Interpretation of clinical practice guidelines of diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary tumors: hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

Primary liver cancer is a highly malignant tumor of the digestive tract, charac-terized by an insidious onset and frequently accompanied by local progression or distant metastasis. Although surgical resection is typically the optimal treatment for patients with locally resectable tumors, the major challenge in achieving long-term survival prognosis lies in the high postoperative recurrence rate. Due to the substantial heterogeneity and complexity of primary liver cancer, a multimodal comprehensive treatment approach involving surgical resection, systemic therapy ( e.g., targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy), and/or local treatment is commonly employed. As research regarding primary liver cancer continues to progress, it becomes crucial for surgical oncologists to acquire a deep understanding and proficiency in the latest surgical diagnostic and treatment methods, along with optimal patient selection and management strategies. The authors aim to comprehensively elaborate on the latest practice guidelines for surgically treatment of primary liver cancer and systematically outline the key points in evaluating primary liver cancer, primarily focusing on hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, and offer pertinent recommendations for clinical treatment, thus providing robust evidence in the clinical management and decision-making for patients with primary liver cancer.

Multi-site nerve block catheters for postoperative analgesia in extended scapulectomy and free-flap reconstruction.

Scapulectomy is performed as a limb-sparing procedure in the management of tumours of the proximal humerus and shoulder girdle. Analgesic outcomes following this procedure are poorly documented in the literature. In our case, satisfactory analgesia following extended scapulectomy and free-flap reconstruction was achieved with a combination of multi-site continuous nerve block catheters and patient-controlled analgesia, for a patient with chronic pain who had a high pre-operative opioid requirement. Multiple continuous nerve block catheters were used, including interscalene and paravertebral catheters to provide analgesia for the shoulder resection, with a fascia iliaca compartment catheter providing analgesia to free-flap donor site on the the anterolateral thigh. These continuous nerve block catheters contributed to effective postoperative analgesia and low postoperative intravenous opioid requirements in this case.

Relationship between predisposing and facilitating factors: Does it influence the risk of developing peri-operative pressure injuries?

This study examined the relationship between the personal predisposing factors of patients and the severity of pressure injuries (PIs) developed during surgery. This retrospective cohort study collected 439 cases of peri-operative PIs. Using binary logistic regression to identify the variables associated with PI severity, the effects of interactions between associated variables were then tested. The results of this study revealed that among the personal predisposing factors, only higher patient age (P = .001) and higher body mass index (P < .001) posed a greater risk of stage 2 PIs or higher. Among the surgery-related facilitating factors, only patients who were placed in the prone position during surgery and patients who lost ≥1000 mL of blood during surgery were at greater risk of stage 2 PIs or higher, compared, respectively, to those placed in the supine position and those who lost ≤100 mL of blood. Furthermore, the amount of blood lost during surgery moderated the influence of age on PI severity. For elderly patients who are expected to lose a large blood volume during surgery or lose an immeasurable amount of blood due to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, taking more precautionary measures to prevent PIs is recommended.

Implementing advance care plans in the peri-operative period, including plans for cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Association of Anaesthetists clinical practice guideline.

Contemporary guidance takes a patient-centred approach and recommends discussing and planning treatments that should be considered, not just those that should be withheld. Although some organisations and communities still use specific DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) forms to recommend that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not attempted, this approach has been shown to have disadvantages and is no longer regarded as best practice. The following guidelines have been produced in response to this change. They are designed to help anaesthetists, as part of the wider healthcare team, to implement and respond to advance care planning documents before and during procedures. The guidelines apply to all procedures, however minor and low risk they are considered to be, and the same ethical and legal principles apply to procedures carried out under local or regional anaesthesia and/or conscious sedation, as well as to those under general anaesthesia.

[Chinese expert consensus on the peri-operative management of hepatectomy for liver cancer (2021 Edition)].

Hepatectomy is a major radical treatment for liver cancer. Although the hepatectomy is of great difficulty for the complicated anatomical structure and rich blood supply of liver, the operative mortality is less than 5% in most treatment centers currently along with the upgrading surgical instruments and developing surgical technology. Nevertheless, it is urgent clinical topic to furtherly reduce the incidence of complication in the wake of hepatectomy, which reaches up to 15%~50%. To standardize the peri-operative management of hepatectomy, on the basis of the standardization for diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma (2019), the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Expert Committee revise and update to produce the expert consensus on the peri-operative management of hepatectomy for liver cancer (2021) according to the opinions of experts in different areas. This consensus takes account of the Chinese characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and follows the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), which will provide reference for the peri-operative management.

Chinese expert consensus on the peri-operative management of hepatectomy for liver cancer (2021 Edition) / 中华肿瘤杂志

Hepatectomy is a major radical treatment for liver cancer. Although the hepatectomy is of great difficulty for the complicated anatomical structure and rich blood supply of liver, the operative mortality is less than 5% in most treatment centers currently along with the upgrading surgical instruments and developing surgical technology. Nevertheless, it is urgent clinical topic to furtherly reduce the incidence of complication in the wake of hepatectomy, which reaches up to 15%~50%. To standardize the peri-operative management of hepatectomy, on the basis of the standardization for diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma (2019), the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Expert Committee revise and update to produce the expert consensus on the peri-operative management of hepatectomy for liver cancer (2021) according to the opinions of experts in different areas. This consensus takes account of the Chinese characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and follows the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), which will provide reference for the peri-operative management.

Dual Actions of Ketorolac in Metastatic Ovarian Cancer.

Cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy are cornerstones of ovarian cancer treatment, yet disease recurrence remains a significant clinical issue. Surgery can release cancer cells into the circulation, suppress anti-tumor immunity, and induce inflammatory responses that support the growth of residual disease. Intervention within the peri-operative window is an under-explored opportunity to mitigate these consequences of surgery and influence the course of metastatic disease to improve patient outcomes. One drug associated with improved survival in cancer patients is ketorolac. Ketorolac is a chiral molecule administered as a 1:1 racemic mixture of the S- and R-enantiomers. The S-enantiomer is considered the active component for its FDA indication in pain management with selective activity against cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The R-enantiomer has a previously unrecognized activity as an inhibitor of Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate) and Cdc42 (cell division control protein 42) GTPases. Therefore, ketorolac differs from other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by functioning as two distinct pharmacologic entities due to the independent actions of each enantiomer. In this review, we summarize evidence supporting the benefits of ketorolac administration for ovarian cancer patients. We also discuss how simultaneous inhibition of these two distinct classes of targets, COX enzymes and Rac1/Cdc42, by S-ketorolac and R-ketorolac respectively, could each contribute to anti-cancer activity.

Forced Air Warming System: Evaluation of Internal System Contamination.

BACKGROUND: Despite the indisputable need to prevent peri-operative hypothermia, some evidence in the literature questions the possible role of forced air warming systems as a risk factor for the occurrence of surgical site infection. The objective of the study is to evaluate the micro-biologic safety of a forced air warming systems (FAW) in relation to the risk of emission of micro-organisms in the surgical environment. METHODS: A quantitative, descriptive-exploratory laboratory study performed in a large hospital. An evaluation of possible internal contamination was performed by collecting air from the hose onto plates containing Trypticase Soy Agar. The experiment was performed in triplicate two months after replacing the filter and again after six months using a random sample of 50% of the FAW in use, which corresponded to 13 FAW and a total of 75 samples. RESULTS: Among the 39 samples analyzed in the first stage, only nine (23.1%) plates presented microbial growth of one or two colonies, while only six (16.7%) plates of the 36 evaluated samples in the second phase had growth of one or two colonies. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed small microbial growth of culture after 48 hours after filter replacement. New investigations that correlate the findings of micro-biology analysis and the occurrence of surgical site infection should be conducted.

Mortality, Morbidity and Related Outcomes Following Perioperative Blood Transfusion in Patients with Major Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Benefits and risks of liberal and restrictive transfusion regimens are under on-going controversial discussion. This systematic review aimed at assessing both regimens in terms of pre-defined outcomes with special focus on patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: We performed a literature search for mortality, morbidity and related outcomes following peri-operative blood transfusion in patients with major orthopaedic surgery in electronic databases. Combined outcome measure estimates were calculated within the scope of meta-analyses including randomised clinical trials comparing restrictive versus liberal blood transfusion regimens (e.g. MH risk ratio, Peto odds ratio). RESULTS: A total of 880 publications were identified 15 of which were finally included (8 randomised clinical trials (RCTs) with 3,693 patients and 6 observational studies with 4,244,112 patients). Regarding RCTs, no significant differences were detected between the transfusion regimes for all primary outcomes (30-day mortality, thromboembolic events, stroke/transitory ischaemic attack, myocardial infarction, wound infection and pneumonia) and a secondary outcome (length of hospital stay), whereas there was a significantly reduced risk of receiving at least one red blood concentrate under a restrictive regimen. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review do not suggest an increased risk associated with either a restrictive or a liberal transfusion regimen in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery.

Peri-operative continuation of metformin does not improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Historically, metformin was withheld before surgery for fear of metformin-associated lactic acidosis. Currently, however, this risk is deemed to be low and guidelines have moved towards the continuation of metformin. We hypothesized that continuing metformin peri-operatively would lower postoperative serum glucose level without an effect on plasma lactate levels. We performed a single-blind multicentre randomized controlled trial in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus scheduled for non-cardiac surgery and continued (MF+ group) or withheld (MF- group) metformin before surgery. The main outcome measures were the differences in peri-operative plasma glucose and lactate levels. We randomized 70 patients (37 MF+ group and 33 MF- group) with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Postoperative glucose levels were similar in the MF+ and the MF- groups (8.2 ± 1.8 vs 8.3 ± 2.3 mmol/L P = .95) Although preoperative lactate levels were slightly higher in the MF+ group compared with the MF- group (1.5 vs 1.2 mmol/L; P = .02), the postoperative lactate levels were not significantly different (1.2 vs 1.0 mmol/L; P = .18). In conclusion, continuation of metformin during elective non-cardiac surgery does not improve glucose control or raise lactate levels to a clinically relevant degree.