Survival Outcomes of Optimally Treated Colorectal Metastases: The Importance of R0 Status in Surgical Treatment of Hepatic and Peritoneal Surface Disease.

BACKGROUND: Although colorectal hepatic metastases (HM) and peritoneal surface disease (PSD) are distinct biologic diseases, they may have similar long-term survival when optimally treated with surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed prospectively managed databases. Patients undergoing R0 or R1 resections were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression. Survival was compared over time for the following periods: 1993-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2020. RESULTS: The study enrolled 783 HM patients undergoing liver resection and 204 PSD patients undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Compared with PSD patients, HM patients more often had R0 resections (90.3% vs. 32.4%), less often had pre-procedure chemotherapy (52.4% vs. 92.1%), and less often were functionally independent (79.7% vs. 95.6%). The 5-year overall survival for HM was 40.9%, with a median survival period of 45.8 months versus 25.8% and 33.4 months, respectively, for PSD (p < 0.05). When stratified by resection status, R0 HM and R0 PSD did not differ significantly in median survival (49.0 vs. 45.4 months; p = 0.83). The median survival after R1 resection also was similar between HM and PSD (32.6 vs. 26.9 months; p = 0.59). Survival between the two groups again was similar over time when stratified by resection status. The predictors of survival for HM patients were R0 resection, number of lesions, intraoperative transfusion, age, and adjuvant chemotherapy. For the PSD patients, the predictors were peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score, estimated blood loss (EBL), and female gender. CONCLUSION: The study showed that R0 resections are associated with improved outcomes and that median survival is similar between HM and PSD patients when it is achieved. Surveillance and treatment strategies that facilitate R0 resections are needed to improve results, particularly for PSD.

Repeat Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Cancers with Peritoneal Metastasis: A 30-year Institutional Experience.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) improves survival in abdominal cancer patients with metastatic disease limited to the peritoneal cavity. Patients are increasingly being offered repeat CRS-HIPECs for peritoneal recurrence. However, in this rare clinical scenario, the survival benefit of performing repeat CRS-HIPEC operations remains unclear. METHODS: A retrospective review of the CRS-HIPEC database at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center was performed over a 30-year timespan. From 1547 patients with appendix cancers, colorectal cancers, mesotheliomas, and other miscellaneous cancers, 156 received more than one CRS-HIPEC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed using overall survival (OS) from the time of surgery as the primary endpoint. Multi-variable Cox proportional hazards regression modelling was performed on pertinent clinical variables. RESULTS: Patients who received multiple CRS-HIPECs had significantly better median OS (10.7 years) versus those who received one CRS-HIPEC (2.5 years), with appendix cancers faring best (12.9 years). Resection status R2a or better was achieved in 76.4% of repeat CRS-HIPECs. There were no significant changes in complication rates after repeat CRS-HIPEC. On multivariate analysis of repeat CRS-HIPEC, patients with appendix and colorectal cancers, heart disease, and poor functional status were independently associated with poor OS. Factors not independently associated with OS were age, sex, body mass index, race, diabetes, lung disease, smoking history, and systemic chemotherapy between CRS-HIPECs. CONCLUSIONS: Performing multiple CRS-HIPEC operations on appropriate surgical candidates may significantly prolong survival. Appendix cancers derived the greatest benefit. Satisfactory resection margins and complication rates are comparable to first cases and achievable in repeat CRS-HIPEC procedures.

Management of the Hostile Abdomen.

Caring for a patient with a hostile abdomen is one of the most challenging clinical situations one can encounter. It requires specialized technical skill coupled with bold but thoughtful decision-making to achieve good outcomes. An approach to the patient with a complex, hostile abdomen must be individualized to account for the patient's personal details. However, implementing an experienced-based algorithm to help make the difficult decisions required in this setting can be helpful, as evidence-based studies are few. The purpose of this review is to provide a structured, evidence, and experienced-based approach to the challenges that the surgeon encounters when faced with a patient with a hostile abdomen, and to discuss perioperative and intraoperative surgical strategies that can lead to most successful outcomes.

Failure of Emergency Department Observation Unit Treatment for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of observation unit (OU) management of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) has not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the rate and risk factors. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of children ages 2 months to 18 years admitted to the OU for an SSTI between 2007 and 2010 from a pediatric emergency department (ED). Failure of OU therapy was defined as subsequent inpatient ward admission, re-admission after discharge from OU, initial or repeat incision and drainage after OU admission, or change in antibiotic therapy. Demographic, clinical, and lesion characteristics were collected. Comparative analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with OU failure; prolonged OU admission, defined as length of stay ≥ 36 h was evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two (63.2%) of 304 subjects with SSTI were eligible; mean age was 6.2 ± 5.3 years, and 52% were male. Fever (≥38°C) in the ED was present for 77 (40%). Most lesions were skin abscesses (53%) and were located on the lower extremity (36%) and buttock/genitourinary (21%). OU treatment failure occurred in 22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.5-28.3), primarily due to inpatient admission. Fever on ED presentation was significantly associated with OU failure (odds ratio 2.02; 95% CI 1.02-4.02). Demographics, body site, presence of abscess, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were not associated with OU failure. Prolonged OU admission occurred in 18 subjects (9.4%). CONCLUSION: SSTI can be successfully treated in the OU, though febrile children with SSTI are at risk for OU treatment failure and should be considered for inpatient admission.

Management of the Geriatric Trauma Patient.

With a rapidly aging worldwide population, the care of geriatric trauma patients will be at the forefront of every career in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. The unique intersection of advanced age, comorbidities, frailty, and physiologic changes presents a challenge in the care of elderly injured patients. It is well established that increasing age is associated with higher mortality and worse outcomes after injury, but it is also clear that there is room for improvement in the management of this special patient population.

Impact of resuscitation adjuncts on postintubation hypotension in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: Postintubation hypotension (PIH) is a risk factor of endotracheal intubation (ETI) after injury. For those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), one episode of hypotension can potentiate that injury. This study aimed to identify the resuscitation adjuncts that may decrease the incidence of PIH in this patient population. METHODS: This is a 4-year (2019-2022) prospective observational study at a level I trauma center. Adult (18 years or older) patients with isolated TBI requiring ETI in the trauma bay were included. Blood pressures were measured 15 minutes preintubation and postintubation. Primary outcome was PIH, defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of ≥20% from baseline or to ≤80 mm Hg, or any decrease in mean arterial pressure to ≤60 mm Hg. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the associations of preintubation vasopressor, hypertonic saline (HTS), packed red blood cell, and crystalloids on PIH incidence. RESULTS: Of the 490 enrolled patients, 16% had mild (head AIS, ≤2), 35% had moderate (head AIS, 3-4), and 49% had severe TBI (head AIS, ≥5). The mean ± SD age was 42 ± 22 years, and 71% were male. The median ISS, head AIS, and Glasgow Coma Scale were 26 (19-38), 4 (3-5), and 6 (3-11), respectively. The mean ± SD systolic blood pressure 15 minutes preintubation and postintubation were 118 ± 46 and 106 ± 45, respectively. Before intubation, 31% received HTS; 10%, vasopressors; 20%, crystalloids; and 14%, at least 1 U of packed red blood cell (median, 2 [1-2] U). Overall, 304 patients (62%) developed PIH. On multivariable regression analysis, preintubation use of vasopressors and HTS was associated with significantly decreased odds of PIH independent of TBI severity, 0.310 (0.102-0.944, p = 0.039) and 0.393 (0.219-0.70, p = 0.002), respectively. CONCLUSION: Nearly two thirds of isolated TBI patients developed PIH. Preintubation vasopressors and HTS are associated with a decreased incidence of PIH. Such adjuncts should be considered prior to ETI in patients with suspected TBI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Penetrating chest trauma from a "less lethal" bean bag in the United States: a case report.

This case report presents the case of a 49-year-old man who presented to our level I trauma center after sustaining injuries in an altercation with local law enforcement in which he was shot with a less lethal bean bag and tased. In a primary survey, a penetrating left supraclavicular wound was noted in addition to a taser dart lodged in his flank. No other traumatic findings were noted in a secondary survey. Given hemodynamic stability, completion imaging was obtained, revealing a foreign body in the left lung, a left open clavicle fracture, a C5 tubercle fracture, a possible grade I left vertebral injury, and a left first rib fracture. Soft tissue gas was seen around the left subclavian and axillary arteries, although no definitive arterial injury was identified. The bean bag projectile was embedded in the parenchyma of the left lung on cross-sectional imaging. The patient underwent thoracotomy for removal of the projectile and hemostasis. A thoracotomy was chosen as the operative approach due to concerns about significant bleeding upon foreign body removal. A chest tube was placed and subsequently removed on postoperative day 5. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. At a 2-week outpatient follow-up visit, the patient was doing well. This case report is the first to describe this outcome for a drag-stabilized bean bag. Although law enforcement officers utilize bean bag projectiles as a "less lethal" means of crowd control and protection, these ballistics pose significant risk and can result in serious injury.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Management of Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination: 30 Years of Experience at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is at the forefront of treatment for colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis or "carcinomatosis" (CRC-PC). We report outcomes of the operative management of CRC-PC at a single center. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed our database from 1992 through 2021. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival. Proportional hazards regression and multivariable models were used for assessments. RESULTS: This study included 345 patients with mean age 53.5 years. Multivariate analysis revealed performance and resection status were associated with overall survival (OS; p < 0.001). Within the R0/R1 group, adverse impact on OS was found with increasing Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score starting at 9 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98, CI 1.39-2.82, p = 0.0001) with the most significant hazard noted at PCI >14 (HR = 2.35, CI 1.52-3.63, p = 0.0001). Incomplete resection (R2) had significantly worse OS compared with complete CRS 33.4 (n = 206) vs R2: 12.7 months (n = 139; p < 0.0001. When stratified by PCI for the R0/R1 group, median OS for PCI less than 10, 10 to 15, and greater than 15 was 38.2, 19.7, and 22.2 m, respectively (p = 0.0007 comparing PCI less than 10 and greater than 15). Ten-year increments-1991 through 2000, 2001 through 2010, 2011 through 2020-revealed improvement in median OS (13.4 [n = 66], 19.3 [n = 139], and 29.1 months [n = 140]). However, by resection status, median OS remained stable for R0/R1 (32.3 [n = 23], 31.1 [n = 76], and 34.1 months [n = 107]) and improved for R2 (5.2 [n = 43], 14.4 [n = 63], and 14.6 months [n = 33]). Clavien-Dindo complication rate (greater than or equal to grade III) was 29.4%. CONCLUSION: CRS improves outcomes for CRC-PC compared with historic outcomes with nonoperative management. This benefit is greatest with complete resection and lower disease burden. Results of CRS (with or without heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) are improving, and surgery for CRC-PC should be routinely considered.

Algernon Brashear Jackson, M.D.: A Pioneer for Community and Minority Advocacy.

A historical vignette regarding Dr. Algernon Brashear Jackson, the first Black male graduate from Jefferson Medical College. It details his early life, medical school years, surgical training, and contributions to his local community and beyond as he paved the way for future doctors of color.