Disparities in Socioeconomic Factors Mediate the Impact of Racial Segregation Among Patients With Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Structural racism within the U.S. health care system contributes to disparities in oncologic care. This study sought to examine the socioeconomic factors that underlie the impact of racial segregation on hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancer inequities. METHODS: Both Black and White patients who presented with HPB cancer were identified from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database (2005-2015) and 2010 Census data. The Index of Dissimilarity (IoD), a validated measure of segregation, was examined relative to cancer stage at diagnosis, surgical resection, and overall mortality. Principal component analysis and structural equation modeling were used to determine the mediating effect of socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Among 39,063 patients, 86.4 % (n = 33,749) were White and 13.6 % (n = 5314) were Black. Black patients were more likely to reside in segregated areas than White patients (IoD, 0.62 vs. 0.52; p < 0.05). Black patients in highly segregated areas were less likely to present with early-stage disease (relative risk [RR], 0.89; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.82-0.95) or undergo surgery for localized disease (RR, 0.81; 95% CI 0.70-0.91), and had greater mortality hazards (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% CI 1.06-1.17) than White patients in low segregation areas (all p < 0.05). Mediation analysis identified poverty, lack of insurance, education level, crowded living conditions, commute time, and supportive income as contributing to 25 % of the disparities in early-stage presentation. Average income, house price, and income mobility explained 17 % of the disparities in surgical resection. Notably, average income, house price, and income mobility mediated 59 % of the effect that racial segregation had on long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Racial segregation, mediated through underlying socioeconomic factors, accounted for marked disparities in access to surgical care and outcomes for patients with HPB cancer.

Prognostic Value of ALP and LDH in Periampullary Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Conversion of normal cells to cancer cells is often accompanied by abnormal synthesis of serum enzymes. Both alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been reported to have prognostic value in a variety of malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative serum ALP and LDH levels on the prognosis of patients with periampullary carcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: According to the preoperative ALP or LDH values, 856 cancer patients receiving PD treatment from January 2001 to January 2019 were divided into high-ALP group and low-ALP group or high-LDH group and low-LDH group. Statistical analysis was carried out to study the differences between the high-ALP and low-ALP groups or the high-LDH and low-LDH groups. Furthermore, the possibility of preoperative ALP or LDH as prognostic factor of periampullary carcinoma was investigated. RESULTS: In both the high-ALP and the high-LDH groups, the prognosis of patients with periampullary carcinoma who underwent PD was worse than that of the low-ALP and low- LDH group. Even through risk factor analysis, it was found that preoperative ALP and LDH could be independent prognostic factor for patients with periampullary carcinoma who underwent PD. CONCLUSION: Preoperative ALP or LDH is an independent risk factor for periampullary carcinoma.

Evaluating compliance of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis following abdominopelvic surgery for cancer: A multidisciplinary quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite quality evidence supporting postoperative extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (eVTEp) following abdominopelvic cancer surgery, baseline use of eVTEp at our institution was 3%. Our project aim was to improve the proportion of patients prescribed eVTEp following surgery for gynecologic, hepatobiliary, and colorectal cancers by a 30% absolute increase. METHODS: We performed an interrupted time series study using quality improvement methodology. Postoperative order sets, pre-printed prescriptions, process checklists, and multimodal education were introduced. Process and outcome data were collected and analyzed on statistical process control charts. RESULTS: We included 324 patients with gynecologic and hepatobiliary cancers. Despite efforts to include them, the colorectal team did not participate. The monthly mean order set-use was 58% (SD = 14%), by specialty: gynecology 79%, hepatobiliary 47%. The proportion of patients prescribed eVTEp increased from 3% to 70% (SD = 14%). The target goal was surpassed and sustained by both cohorts. Patient compliance was 73% (n = 117/160, SD = 16%). Of those who stopped eVTEp early, 45% (n = 14/31) objected because of the injectable nature. Bleeding events were infrequent (0.6%, n = 2/324). CONCLUSIONS: Three process changes and multimodal education resulted in a significant increase in eVTEp use. Failure to identify improvement champions limited project expansion to colorectal patients. Patient compliance was largely limited by the injectable nature of the medication.

Moderate-intensity exercise training or high-intensity interval training to improve aerobic fitness during exercise prehabilitation in patients planned for elective abdominal cancer surgery?

Low preoperative aerobic fitness is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications and delayed recovery in patients with abdominal cancer. Surgical prehabilitation aims to increase aerobic fitness preoperatively to improve patient- and treatment-related outcomes. However, an optimal physical exercise training program that is effective within the short time period available for prehabilitation (<6 weeks) has not yet been established. In this comparative review, studies (n = 8) evaluating the effect of short-term (<6 weeks) moderate-intensity exercise training (MIET) or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on objectively measured aerobic fitness were summarized. The content of exercise interventions was critically appraised regarding the frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and - monitoring of - progression (FITT-VP) principles. Three out of four studies evaluating HIIT showed statistically significant improvements in oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2peak) by more than 4.9%, the coefficient of variation for VO2peak. None of the two studies investigating short-term MIET showed statistically significant pre-post changes in VO2peak. Although short-term HIIT seems to be a promising intervention, concise description of performed exercise based on the FITT-VP principles was rather inconsistent in studies. Hence, interpretation of the results is challenging, and a translation into practical recommendations is premature. More emphasis should be given to individual responses to physical exercise training. Therefore, adequate risk assessment, personalized physical exercise training prescription using the FITT-VP principles, full reporting of physical exercise training adherence, and objective monitoring of training progression and recovery is needed to ensure for a personalized and effective physical exercise training program within a multimodal prehabilitation program.

Severe pulmonary complications after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are common and contribute to decreased overall survival.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Extensive abdominal surgery is associated with the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. This study aims to explore the incidence and risk factors for developing postoperative pulmonary complications after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and to analyze how these complications affect overall survival. METHODS: Data were collected on 417 patients undergoing surgery between 2007 and2017 at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Postoperative pulmonary complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system where Grade ≥ 3 was considered a severe complication. A logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications and a Cox proportional hazards model to assess impact on survival. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (17%) developed severe postoperative pulmonary complications. Risk factors were full thickness diaphragmatic injury and/or diaphragmatic resection [OR 5.393, 95% CI 2.924-9.948, p = < 0.001]. Severe postoperative pulmonary complications, in combination with non-pulmonary complications, contributed to decreased overall survival [HR 2.285, 95% CI 1.232-4.241, p = 0.009]. CONCLUSIONS: Severe postoperative pulmonary complications were common and contributed to decreased overall survival. Full thickness diaphragmatic injury and/or diaphragmatic resection were the main risk factors. This finding emphasizes the need for further research on the mechanisms behind pulmonary complications and their association with mortality.

Vitamin D Supplementation Regulates Postoperative Serum Levels of PD-L1 in Patients with Digestive Tract Cancer and Improves Survivals in the Highest Quintile of PD-L1: A Post Hoc Analysis of the AMATERASU Randomized Controlled Trial.

Because vitamin D responsive elements have been found to be located in the PD-L1 gene, vitamin D supplementation was hypothesized to regulate serum PD-L1 levels and thus alter survival time of cancer patients. A post hoc analysis of the AMATERASU randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of postoperative vitamin D3 supplementation (2000 IU/day) in 417 patients with stage I to stage III digestive tract cancer from the esophagus to the rectum was conducted. Postoperative serum PD-L1 levels were measured by ELISA and divided into quintiles (Q1-Q5). Serum samples were available for 396 (95.0%) of the original trial. Vitamin D supplementation significantly (p = 0.0008) up-regulated serum PD-L1 levels in the lowest quintile (Q1), whereas it significantly (p = 0.0001) down-regulated them in the highest quintile (Q5), and it did not either up- or down-regulate them in the middle quintiles (Q2-Q4). Significant effects of vitamin D supplementation, compared with placebo on death (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.92) and relapse/death (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.89) were observed in the highest quintile (Q5) of serum PD-L1, whereas significant effects were not observed in other quintiles (Pinteraction = 0.02 for death, Pinteraction = 0.04 for relapse/death). Vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of relapse/death to approximately one-third in the highest quintile of serum PD-L1.

Effects of preoperative frailty on outcomes following surgery among patients with digestive system tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is common in patients who undergo digestive system tumor surgery. This review aimed to explore the effects of preoperative frailty on multiple outcomes following surgery among patients with digestive system tumors. METHODS: PubMed (Medline), Embase, Web of Science, and other databases were searched from the inception of each database to April 2021. Meta-analysis or qualitative synthesis was performed to examine the relationship between preoperative frailty and adverse postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies encompassing 122,548 patients were included. Through meta-analysis, frailty was associated with an increased risk of total complications (risk ratio [RR] 1.44; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.39 to 1.50), major complications (RR 1.72; 95 % CI 1.51 to 1.95), 30-d mortality (RR 2.40; 95 % CI 2.14 to 2.70), and 5-year mortality (RR 1.74; 95 % CI 1.35 to 2.24). Through qualitative synthesis, compared with non-frail patients, two studies found that frail patients had a worse quality of life, and three studies reported that frail patients experienced greater rates of non-home discharge. However, two studies demonstrated inconsistent conclusions regarding the relationship between frailty and functional status. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative frailty was an important risk factor for multiple adverse postoperative outcomes of patients with digestive system tumors, including objective clinical outcomes and patient-centered outcomes. Future studies focusing on the effects of frailty on patient-centered outcomes such as quality of life and functional status are needed.

Clinicopathological features and lymph node and distant metastasis patterns in patients with gastroenteropancreatic mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm.

OBJECTIVE: Owing to its rarity and heterogeneity, the biological behavior and optimal therapeutic management of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) have not been established. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and metastatic patterns of MiNEN. METHODS: Continuous clinicopathological data of MiNEN patients treated at our hospital were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: This study had enrolled 169 patients since January 2010 to January 2020. Pathological components were assessed in 129 patients with MiNEN (76.3%), and a focal (non-)neuroendocrine component was observed in 40 patients (23.7%; <30% of the tumor). Among the enrolled patients, 80 underwent surgical removal of the primary tumor and lymph nodes (LNs), and 34 with distant metastasis underwent biopsy of both primary tumor and metastatic lesions. In patients with LN metastasis, 68.8% (55/80) exhibited a pure component of either neuroendocrine (NE) or adenocarcinoma/squamous carcinoma (AS) in metastatic LNs, while 20% (16/80) showed different components in different LNs, and only 11.2% (9/80) exhibited both NE and AS components in the same LN. In patients with distant metastases, 26.5% (9/34) possessed coexisting NE and AS components in the distant metastases, 70.6% (24/34) were regarded as a pure NE component, and 2.9% (1/34) were comprised of a pure AS component. CONCLUSION: Lymph node and distant metastases exhibited distinct metastatic patterns in patients with MiNEN. The major pathological component in regional LNs may have influenced the proportion of the two components within the primary tumor, but distant metastases were dominated by the NE component.

Vitamin D and iron levels correlate weakly with hepcidin levels in postoperative patients with digestive neoplasms undergoing open abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with digestive neoplasms have both iron deficiency and chronic inflammatory anemia with hepcidin upregulation, which may be aggravated in the postoperative period. Vitamin D impacts hepcidin levels. We aimed to investigate the correlations between vitamin D and iron status vs. hepcidin levels in patients with digestive tumors undergoing open abdominal surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed during 2016-2018 in a University teaching hospital. After obtaining the Ethical Approval and the patients' informed consent, 30 adult patients with digestive tumors were included. Hepcidin, vitamin D and iron levels were measured in the first 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: We observed a negligible/weak correlation between serum iron and hepcidin levels in the first 24 hours after surgery, with a correlation coefficient of 0.24 and a weak/low correlation between hepcidin and vitamin D levels, with a correlation coefficient of 0.37. CONCLUSIONS: The correlations between vitamin D and hepcidin levels, as well as between hepcidin and serum iron levels, are weak. Interindividual variability in iron-hepcidin-vitamin D regulation might be wide and other regulatory mechanisms might also play important roles in inflammatory anemia modulation in the perioperative period.

Effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on Treg and FOXP3 in patients with digestive tract malignancies and different ABO blood types.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion can cause immunosuppression and lead to worse outcomes in patients with digestive tract malignancies; however, the specific mechanism behind this is not completely understood. One theory is that increased numbers of regulatory CD3+CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells (Tregs) and forkhead box protein-3 mRNA (FOXP3) expression in the blood after transfusion contribute to these outcomes. The effect of blood transfusion on immune function in patients with different ABO blood types is variable. This study investigates the effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 in the blood of patients with different ABO blood types and digestive tract malignancies. METHODS: Patients with digestive tract malignancies who underwent radical resection and received intraoperative blood transfusion were divided into four groups according to their blood types:blood group A, blood group B, blood group O and blood group AB (n = 20 for each group). Blood was collected from all patients before surgery, immediately after transfusion, 1 day after transfusion, and 5 days after transfusion. The number of Tregs was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of FOXP3 was detected by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the number of Tregs or expression of FOXP3 mRNA among patients with different blood types before surgery. However, the number of Tregs and the expression of FOXP3 increased after blood transfusion in all blood type groups. This increase was especially evident and statistically significant on the first day after blood transfusion when compared with measures obtained before the surgery. Measures returned to the preoperative level five days after surgery. There were significant differences in the increase of Tregs and expression of FOXP3 among patients with different blood types. The greatest increase was seen in patients with blood group B and the least in blood group A. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative blood transfusion can lead to an increase in blood Tregs and FOXP3 expression in patients with digestive tract malignancies. Increases were greatest on the first day after surgery and differed among patients with different blood types. Increases were greatest in blood type B and least in blood type A.

Isolated intestinal Ganglioneuromatosis: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal Ganglioneuromatosis (IG) is a rare disorder of the enteric nervous system. In pediatric age it is often associated with genetic syndromes such as Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) and Cowden syndrome (PTEN mutation), and ganglioneuromas (GNs) may be sometimes the first sign of the disease. Isolated GNs are rare and sporadic. Clinical symptom vary and depend on the size and on the location of the GNs. This disorder affects intestinal motility and it, consequently, causes changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, occlusive symptoms and rarely lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to ulceration of the intestinal mucosa. On the other hand, patients can remain asymptomatic for many years. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 9-year-old boy referred to our emergency department for right lower quadrant abdominal pain. No familial history for gastrointestinal disorders. No history of fever or weight loss. At physical examination, he had diffused abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic formation measuring 41.8 mm by 35 mm in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Routine blood tests were normal, but fecal occult blood test was positive. Abdominal TC confirmed the hypodense formation, of about 5 cm in transverse diameter, in the right hypochondrium that apparently invaginated in the caecum-last ileal loop. Colonoscopy showed in the cecum an invaginated polypoid lesion of the terminal ileal loop. Laparoscopic resection of the polypoid lesion was performed. Histological diagnosis of the large neoplasm observed in the terminal ileum was diffuse ganglioneuromatosis. NF1, RET and PTEN gene tests resulted negative for specific mutations. At the 1 year follow-up, the patient presented good general condition and blood tests, fecal occult blood test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy and MR-enterography were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Only few cases are reported in literature of IG in pediatric age. Although rare, the present case suggests that this disorder must be taken in consideration in every patient with GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, lower intestinal bleeding, in order to avoid a delayed diagnosis.

Association Between Anesthesiologist Volume and Short-term Outcomes in Complex Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery.

Importance: Intraoperative anesthesiology care is crucial to high-quality surgical care. The clinical expertise and experience of anesthesiologists may decrease the risk of adverse outcomes. Objective: To examine the association between anesthesiologist volume and short-term postoperative outcomes for complex gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study used administrative health care data sets from various data sources in Ontario, Canada. Adult patients who underwent esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, or hepatectomy for GI cancer from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2018, were eligible. Patients with an invalid identification number, a duplicate surgery record, and missing primary anesthesiologist information were excluded. Exposures: Primary anesthesiologist volume was defined as the annual number of procedures of interest (esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, and hepatectomy) supported by that anesthesiologist in the 2 years before the index surgery. Volume was dichotomized into low-volume and high-volume categories, with 75th percentile or 6 or more procedures per year selected as the cutoff point. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of 90-day major morbidity (with a Clavien-Dindo classification grade 3-5) and readmission. Secondary outcomes were individual components of the primary outcome. The association between exposure and outcomes was examined using multivariable logistic regression models, accounting for potential confounders. Results: Of the 8096 patients included, 5369 were men (66.3%) and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 65 (57-72) years. Operations were supported by 842 anesthesiologists and performed by 186 surgeons, and the median (IQR) anesthesiologist volume was 3 (1.5-6) procedures per year. A total of 2166 patients (26.7%) received care from high-volume anesthesiologists. Primary outcome occurred in 36.3% of patients in the high-volume group and 45.7% of patients in the low-volume group. After adjustment, care by high-volume anesthesiologists was independently associated with lower odds of the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.94), major morbidity (aOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91), unplanned intensive care unit admission (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76-0.94), but not readmission (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73-1.05) or mortality (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.84-1.31). E-values analysis indicated that an unmeasured variable would unlikely substantively change the observed risk estimates. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that, among adults who underwent complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery, those who received care from high-volume anesthesiologists had a lower risk of adverse postoperative outcomes compared with those who received care from low-volume anesthesiologists. These findings support organizing perioperative care to increase anesthesiologist volume to optimize patient outcomes.

Short-term outcomes after minimally invasive versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: To date, the evidence on the safety and benefits of minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) in elderly patients is still controversy. This study aim to compare the risk and benefit between MIPD and open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) in elderly patients. METHODS: From 2016 to 2020, we retrospective enrolled 26 patients underwent MIPD and other 119 patients underwent OPD. We firstly compared the baseline characteristics, 90-day mortality and short-term surgical outcomes of MIPD and OPD. Propensity score matching was applied for old age patient (≥ 65-year-old vs. < 65-year-old) for detail safety and feasibility analysis. RESULTS: Patients received MIPD is significantly older, had poor performance status, less lymph node harvest, longer operation time, less postoperative hospital stay (POHS) and earlier drain removal. After 1:2 propensity score matching analysis, elderly patients in MIPD group had significantly poor performance status (P = 0.042) compared to OPD group. Patients receiving MIPD had significantly shorter POHS (18 vs. 25 days, P = 0.028), earlier drain removal (16 vs. 21 days, P = 0.012) and smaller delay gastric empty rate (5.9 vs. 32.4% P = 0.036). There was no 90-day mortality (0% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.186) and pulmonary complications (0% vs. 17.6%, P = 0.075) in MIPD group, and the major complication rate is comparable to OPD group (17.6% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.290). CONCLUSION: For elderly patients, MIPD is a feasible and safe option even in patients with inferior preoperative performance status. MIPD might also provide potential advantage for elderly patients in minimizing pulmonary complication and overall mortality over OPD.

Clinical Stage of Cancer Affects Perioperative Mortality for Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgeries.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the stage of cancer on perioperative mortality remains obscure. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cancer stage influences 30-d mortality for gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. METHODS: Data were collected from the National Cancer Database for patients undergoing resections for cancers of the stomach, pancreas, colon, or rectum between 2004 and 2015. The main analysis was conducted among patients with cancer stages 1-3. A sensitivity analysis also included cancer stage 4. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the patients' baseline characteristics. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the relationship between stage and 30-d mortality, controlling for other disease-, patient- and hospital-level factors. Pseudo R2 statistics (%Δ pseudo R2) were used to quantify the relative explanatory capacity of the variables to the model for 30-d mortality. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.4. RESULTS: The cohort included 24,468, 28,078, 176,285, and 64,947 patients with stomach, pancreas, colon, and rectal cancers, respectively. After adjusting for other variables, 30-d mortality was different by stage for all cancer types examined. The factor most strongly associated with 30-d mortality was age (%Δ pseudo R2 range 14%-39%). The prognostic impact of cancer stage (Stages 1, 2, or 3) on 30-d mortality was comparable to that of the Charlson comorbidity index. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer stage contributes to explaining differences observed in short-term mortality for gastrointestinal cancers. Short-term mortality models would benefit by including more granular cancer stage, beyond disseminated status alone.

Recommendations on intervention for hepatobiliary oncological surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. / Recomendaciones de actuación en cirugía oncológica hepatobiliopancreática durante la pandemia COVID-19.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic requires an analysis in the field of oncological surgery, both on the risk of infection, with very relevant clinical consequences, and on the need to generate plans to minimize the impact on possible restrictions on health resources. The AEC is making a proposal for the management of patients with hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) malignancies in the different pandemic scenarios in order to offer the maximum benefit to patients, minimising the risks of COVID-19 infection, and optimising the healthcare resources available at any time. This requires the coordination of the different treatment options between the departments involved in the management of these patients: medical oncology, radiotherapy oncology, surgery, anaesthesia, radiology, endoscopy department and intensive care. The goal is offer effective treatments, adapted to the available resources, without compromising patients and healthcare professionals safety.

Nutritional assessment in surgical oncology: An ESSO-EYSAC global survey.

INTRODUCTION: The majority of cancer patients report malnutrition, with a significant impact on patient's outcome. This study aimed to compare how nutritional assessment is conducted across different surgical oncology sub-specialties. METHODS: Survey modules were designed for breast, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB), upper-gastrointestinal (UGI), sarcoma, peritoneal and surface malignancies (PSM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) surgeries to describe 4 domains: participants' setting, evaluation of clinical factors, use of screening tools and clinical practice. Results were compared among sub-specialties and according to human development index (HDI) in the largest cohorts. RESULTS: Out of 457 answers from 377 global participants (62% European), 35.0% were from breast and 28.9% were from CRC surgeons. Although MDTs management is consistently reported (64-88%), the presence of a nutritionist/dietician ranges from 14.1% to 44.2%. Breast surgeons seldom evaluate albumin (25.6%) and weight loss (30.6%), opposite to HPB, PSM and UGI groups (>70%, p 0.044). Overall, responders declared that the use of screening tools is largely neglected, that nutritional status is often assessed by the surgeons and that nutrition is not consistently modified according to risk factors (range among groups respectively: 1.9%-25.6%, 33.1%-51.4%, 33.1%-60.5%). Less than 20% of breast surgeons assess patients before/after surgery, comparing to >60% of PSM surgeons. However, no statistical differences were documented comparing groups for the majority of the items of the 4 domains. Nutritional evaluation is more often conducted by breast surgeons in medium/low HDI countries comparing very high/high HDI (p 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional assessment is largely neglected. These results identify target-issues for the implementation of clinical practice.

Surgical decision-making and prioritization for cancer patients at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: A multidisciplinary approach.

In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governmental agencies, state medical boards, and healthcare organizations have called for restricting "elective" operations to mitigate the risk of transmission of the virus amongst patients and healthcare providers and to preserve essential resources for potential regional surges of COVID patients. While the fear of delaying surgical care for many of our patients is deeply challenging for us as cancer care providers, we must balance our personal commitment to providing timely and appropriate oncologic care to our cancer patients with our societal responsibility to protect our patients (including those on whom we are operating), co-workers, trainees, families, and community, from undue risks of contracting and propagating COVID-19. Herein, we present guidelines for surgical decision-making and case prioritization developed among all adult disease specialties in the MD Anderson Cancer Center Departments of Surgical Oncology and Breast Surgical Oncology in Houston, Texas.

Volatile versus Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Cancer Prognosis in Patients Having Digestive Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous experimental and clinical studies have shown that anesthetic agents have varying effects on cancer prognosis; however, the results were inconsistent among these studies. The authors compared overall and recurrence-free survival in patients given volatile or intravenous anesthesia for digestive tract cancer surgery. METHODS: The authors selected patients who had elective esophagectomy, gastrectomy, hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, pancreatectomy, colectomy, and rectal cancer surgery from July 2010 to March 2018 using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. Patients were divided into a volatile anesthesia group (desflurane, sevoflurane, or isoflurane with/without nitrous oxide) and a propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia group. The authors hypothesized that total intravenous anesthesia is associated with greater overall and recurrence-free survival than volatile anesthesia. Subgroup analyses were performed for each type of surgery. RESULTS: The authors identified 196,303 eligible patients (166,966 patients in the volatile anesthesia group and 29,337 patients in the propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia group). The numbers (proportions) of death in the volatile anesthesia and total intravenous anesthesia groups were 17,319 (10.4%) and 3,339 (11.4%), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.07; P = 0.28) or recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.03; P = 0.59), whereas instrumental variable analyses showed a slight difference in recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.98; P = 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference in overall or recurrence-free survival between the groups in any type of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Overall and recurrence-free survival were similar between volatile and intravenous anesthesia in patients having digestive tract surgery. Selection of the anesthetic approach for these patients should be based on other factors.