The Utility of Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy Scans in the Tokyo Guidelines Era for Acute Cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy (HIDA) aids the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (AC) but has limitations. We sought to design a model based on the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) to predict HIDA results. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent a HIDA scan during the evaluation of AC was performed. Using logistic regression techniques incorporating the TG18 criterion and additional readily available patient characteristics, a prediction model was created to identify patients likely to test negative for acute cholecystitis by HIDA scan. RESULTS: In 235 patients with suspected AC, a HIDA scan was performed. Variables associated with positive HIDA results were male gender (RR 2.0 (CI 1.33-2.99), age (OR 1.02 (CI 1.01-1.04), right upper quadrant tenderness (RR 1.7 (CI 1.1-2.8)), clinical Murphy's sign (RR 2.2 (CI 1.5-3.4)), ultrasound findings suggestive of AC by any of its components (RR 3.2 (CI 1.6-6.5)), gallbladder wall thickening (RR 2.0 (CI 1.3-3.1)), and gallbladder distention (RR 1.9 (CI 1.3-2.9)). These variables allowed for creation of a model to predict HIDA results. The model predicted HIDA results in 36.9% of patients with an area under the curve of 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: In the era of TG18, HIDA is probably over utilized. We developed an accurate, simple model based on TG18 that identifies a group of patients for whom a HIDA scan is unnecessary to establish the diagnosis of AC.

Feasibility and efficacy of gamification in general surgery residency: Preliminary outcomes of residency teams.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive studies evaluating the efficacy of team-based competition ("Gamification") in surgery have not been performed. Board pass rates and resident satisfaction may improve if surgical residents are involved in competition. METHODS: Residents at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, New York) were surveyed and separated into teams during a draft. Each resident's performance was converted into a point system. Resident scores were combined into a team score and presented as a leaderboard. Awards were given. ABSITE, ACGME residency satisfaction, and ABS qualifying exam pass rates were compared. RESULTS: Sixty percent of residents are inspired to improve their performance during gamification. ABSITE average percentile score improved from 28 to 43. ABS qualifying exam pass rates improved from 73% to 100%. Resident satisfaction improved from 65% to 88%. The point system allowed for establishing "growth curves" for each resident enabling enhanced assessment of residents. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive team-based competition inspires performance, is feasible, and seems to improve ABSITE scores, ABS pass rates, and satisfaction while being a tool for assessment of performance.

Long-term reported outcomes of transoral incisionless fundoplication: an 8-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) offers an endoscopic approach to the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Controlled trials have demonstrated the short-term efficacy of this procedure, but long-term follow-up studies are lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of TIF on disease-specific quality of life and antisecretory medication use. METHODS: We performed retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing TIF between 2007 and 2014 in a large academic medical center. Reflux symptoms and quality of life were assessed using the gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire at baseline, short-term, and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients with a median age of 46 (37-59) years and an average BMI of 28.8 ± 4.9 kg/m2 underwent TIF during the study period. Sixty percent of the patients were female, and all were taking a PPI at least daily. At a median follow-up interval of 97 months, twelve patients had undergone subsequent laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS). Of those who had not, 23 had complete long-term follow-up data for analysis and were included in the study. Seventy-three percent reported daily acid-reducing medication use, and the median GERD-HRQL score was 10 (6-14) compared to 24 (15-28) at baseline (p < 0.01). Seventy-eight percent of these patients expressed satisfaction or neutral feelings about their GERD management. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients who underwent LARS during the study period and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that TIF can produce durable improvements in disease-specific quality of life in some patients with symptomatic GERD. The majority of patients resumed daily PPI therapy during the study period, but with significantly improved GERD-HRQL scores compared to baseline and increased satisfaction with their medical condition.

Impact of minimally invasive surgery on healthcare utilization, cost, and workplace absenteeism in patients with Incisional/Ventral Hernia (IVH).

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernia repair is one of the most common general surgery operations being performed today. With the advancement of laparoscopy since the 1990s, we have seen vast improvements in faster return to normal activity, shorter hospital stays and less post-operative narcotic use, to name a few. OBJECTIVE: The key aims of this review were to measure the impact of minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery on health care utilization, cost, and work place absenteeism in the patients undergoing inpatient incisional/ventral hernia (IVH) repair. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database. Total of 2557 patients were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Of the patient that underwent IVH surgery, 24.5% (n = 626) were done utilizing minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques and 75.5% (n = 1931) were done open. Ninety-day post-surgery outcomes were significantly lower in the MIS group compared to the open group for total payment ($19,288.97 vs. $21,708.12), inpatient length of stay (3.12 vs. 4.24 days), number of outpatient visit (5.48 vs. 7.35), and estimated days off (11.3 vs. 14.64), respectively. At 365 days post-surgery, the total payment ($27,497.96 vs. $30,157.29), inpatient length of stay (3.70 vs. 5.04 days), outpatient visits (19.75 vs. 23.42), and estimated days off (35.71 vs. 41.58) were significantly lower for MIS group versus the open group, respectively. CONCLUSION: When surgical repair of IVH is performed, there is a clear advantage in the MIS approach versus the open approach in regard to cost, length of stay, number of outpatient visits, and estimated days off.

Outcomes of bariatric surgery in the young: a single-institution experience caring for patients under 21 years old.

BACKGROUND: Medical weight loss options are rarely successful long term in young patients. Bariatric surgery has been shown to be safe and effective in this population. METHODS: Patients ≤21 years old who had bariatric surgery at our institution between January 2009 and December 2013 were evaluated to determine the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in this population. The primary end point was excess weight loss (EWL). Secondary end points included surgical morbidity, improvement in obesity-related metabolic parameters, and subjective obesity-related symptoms at 1 year. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were identified who had a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LGBP) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Fourteen patients were male (25.9 %), and 40 patients were female (74.1 %). Thirty-seven patients (68.5 %) underwent LGBP, and 17 patients (31.5 %) underwent LSG. Median follow-up was 13.3 months. The baseline BMI was 51.7 kg/m2 for the LGBP group and 51.0 kg/m2 for the LSG group. EWL was 35.2, 47.6, 62.4, 58.1, and 61.8 % for the LGBP group; 29.7, 44.7, 57.4, 60.3, and 59.0 % for the LSG group at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Our complications included 1 anastomotic bleed, 1 postoperative stricture, and 1 patient who developed vitamin deficiency that manifested as a peripheral neuropathy in the LGBP group. LGBP was more successful than LSG in improving lipid panel parameters and HbA1c at 1 year, and it also seemed to offer better subjective improvement in obesity-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: LGBP and LSG seem to confer comparable weight loss benefit in patients ≤21 years old with acceptable surgical morbidity.

Excess Weight Loss and Cardiometabolic Parameter Reduction Diminished among Hispanics Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Outcomes in More than 2,000 Consecutive Hispanic Patients at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery has been established as the most effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. Despite its success, there is a paucity of data on the outcomes of bariatric surgery on Hispanic patients. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of obese patients treated at our institute between 2008 and 2014. We identified self-reported Hispanic patients who underwent a laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP), sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), or gastric band (LGB) procedure. The primary end point was excess weight loss (EWL) at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Secondary end points included improvement of obesity-related metabolic parameters at 1 year. We performed a repeated measures analysis of variance to calculate statistical significance throughout our study time period. RESULTS: We identified 2002 Hispanic patients who underwent bariatric surgery (1,235 LGBP, 600 LSG, 167 LGB) at our institute from 2008 to 2014. Follow-ups at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 62.2%, 54.5%, 36.2%, and 19.8%, respectively. Mean preoperative BMIs were 47.0 ± 7.2 kg/m2, 46.1 ± 7.8 kg/m2, and 44.9 ± 6.0 kg/m2 for the LGBP, LSG, and LGB cohorts, respectively. Excess weight loss was significantly more pronounced in the LGBP and the LSG groups than in the LGB group; this difference was accentuated over time (p < 0.0001). Obesity-related metabolic parameters and the need for comorbidity medical therapy decreased in all 3 surgical groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery is highly successful in Hispanic obese patients. In the largest series to date, LGBP and LSG seem to yield more effective EWL and reduction of cardiometabolic parameters than LGB among Hispanics; however, outcomes are still markedly reduced when compared with those in non-Hispanic populations.

Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Patients Older than 60.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of population older than 60 years is rapidly increasing. The majority of this older population suffers from multiple comorbid conditions including obesity. Non-surgical means of weight loss do not offer a predictable solution. Surgical interventions seem to be the most promising solution for the obesity problem, but there is a relative lack of data in literature regarding bariatric procedures in older populations. OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in patients older than 60 years of age, to determine the weight loss, rate of operation-related complications, and impacts of surgery on comorbid conditions, and to compare the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in older patients to the effectiveness of bariatric surgery for the general population at Montefiore Medical Center. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients' medical records were used to collect data to create databases to identify patients older than 60 years age who underwent bariatric surgery procedures spanning a 4-year period between January 2009 and October 2013. Data reviewed included age, sex, height, pre-operative weight, and body mass index (BMI), presence of obesity-related comorbid conditions, procedures performed, mortality, immediate or delayed complications, length of follow-up, excess weight lost, BMI points lost, percent of excess weight loss (%EWL), hemoglobin Alc (HgbA1c), and effects on obesity-related comorbid conditions. The percent of excess weight loss and number of complications within the older patient group were compared to the general population, which consists of patients between the ages of 22 and 59. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were identified. Seven patients did not follow up at any time period, and the eight patients who had laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) were also excluded due to insufficient data. Overall, 83 patients who were above the age of 60 were examined; 30 patients had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and 53 patients underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). The average patient age was 63.4 years, the average pre-operative weight was 122.3 kg, and the average excess body weight was 54.8 kg. The pre-existing comorbid conditions included 90.4 % hypertension (HTN), 63.9 % diabetes mellitus (DM), 50.6 % hyperlipidemia (HL), 34.9 % obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 30.1 % asthma. The average %EWL at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months was 37.0, 51.3, and 65.2 %, respectively. A significant proportion of patients reported resolution or improvement in comorbid conditions. When results were compared to the general, population there was no significant difference in the number of complications that occurred within each of the two groups. The difference in %EWL at the 12-month follow-up was not statistically significant between the general population and the older patients, which suggests that both groups lost a similar amount of weight and that bariatric surgery on patients who are above the age of 60 is effective. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery can be safe and effective for patients older than 60 years of age with a low morbidity and mortality; the weight loss and improvement in comorbidities in older patients were clinically significant. When compared to the general population, there was no statistically significant difference in the average %EWL at 12 months or the number of complications due to surgery. Long-term effects of such interventions will need further studies and investigations.

Endoscopic mucosal resection for staging and treatment of early esophageal carcinoma: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) has emerged for evaluation and treatment of esophageal nodules. We report our initial experience with EMR for T staging and management of early esophageal cancer. METHODS: We reviewed patients undergoing EMR for esophageal adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2013. The primary outcome measure was needed for esophagectomy. Secondary outcomes included complete eradication of adenocarcinoma, recurrence or persistence of cancer, nodal status for those undergoing esophagectomy, and complications of endoscopic treatment. RESULTS: During the study period, 24 patients underwent EMR demonstrating carcinoma, and a grossly margin negative endoscopic resection was achieved in all cases. Ten patients (42 %) had evidence of submucosal invasion and were referred for esophagectomy. Patients with margin negative EMR (n = 10, 42 %) or positive radial margins (n = 4, 16 %) underwent endoscopic surveillance and treatment with radiofrequency ablation or repeat EMR as needed. Thirteen patients (93 %) with intramucosal cancer (IMC) have been successfully managed with ongoing endoscopic surveillance and treatment with a median follow-up of 15.5 months. One patient underwent esophagectomy due to recurrent IMC in the setting of long-segment multifocal high-grade dysplasia. There were no esophageal perforations, one patient developed a self-limited gastrointestinal hemorrhage following EMR, and one had an esophageal stricture following endoscopic management. CONCLUSIONS: IMC can be successfully managed endoscopically and thus esophagectomy is avoided in a significant proportion of patients. Endoscopic management may be utilized in the setting of complete resection or radial margin involvement without evidence of submucosal invasion. Close endoscopic follow-up is of paramount importance even in those with negative margins, because recurrent disease may occur following EMR in these patients.

Long-term cost-effectiveness of medical, endoscopic and surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The long-term cost effectiveness of medical, endoscopic, and operative treatments for adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains unclear. We sought to estimate the cost effectiveness of medical, endoscopic, and operative treatments for adults with GERD who require daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. METHODS: A Markov model was generated from the payer's perspective using a 6-month cycle and 30-year time horizon. The base-case patient was a 45-year-old man with symptomatic GERD taking 20 mg of omeprazole twice daily. Four treatment strategies were analyzed: PPI therapy, transoral incisionless fundoplication (EsophyX), radiofrequency energy application to the lower esophageal sphincter (Stretta) and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The model parameters were selected using the published literature and institutional billing data. The main outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained) for each therapy. RESULTS: In the base case analysis, which assumed a PPI cost of $234 over 6 months ($39 per month), Stretta and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication were the most cost-effective options over a 30-year time period ($2,470.66 and $5,579.28 per QALY gained, respectively). If the cost of PPI therapy exceeded $90.63 per month over 30 years, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication became the dominant treatment option. EsophyX was dominated by laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication at all points in time. CONCLUSION: Low-cost PPIs, Stretta, and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication all represent cost-effective treatment strategies. In this model, when PPIs exceed $90 per month, medical therapy is no longer cost effective. Procedural GERD therapy should be considered for patients who require high-dose or expensive PPIs.

2014 SSAT State-of-the-Art Conference: advances in diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease affects at least 10 % of people in Western societies and produces troublesome symptoms and impairs patients' quality of life. The effective management of GERD is imperative as the diagnosis places a significant cost burden on the United States healthcare system with annual direct cost estimates exceeding 9 billion dollars annually. While effective for many patients, 30-40 % of patients receiving medical therapy with proton pump inhibitors experience troublesome breakthrough symptoms, and recent evidence suggests that this therapy subjects patients to increased risk of complications. Given the high cost of PPI therapy, patients are showing a decrease in willingness to continue with a therapy that provides incomplete relief; however, due to inconsistent outcomes and concern for procedure-related side effects following surgery, only 1 % of the GERD population undergoes anti-reflux surgery annually. The discrepancy between the number of patients who experience suboptimal medical treatment and the number considered for anti-reflux surgery indicates a large therapeutic gap in the management of GERD. The objective of the SSAT State-of-the-Art Conference was to examine technologic advances in the diagnosis and treatment of GERD and to evaluate the ways in which we assess the outcomes of these therapies to provide optimal patient care.

Near-infrared fluorescent cholangiography facilitates identification of biliary anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is the current gold standard for biliary imaging during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, utilization of IOC remains low. Near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography (NIRF-C) is a novel, noninvasive method for real-time, intraoperative biliary mapping. Our aims were to assess the safety and efficacy of NIRF-C for identification of biliary anatomy during LC. METHODS: Patients were administered indocyanine green (ICG) prior to surgery. NIRF-C was used to identify extrahepatic biliary structures before and after partial and complete dissection of Calot's triangle. Routine IOC was performed in each case. Identification of biliary structures using NIRF-C and IOC, and time required to complete each procedure were collected. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients underwent elective LC with NIRF-C and IOC. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 42.6 ± 13.7 years and 31.5 ± 8.2 kg/m(2), respectively. ICG was administered 73.8 ± 26.4 min prior to incision. NIRF-C was significantly faster than IOC (1.9 ± 1.7 vs. 11.8 ± 5.3 min, p < 0.001). IOC was unobtainable in 20 (24.4 %) patients while NIRF-C did not visualize biliary structures in 4 (4.9 %) patients. After complete dissection, the rates of visualization of the cystic duct, common bile duct, and common hepatic duct using NIRF-C were 95.1, 76.8, and 69.5 %, respectively, compared to 72.0, 75.6, and 74.3 % for IOC. In 20 patients where IOC could not be obtained, NIRF-C successfully identified biliary structures in 80 % of the cases. Higher BMI was not a deterrent to visualization of anatomy with NIRF-C. No adverse events were observed with NIRF-C. CONCLUSIONS: NIRF-C is a safe and effective alternative to IOC for imaging extrahepatic biliary structures during LC. This technique should be evaluated further under a variety of acute and chronic gallbladder inflammatory conditions to determine its usefulness in biliary ductal identification.

Efficacy and durability of robotic Heller myotomy for achalasia: patient symptoms and satisfaction at long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) has become the standard treatment for achalasia in the USA. Robot-assisted Heller myotomy (RHM) has emerged as an alternative approach due to improved visualization and fine motor control, but long-term follow-up studies have not been reported. We sought to report the long-term outcomes of RHM and compare them to those of LHM. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients who underwent laparoscopic or RHM between 1995 and 2006. Long-term follow-up was performed via mail or telephone questionnaire. The primary outcome measure was durable relief of dysphagia without need for further intervention. Secondary outcomes included gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, disease-specific quality of life, and patient satisfaction with their operation. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients underwent laparoscopic (n = 19) or robotic (n = 56) myotomy during the study period. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 53 (71 %) patients with a median interval of 9 years. RHM was associated with a decreased mucosal injury rate (0 vs. 16 %, p = 0.01) and median hospital stay (1 vs. 2 days, p < 0.01) compared to conventional laparoscopy. All patients reported initial dysphagia relief, and 80 % required no further intervention. This did not differ between groups. Sixty-two percent required medications to control reflux symptoms at long-term follow-up, including 56 % following robotic myotomy and 80 % after laparoscopic myotomy (p = 0.27). Overall, 95 % of patients were satisfied with their operation, and 91 % would choose surgery again given the benefit of hindsight. CONCLUSION: There is a dearth of long-term follow-up data to support the effectiveness of RHM. This study demonstrates durable dysphagia relief in the vast majority of patients with a high degree of patient satisfaction and a low rate of esophageal mucosal injury. While a significant proportion of patients report reflux symptoms, these symptoms are well controlled with medical acid suppression.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for treatment of symptomatic paraesophageal hernia in the morbidly obese: medium-term results.

BACKGROUND: The ideal surgical approach for treatment of symptomatic paraesophageal hernias (PEH) in obese patients remains elusive. The objective of this study was to assess the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of combined laparoscopic PEH repair and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for the management of symptomatic PEH in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: Fourteen patients with symptomatic PEH and morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI]>35 kg/m(2)) underwent laparoscopic PEH repair with RYGB between 2008 and 2011. Demographic characteristics and preoperative and perioperative details were analyzed. Patients were contacted in October 2013 for follow-up. BMI, reflux symptoms, and disease-specific quality of life (QoL) data were obtained. RESULTS: There were 11 females (79%). Median age and preoperative BMI were 48 years and 42 kg/m(2), respectively. Mean operative time was 180 minutes, with median length-of-stay of 4 days. There were no perioperative deaths, and 5 patients experienced postoperative complications including 1 gastrojejunostomy leak. Complete follow-up with a median follow-up interval of 35 months was available in 9 (64%) patients. The median % excess weight loss was 67.9%. Thirty-three percent required antisecretory medications for reflux control, compared to 89% preoperatively. Seventy-eight percent of patients reported good to excellent QoL outcomes assessed by the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire. Overall, 89% of patients were satisfied with their operation and would undergo the procedure again. CONCLUSION: Combined laparoscopic PEH repair and RYGB is a safe, feasible, and effective treatment option for morbidly obese patients with symptomatic PEH, and offers good to excellent disease-specific quality-of-life outcomes at medium-term follow-up. To date, this is the largest series with the longest follow-up in this unique patient population.

Gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer effectively palliates symptoms and may improve survival in select patients.

BACKGROUND: The role of gastrectomy in the face of incurable gastric cancer is evolving. We sought to evaluate our experience with incomplete (i.e., R2) gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: We reviewed 210 locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancers (1992-2008). Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between three groups: gastrectomy (N = 99), exploration without resection (N = 66), and no surgery (N = 45). RESULTS: Clinicopathologic characteristics were similar between groups. Symptoms successfully resolved after gastrectomy in 48 % with a complication rate of 32 % and mortality of 6 %. Overall median survival for all patients was 6.2 months: 10.0 months after gastrectomy, 4.1 months after exploration without resection, and 5.3 months for no surgery (p < 0.001). Perioperative complications were the only predictor of symptom resolution following resection (OR = 0.175). Resolution of symptoms (p < 0.001, Hazards Ratio (HR) = 0.09) and preoperative nausea/vomiting (p = 0.017, HR = 0.55) improved survival, while linitis plastica (p = 0.035, HR = 4.05) and spindle cell morphology (p = 0.011, HR = 1.98) were predictors of poor survival in patients undergoing resection. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrectomy in the setting of advanced gastric cancer may be useful in up to half of patients with an acceptable perioperative mortality rate. Symptom resolution offers a potential survival advantage but is dependent upon a complication-free course, so should only be considered selectively.

Endoscopic management of high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal carcinoma: experience in a large academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Esophagectomy has been the standard treatment for Barrett's esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and intramucosal cancer (IMC). Recently, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have become the preferred treatment for these patients in some centers. We report a single institution series of patients undergoing endoscopic management of HGD and IMC. METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent endoscopic treatment for HGD or IMC between 2009 and 2012. The primary outcome measure was progression of BE necessitating esophagectomy. Secondary outcomes included complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM), complete eradication of dysplasia (CE-D), recurrence or progression of BE or dysplasia, and complications. Patients were followed for a median follow-up interval of 19 months following completion of RFA treatment. RESULTS: Three patients (16 %) had a presenting diagnosis of IMC, and 16 (84 %) were treated for HGD. Twelve (63 %) had long-segment BE; the median length of BE was 5 cm. Ten (53 %) patients underwent EMR prior to RFA. CE-D was achieved in 88 % of patients, and CE-IM was achieved in 65 % of patients. A median of 2 (1-7) treatments were required, and there were no immediate post-procedure complications. Two patients developed recurrent dysplasia following complete eradication of BE, and each case was successfully managed with repeat RFA. Three patients (16 %) required esophagectomy within 6 months following RFA. A complete surgical resection was achieved in each case, and none of the patients developed lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Complete eradication of HGD and IMC can be achieved via endoscopic therapy, thus avoiding esophagectomy in the majority of patients. However, a subset of patients will fail this treatment approach and will require surgical resection. With aggressive endoscopic treatment and surveillance, these patients can be identified at an early stage while curative resection is still possible.

Perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy with antegrade esophageal inversion for high-grade dysplasia and invasive esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: We examined the safety and effectiveness of antegrade laparoscopic inversion esophagectomy (LIE) for patients with multifocal high-grade dysplasia and distal esophageal cancer. METHODS: We reviewed our experience with antegrade LIE, using an institutional research board-approved prospective database. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with an average age of 64 years underwent LIE. Indications included multifocal high-grade dysplasia (n = 4), adenocarcinoma (n = 30), and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 2); 11 patients had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiation. LIE was completed successfully in 34 (94%) patients, whereas 2 required a conversion to open transhiatal esophagectomy. LIE required 221 minutes to perform, with a median blood loss of 100 mL. R0 resection was achieved in 97% of cases with a median lymph node harvest 15. Median hospital stay was 8 days, and 61% of patients were discharged to their home. Postoperative complications included anastomotic leak (n = 11) and stricture (n = 18), atrial arrhythmia (n = 5), pneumonia (n = 4), and tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 2). Operative outcomes after neoadjuvant therapy did not differ from those for primary operative resection. CONCLUSION: Antegrade LIE is a safe treatment approach for patients with high-grade dysplasia and distal esophageal cancer. Complete resection with an adequate lymph node harvest can be achieved consistently for primary operative resection or after neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Current national practice patterns for inpatient management of ventral abdominal wall hernia in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The health-care burden related to ventral hernia management is substantial, with more than 3 billion dollars in expenditures annually in the US. Previous studies have suggested that the utilization of laparoscopic repair remains relatively low although national volume estimates have not been reported. We sought to estimate the inpatient national volume of elective ventral hernia surgery and characterize the proportion of laparoscopic versus open operations. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify adults with a diagnosis of an umbilical, incisional, or ventral hernia who underwent an elective inpatient repair between 2009 and 2010. Cases that involved other major abdominal or pelvic operations were excluded. Covariates included patient demographics, surgical approach, and use of mesh. National surgical volume estimates were generated and length of stay and total hospital charges were compared for laparoscopic versus open repairs. RESULTS: A total of 112,070 ventral hernia repairs were included in the analysis: 72.1 % (n = 80,793) were incisional hernia repairs, while umbilical hernia repairs comprised only 6.9 % (n = 7,788). Laparoscopy was utilized in 26.6 % (n = 29,870) of cases. Mesh was placed in 85.8 % (n = 96,265) of cases, including 49.3 % (n = 3,841) of umbilical hernia repairs and 90.1 % (n = 72,973) of incisional hernia repairs. Length of stay and total hospital charges were significantly lower for laparoscopic umbilical, incisional, and "other" ventral hernia repairs (p values all <0.001). Total hospital charges during this 2-year period approached 4 billion dollars ($746 million for laparoscopic repair; $3 billion for open repair). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of laparoscopy for elective abdominal wall hernia repair remains relatively low in the US despite its excellent outcomes. Given the substantial financial burden associated with these hernias, future research focused on preventing the development and optimizing the surgical treatment of ventral abdominal wall hernias is warranted.