SAGES guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is an extremely common disease with a variety of medical and surgical treatment approaches. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians and patients in decisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted from 2010 to 2022 to answer 8 key questions relating to the diagnosis of appendicitis, operative or nonoperative management, and specific technical and post-operative issues for appendectomy. The results of this systematic review were then presented to a panel of adult and pediatric surgeons. Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology by subject experts. RESULTS: Conditional recommendations were made in favor of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis being managed operatively, either delayed (>12h) or immediate operation (<12h), either suction and lavage or suction alone, no routine drain placement, treatment with short-term antibiotics postoperatively for complicated appendicitis, and complicated appendicitis previously treated nonoperatively undergoing interval appendectomy. A conditional recommendation signals that the benefits of adhering to a recommendation probably outweigh the harms although it does also indicate uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations should provide guidance with regard to current controversies in appendicitis. The panel also highlighted future research opportunities where the evidence base can be strengthened.

Hemorrhage Sites and Mitigation Strategies After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Importance: Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage is an uncommon but highly morbid complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Clinical evidence often draws suspicion to the gastroduodenal artery stump, even without a clear source. Objective: To determine the frequency of gastroduodenal artery bleeding compared to other sites and the results of mitigation strategies. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study involved a retrospective analysis of data for consecutive patients who had pancreaticoduodenectomy from 2011 to 2021 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH). Exposures: Demographic, perioperative, and disease-related variables. Main Outcomes and Measures: The incidence, location, treatment, and outcomes of primary (initial) and secondary (recurrent) hemorrhage requiring invasive intervention were analyzed. Imaging studies were re-reviewed by interventional radiologists to confirm sites. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 3040 patients (n = 1761 MSK, n = 1279 TJUH). Patients from both institutions were similar in age (median [IQR] age at MSK, 67 [59-74] years, and at TJUH, 68 [60-75] years) and sex (at MSK, 814 female [46.5%] and 947 male [53.8%], and at TJUH, 623 [48.7%] and 623 male [51.3%]). Primary hemorrhage occurred in 90 patients (3.0%), of which the gastroduodenal artery was the source in 15 (16.7%), unidentified sites in 24 (26.7%), and non-gastroduodenal artery sites in 51 (56.7%). Secondary hemorrhage occurred in 23 patients; in 4 (17.4%), the gastroduodenal artery was the source. Of all hemorrhage events (n = 117), the gastroduodenal artery was the source in 19 (16.2%, 0.63% incidence in all pancreaticoduodenectomies). Gastroduodenal artery hemorrhage was more often associated with soft gland texture (14 [93.3%] vs 41 [62.1%]; P = .02) and later presentation (median [IQR], 21 [15-26] vs 10 days [5-18]; P = .002). Twenty-three patients underwent empirical gastroduodenal artery embolization or stent placement, 7 (30.4%) of whom subsequently experienced secondary hemorrhage. Twenty percent of all gastroduodenal artery embolizations/stents (8/40 patients), including 13% (3/13 patients) of empirical treatments, were associated with significant morbidity (7 hepatic infarction, 4 biliary stricture), with a 90-day mortality rate of 38.5% (n = 5) for patients with these complications vs 7.8% without (n = 6; P = .008). Ninety-day mortality was 12.2% (n = 11) for patients with hemorrhage (3 patients [20%] with primary gastroduodenal vs 8 [10.7%] for all others; P = .38) compared with 2% (n = 59) for patients without hemorrhage. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, postpancreatectomy hemorrhage was uncommon and the spectrum was broad, with the gastroduodenal artery responsible for a minority of bleeding events. Empirical gastroduodenal artery embolization/stent without obvious sequelae of recent hemorrhage was associated with significant morbidity and rebleeding and should not be routine practice. Successful treatment of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage requires careful assessment of all potential sources, even after gastroduodenal artery mitigation.

Contemporary report of surgical outcomes after single-stage total pancreatectomy: A 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons rarely perform elective total pancreatectomy (TP). Our study seeks to report surgical outcomes in a contemporary series of single-stage (SS) TP patients. METHODS: Between the years 2013 to 2023 we conducted a retrospective review of 60 consecutive patients who underwent SSTP. Demographics, pathology, treatment-related variables, and survival were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: SSTP consisted of 3% (60/1859) of elective pancreas resections conducted. Patient median age was 68 years. Ninety percent of these patients (n = 54) underwent SSTP for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Conversion from a planned partial pancreatectomy to TP occurred intraoperatively in 31 (52%) patients. Fifty-nine patients (98%) underwent an R0 resection. Median length of hospital stay was 6 days. The majority of morbidities were minor, with 27% patients (n = 16) developing severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3). Thirty and ninety-day mortality rates were 1.67% (one patient) and 5% (three patients), respectively. Median survival for the entire cohort was 24.4 months; 22.7 months for PDAC patients, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival of 68%, 43%, and 16%, respectively. No mortality occurred in non-PDAC patients (n = 6). CONCLUSION: Elective single-stage total pancreatectomy can be a safe and appropriate treatment option. SSTP should be in the armamentarium of surgeons performing pancreatic resection.

Diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis remains controversial. This systematic review details the evidence and current best practices for the evaluation and management of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis in adults and children. METHODS: Eight questions regarding the diagnosis and management of appendicitis were formulated. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and clinicaltrials.gov/NLM were queried for articles published from 2010 to 2022 with key words related to at least one question. Randomized and non-randomized studies were included. Two reviewers screened each publication for eligibility and then extracted data from eligible studies. Random effects meta-analyses were performed on all quantitative data. The quality of randomized and non-randomized studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 or Newcastle Ottawa Scale, respectively. RESULTS: 2792 studies were screened and 261 were included. Most had a high risk of bias. Computerized tomography scan yielded the highest sensitivity (> 80%) and specificity (> 93%) in the adult population, although high variability existed. In adults with uncomplicated appendicitis, non-operative management resulted in higher odds of readmission (OR 6.10) and need for operation (OR 20.09), but less time to return to work/school (SMD - 1.78). In pediatric patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, non-operative management also resulted in higher odds of need for operation (OR 38.31). In adult patients with complicated appendicitis, there were higher odds of need for operation following antibiotic treatment only (OR 29.00), while pediatric patients had higher odds of abscess formation (OR 2.23). In pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy for complicated appendicitis, higher risk of reoperation at any time point was observed in patients who had drains placed at the time of operation (RR 2.04). CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis remains nuanced. A personalized approach and appropriate patient selection remain key to treatment success. Further research on controversies in treatment would be useful for optimal management.

Tumor biology and immune infiltration define primary liver cancer subsets linked to overall survival after immunotherapy.

Primary liver cancer is a rising cause of cancer deaths in the US. Although immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors induces a potent response in a subset of patients, response rates vary among individuals. Predicting which patients will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors is of great interest in the field. In a retrospective arm of the National Cancer Institute Cancers of the Liver: Accelerating Research of Immunotherapy by a Transdisciplinary Network (NCI-CLARITY) study, we use archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples to profile the transcriptome and genomic alterations among 86 hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma patients prior to and following immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Using supervised and unsupervised approaches, we identify stable molecular subtypes linked to overall survival and distinguished by two axes of aggressive tumor biology and microenvironmental features. Moreover, molecular responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment differ between subtypes. Thus, patients with heterogeneous liver cancer may be stratified by molecular status indicative of treatment response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Implementation of an opioid reduction toolkit in pancreatectomy patients significantly increases patient awareness of safe practice and decreases amount prescribed and consumed.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative opioid abuse following surgery is a major concern. This study sought to create an opioid reduction toolkit to reduce the number of narcotics prescribed and consumed while increasing awareness of safe disposal in pancreatectomy patients. METHODS: Prescription, consumption, and refill request data for postoperative opioids were collected from patients receiving an open pancreatectomy before and after the implementation of an opioid reduction toolkit. Outcomes included safe disposal practice awareness for unused medication. RESULTS: 159 patients were included in the study: 24 in the pre-intervention and 135 in the post-intervention group. No significant demographic or clinical differences existed between groups. Median morphine milliequivalents (MMEs) prescribed were significantly reduced from 225 (225-310) to 75 (75-113) in the post-intervention group (p < 0.0001). Median MMEs consumed were significantly reduced from 109 (111-207) to 15 (0-75), p < 0.0001), as well. Refill request rates remained equivalent during the study (Pre: 17% v Post: 13%, p = 0.9) while patient awareness of safe disposal increased (Pre: 25% v Post: 62%, p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: An opioid reduction toolkit significantly reduced the number of postoperative opioids prescribed and consumed after open pancreatectomy, while refill request rates remained the same and patients' awareness of safe disposal increased.

Postoperative Handheld Gastric Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Delayed Bowel Function.

BACKGROUND: Delayed bowel function (DBF) following intra-abdominal surgery is a common problem that contributes to postoperative complications and prolonged length of stay. Use of a handheld gastric point-of-care ultrasound (GPOCUS) can identify a full vs empty stomach in the postoperative period. We hypothesized that the findings of a full stomach identified on a postoperative day 1 (POD1) GPOCUS exam would predict an increased risk of delayed bowel function. STUDY DESIGN: A blinded, prospective cohort study was performed. Postoperative colorectal surgery patients were identified as having either a full or empty stomach based on previously published definitions. GPOCUS examinations were performed on POD1 using a handheld ultrasound device, and the clinicians were blinded to the results. Demographic and perioperative data were collected. The primary outcome variable was gastrointestinal-3 (GI-3) recovery, defined as time to tolerance of diet and either flatus or bowel movement. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients agreed to participate in the study; fifty were eligible and included. Eighteen patients' stomachs were identified as full on POD1 GPOCUS examination, and thirty-two were identified as empty. No significant demographic or perioperative differences existed between groups. Patients with full stomachs had significantly delayed GI-3 recovery (4 vs 1 days, p < 0.0001) and longer length of stay (5 vs 3 days, p < 0.0001). Full-stomach patients also had significantly more emesis and nasogastric tube (NGT) placement (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GPOCUS performed on POD1 can predict DBF, length of stay, likelihood of emesis, and NGT placement. Use of handheld devices for GPOCUS showed promise for the identification of patients at high risk for DBF and could provide an opportunity for pre-emptive intervention.

Bracketed Localization in Breast-Conserving Surgery: Indications and Success Rates From a Single, High Volume, Academic Breast Cancer Center.

BACKGROUND: Bracketed localization is a technique used to help localize lesions for breast-conserving surgery (BCS). To date, there are no guidelines for when bracketed localization should be used in clinical practice. Based on our experience, we aim to provide criteria that should prompt surgeons to consider bracketing. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent bracketed localization for BCS between 2015 and 2021. Lesion characteristics were recorded including lesion span, number of lesions, histology type on core needle biopsy and surgical specimen, margin status, and need for additional surgery. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen cases were analyzed. Imaging showed an average lesion span of 5.0-cm. Multifocal lesions represented 45% of cases. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was a histological component in 64% of core needle biopsies and 76% of surgical specimens. Negative margins were achieved in 82% of patients on the first excision. Additional surgery was performed in 17% of patients. Invasive lobular carcinoma had the highest additional surgery rate at 23%. Negative margins with BCS were achieved in 96% of cases, including those with successful re-excision. DISCUSSION: This descriptive study shows that bracketed localization was most often employed for patients with large lesion spans, multifocality, and a DCIS or invasive lobular component. While these characteristics are typically associated with higher rates of positive margins, our cohort's rate of additional surgery was comparable to the national average for all BCS operations. These results argue that surgeon utilization of bracketed localization may be beneficial in these clinical scenarios.

Reduced Rates of Post-Transplant Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the second leading cause of HCC-related liver transplantation in the United States. This study investigated post-transplant recurrence and survival for patients transplanted for NASH-related HCC compared to non-NASH HCC etiologies. Retrospective review of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database identified 7,461 patients with HCC-1,405 with underlying NASH and 6,086 with non-NASH underlying diseases. After propensity score matching (PSM) to account for patient- and tumor-related confounders 1,175 remained in each group. Primary outcomes assessed were recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival. Recurrent malignancy at 5 years post-transplant was lower in NASH compared to non-NASH patients (5.80 vs. 9.41%, p = 0.01). Recurrence-free survival, however, was similar at 5 years between groups. Patients with NASH-related HCC were less likely to have post-transplant recurrence than their non-NASH counterparts, although recurrence-free survival was similar at 5 years.

Advanced-Stage Melanoma at Presentation Following the Peak of the Pandemic: A COVID-19 Cancer Canary in a Coal Mine.

BACKGROUND: For melanoma patients, timely identification and tumor thickness are directly correlated with outcomes. COVID-19 impacted both patients' ability and desire to see physicians. We sought to identify whether the pandemic correlated with changes in melanoma thickness at presentation and subsequent treatment timeline. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent surgery for melanoma in an academic center surgical oncology practice from May 2019 to September 2021. Patients were split into two cohorts: "pre-pandemic" from May 2019 to May 2020 and "pandemic," after May 2020, representing when these patients received their initial diagnostic biopsy. Demographic and melanoma-specific variables were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were identified: 51 patients from the "pre-pandemic" and 61 from the "pandemic" time period. The pandemic cohort more frequently presented with lesions greater than 1 mm thickness compared to pre-pandemic (68.8% v 49%, p = 0.033) and were found to have significantly more advanced T stage (p = 0.02) and overall stage disease (p = 0.022). Additionally, trends show that for pandemic patients more time passed from patient-reported lesion appearance/change to diagnostic biopsy (5.7 ± 2.0 v 7.1 ± 1.5 months, p = 0.581), but less time from biopsy to operation (42.9 ± 2.4 v 52.9 ± 5.0 days, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: "Pandemic" patients presented with thicker melanoma lesions and more advanced-stage disease. These results may portend a dangerous trend toward later stage at presentation, for melanoma and other cancers with rapid growth patterns, that will emerge as the prolonged effects of the pandemic continue to impact patients' presentation for medical care.

Toward Zero Prescribed Opioids for Outpatient General Surgery Procedures: A Prospective Cohort Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Achieving satisfactory post-operative pain control for common elective general surgical procedures, while minimizing opioid utilization, remains challenging. Utilizing pre-operative educational strategies, as well as multimodal analgesia, we sought to reduce the post-operative opioid use in elective general surgery cases. METHODS: Between November 2019 and July 2021, patients undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair or cholecystectomy were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into three cohorts: Control, opioid sparing (OS), or zero-opioid (ZO). Control patients did not have any intervention; OS patients had an opioid reduction intervention protocol applied (patient education and perioperative multimodal analgesia) and were provided an opioid prescription at discharge; the ZO had the same protocol, however, patients were not provided opioid prescriptions at discharge. Two weeks after discharge, patients were interviewed to record opioid consumption, pain scores, and level of satisfaction since discharge. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were recruited for the study. Eighty-eight patients underwent inguinal hernia repair and 41 patients underwent cholecystectomy. Median post-operative morphine equivalents consumed in the Control cohort (n = 58); 46 (37.5-75) were significantly reduced when the OS protocol was enacted (n = 42); 15 (11-22.5) and further reduced to zero for every patient in the ZO cohort (n = 29) (P = 0.0001). There were no differences in patient-reported average pain scores after discharge (P = 0.08) or satisfaction levels with experience (P = 0.8302). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that patient education and preoperative interventions can result in zero opioids prescribed after common general surgery procedures with equivalent patient satisfaction and pain scores.

A comparison of timely completion of hypofractionated and traditional adjuvant radiation therapy in early-stage breast cancer: Evidence of impact on reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities.

BACKGROUND: Timely completion of adjuvant radiation after breast conservation therapy is associated with decreased mortality and increased disease-free survival. Few data exist comparing timely completion between hypofractionated radiation and traditional radiation at a national level or across racial and socioeconomic cohorts. METHODS: A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (2012-2016) on patients undergoing breast conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer, specifically T1 or T2, N0, M0 patients, was performed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare timely completion of hypofractionated radiation (within 5 weeks of initiation) and traditional radiation (within 7 weeks) across patient, tumor, and facility characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 210,816 patients met criteria, with 59.4% receiving traditional radiation (n = 125,140) and 40.6% receiving hypofractionated radiation (n = 85,676). Overall, 82.8% of patients achieved timely completion of radiation. Among hypofractionated radiation patients, 94.5% of patients achieved timely completion, whereas only 74.8% of traditional radiation patients achieved timely completion (P < .0001). Regarding race/ethnicity, all groups benefited substantially in timely completion of hypofractionated radiation over traditional radiation. However, both treatment cohorts demonstrated that Black (odds ratio (hypofractionated radiation) = 0.842, odds ratio (traditional radiation) = 0.821) and Hispanic (odds ratio (hypofractionated radiation) = 0.917, odds ratio (traditional radiation) = 0.907) patients had lower odds of timely completion compared to White patients (P < .0001). Lower high school graduation rate, median income for patients' ZIP code, and Medicaid were also associated with lower odds of timely completion for both hypofractionated radiation and traditional radiation (both P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Timely completion of radiation therapy in breast conservation therapy is greater for patients receiving hypofractionated radiation than traditional radiation across racial and socioeconomic cohorts. Disparities in timely completion were substantially reduced with hypofractionated radiation utilization. However, there are treatment disparities across racial and socioeconomic cohorts that persist in both treatment groups.

A Role for Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Postoperative Delayed Gastrointestinal Functioning.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed bowel function (DBF) and postoperative ileus (POI) are common gastrointestinal complications after surgery. There is no reliable imaging study to help diagnose these complications, forcing clinicians to rely solely on patient history and physical exam. Gastric point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a simple bedside imaging technique to evaluate gastric contents but has not been evaluated in postoperative patients. METHODS: Twenty colorectal patients were enrolled in this pilot study. Patients were categorized as either full or empty stomach based upon their postoperative day one gastric POCUS exams and previously published definitions. The primary outcome was GI-3 recovery, a dual end point defined as tolerance of solid food and either flatus or bowel movement. Secondary outcomes were length of stay, emesis, time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, nasogastric tube placement, aspiration events, and mortality. RESULTS: Nine of 20 patients had a full stomach postoperatively. Patients with full stomachs were younger and received greater perioperative opioid doses (74.0 ± 28.2 v 42.6 ± 32.9 morphine equivalents, P = 0.0363) compared to empty stomach patients. GI-3 recovery occurred significantly later for patients with postoperative day 1 full stomachs (2.1 ± 0.4 versus 1 ± 0 days, P = 0.00091). CONCLUSIONS: Based upon this pilot study, gastric POCUS may hold promise as a noninvasive and simple bedside modality to potentially help identify colorectal patients at risk for postoperative DBF and POI and should be evaluated in a larger study.

Socioeconomic Status and Gastric Cancer Surgical Outcomes: A National Cancer Database Study.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Surgical resection is the gold standard of treatment. In the United States, race and socioeconomic status are associated with the diagnosis of GC; however, no studies have examined these as independent risk factors for surgical outcomes. Our study sought to investigate socioeconomic factors and GC surgical outcomes using a national cancer registry. METHODS: GC patients between 2004 and 2016 were identified using the National Cancer Database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze associations between socioeconomic factors and 30-d mortality, 90-d mortality, and unplanned readmission rate. RESULTS: A total of 96,990 patients who received nonpalliative surgical treatment for GC were identified. When controlling for other clinical and socioeconomic factors, older age, male sex, higher comorbidities, larger tumor size, advanced stage disease, and inadequate resection were correlated with worse 30- and 90-d mortality. Additionally, 30-d and 90-d mortality was significantly lower when the patient's income (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77 and OR = 0.43, respectively, for >$63,333/y versus <$40.227/y) and the percentage of residents with a high school degree in their zip code (OR = 0.69 and OR = 0.52, respectively, for <6.3% no high school degree versus ≥ 17.6%) were higher. No significant disparate trends were identified in terms of race and insurance status or in unplanned readmissions on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Lower income and the level of education at the place of residence were independently associated with higher 30-d and 90-d mortality in this study, highlighting the potential for a major socioeconomic disparity in this population.

Rare occurrence of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) syndrome arising from a malignant transformed ovarian primary mature cystic teratoma treated by cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) syndrome is a disease process that typically occurs from ruptured appendiceal mucocele neoplasms. PMP syndrome arising from malignant transformation of an ovarian primary mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is a pathogenesis rarely encountered. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a 28-year-old patient evaluated and treated for a right ovarian mass and large volume symptomatic abdominopelvic mucinous ascites. Molecular profiling and genetic analysis revealed mutations in ATM, GNAS, and KRAS proteins while IHC demonstrated gastrointestinal-specific staining for CK20, CDX2, CK7, and SATB2. Peritoneal cytology showed paucicellular mucin. Diffuse peritoneal adenomucinosis (DPAM) variant of PMP arising from a ruptured ovarian primary MCT after malignant transformation to a low-grade appendiceal-like mucinous neoplasm was ultimately confirmed. Treatment included staged therapeutic tumor debulking and right salpingo-oophorectomy followed by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). CONCLUSIONS: Our report builds upon the existing literature supporting this aggressive treatment option reserved for advanced abdominal malignancies utilized in this patient with a rare clinical entity.

National recurrence of pancreatitis and readmissions after biliary pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: National and international guidelines support early cholecystectomy after mild gallstone pancreatitis but a recent nationwide study suggested these recommendations are not universally followed. Our study sought to quantify the national utilization of same hospitalization cholecystectomy versus non-operative management (NOM) and its association with pancreatitis recurrence, readmissions, and costs after mild gallstone pancreatitis (GP). METHODS: Adult patients admitted with mild GP were identified from the Nationwide Readmission Database 2010-2015. Primary outcomes included the rate of cholecystectomy during the index admission as well as pancreatitis recurrence and readmission at 30 and 180 days (30d, 180d) comparing NOM to same hospitalization cholecystectomy. Mortality upon readmission, total length of stay (LOS), and total costs (combined index-readmission hospital costs) were also explored. Cox proportional hazards regression and generalized linear models controlled for patient/hospital confounders. RESULTS: Among the 65,067 patients identified, 30% underwent cholecystectomy. The NOM cohort was older (58 vs. 50 years), had more comorbidities (Charlson index > 2, 23.5% vs. 11.5%), fewer female patients (56.7% vs. 67%) and less discharge-to-home (84.9% vs. 94.4%) (all p < 0.001). NOM was associated with increase in recurrence and unplanned readmissions at 30d [Hazard Ratio 3.53 (95% CI 2.92-4.27), 2.41 (2.11-2.74), respectively], and 180d [4.27 (3.65-4.98), 2.78 (2.54-3.04), respectively], as well as increased mortality during 180d readmission 1.88 (1.06-3.35). This approach was also associated with significant increase in LOS [predicted mean difference 2.79 days (95% CI 2.46-3.12)] and total costs [$2507.89 ($1714.4-$3301.4)]. CONCLUSIONS: In the USA, most patients presenting with mild GP do not undergo same hospitalization cholecystectomy. This strategy results in higher recurrent pancreatitis, mortality during readmission, and an additional $4.85 M/year in hospital costs nationwide. These data support same hospitalization cholecystectomy as the gold standard for mild GP.

The role of RNA binding proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of overall cancer deaths worldwide with limited therapeutic options. Due to the heterogeneity of HCC pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC development are not fully understood. Emerging evidence indicates that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a vital role throughout hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, a deeper understanding of how RBPs contribute to HCC progression will provide new tools for early diagnosis and prognosis of this devastating disease. In this review, we summarize the tumor suppressive and oncogenic roles of RBPs and their roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. The diagnostic and therapeutic potential of RBPs in HCC, including their limitations, are also discussed.