Perioperative pain management with regional analgesia techniques for visceral cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Regional analgesia following visceral cancer surgery might provide an advantage but evidence for best treatment options related to risk-benefit is unclear. DESIGN: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCT) with meta-analysis and GRADE assessment. SETTING: Postoperative pain treatment. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing visceral cancer surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Any kind of peripheral (PRA) or epidural analgesia (EA) with/without systemic analgesia (SA) was compared to SA with or without placebo treatment or any other regional anaesthetic techniques. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome measures were postoperative acute pain intensity at rest and during activity 24 h after surgery, the number of patients with block-related adverse events and postoperative paralytic ileus. MAIN RESULTS: 59 RCTs (4345 participants) were included. EA may reduce pain intensity at rest (mean difference (MD) -1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.35 to -0.75, low certainty evidence) and during activity 24 h after surgery (MD -1.83; 95% CI: -2.34 to -1.33, very low certainty evidence). PRA likely results in little difference in pain intensity at rest (MD -0.75; 95% CI: -1.20 to -0.31, moderate certainty evidence) and pain during activity (MD -0.93; 95% CI: -1.34 to -0.53, moderate certainty evidence) 24 h after surgery compared to SA. There may be no difference in block-related adverse events (very low certainty evidence) and development of paralytic ileus (very low certainty of evidence) between EA, respectively PRA and SA. CONCLUSIONS: Following visceral cancer surgery EA may reduce pain intensity. In contrast, PRA had only limited effects on pain intensity at rest and during activity. However, we are uncertain regarding the effect of both techniques on block-related adverse events and paralytic ileus. Further research is required focusing on regional analgesia techniques especially following laparoscopic visceral cancer surgery.

[Indications and surgical strategy for bowel resection in mesenteric ischemia : Resection margins considering current guidelines and literature as well as the influence of new technical possibilities]. / Indikation und Operationsstrategie zur Darmresektion bei Mesenterialischämie : Resektionsgrenzen unter Berücksichtigung aktueller Leitlinien und Literatur sowie des Einflusses neuer technischer Möglichkeiten.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is still a time-critical and life-threatening clinical picture. If exploration of the abdominal cavity is necessary during treatment, an intraoperative assessment of which segments of the intestines have a sufficient potential for recovery must be made. These decisions are mostly based on purely clinical parameters, which are subject to high level of uncertainty. This review article provides an overview of how this decision-making process and the determination of resection margins can be improved using technical aids, such as laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography or hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Furthermore, this article compiles guideline recommendations on the role of laparoscopy and the value of a planned second-look laparotomy. In addition, an overview of strategies for preventing short bowel syndrome is given and other aspects, such as the timing and technical aspects of placement of a preternatural anus and an anastomosis are highlighted.

[The Association of Surgical Oncology (ACO) curriculum "Surgical oncology"-Prerequisites for participation, registration and course]. / Das ACO-Kurrikulum "Chirurgische Onkologie" ­ Voraussetzungen zur Teilnahme, Anmeldung und Ablauf.

For solid malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, surgical removal is a central pillar of treatment and often the only possibility to achieve a long-term cure. While there are additional qualifications for an oncological subspecialization in other surgical disciplines, such as gynecology or urology nothing comparable exists for visceral surgery in Germany, despite the fact that interdisciplinary cancer treatment strategies are becoming increasingly more complex. The Association of Surgical Oncology (ACO) in cooperation with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) has created the curriculum for surgical oncology, a structured further education concept, which concludes with the European Board of Surgical Qualification (EBSQ) examination. This results in a standardization and improvement in surgical and oncological treatment in Germany. Furthermore, successful graduates receive an ACO as well as a UEMS certificate and are Fellows of the European Board of Surgery (FEBS).

Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infection rates in 5 European countries.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the overall and procedure-specific incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as well as risk factors for such across all surgical disciplines in Europe. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort of patients with surgical procedures performed at 14 European centres in 2016, with a nested case-control analysis. S. aureus SSI were identified by a semi-automated crossmatching bacteriological and electronic health record data. Within each surgical procedure, cases and controls were matched using optimal propensity score matching. RESULTS: A total of 764 of 178 902 patients had S. aureus SSI (0.4%), with 86.0% of these caused by methicillin susceptible and 14% by resistant pathogens. Mean S. aureus SSI incidence was similar for all surgical specialties, while varying by procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This large procedure-independent study of S. aureus SSI proves a low overall infection rate of 0.4% in this cohort. It provides proof of principle for a semi-automated approach to utilize big data in epidemiological studies of healthcare-associated infections. Trials registration The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov under NCT03353532 (11/2017).

Adherence to fast track measures in colorectal surgery-a survey among German and Austrian surgeons.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of modern perioperative treatment concepts has been demonstrated in several studies and meta-analyses. Despite good evidence, limited implementation of the fast track (FT) concept is still a widespread concern. To assess the status quo in Austrian and German hospitals, a survey on the implementation of FT measures was conducted among members of the German Society of General and Visceralsurgery (DGAV), the German Society of Coloproctology (DGK) and the Austrian Society of Surgery (OEGCH) to analyze where there is potential for improvement. METHODS: Twenty questions on perioperative care of colorectal surgery patients were sent to the members of the DGAV, DGK and OEGCH using the online survey tool SurveyMonkey®. Descriptive data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: While some of the FT measures have already been routinely adopted in clinical practice (e.g. minimally invasive surgical approach, early mobilization and diet buildup), for other components there are discrepancies between current recommendations and present implementation (e.g. the use of local nerve blocks to provide opioid-sparing analgesia or the use of abdominal drains). CONCLUSION: The implementation of the FT concept in Austria and Germany is still in need of improvement. Particularly regarding the use of abdominal drains and postoperative analgesia, there is a tendency to stick to traditional structures. To overcome the issues with FT implementation, the development of an evidence-based S3 guideline for perioperative care, followed by the founding of a surgical working group to conduct a structured education and certification process, may lead to significant improvements in perioperative patient care.

Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The success of elective colorectal surgery is mainly influenced by the surgical procedure and postoperative complications. The most serious complications include anastomotic leakages and surgical site infections (SSI)s, which can lead to prolonged recovery with impaired long-term health.  Compared with other abdominal procedures, colorectal resections have an increased risk of adverse events due to the physiological bacterial colonisation of the large bowel. Preoperative bowel preparation is used to remove faeces from the bowel lumen and reduce bacterial colonisation. This bowel preparation can be performed mechanically and/or with oral antibiotics. While mechanical bowel preparation alone is not beneficial, the benefits and harms of combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence for the use of combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective colorectal surgery. SEARCH METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and trial registries on 15 December 2021. In addition, we searched reference lists and contacted colorectal surgery organisations. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adult participants undergoing elective colorectal surgery comparing combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation (MBP+oAB) with either MBP alone, oAB alone, or no bowel preparation (nBP). We excluded studies in which no perioperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis was given. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures as recommended by Cochrane. Pooled results were reported as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) using the Mantel-Haenszel method. The certainty of the evidence was assessed with GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: We included 21 RCTs analysing 5264 participants who underwent elective colorectal surgery. None of the included studies had a high risk of bias, but two-thirds of the included studies raised some concerns. This was mainly due to the lack of a predefined analysis plan or missing information about the randomisation process. Most included studies investigated both colon and rectal resections due to malignant and benign surgical indications. For MBP as well as oAB, the included studies used different regimens in terms of agent(s), dosage and timing.  Data for all predefined outcomes could be extracted from the included studies. However, only four studies reported on side effects of bowel preparation, and none recorded the occurrence of adverse effects such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances or the need to discontinue the intervention due to side effects. Seventeen trials compared MBP+oAB with sole MBP. The incidence of SSI could be reduced through MBP+oAB by 44% (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.74; 3917 participants from 16 studies; moderate-certainty evidence) and the risk of anastomotic leakage could be reduced by 40% (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.99; 2356 participants from 10 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). No difference between the two comparison groups was found with regard to mortality (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.27 to 2.82; 639 participants from 3 studies; moderate-certainty evidence), the incidence of postoperative ileus (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.32; 2013 participants from 6 studies, low-certainty of evidence) and length of hospital stay (MD -0.19, 95% CI -1.81 to 1.44; 621 participants from 3 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). Three trials compared MBP+oAB with sole oAB. No difference was demonstrated between the two treatment alternatives in terms of SSI (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.34 to 2.21; 960 participants from 3 studies; very low-certainty evidence), anastomotic leakage (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.21 to 3.45; 960 participants from 3 studies; low-certainty evidence), mortality (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.30 to 3.50; 709 participants from 2 studies; low-certainty evidence), incidence of postoperative ileus (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.68 to 2.33; 709 participants from 2 studies; low-certainty evidence) or length of hospital stay (MD 0.1 respectively 0.2, 95% CI -0.68 to 1.08; data from 2 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). One trial (396 participants) compared MBP+oAB versus nBP. The evidence is uncertain about the effect of MBP+oAB on the incidence of SSI as well as mortality (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.23 respectively RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 4.22; low-certainty evidence), while no effect on the risk of anastomotic leakages (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.42; low-certainty evidence), the incidence of postoperative ileus (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.81; low-certainty evidence) or the length of hospital stay (MD 0.1, 95% CI -0.8 to 1; low-certainty evidence) could be demonstrated. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on moderate-certainty evidence, our results suggest that MBP+oAB is probably more effective than MBP alone in preventing postoperative complications. In particular, with respect to our primary outcomes, SSI and anastomotic leakage, a lower incidence was demonstrated using MBP+oAB. Whether oAB alone is actually equivalent to MBP+oAB, or leads to a reduction or increase in the risk of postoperative complications, cannot be clarified in light of the low- to very low-certainty evidence. Similarly, it remains unclear whether omitting preoperative bowel preparation leads to an increase in the risk of postoperative complications due to limited evidence. Additional RCTs, particularly on the comparisons of MBP+oAB versus oAB alone or nBP, are needed to assess the impact of oAB alone or nBP compared with MBP+oAB on postoperative complications and to improve confidence in the estimated effect. In addition, RCTs focusing on subgroups (e.g. in relation to type and location of colon resections) or reporting side effects of the intervention are needed to determine the most effective approach of preoperative bowel preparation.

Alveolar Echinococcosis in a Patient with Presumed Autoimmune Hepatitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: An Unexpected Finding after Liver Transplantation.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is an important reason for liver transplantation. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by Echinococcus multilocularis and presents characteristic calcified conglomerates detected by ultrasound or computed tomography scan of the liver. Symptoms of AE only occur after a long period of infection when cholestasis or cholangitis becomes apparent. Here, we report on a patient with presumed autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. After liver transplantation, alveolar echinococcosis was diagnosed in the liver explant.

[Robot-assisted rectal resections-Scoping review for level 1a evidence and retrospective analysis of in-clinic data]. / Robotergestützte Rektumresektionen ­ Scoping-Review für Klasse-1a-Evidenz und retrospektive Analyse klinikinterner Daten.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted rectal resections are said to overcome the known difficulties of laparoscopic rectal surgery through technical advantages, leading to better treatment results; however, published studies reported very heterogeneous results. The aim of this paper is therefore to determine whether there is class 1a evidence comparing robotic versus laparoscopic rectal resections. Furthermore, we would like to compare the treatment results of our clinic with the calculated effects from the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic literature search for class 1a evidence was performed and the calculated effects for 7 preselected outcomes were compared. We then analyzed all elective rectal resections performed in our hospital between 2017 and 2020 and compared the treatment outcomes with the results of the identified meta-analyses. RESULTS: The results of the 7 identified meta-analyses did not show homogeneous effects for the outcomes operating time and conversion rate, while the calculated effects of the other outcomes studied were largely consistent. Our patient data showed that robotic rectal resections were associated with significantly longer operation times, while the other outcomes were hardly influenced by the surgical technique. DISCUSSION: Although class 1a meta-analyses comparing robotic and laparoscopic rectal resections already exist, they do not enable an evidence-based recommendation regarding the preference of one of the two surgical techniques. The analysis of our patient data showed that the results achieved in our clinic are largely consistent with the observed effects of the meta-analyses.

Prognostic value of primary tumor sidedness in patients with non-metastatic IBD related CRC - Is it the exception to the rule?

BACKGROUND: Although primary tumor sidedness (PTS) has a known prognostic role in sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), its role in Inflammatory Bowel Disease related CRC (IBD-CRC) is largely unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of PTS in patients with IBD-CRC. METHODS: All eligible patients with surgically treated, non-metastatic IBD-CRC were retrospectively identified from institutional databases at ten European and Asian academic centers. Long term endpoints included recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression as well as propensity score analyses were performed to evaluate whether PTS was significantly associated with RFS and OS. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in the analysis, of which 32.4% had right-sided (RS) tumors and 67.6% had left-sided (LS) tumors. PTS was not associated with OS and RFS even on univariable analysis (5-year OS for RS vs LS tumors was 68.0% vs 77.3%, respectively, p = 0.31; 5-year RFS for RS vs LS tumors was 62.8% vs 65.4%, respectively, p = 0.51). Similarly, PTS was not associated with OS and RFS on propensity score matched analysis (5-year OS for RS vs LS tumors was 82.9% vs 91.3%, p = 0.79; 5-year RFS for RS vs LS tumors was 85.1% vs 81.5%, p = 0.69). These results were maintained when OS and RFS were calculated in patients with RS vs LS tumors after excluding patients with rectal tumors (5-year OS for RS vs LS tumors was 68.0% vs 77.2%, respectively, p = 0.38; 5-year RFS for RS vs LS tumors was 62.8% vs 59.2%, respectively, p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to sporadic CRC, PTS does not appear to have a prognostic role in IBD-CRC.

Postoperative paralytic ileus following debulking surgery in ovarian cancer patients.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) following cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and its impact on anastomotic leakage occurrence and postoperative complications. Methods: A total of 357 surgeries were performed on 346 ovarian cancer patients between 1/2010 and 12/2020 at our institution. The postoperative course regarding paralytic ileus, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative complications was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and through ordinal logistic regression. Results: A total of 233 patients (65.3%) returned to normal gastrointestinal functions within 3 days after surgery. A total of 123 patients (34.5%) developed POI. There were 199 anastomoses in 165 patients and 24 leakages (12.1%). Postoperative antibiotics (p 0.001), stoma creation (p 0.0001), and early start of laxatives (p 0.0048) significantly decreased POI, while anastomoses in general (p 0.0465) and especially low anastomoses (p 0.0143) showed increased POI rates. Intraoperative positive fluid excess >5,000 cc was associated with a higher risk for POI (p 0.0063), anastomotic leakage (p 0.0254), and severe complications (p 0.0012). Conclusion: Postoperative antibiotics, an early start with laxatives, and stoma creation were associated with reduced POI rates. Patients with anastomoses showed an increased risk for POI. Severe complications, anastomotic leakages, and POI were more common in the case of intraoperative fluid balance exceeding 5,000 cc.

IL-1-dependent enteric gliosis guides intestinal inflammation and dysmotility and modulates macrophage function.

Muscularis Externa Macrophages (ME-Macs) and enteric glial cells (EGCs) are closely associated cell types in the bowel wall, and important interactions are thought to occur between them during intestinal inflammation. They are involved in developing postoperative ileus (POI), an acute, surgery-induced inflammatory disorder triggered by IL-1 receptor type I (IL1R1)-signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that IL1R1-signaling in murine and human EGCs induces a reactive state, named enteric gliosis, characterized by a strong induction of distinct chemokines, cytokines, and the colony-stimulating factors 1 and 3. Ribosomal tagging revealed enteric gliosis as an early part of POI pathogenesis, and mice with an EGC-restricted IL1R1-deficiency failed to develop postoperative enteric gliosis, showed diminished immune cell infiltration, and were protected from POI. Furthermore, the IL1R1-deficiency in EGCs altered the surgery-induced glial activation state and reduced phagocytosis in macrophages, as well as their migration and accumulation around enteric ganglia. In patients, bowel surgery also induced IL-1-signaling, key molecules of enteric gliosis, and macrophage activation. Together, our data show that IL1R1-signaling triggers enteric gliosis, which results in ME-Mac activation and the development of POI. Intervention in this pathway might be a useful prophylactic strategy in preventing such motility disorders and gut inflammation.

Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality After Colorectal Surgery in Patients With Cirrhotic Liver Disease-A Retrospective Analysis of 54 Cases at a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Despite various existing scores that predict morbidity and mortality of patients with cirrhotic liver disease (CLD), data on specific risk stratification of patients with CLD undergoing colorectal surgery (CRS) are rare. The aim of this study was to assess in-hospital morbidity and mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis scheduled for CRS, with specific focus on possible pitfalls of surgery in this special cohort. Methods: Between 1996 and 2018, 54 patients with CLD undergoing CRS were identified and included in this study cohort. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were assessed using the Clavien/Dindo (C/D) classification as well as by type of complication. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the predictive factors for increased postoperative morbidity. Results: Of the patients, 37% patients died during the procedure or postoperatively. Major complications were seen in 23.1% of patients (>C/D IIIb). Patients with Child B or C cirrhosis as well as patients undergoing emergency surgery experienced significantly more major complications (p = 0.04 and p = 0.023, respectively). The most common complications were bleeding requiring blood transfusion (51.1%) and cardiocirculatory instability due to bleeding or sepsis (44.4%). In 53.7% of patients, an anastomosis was created without a protective ostomy. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 20.7% of these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a primary anastomosis without a protective ostomy was the strongest risk factor for major complications (p = 0.042). Discussion: Morbidity and mortality after CRS in patients with CLD remains high and is not only influenced by liver function but also by surgical variables. Considering the high rate of anastomotic leakage, creating a protective or definitive ostomy must be considered with regard to the underlying pathology, the extent of CLD, and the patient's condition. Moreover, our data suggest that surgery in these most fragile patients should be performed only in experienced centers with immediate contact to hepatologists and experts in hemostasis.

Surgical treatment of mechanical bowel obstruction: characteristics and outcomes of geriatric patients compared to a younger cohort.

PURPOSE: Mechanical bowel obstruction (MBO) is one of the most common indications for emergency surgery. Recent research justifies the method of attempting 3-5 days of nonoperative treatment before surgery. However, little is known about specific characteristics of geriatric patients undergoing surgery compared to a younger cohort. We aimed to analyze patients with MBO that required surgery, depending on their age, to identify potential targets for use in the reduction in complications and mortality in the elderly. METHODS: Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality were determined as primary outcome. We retrospectively identified all patients who underwent surgery for MBO at the University Hospital of Bonn between 2009 and 2019 and divided them into non-geriatric (40-74 years, n = 224) and geriatric (≥ 75 years, n = 88) patients, using the chi-squared-test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We found that geriatric patients had higher 30-day and in-hospital mortality rates than non-geriatric patients. As secondary outcome, we found that they experienced a longer length of stay (LOS) and higher complication rates than non-geriatric patients. Geriatric patients who suffered from large bowel obstruction (LBO) had a higher rate of bowel resection, stoma creation, and a higher 30-day mortality rate. The time from admission to surgery was not shown to be crucial for the outcome of (geriatric) patients. CONCLUSION: Geriatric patients suffering from mechanical bowel obstruction that had to undergo surgery had higher mortality and morbidity than non-geriatric patients. Especially in regard to geriatric patients, clinicians should treat patients in a risk-adapted rather than time-adapted manner, and conditions should be optimized before surgery.

Transcutaneous vagal nerve simulation to reduce a systemic inflammatory response syndrome and the associated intestinal failure: study protocol of a prospective, two-armed, sham-controlled, double-blinded trial in healthy subjects (the NeuroSIRS-Study).

PURPOSE: Surgery initiates pro-inflammatory mediator cascades leading to a variably pronounced sterile inflammation (SIRS). SIRS is associated with intestinal paralysis and breakdown of intestinal barrier and might result in abdominal sepsis. Technological progress led to the development of a neurostimulator for transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS), which is associated with a decline in inflammatory parameters and peristalsis improvement in rodents and healthy subjects via activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Therefore, taVNS might be a strategy for SIRS prophylaxis. METHODS: The NeuroSIRS-Study is a prospective, randomized two-armed, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The study is registered at DRKS00016892 (09.07.2020). A controlled endotoxemia is used as a SIRS-mimicking model. 2 ng/kg bodyweight lipopolysaccharide (LPS) will be administered after taVNS or sham stimulation. The primary objective is a reduction of clinical symptoms of SIRS after taVNS compared to sham stimulation. Effects of taVNS on release of inflammatory cytokines, intestinal function, and vital parameters will be analyzed. DISCUSSION: TaVNS is well-tolerated, with little to no side effects. Despite not fully mimicking postoperative inflammation, LPS challenge is the most used experimental tool to imitate SIRS and offers standardization and reproducibility. The restriction to healthy male volunteers exerts a certain bias limiting generalizability to the surgical population. Still, this pilot study aims to give first insights into taVNS as a prophylactic treatment in postoperative inflammation to pave the way for further clinical trials in patients at risk for SIRS. This would have major implications for future therapeutic approaches.

Dosimetric Comparison of Intraoperative Radiotherapy and SRS for Liver Metastases.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To perform a dosimetric comparison between kilovoltage intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) simulating both deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) and free-breathing (FB) modalities for patients with liver metastases. METHODS/MATERIALS: Diagnostic computed tomographies (CT) of patients carrying one or two lesions <4 cm and who underwent surgery were retrospectively screened and randomly selected for the study. For DIBH-SRS, a gross target volume (GTV) plus planning target volume (PTV) were delineated. For FB-SRS, a GTV plus an internal target volume (ITV) and PTV were defined. Accounting for the maximal GTV diameters, a modified GTV (GTV-IORT) was expanded circumferentially to simulate a resection cavity. The best suitable round-applicator size was thereafter selected. All treatment plans were calculated homogeneously to deliver 40 Gy. Doses delivered to organs at risk (OAR) and target volumes were compared for IORT vs. both SRS modalities. RESULTS: Eight patients encompassing 10 lesions were included in the study. The mean liver volume was 2,050.97 cm3 (SD, 650.82), and the mean GTV volume was 12.23 cm3 (SD, 12.62). As for target structures, GTV-IORT [19.44 cm3 (SD, 17.26)] were significantly smaller than both PTV DIBH-SRS [30.74 cm3 (SD, 24.64), p = 0.002] and PTV FB-SRS [75.82 cm3 (SD, 45.65), p = 0.002]. The median applicator size was 3 cm (1.5-4.5), and the mean IORT simulated delivery time was 45.45 min (SD, 19.88). All constraints were met in all modalities. Liver V9.1 showed significantly smaller volumes with IORT [63.39 cm3 (SD, 35.67)] when compared to DIBH-SRS [150.12 cm3 (SD, 81.43), p = 0.002] or FB-SRS [306.13 cm3 (SD, 128.75), p = 0.002]. No other statistical or dosimetrically relevant difference was observed for stomach, spinal cord, or biliary tract. Mean IORT D90 was 85.3% (SD, 6.05), whereas D95 for DIBH-SRS and FB-SRS were 99.03% (SD, 1.71; p = 0.042) and 98.04% (SD, 3.46; p = 0.036), respectively. CONCLUSION: Kilovoltage IORT bears the potential as novel add-on treatment for resectable liver metastases, significantly reducing healthy liver exposure to radiation in comparison to SRS. Prospective clinical evidence is required to confirm this hypothesis.

Recommendations on Postoperative Activities After Abdominal Operations and Incisional Hernia Repair-A National and International Survey.

Background: There is no conclusive data on postoperative recommendations after abdominal and hernia surgery, and there is significant variation in the literature on that question. Thus, this study evaluates the status quo of recommendations of postoperative activity restriction after abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods: A national (German) and international survey of general surgeons on postoperative recommendations after abdominal and hernia surgery was pooled and analyzed. Results: A total of 74.6% recommended postoperative reduced activity for 2 weeks or less after laparoscopy. For midline laparotomy, 48.8% considered a reduced activity of 4 weeks or less to be sufficient. A majority from the national survey recommended more than 4 weeks instead (60.2%), whereas only 31.5% from the international survey did so (p = 0.000). In the pooled analysis, 258 of 450 (57.3%) rated 4 weeks or less suitable. However, the recommendations differed significantly between the surveys (4 weeks or less: a national survey, 47.1% vs. international survey, 64.6%; p = 0.000). Conclusion: There was substantial variation in the given recommendations. However, we found no evidence against immediate mobilization, reduced physical activity, and lifting for up to 2 weeks after laparoscopic surgery and for up to 4 weeks after open abdominal surgery and open incisional/ventral hernia repair in uncomplicated and standard cases. There might be individual and socioeconomic benefits to allow patients to return to their whole personal level of activity and work without putting them at risk of complications. Due to lack of evidence, both retrospective and prospective, controlled studies are in need to develop reliable recommendations.

Extrahepatic Surgery in Cirrhosis Significantly Increases Portal Pressure in Preclinical Animal Models.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a relevant comorbidity with increasing prevalence. Postoperative decompensation and development of complications in patients with cirrhosis remains a frequent clinical problem. Surgery has been discussed as a precipitating event for decompensation and complications of cirrhosis, but the underlying pathomechanisms are still obscure. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of abdominal extrahepatic surgery in cirrhosis on portal pressure and fibrosis in a preclinical model. Methods: Compensated liver cirrhosis was induced using tetrachlormethane (CCL4) inhalation and bile duct ligation (BDL) models in rats, non-cirrhotic portal hypertension by partial portal vein ligation (PPVL). Intestinal manipulation (IM) as a model of extrahepatic abdominal surgery was performed. 2 and 7 days after IM, portal pressure was measured in-vivo. Hydroxyproline measurements, Sirius Red staining and qPCR measurements of the liver were performed for evaluation of fibrosis development and hepatic inflammation. Laboratory parameters of liver function in serum were analyzed. Results: Portal pressure was significantly elevated 2 and 7 days after IM in both models of cirrhosis. In the non-cirrhotic model the trend was the same, while not statistically significant. In both cirrhotic models, IM shows strong effects of decompensation, with significant weight loss, elevation of liver enzymes and hypoalbuminemia. 7 days after IM in the BDL group, Sirius red staining and hydroxyproline levels showed significant progression of fibrosis and significantly elevated mRNA levels of hepatic inflammation compared to the respective control group. A progression of fibrosis was not observed in the CCL4 model. Conclusion: In animal models of cirrhosis with continuous liver injury (BDL), IM increases portal pressure, and development of fibrosis. Perioperative portal pressure and hence inflammation processes may be therapeutic targets to prevent post-operative decompensation in cirrhosis.

Electrical vagus nerve stimulation as a prophylaxis for SIRS and postoperative ileus.

Abdominal surgery results in an activation of immune cells of the bowel wall and a consecutive cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) release leading to an inflammation of the muscularis externa and a bowel paralysis, the so-called postoperative ileus (POI). In addition to the local inflammation, major surgical trauma can also lead to a variable pronounced systemic inflammation up to its maximum variant, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), with hypotension, capillary leak and a breakdown of the intestinal barrier function followed by multi-organ dysfunction (MODS). Until now, neither for SIRS nor for POI, a prophylaxis or an evidence-based treatment exists. Since the pioneering work from Kevin Tracey and his group in the late 90s characterizing the role of the vagus nerve in inflammation and describing the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAIP) for the first time, substantial efforts have been made in the research field of neuro-immune interactions. Today, the anti-inflammatory potential of vagus nerve stimulation is moving more and more into focus resulting in new therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the role of the CAIP in the development of SIRS and POI. Furthermore, new therapeutic options like transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation are highlighted.

Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) of the Liver - Current Status and Future Perspectives.

A shortage of available organs for liver transplantation has led transplant surgeons and researchers to seek for innovative approaches in hepatoprotection and improvement of marginal allografts. The most exciting development in the past decade has been continuous mechanical perfusion of livers with blood or preservation solution to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury in contrast to the current standard of static cold storage. Two variations of machine perfusion have emerged in clinical practice. During hypothermic oxygenated perfusion the liver is perfused using a red blood cell-free perfusate at 2-10°C. In contrast, normothermic machine perfusion mimics physiologic liver perfusion using a red blood cell-based solution at 35.5-037.5°C, offering a multitude of potential advantages. Putative effects of normothermic perfusion include abrogation of hyperfibrinolysis after reperfusion and inflammation, glycogen repletion, and regeneration of adenosine triphosphate. Research in normothermic machine perfusion focuses on development of biomarkers predicting allograft quality and susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Moreover, normothermic perfusion of marginal allografts allows for application of a variety of therapeutic interventions potentially enhancing organ quality. Both methods need to be subjected to translational investigation and evaluation in clinical trials. A clear advantage is transformation of an emergency procedure at night into a planned daytime surgery. Current clinical trials suggest that normothermic perfusion not only increases the use of hepatic allografts but is also associated with milder ischemia-reperfusion injury, resulting in a reduced risk of early allograft dysfunction and less biliary complications, including ischemic cholangiopathy, compared to static cold storage. The aim of this review is to give a concise overview of normothermic machine perfusion and its current applications, benefits, and possible advances in the future.