Initial and Ongoing Training of the Rural Surgeon.

Over the last 2 decades, rural locations have realized a steady decrease in surgical access and direct care. Owing to societal expectations for equal general and subspecialty surgical care in urban or rural areas, the ability to attract, train, and hold onto the rural surgeon has come into question. Our current general surgery training curriculum has been reevaluated as to its relevance for rural surgery and several alternatives to the traditional surgical training model have been proposed. The authors discuss and evaluate current and proposed methods for surgical training curriculums and methods for rural surgeon retention through continuing education models.

Implementation of a standardized approach to borderline resectable pancreatic cancer in a multisite community oncology program.

BACKGROUND: Treatment paradigms for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer are evolving with increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Variations in the definition of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and neoadjuvant approaches have made standardizing care for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer difficult. We report an effort to standardize management of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer throughout Sanford Health, a large community oncology network. METHODS: Starting in October 2013, cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma without known metastatic disease were categorized as borderline resectable pancreatic cancer if they met ≥ 1 of the following criteria: (1) abutment of superior mesenteric, common hepatic, or celiac arteries with < 180° involvement, (2) venous involvement deemed potentially suitable for reconstruction, and/or (3) biopsy-proven lymph node involvement. Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by reimaging and surgery if venous involvement had improved; if disease remained borderline resectable, patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgical exploration as long as reimaging did not reveal evidence of progressive disease. RESULTS: Forty-three patients from October 2013 to April 2017 were diagnosed with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Twelve of 42 (29%) patients proceeded to surgical exploration directly after neoadjuvant chemotherapy; 23 (55%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Overall, 28/43 (65%) underwent exploration with 19 (44%) able to undergo resection. Of those, 14/19 (74%) attained R0 resection and 11/19 (58%) were pathologic N0. No pretreatment or treatment variables were associated with resection rates; resection was the only variable associated with survival. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a standardized approach to borderline resectable pancreatic cancer across multiple sites over a wide geographic area. Adherence to protocol therapies was good and surgical outcomes are similar to many reported series.

Diagnostic Challenge With Auto-Immune Pancreatitis and IgG4-Related Disease.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD) is a chronic immune mediated condition primarily affecting the hepato-pancreatico-biliary system. We report a case of IgG4RD with extensive pancreatic and hepatic involvement masquerading as metastatic pancreatic malignancy posing a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

Utility of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Work Up for Solitary Hepatobiliary Neuroendocrine Lesions.

A 43-year-old woman, with an unremarkable past medical history, presented with a three-week history of generalized itching, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Initial workup showed amorphous, regionally invasive, and obstructing soft tissue mass in the region of the hepatic hilum. The middle third of the main bile duct was subsequently found to harbor a polypoid mass on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograph. Biopsy revealed nests of neoplastic cells that was subsequently identified as well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. A search for a possible primary neuroendocrine tumor was performed and included imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, a colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, and an octreotide scan; however, no primary tumor outside of the liver was identified. Surgical debulking was performed, during which intraoperative exploration and ultrasound failed to reveal any extra-hepatic tumor sanctuaries. A few months later, patient underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for evaluation of recurrent abdominal pain which revealed a small lesion in the pancreas. It was unclear, however, whether it was primary or a metastatic lesion. This case represents a diagnostic challenge and emphasizes the potential utility of EUS in the preoperative work up for any presumable primary hepatobiliary neuroendocrine tumor.

Role of yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy in the treatment of liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer: an evidence-based expert consensus algorithm.

Surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases is associated with greater survival compared with non-surgical treatment, and a meaningful possibility of cure. However, the majority of patients are not eligible for resection and may require other non-surgical interventions, such as liver-directed therapies, to be converted to surgical eligibility. Given the number of available therapies, a general framework is needed that outlines the specific roles of chemotherapy, surgery, and locoregional treatments [including selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Y-90 microspheres]. Using a data-driven, modified Delphi process, an expert panel of surgical oncologists, transplant surgeons, and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeons convened to create a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment algorithm that includes appropriate treatment options for patients stratified by their eligibility for surgical treatment. The group coined a novel, more inclusive phrase for targeted locoregional tumor treatment (a blanket term for resection, ablation, and other emerging locoregional treatments): local parenchymal tumor destruction therapy. The expert panel proposed new nomenclature for 3 distinct disease categories of liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer that is consistent with other tumor types: (I) surgically treatable (resectable); (II) surgically untreatable (borderline resectable); (III) advanced surgically untreatable (unresectable) disease. Patients may present at any point in the algorithm and move between categories depending on their response to therapy. The broad intent of therapy is to transition patients toward individualized treatments where possible, given the survival advantage that resection offers in the context of a comprehensive treatment plan. This article reviews what is known about the role of SIRT with Y-90 as neoadjuvant, definitive, or palliative therapy in these different clinical situations and provides insight into when treatment with SIRT with Y-90 may be appropriate and useful, organized into distinct treatment algorithm steps.

Retrospective Cohort Study to Evaluate the Analgesic Effectiveness of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Renal Transplant Recipients.

Effective postoperative pain control is an essential component for all patients having a surgical procedure. Given the chronicity of care needed by chronic renal failure patients, providing them excellent pain control during their perioperative transplant period is imperative. Different forms of local anesthetics are available and our purpose was to determine whether liposomal bupivacaine reduces post-operative pain levels better than catheter directed administration of 0.25 percent bupivacaine. Secondary objectives included evaluation of differences in total narcotic use and total length of stay. A retrospective chart review of 57 bupivacaine patients and 40 liposomal bupivacaine patients was completed. The patients' reported pain on a 10-point pain scale, narcotic usage and total length of stay were collected. Results showed lower average pain scores on post-operative day 0 for patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine, as well as a fewer narcotics being used on post-operative day 0 and 1. Patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine also had shorter hospital stays by two days. We conclude that liposomal bupivacaine improved pain control and reduced narcotic use in renal transplant patients.

Evaluation of Acute Abdominal Pain.

Acute abdominal pain is considered to be one of the most elusive and common complaints among patients presenting to the emergency department and primary care settings across the U.S. Owing to the clinical complexity of this seemingly non-specific complaint, it often becomes difficult to determine which patients require extensive evaluation of their illness and when specialized consultation should be obtained. The aim of this article is to address generalizable principles which can be utilized by the clinician in the cost-effective and expedient evaluation of acute abdominal pain.

Overview and Management of Small Bowel Obstruction versus Ileus: A Primer for All Physicians.

The conditions of small bowel obstruction and ileus are ones with a great deal of overlap with respect to presentation and differential diagnosis but vary substantially with respect to management. These disorders are frequently encountered by members of the healthcare team across almost every specialty in one way or another. Understanding safe and expeditious methods to identify and distinguish these conditions is important for all providers to understand. This article aims to compare both disorders, briefly discuss the pathophysiology and presentation, give a differential diagnosis for these disorders, and pursue a course of diagnosis and therapy in an appropriate, safe, and cost-effective manner.

Annular Pancreas in Adults: Case Report and Literature Review.

Annular pancreas is an uncommon congenital cause of gastric outlet obstruction. The incidence is usually referenced at between five and 15 per 100,000 based on autopsy series. When present, this rare condition surfaces with symptoms in the pediatric population during the first few months of life. An adult presenting with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction due to annular pancreas is an unusual incident. This case describes gastric outlet obstruction due to a partial annular pancreatic band in an otherwise healthy 32-year-old male. Given the scarcity of this pathological process in adults; no specific guidelines exist about the management of this condition. Continued reporting of this pathology is essential for development of such guidelines. Literature review, embryology and treatment options will be discussed.

The Impact of Repeating Endosonography with Confocal Endomicroscopy for the Diagnosis of Cystic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors represent around 13% of all neuroendocrine tumors (Hurtado-Pardo 2017). There has been an increase in the incidence of cases due to improvement in imaging modalities. This is a case of a 68-year-old male with the incidental finding of a pancreatic cyst on CT. Initial Endoscopic Ultrasound with Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) showed sonographic and cytology features suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst. However the cyst persisted with no change in size after aspiration leading to a follow-up EUS- FNA, which was combined with needle based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE). The nCLE features were consistent with a cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, which was later confirmed on histology after surgical resection.

Indeterminate biliary strictures: a simplified approach.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-operative evaluation of biliary strictures remains challenging. The dilemma that exists is how to balance the risk of failing to detect malignancy and the potential morbidity caused by unnecessary surgery in patients with benign etiologies. With emerging novel diagnostic modalities, this study aims to assess the efficacy of diagnostic techniques and facilitate a clinical approach to indeterminate biliary strictures. Areas covered: Conventional imaging modalities are crucial in identifying the location of a stricture and are helpful for choosing further diagnostic modalities. Utilization of endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), is key in establishing a diagnosis. The emergence of novel diagnostic modalities, such as fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), peroral cholangioscopy (POC), intraductal endoscopic ultrasound (IDUS) and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), enhance the diagnostic yield in the evaluation of indeterminate biliary strictures. Expert commentary: More reliable and validated visual criteria for differentiating malignancy from benign biliary conditions, utilizing advanced imaging modalities such as POC and CLE, need to be established. It is of significance to further evaluate these novel diagnostic modalities through ongoing trials and to develop a diagnostic algorithm that reconciles cost-effectiveness with diagnostic accuracy.

Laparoscopic Treatment of a Pyogenic Hepatic Abscess Caused by Transmural Duodenal Perforation of a Toothpick.

The development of pyogenic hepatic abscess resulting from perforation of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare pathologic finding. It is a condition that can be fatal making early detection and subsequent removal of the inciting foreign body critical to avoid more deleterious sequela. Yet, its initial presentation tends to be nonspecific and typically is only discovered once surgical investigation into the cause of persisting abscess formation is performed. In this study, laparoscopic treatment of a 52-year-old male with a non-resolving hepatic abscess due to transmural gastrointestinal perforation of a toothpick is presented. Although a rare finding, reports of foreign body induced hepatic abscess have recently increased in the world literature, allowing some preliminary efforts in proposing diagnostic characterization. Yet, more case studies will be required to permit validation of these findings making continued reporting of this pathologic process critical.

Hepatic Adenoma - A Case Report.

Although liver lesions in the young population are relatively rare, clinicians can benefit from being familiar with a subset of common benign liver lesions which include hepatic adenoma, hepatic hemangioma, and focal nodular hyperplasia. This a case report of a 25-year-old Jehovah's Witness female on chronic oral contraception for polycystic ovarian syndrome who presented with progressive right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Ultrasound and MRI findings were consistent with hepatic adenoma. A description of her clinical work up followed by a brief description of the surgical intervention is discussed. We then elaborate on the clinical characteristics and evidence-based interventions of hepatic adenoma, hepatic hemangioma, and focal nodular hyperplasia.

Open versus laparoscopic liver resection: looking beyond the immediate postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection for malignant disease has shown short-term benefit. This study aimed to compare in-house, 30-day, and 1-year morbidity between laparoscopic and open liver resections. METHODS: The charts for all patients who underwent liver resection for malignant disease between April 2006 and October 2009 were reviewed. Patient, operative, and outcomes data at 30 days and 1 year were collected. RESULTS: For 76 patients, 49 open and 27 laparoscopic resections were performed. The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), extent of liver resection, use of ablation therapy, and tumor pathology (P > 0.05). The laparoscopic group had less blood loss (P = 0.004) and shorter hospital stays (P = 0.002). During their hospital stay, patients treated laparoscopically had fewer complications, but the difference was not significant. Home disposition was similar in the laparoscopic (96%) and open (90%) groups. More patients were readmitted at 30 days (2 vs. 9; P = 0.31) and 1 year (4 vs. 19; P = 0.04) in the open group. The all-cause 1-year mortality rates were similar between the laparoscopic and open groups (14.8% vs. 10.2%). CONCLUSION: The benefits of laparoscopic liver resection may extend beyond the initial postoperative period, with fewer readmissions despite shorter hospital stays. This also may suggest lower long-term hospital costs.

Gastrosplenic fistula: etiologies, diagnostic studies, and surgical management.

A gastrosplenic fistula is a rare event. Reported causes include a spontaneous malignant fistula, chemotherapy for gastric or splenic malignancies, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn disease, and trauma. We report a case of a gastrosplenic fistula discovered on abdominal computed tomography with contrast, performed in a patient with a history suspicious for malignancy. In this case, no etiology was identified prior to the surgical repair of the lesion despite extensive workup. Due to continued gastrointestinal blood loss requiring multiple transfusions, the patient was taken to surgery for splenectomy and partial gastrectomy. It was at that time that the diagnosis of a large B-cell lymphoma was made. Postoperative chemotherapy was initiated and led to remission of the malignancy. Though most cases require definitive surgical repair, the treatment plans for gastrosplenic fistulas depend largely on the etiology of the lesion.