Learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has a long learning curve. It can be a technically challenging procedure and initially presents an unfamiliar view of inguinal anatomy. The aim of this review was to evaluate published literature relating to the learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and identify the number of cases required for proficiency. The secondary aim was to compare outcomes between surgeons before and after this learning curve threshold had been attained. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in databases of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify studies that evaluated the learning curve of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. A meta-regression analysis was undertaken to identify the number of cases to achieve surgical proficiency, and a meta-analysis was performed to compare outcomes between cases that were undertaken during a surgeon's learning phase and experienced phase of the curve. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included in this review, with 19 studies included in the meta-regression analysis, and 11 studies included in the meta-analysis. Mixed-effects Poisson regression demonstrated that there was a non-linear trend in the number of cases required to achieve surgical proficiency, with a 2.7% year-on-year decrease. The predicted number of cases to achieve surgical proficiency in 2020 was 32.5 (p < 0.01). The meta-analysis determined that surgeons in their learning phase may experience a higher rate of conversions to open (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.65, 11.88), postoperative complications (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07, 2.42), and recurrences (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.40, 4.30). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has a well-defined learning curve. While learning surgeons demonstrated reasonable outcomes, supervision during this period may be appropriate given the increased risk of conversion to open surgery. These data may benefit learning surgeons in the skill development of minimally invasive inguinal hernia repairs.

Body Composition Differences Between Excess Weight Loss ≥ 50% and < 50% at 12 Months Following Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between weight loss and body composition is undefined after bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to compare body composition changes in patients with excess weight loss ≥ 50% (EWL ≥ 50) and < 50% at 12 months post-operatively (EWL < 50). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was completed on patients undergoing bariatric surgery at two tertiary hospitals between 2017 and 2021. Body composition was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry immediately before surgery, and at 1, 6, and 12 months post-operatively. Body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM), and skeletal muscle index (SMI) trajectories were analysed between patients with EWL ≥ 50% and EWL < 50%. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included in this series (EWL ≥ 50% n = 25, EWL < 50% n = 12), comprising of both primary and revisional bariatric surgery cases, undergoing a sleeve gastrectomy (62.2%), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (32.4%), or one anastomosis gastric bypass (5.4%). The EWL ≥ 50% group demonstrated a more optimal mean FM-to-LBM loss ratio than the EWL < 50% group. EWL ≥ 50% patients lost 2.0 kg more FM than EWL < 50% patients for each 1 kg of LBM lost. EWL ≥ 50% was also associated with an increase in mean SMI% over 12 months (5.5 vs. 2.4%; p < 0.0009). Across the whole cohort, the first month after surgery accounted for 67.4% of the total LBM reduction that occurred during the 12-month post-operative period. CONCLUSION: This data suggests EWL ≥ 50% is associated with a more optimal body composition outcome than EWL < 50%. LBM reduction occurs predominantly in the early post-operative period.

Identifying the limitations of cardiopulmonary exercise testing prior to esophagectomy using a pooled analysis of patient-level data.

Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides an objective assessment of aerobic fitness in patients undergoing surgery. While peak oxygen uptake during exercise (VO2peak) and anaerobic threshold have demonstrated a moderate correlation with the development of complications following esophagectomy, no clinically useful threshold values have been defined. By pooling patient level data from existing studies, we aimed to define optimal thresholds for preoperative CPET parameters to predict patients at high risk of postoperative complications. Studies reporting on the relationship between preoperative CPET variables and post-esophagectomy complications were determined from a comprehensive literature search. Patient-level data were obtained from six contributing centers for pooled-analyses. Outcomes of interest included cardiopulmonary and non-cardiopulmonary complications, unplanned intensive care unit readmission, and 90-day and 12-month all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression models estimated the predictive value of CPET parameters for each individual outcome of interest. This analysis comprised of 621 patients who underwent CPET prior to esophagectomy during the period from January 2004 to March 2017. For both anaerobic threshold and VO2peak, none of the receiver operating characteristic curves achieved an area under the curve value > 0.66 for the outcomes of interest. The discriminatory ability of CPET for determining high-risk patients was found to be poor in patients undergoing an esophagectomy. CPET may only carry an adjunct role to clinical decision-making.

Prophylactic laparoscopic total gastrectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis.

A rare case was demonstrated whereby a prophylactic laparoscopic total gastrectomy was performed in a 29-year-old male with a CDH1 gene mutation in the context of rare anatomical anomaly, situs inversus totalis (SIT). This report provides radiological and laparoscopic images detailing the patient's unique anatomy. We also describe the operative approach and technical challenges whilst accounting for the patient's anatomical anomaly. This is the first known case of a laparoscopic total gastrectomy for a CDH1 gene mutation in a patient with SIT. With sufficient pre-operative evaluation and meticulous intra-operative caution, this technically complex operation is safe and feasible in patients with mirror-image anatomy as seen in SIT.

Pre-operative low muscle mass is associated with major complications and lower recurrence-free survival after gastric cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Low muscle mass (LMM) has been associated with post-operative morbidity. This study aimed to examine the relationship between pre-operative LMM and major post-operative complications and survival in patients undergoing curative resection for gastric cancer. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective cohort study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2018. Patient demographics, radiological parameters, pathological data and complications were recorded. Skeletal muscle index was calculated using OsiriX software by manually measuring the cross-sectional skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra and correcting to the patient's height. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the risk factors associated with the outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (36 males, mean age 68.3 ± 1.5 years) met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-six (41.9%) patients had LMM pre-operatively. Demographic data in the non-LMM and LMM groups were equally matched except for body mass index (27.6 ± 0.8 kg/m2 versus 24.3 ± 1.1 kg/m2 ; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (36.7 ± 0.7 g/L versus 33.8 ± 1.0 g/L; P = 0.017), which were higher in the non-LMM. LMM was associated with higher incidence of total (35.5% versus 64.5%; P = 0.006), minor (40% versus 60%; P = 0.030), major (9.1% versus 90.9%; P = 0.004) post-operative complications and decreased recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 2.29; 95% confidence interval 1.10-4.77; P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: LMM is a significant independent risk factor for major post-operative complications and recurrence-free survival after gastrectomy. Pre-operative identification of LMM could be a useful tool for prognostication and may identify a group suitable for prehabilitation.

Health economic analysis of curative-intent gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma and the costs related to post-operative complications.

BACKGROUND: The management of post-gastrectomy complications requires considerable resources and is likely associated with a substantial economic burden. The objectives of this study were to perform a cost analysis of admissions following gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma and then to quantify the financial impact of post-operative complications. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients that underwent a gastrectomy from 2008 to 2019. Demographic data, operative information, post-operative complications and facility costs were compared. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients underwent a curative-intent gastrectomy during the study period. The 36 (48.6%) patients that had no complications had a median total admission cost of AU$29 228. A total of 21 (28.4%) patients had a minor complication and 17 (23.0%) patients had a major complication, with a median total admission cost of AU$36 592 and AU$71 808, respectively. The difference across all three groups was statistically significant. In patients who had major complications compared to those without complications, there was a significant increase in the cost of intensive care services, theatre resources and nursing care. Across the whole cohort, the principal cost centres accounting for the largest proportion of total cost were theatre equipment and resources (33.9%), nursing care on the ward (23.0%) and staffing time of the surgical team (16.7%). CONCLUSION: The surgical management of gastric cancer carries a substantial cost burden. The presence and severity of post-operative complications is strongly associated with increasing cost. Minimizing complications, in addition to obvious clinical benefits, enables a large reduction in costs of care.

An intraoperative diagnosis of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis: a case report.

Primary sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is an idiopathic and rare condition characterized by chronic peritoneal inflammation. We describe the case of an intraoperative diagnosis of SEP, presenting as a mimicker of small bowel obstruction. The patient was a 59-year-old male with suspected small bowel obstruction. On exploratory laparotomy, it was noted that there was thick fibrous tissue involving the visceral and parietal peritoneum enveloping grossly dilated loops of small bowel. This case reports on the histopathological features of peritoneal biopsies as well as radiological findings. There is no consensus regarding the standard management for idiopathic SEP. The present case demonstrates a significant improvement in the patient's condition with conservative management alone. A critical teaching point is that in the absence of an obvious cause, SEP is a rare but important differential diagnosis for surgeons to consider in the context of recurrent bowel obstruction.

The Role of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing as a Risk Assessment Tool in Patients Undergoing Oesophagectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an objective method of assessing functional capacity to meet the metabolic demands of surgery and has been adopted as a preoperative risk-stratification tool for patients undergoing major procedures. The two main measures are the peak rate of oxygen uptake during exercise ([Formula: see text]O2peak) and anaerobic threshold (AT), the point at which anaerobic metabolism exceeds aerobic metabolism during exercise. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the predictive value of CPET for patients undergoing oesophagectomy. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in databases of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus to identify studies that examined associations between preoperative CPET variables and postoperative outcomes following oesophagectomy. Results were presented as standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in this review. Preoperative [Formula: see text]O2peak moderately correlated with cardiopulmonary complications [SMD = - 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.77 to - 0.09; p = 0.013; I2 = 80.4%], unplanned ICU admissions (SMD = - 0.34; 95% CI - 0.60 to - 0.08; p = 0.011; I2 = 0.0%), and 1-year survival (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI 0.02-0.61; p = 0.045; I2 = 0.0%). Preoperative AT values moderately correlated with unplanned ICU admissions (SMD = - 0.34; 95% CI - 0.61 to - 0.07; p = 0.014; I2 = 0.0%), and 1-year survival (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI 0.00-0.68; p = 0.049; I2 = 7.4%). Neither [Formula: see text]O2peak nor AT demonstrated prognostic value for noncardiopulmonary complications. CONCLUSIONS: [Formula: see text]O2peak and AT, where measured by preoperative CPET testing, are inversely associated with postoperative cardiopulmonary complications, unplanned ICU admissions, and 1-year survival following oesophagectomy. This meta-analysis was not able to identify an absolute cutoff value for CPET variables to discriminate between patients of varying levels of operative risk.

Body Composition Changes Following a Very-Low-Calorie Pre-Operative Diet in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Fatty liver in obese patients increases the technical difficulty of bariatric surgery. Pre-operative weight loss with a very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) is commonly used to facilitate surgery. Few studies have quantified the systemic effect of rapid pre-operative weight loss on body composition. The objective of this study is to evaluate body composition changes in bariatric surgery patients undergoing a VLCD. METHODS: Body composition assessments were performed between August 2017 and January 2019 using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry immediately before and after a 2-week VLCD at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. Data collected prospectively pre- and post-VLCD included total body weight, excess body weight, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM) and bone mineral content (BMC). The pre- and post-operative results were compared. RESULTS: Forty-four patients completed both the 2-week VLCD and body composition assessments. Following a 2-week VLCD, patients lost a mean of 4.5 kg (range - 0.3 to 9.5) in a total body weight and 8.8% (range - 0.9 to 17.1) of excess body weight, with a mean reduction in body mass index of 1.6 kg/m2 (range - 0.2 to 3.1). Loss of LBM was 2.8 kg and was significantly greater than loss of FM, 1.7 kg (p < 0.05). BMC changes were insignificant. CONCLUSION: A VLCD is an effective tool for pre-operative weight reduction. In this cohort, a large amount of the total weight loss was attributed to a loss of lean body mass. The impact of significant lean body mass loss and its relationship to short- and long-term health outcomes warrants further assessment.

Proton pump inhibitor-induced hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia: case review.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-induced hypomagnesaemia is a rare but serious adverse effect of a widely prescribed medication. It has become an increasingly recognised complication since 2006, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issuing a warning for this risk with regards to long-term PPI use. We present the case of PPI-associated hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia. A 91 year old male presented with tetany from severe hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia. This condition occurred in the context of 18 months of PPI use, and resolved following cessation of PPI therapy and the replenishment of magnesium and calcium stores. Monitoring of magnesium, calcium and potassium levels is crucial in patients prescribed PPIs long-term; especially the elderly patient.