Value of lymph node dissection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of lymph node dissection (LND) on outcomes following resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched from inception to 30th January 2023 for studies that compared LND with no LND (NLND) among patients with ICC. To limit the effect of unbalanced covariates, only studies that utilized propensity score-based methods were included. Subgroup analysis of patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) ICC was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 3776 patients with ICC, individuals in the LND versus NLND cohorts had comparable overall survival (OS) (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.78, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.57-1.06, P = 0.11), disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 0.84, 95 % CI 0.70-1.01, P = 0.07) and risk of major complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95 % CI 0.70-1.62, P = 0.75). Subgroup analysis of cN0 patients, OS was significantly higher in patients who underwent LND (HR 0.61, 95 % CI 0.50-0.74, P < 0.01), with a non-significant trend towards improved DFS (HR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.65-1.01, P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: This study found no differences in long-term survival or morbidity following LND for ICC. Subgroup analysis of cN0 patients, who underwent LND detected improved OS with a trend towards better DFS, compared to patients with NLND.

Outcomes after curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis and review of current literature.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of curative therapy (resection, transplantation, ablation) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-NAFLD etiologies. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library was conducted for studies comparing survival, peri- and post-operative outcomes. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: Findings for 5579 patients were pooled across 9 studies and examined. Analysis demonstrated improved disease-free survival (DFS; HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.98, p = 0.03) and overall survival (OS; HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.81-0.93; p < 0.0001) in NAFLD-HCC patients undergoing liver resection as compared to non-NAFLD HCC patients. NAFLD-HCC patients undergoing all forms of curative therapy were similarly associated with improved OS (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.86-1.06; p = 0.40) and DFS (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.74-0.98; p = 0.03), albeit results being significant only for DFS. Only 2 studies reported higher rates of peri- and post-operative complications in patients with NAFLD-HCC. Significant inter-study heterogeneity precluded further analysis. CONCLUSION: NAFLD-HCC patients can enjoy long-term survival benefit with aggressive curative therapy. Peri- and post-operative morbidity should be mitigated with pre-operative optimization of comorbidities, and deliberately close post-operative monitoring.

Assessment of surgical trainees' quality of knot-tying.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess surgical trainees' knot tying technique and determine the type and security of knots created. METHODS: Twenty-five participants were requested to tie 40 knots each, using Vicryl 2-0 and Prolene 2-0 sutures. With each suture material, the participants tied: in series 1, 4 knots as they would normally do during surgery; in series 2, 4 knots with 3 throws, 4 knots with 4 throws, 4 knots with 5 throws, and 4 knots with 6 throws. All knots were tested for tensile strength using a tensiometer. Knots with tensile strength of less than 5 N were considered dangerous. RESULTS: Of the 25 participants, 2 created square knots consistently, 2 created a mixture of square and slip knots, and 21 created only slip knots. Square knots accounted for only 12.8% of all the knots. The incidence of knot slipping under tension was significantly lower with square knots (p < 0.001). Square knots had significantly higher tensile strength than slip knots (p < 0.001). For Vicryl, 4-throw square knots were superior to 6-throw slip knots (p < 0.001). For Prolene, 3-throw square knots were superior to 6-throw slip knots (p = 0.035). Some 12.6% of Vicryl knots and 5.6% of Prolene knots were dangerous and all of these were slip knots with up to 6 throws. Three out of 12 participants who thought they had created square knots actually created square knots and the rest produced slip knots. The participants' surgical experience did not have any correlation with their knot security (r = -0.044, p = 0.833). CONCLUSIONS: Knot tying is often executed with technical errors resulting in slip knots with less than optimal security and high incidence of dangerous knots. Tensiometry testing could be used as an objective assessment tool for knot-tying competency for surgical trainees.