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 66 (30-89), and 59.3% (n = 127) were male. There were 25 patients in the MSI group and 189 patients in the non-MSI group. We found that MSI tumors had a significantly higher differentiation degree than non-MSI tumors and larger tumor diameters. MSI tumors frequently settled in the proximal colon, and more lymph nodes were removed in the resection material. MSI tumors had longer disease-free survival, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: By diagnosing microsatellite instability, CRCs can be divided into two groups. The histopathological features of the tumor and the prognosis of the disease differ between these groups. MSI can be a predictive marker in the patient's follow-up and treatment.

Recurrent Ileo-ileal Intussusception Caused by Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp: A Rare Case Report.

An inflammatory fibroid polyp is a rare benign lesion of the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause obstruction or intussusception when it reaches a large diameter. We present a case of a 46-year-old female admitted to our clinic with recurrent ileus attacks. We performed segmental resection of the small bowel due to a 3-cm pedunculated polypoid lesion located in the terminal ileum that caused ileo-ileal intussusception and whose pathology was reported as an inflammatory fibroid polyp. In adults presenting with ileus, the possibility of intussusception should be kept in mind.

A Spontaneous Transomental Hernia: A Rare Cause of Bowel Obstruction.

Internal hernias (IH) are rare situations that account for 0.5-3% of all cases of intestinal obstruction. Transomental hernia is a rare subtype, hardly diagnosed, and represents approximately only 2% of internal hernias. In 2018, a 41-year-old female patient presented to Marmara University Hospital emergency service with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her medical history included asthma, and she had no abdominal surgery. With the preliminary diagnosis of small bowel obstruction, laparotomy was done and showed a loop of ileum was herniated through into an unusual defect of the omentum. The obstructed loop of the small intestine into the hernia site was reduced. It was seen as viable, so no resection was necessitated. We divided the greater omentum into two parts from the edge of the defect area to prevent recurrences. The patient's postoperative period was uneventful, and she was discharged on the second postoperative day. Small bowel strangulation is more seen in transomental hernia than in other internal hernia types. So it is related to high morbidity and mortality. Surgery should not be delayed to reduce complications.

Older is worse? Elderly patients who underwent gastrectomy: A single-center study.

AIM: Gastric cancer is common cancer, and its incidence remains relatively high in elderly patients with increasing life expectancy. However, few studies have examined the clinical and prognostic characteristics of elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and prognostic features of elderly gastrectomy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients over 65 years of age who underwent gastric cancer surgery at Marmara University were retrospectively analyzed. The patients' demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), complications, intensive care unit duration, and length of stay were examined. The patients were divided into two groups: young-old (65-74 years old) and old-old (≥ 75 years old). Two groups were compared in terms of postoperative outcomes and overall survival. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-three patients were analyzed. The mean age was 79 years, and the female to male ratio was 85/178. Reoperation rates and hospital mortality were significantly higher in the old-old group (p=0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). The hospital stay was significantly longer in the old-old group (5.8 vs. 7.8 days, p= 0.02). Complications were significantly higher in the group with a PNI < 40 (49% vs. 23%, p=0.005). There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding 5-year overall survival (33% vs. 55%, p= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrectomy can be performed on the elderly. However, an increase in complications and in-hospital mortality is recognized over 75. These problems should be considered in this old-age group. KEY WORDS: Aged, Carcinoma stomach, Elderly, Gastric cancer, Gastrectomy.

Outcomes of Proximal Versus Total Gastrectomy for Proximal Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of a Western Center Experience.

PURPOSE: In this western study, we aimed to compare perioperative outcomes, postoperative complications, and overall survival in patients who underwent total gastrectomy (TG) or proximal gastrectomy (PG) for proximal gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Patients who underwent GC surgery at Marmara University Hospital between January 2014 and December 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline characteristics of patients undergoing PG and TG. Data on patients' demographics, clinicopathological features of tumors, complications, and survival rates were analyzed. Perioperative outcomes and overall survival of the patients were compared between PG and TG groups. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included in this study, with 53 patients in the PG and 159 in the TG group. After 1:1 matching according to PSM, 46 patients in the PG group were matched to 46 in the TG group. After PSM, there were no differences in clinicopathological outcomes except retrieved lymph nodes. In terms of short-term outcomes, overall perioperative morbidity (Clavien Dindo ≥ 3a) was significantly higher in the PG group (p = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference when the complications were considered separately. In the long-term follow-up, reflux esophagitis was associated with the PG group (p=0.04). In multivariate analysis, positive surgical margin and lymphovascular invasion were significant factors related to overall survival. Overall, 5-year survival was 55% in matched patients. The difference in survival was not statistically significant (57 vs. 69 months, p = 0.3) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal gastrectomy is applicable to patients up to stage 3 disease, with no difference in overall survival, with caution in early complications and reflux esophagitis. Among all demographic and oncological factors, lymphovascular invasion and resection margin were significantly associated with worse survival.

Ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting as retroperitoneal mass.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It represents a wide range of clinical tumors with different clinical presentations, locations, and prognoses. Retroperitoneal GISTs are rarely seen and may be associated with the GI system. In this case report, we present the laparoscopic excision of retroperitoneal ileal GIST in a patient who was admitted to the outpatient clinic with abdominal pain.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older: A Single-Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is frequently used for the elderly population. Older patients are more fragile than younger patients because of multiple age-related chronic diseases and the common use of polypharmacy. There is no adequate data in the existing literature regarding the application of upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy in the elderly population. Therefore, in this article, we evaluated esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures that were performed on patients aged 75 years or older in the secondary care hospital. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of patients aged 75 years or older who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy between January 2016 and January 2021 at the Istanbul Sultanbeyli State Hospital Endoscopy Unit. Indications of endoscopy, ages, genders, endoscopic diagnoses, polyp/tumor/biopsy localizations, histopathological examination of biopsies, and complications of esophagogastroduodenoscopy were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients were analyzed. The most common indication was dyspepsia (25%), followed by gastrointestinal bleeding, reflux, anemia, and screening/surveillance. For patients aged 75-79 years and patients aged ≥80 years, endoscopic diagnoses of esophageal and gastric malignancies were observed as 6.4% and 18%, respectively. Very relevant findings of endoscopy (esophageal and gastric malignancies; gastric and duodenal ulcers) were detected in 39 (19.3%) of all included patients. No complications due to endoscopic procedures were observed, but complications due to sedation (hypotension and hypoxemia) were observed in 5.0%. CONCLUSION: After pre-procedural evaluation, we must be careful while doing endoscopic procedures in the elderly because of multiple age-related chronic diseases and the common use of polypharmacy. This present study showed that esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield in patients aged 75 years and older.

Appendiceal Diverticulitis Presenting as Acute Appendicitis and Diagnosed After Appendectomy.

Introduction Diverticular disease of the appendix (DDA) is a rare appendiceal pathology. It is usually present similar to acute appendicitis. Because of its rarity, the DDA is poorly comprehended. This study evaluates the incidence, clinical and pathological characteristics of appendiceal diverticulitis diagnosed after appendectomy. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent appendectomy between January 2016 and January 2022 at the Istanbul Sultanbeyli State Hospital General Surgery Clinic. The following parameters were analyzed: age and gender, preoperative diagnosis, laboratory results, radiological imaging findings, surgical technique, histopathological examination of specimens, and complications. Results A total of 1586 patients were analyzed. In the pathology, diverticular disease of the appendix was detected in 10 patients (0.63%). The DDA patients' mean age was 34.4 years, and the male to female ratio was 4:1. We detected low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasia in one of our patients. Conclusion Appendiceal diverticulitis is rare and usually presents as acute appendicitis. Most DDAs are detected incidentally during the postoperative period and are associated with an increased risk of appendiceal neoplasm. Appendectomy specimens should be carefully examined histopathologically to detect diverticular disease of the appendix.

Esophageal Squamous Cell Papilloma: A Report of Three Cases.

Esophageal squamous papilloma (ESP) is a rare benign tumor. ESP is generally detected incidentally during esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which is usually performed to investigate dyspepsia. We present three cases of this rare endoscopic finding. While two of our patients were asymptomatic, one had dysphagia, and the lesions were excised. Endoscopists should be able to make the differential diagnosis of papilloma detected in the esophagus and have knowledge about these lesions as they may carry malignant potential. Excision of papillomas is recommended for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

A Case of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome Presenting With an Inoperable Periampullary Tumor.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a syndrome characterized by multiple hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal system and melanin pigments accumulating in the skin and mucous membranes. Patients with PJS have an increased risk of gastrointestinal malignancies. In this syndrome, pancreatic cancer is primarily detected in older ages. In this article, we present a case of a patient with an unresectable periampullary tumor and PJS.