A clinical ultrasound algorithm to identify uterine sarcoma and smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential in patients with myometrial lesions: the MYometrial Lesion UltrasouNd And mRi study.

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis between benign uterine smooth muscle tumors and malignant counterpart is challenging. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of a clinical and ultrasound based algorithm in predicting mesenchymal uterine malignancies, including smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential. STUDY DESIGN: We report the 12-month follow-up of an observational, prospective, single-center study that included women with at least 1 myometrial lesion ≥3 cm on ultrasound examination. These patients were classified according to a 3-class diagnostic algorithm, using symptoms and ultrasound features. "White" patients underwent annual telephone follow-up for 2 years, "Green" patients underwent a clinical and ultrasound follow-up at 6, 12, and 24 months and "Orange" patients underwent surgery. We further developed a risk class system to stratify the malignancy risk. RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred sixty-eight women were included and target lesion was classified as benign in 2158 (95.1%), as other malignancies in 58 (2.6%) an as mesenchymal uterine malignancies in 52 (2.3%) patients. At multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio 1.05 [95% confidence interval 1.03-1.07]), tumor diameter >8 cm (odds ratio 5.92 [95% confidence interval 2.87-12.24]), irregular margins (odds ratio 2.34 [95% confidence interval 1.09-4.98]), color score=4 (odds ratio 2.73 [95% confidence interval 1.28-5.82]), were identified as independent risk factors for malignancies, whereas acoustic shadow resulted in an independent protective factor (odds ratio 0.39 [95% confidence interval 0.19-0.82[). The model, which included age as a continuous variable and lesion diameter as a dichotomized variable (cut-off 81 mm), provided the best area under the curve (0.87 [95% confidence interval 0.82-0.91]). A risk class system was developed, and patients were classified as low-risk (predictive model value <0.39%: 0/606 malignancies, risk 0%), intermediate risk (predictive model value 0.40%-2.2%: 9/1093 malignancies, risk 0.8%), high risk (predictive model value ≥2.3%: 43/566 malignancies, risk 7.6%). CONCLUSION: The preoperative 3-class diagnostic algorithm and risk class system can stratify women according to risk of malignancy. Our findings, if confirmed in a multicenter study, will permit differentiation between benign and mesenchymal uterine malignancies allowing a personalized clinical approach.

Importance of duodenal stump reinforcement to prevent stump leakage after gastrectomy: a large-scale multicenter retrospective study (KSCC DELICATE study).

BACKGROUND: The significance of reinforcement of the duodenal stump with seromuscular sutures and the effectiveness of reinforced staplers in preventing duodenal stump leakage remain unclear. We aimed to explore the importance of duodenal stump reinforcement and determine the optimal reinforcement method for preventing duodenal stump leakage. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021, with data analyzed between December 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. This multicenter study across 57 institutes in Japan included 16,475 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomies. Elective open or minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) gastrectomy was performed in patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: Duodenal stump leakage occurred in 153 (0.93%) of 16,475 patients. The proportions of males, patients aged ≥ 75 years, and ≥ pN1 were higher in patients with duodenal stump leakage than in those without duodenal stump leakage. The incidence of duodenal stump leakage was significantly lower in the group treated with reinforcement by seromuscular sutures or using reinforced stapler than in the group without reinforcement (0.72% vs. 1.19%, p = 0.002). Duodenal stump leakage incidence was also significantly lower in high-volume institutions than in low-volume institutions (0.70% vs. 1.65%, p = 0.047). The rate of duodenal stump leakage-related mortality was 7.8% (12/153). In the multivariate analysis, preoperative asthma and duodenal invasion were identified as independent preoperative risk factors for duodenal stump leakage-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The duodenal stump should be reinforced to prevent duodenal stump leakage after radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Comparison of manual sutures and laparoscopic stapler for pancreatic stump closure techniques in robotic distal pancreatectomy: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPFs) are prevalent and major postoperative complications of distal pancreatectomy (DP). There are numerous ways to manage the pancreatic stump. However, no single approach has been shown to be consistently superior. Moreover, the potential role of robotic systems in reducing POPFs has received little attention. METHODS: The clinical data of 119 patients who had consecutively received robotic distal pancreatectomy between January 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the method of handling the pancreatic stump. The attributes of the patients and the variables during the perioperative period were compared. RESULTS: The analysis included 72 manual sutures and 47 stapler procedures. The manual suture group had a shorter operative time (removing installation time) than the stapler group (125.25 ± 63.04 min vs 153.30 ± 62.03 min, p = 0.019). Additionally, the manual suture group had lower estimated blood loss (50 mL vs 100 mL, p = 0.009) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. There were no significant differences in the incidence of clinically relevant POPFs between the two groups (18.1% vs 23.4%, P > 0.05). No perioperative death occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: The manual suturing technique was shown to have an incidence of POPFs similar to the stapler technique in robotic distal pancreatectomy and to be safe and feasible.

Effectiveness of different appendiceal stump closure methods in laparoscopic appendectomy a network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Choosing the best stump closure method for laparoscopic appendectomy has been a debated issue, especially for patients with acute appendicitis. The lack of consensus in the literature and the diverse techniques available have prompted the need for a comprehensive evaluation to guide surgeons in selecting the most optimal appendiceal stump closure method. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted on multiple databases from inception until December 2023 to find relevant studies according to eligibility criteria. The primary outcome was the incidence of total complications. RESULTS: 25 studies with a total of 3308 patients were included in this study, overall complications did not reveal a significant advantage for any intervention (RR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53; 1.01), Superficial and deep infection risks were similar across all methods, Operative time was significantly longer with endoloop and Intracorporeal sutures (MD = 7.07, 95% CI: 3.28; 10.85) (MD = 26.1, 95% CI: 20.9; 31.29). CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in overall complications among closure methods. However, Intracorporeal sutures and endoloop techniques were associated with extended operative durations.

Single versus double Hem-o-lok clips to secure the apendiceal stump during laparoscopic appendectomy: a prospective randomized multicentric clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Polymeric clips (Hem-o-lok ligation system) are now widely used to securing the base of the appendix during laparoscopic appendectomy. Studies comparing the use of single or double hem-o-lok clips are limited. The aim of this study was to compare the reliability of a single hem-o-lok clips with a double hem-o-lok clips for closure of an appendiceal stump. METHODS: This prospective randomized study includes patients from two centers who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy with the diagnosis of appendicitis between September 2020 and March 2023. Demographic, operative and clinical outcomes of the use of single or double hem-o-lok clips for closure of the appendiceal stump were compared. Factors affecting long postoperative hospital stay were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyzes. RESULTS: One hundred forty two (48.3%) patients in the single hem-o-lok arm and 152 (51.7%) patients in the double hem-o-lok arm were included in the analysis.The shortest operative time was noted in the single hem-o-lok group (52.1 ± 19.9 versus 61.6 ± 24.9 min, p < 0.001). The median hospital stay was 1 day (range 1-10) in the single hem-o-lok group and 1 day (range 1-12) in the double hem-o-lok group, and was shorter in the single hem-o-lok arm (1.61 ± 1.56 vs 1.84 ± 1.69, p = 0.019). Based on multivariate analysis, drain placement was identified as an independent predictive factor for long hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The use of single hem-o-lok clips for appendiceal stump closure during laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and effective. Trial registration NCT04387370 ( http://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ).

Modified Q-type purse-string suture duodenal stump embedding method for laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study introduced the modified Q-type purse-string suture duodenal stump embedding method, a convenient way to strengthen the duodenum, and compared it to the conventional one to assess its efficacy and safety. METHODS: This retrospective analysis examined 612 patients who received laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric Cancer at a single center. The patients were divided into Not Reinforced Group (n = 205) and Reinforced Group (n = 407) according to the surgical approach to the duodenal stump. The reinforced group was further divided into a modified Q-type purse-string suture embedding method group (QM, n = 232) and a conventional suture duodenal stump embedding method group (CM, n = 175) according to the methods of duodenal stump enhancement. Clinicopathological characteristics, operative variables, and short-term complications were documented and analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of duodenal stump leakage(DSL) in the Not Reinforced Group was higher compared to the Reinforced Group, although the difference was not statistically significant [2.4% (5/205) vs 0.7% (3/407), p = 0.339]. Additionally, the Not Reinforced Group exhibited a higher rate of Reoperation due to DSL compared to the Reinforced Group [2 (1.0%) vs. 0, p = 0.046], with one patient in the Not Reinforced Group experiencing mortality due to DSL [1 (0.5%) vs 0, p = 0.158]. Subgroup analysis within the Reinforced Group revealed that the modified Q-type purse-string suture embedding group (QM) subgroup demonstrated statistically significant advantages over the conventional suture embedding group (CM) subgroup. QM exhibited shorter purse-string closure times (4.11 ± 1.840 vs. 6.05 ± 1.577, p = 0.001), higher purse-string closure success rates (93.1% vs. 77.7%, p = 0.001), and greater satisfaction with purse-string closure [224 (96.6%) vs 157 (89.7%), p = 0.005]. No occurrences of duodenal stump leakage were observed in the QM subgroup, while the CM subgroup experienced two cases [2 (1.1%)], though the difference was not statistically significant. Both groups did not exhibit statistically significant differences in secondary surgery or mortality related to duodenal stump leakage. CONCLUSION: Duodenal Stump Leakage (DSL) is a severe but low-incidence complication. There is no statistically significant relationship between the reinforcement of the duodenal stump and the incidence of DSL. However, laparoscopic reinforcement of the duodenal stump can reduce the severity of fistulas and the probability of Reoperation. The laparoscopic Q-type purse-string suture duodenal stump embedding method is a simple and effective technique that can, to some extent, shorten the operation time and enhance satisfaction with purse-string closure. There is a trend towards reducing the incidence of DSL, thereby improving patient prognosis to a certain extent.

Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging rotator cuff tendon stump classification correlates with the surgical outcomes following superior capsular reconstruction.

HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between rotator cuff stump classification and postoperative outcomes after superior capsular reconstruction (SCR). METHODS: A total of 75 patients who underwent SCR between June 2013 and May 2021 were included in this study. Based on stump classification using the signal intensity ratio of the tendon rupture site to the deltoid muscle in the coronal view of preoperative T2-weighted, fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging scans, the patients were classified into types 1, 2, and 3 with ratios of <0.8, 0.8-1.3, and >1.3 (44, 17, and 14 patients, respectively). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Constant, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and range of motion were evaluated at a minimum of 1 year of follow-up postoperatively. The acromiohumeral distance and rotator cuff arthropathy according to the Hamada classification were assessed on plain radiography. The graft integrity was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging at 3 and 12 months postoperatively and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Clinical and radiological outcomes were significantly improved after SCR. In comparison with type 2 and 3 patients, type 1 patients had significantly higher ASES scores (type 1, 2, and 3 = 84 ± 10, 75 ± 15, and 76 ± 14; all P = .014), Constant scores (type 1, 2, and 3 = 65 ± 5, 61 ± 9, and 56 ± 13; all P = .005), and forward flexion (type 1, 2, and 3 = 155 ± 10, 154 ± 15, and 145 ± 13; all P = .013). However, these statistical differences between groups were below the established minimum clinically important difference values for the ASES and Constant scores after rotator cuff repair. The graft failure rate after surgery was lower in the type 1 group than that in the other 2 groups; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .749). CONCLUSION: Patients with stump classification type 1 showed significantly better functional scores (ASES and VAS scores) and forward flexion; however, the clinical importance of these differences may be limited. Stump classification may be useful for predicting postoperative clinical outcomes.

Re-tear after arthroscopic rotator cuff tear surgery: risk analysis using machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative rotator cuff retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is still a major problem. Various risk factors such as age, gender, and tear size have been reported. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging-based stump classification was reported as an index of rotator cuff fragility. Although stump type 3 is reported to have a high retear rate, there are few reports on the risk of postoperative retear based on this classification. Machine learning (ML), an artificial intelligence technique, allows for more flexible predictive models than conventional statistical methods and has been applied to predict clinical outcomes. In this study, we used ML to predict postoperative retear risk after ARCR. METHODS: The retrospective case-control study included 353 patients who underwent surgical treatment for complete rotator cuff tear using the suture-bridge technique. Patients who initially presented with retears and traumatic tears were excluded. In study participants, after the initial tear repair, rotator cuff retears were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging; Sugaya classification types IV and V were defined as re-tears. Age, gender, stump classification, tear size, Goutallier classification, presence of diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were used for ML parameters to predict the risk of retear. Using Python's Scikit-learn as an ML library, five different AI models (logistic regression, random forest, AdaBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM) were trained on the existing data, and the prediction models were applied to the test dataset. The performance of these ML models was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Additionally, key features affecting retear were evaluated. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for logistic regression was 0.78, random forest 0.82, AdaBoost 0.78, CatBoost 0.83, and LightGBM 0.87, respectively for each model. LightGBM showed the highest score. The important factors for model prediction were age, stump classification, and tear size. CONCLUSIONS: The ML classifier model predicted retears after ARCR with high accuracy, and the AI model showed that the most important characteristics affecting retears were age and imaging findings, including stump classification. This model may be able to predict postoperative rotator cuff retears based on clinical features.

Is LigaSure Alone Sufficient for the Closure of the Appendix Stump?

PURPOSES: Closure of the appendix stump is necessary for laparoscopic appendectomy. Problems that occur during the appendix stump closure can cause severe morbidity. Several methods of stump closure have been described. This study aimed to investigate the adequacy of LigaSure alone in closing the appendix stump. METHODS: Patients who were operated on with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis between October 2021 and January 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the closure technique of the appendix stump hemoclip(group I) and LigaSure only(group II). In addition, demographic data (age, gender), body mass index (BMI), presence of comorbid disease, perioperative appendicitis classification, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, radiological and pathological appendix size of the patients included in the study were recorded. Clavien Dindo was used for postoperative complication assessment. RESULT: The study included 77 patients. 48(62.3%) of the patients were in group I, and 29(37.7%) were in group II. There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding age, gender distribution, BMI, presence of comorbid disease (P > .05). The operation time of group I was longer than group II (P < .001). There was no difference between the groups in terms of both radiological and pathological appendix size. There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding postoperative complications and severity of complications (P = .76, P = .99, respectively). CONCLUSION: Appendiceal stump closure can be performed with Ligasure, but it should be noted that this procedure can be performed on selected patients, as in the study group, not on all patients.

Exploring vertebral artery stump syndrome: An overlooked cause of posterior ischemic strokes. A narrative review of current management options.

INTRODUCTION: Stump syndrome is defined as a clinical syndrome resulting from a distal intracranial vessel embolic stroke due to an extracranial vessel occlusion. Similar to the anterior circulation, the recurrence of ischemic strokes in territories supplied by the posterior circulation in the presence of vertebral artery occlusion is termed Vertebral Artery Stump Syndrome (VASS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review, identifying 72 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or ischemic strokes attributed to VASS, according to Kawano criteria. We categorized all patients in two groups focusing on the therapeutic management those who underwent primary medical treatment and those who received endovascular or surgical treatment either in acute or chronic phase. RESULTS: In the anticoagulant therapy group, only 1 patient had a stroke recurrence. Among the 4 on antiplatelets, all had recurrences, but 3 benefited from switching to anticoagulants or endovascular therapy. In the endovascular therapy group, worse outcomes were linked to acute large vessel occlusion. Endovascular treatment of the vertebral artery, in a chronic phase, was explored in literature for recurrent TIAs or minor strokes suggesting that this could be a viable therapeutic alternative when medical treatment failed in preventing recurrence of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Some studies suggest that anticoagulant medical therapy may be beneficial for VASS and endovascular therapy has also been reported for selected patients. However, data on treatment outcomes and prognosis are still underreported, making treatment decisions challenging. Randomized Controlled Trials are needed to establish the optimal treatment approach.

Pulmonary vein stump thrombosis and organ infarction after lung lobectomy.

Lung resection surgery, which is performed as a treatment for lung cancer and metastatic lung tumors, is currently conducted via minimally invasive techniques such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robot-assisted methods. Postoperative complications related to this surgery, such as pulmonary vein thrombosis and cerebral and other organ infarctions, have been increasingly reported. The primary cause of these complications is thrombus formation in the pulmonary vein stump. Statistical data on the site of lung lobectomy have indicated that surgeries involving the left upper lobe are most frequently associated with embolic complications. Although this issue has not received considerable attention in anesthesiology, the importance of prevention and treatment in postoperative management is growing. The role of anesthesiologists in preventing these complications is critical. These roles involve careful fluid management to avoid hypercoagulable states, consideration of early postoperative anticoagulation therapy, assessment of the suitability of epidural anesthesia for postoperative anticoagulation, and improvement of hospital-wide safety systems and monitoring of high-risk patients. Anesthesiologists need to understand the pathology and risk factors involved and play an active role in preventing and treating these complications through effective collaboration with thoracic surgeons and the in-hospital stroke team.

[Double-tract reconstruction after gastrectomy for gastric cancer in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases]. / Rekonstruktsiya double-tract posle gastrektomii po povodu raka zheludka u patsientov s konkuriruyushchimi serdechno-sosudistymi zabolevaniyami.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the capabilities and advantages of double-tract reconstruction after gastrectomy for gastric cancer and simultaneous approach in surgical treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases and gastric cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present two cases of double-tract reconstruction after gastrectomy and the gastric stump extirpation as a part of simultaneous surgical approach to patients with gastric cancer and cardiovascular diseases. A 62-year-old patient underwent simultaneous gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (for the first time In Russia) and aortofemoral replacement. A 61-year-old patient underwent simultaneous coronary artery bypass surgery, gastric stump extirpation with esophagogastrostomy and double-tract reconstruction. RESULTS: In 1 case, postoperative period was complicated by subcompensated stenosis of the right ureter due to hematoma near the right common iliac artery. This event required endoscopic stenting of the right ureter with positive effect. Both patients were discharged in 16 and 23 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: This method may be alternative to modern reconstructions. Currently, digestive tract reconstruction after gastrectomy is still important and requires further study. Simultaneous procedures in patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease became more widespread. To objectify our statements, further research is needed.

EDST: a decision stump based ensemble algorithm for synergistic drug combination prediction.

INTRODUCTION: There are countless possibilities for drug combinations, which makes it expensive and time-consuming to rely solely on clinical trials to determine the effects of each possible drug combination. In order to screen out the most effective drug combinations more quickly, scholars began to apply machine learning to drug combination prediction. However, most of them are of low interpretability. Consequently, even though they can sometimes produce high prediction accuracy, experts in the medical and biological fields can still not fully rely on their judgments because of the lack of knowledge about the decision-making process. RELATED WORK: Decision trees and their ensemble algorithms are considered to be suitable methods for pharmaceutical applications due to their excellent performance and good interpretability. We review existing decision trees or decision tree ensemble algorithms in the medical field and point out their shortcomings. METHOD: This study proposes a decision stump (DS)-based solution to extract interpretable knowledge from data sets. In this method, a set of DSs is first generated to selectively form a decision tree (DST). Different from the traditional decision tree, our algorithm not only enables a partial exchange of information between base classifiers by introducing a stump exchange method but also uses a modified Gini index to evaluate stump performance so that the generation of each node is evaluated by a global view to maintain high generalization ability. Furthermore, these trees are combined to construct an ensemble of DST (EDST). EXPERIMENT: The two-drug combination data sets are collected from two cell lines with three classes (additive, antagonistic and synergistic effects) to test our method. Experimental results show that both our DST and EDST perform better than other methods. Besides, the rules generated by our methods are more compact and more accurate than other rule-based algorithms. Finally, we also analyze the extracted knowledge by the model in the field of bioinformatics. CONCLUSION: The novel decision tree ensemble model can effectively predict the effect of drug combination datasets and easily obtain the decision-making process.

Management of the Rectal Stump after Subtotal Colectomy Operations for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Era of Immunologic Therapy: A Two-Centre Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often requires surgical resection, such as subtotal colectomy operations to alleviate symptoms. However, IBD also has an inherently increased risk of colorectal dysplasia and cancer. Despite the well-accepted surveillance guidelines for IBD patients with an intact colon, contemporaneous decision-making models on rectal stump surveillance is sparse. This study looks at the fate of rectal stumps in IBD patients following subtotal colectomy. METHODS: This is a two-centre retrospective observational cohort study. Patients were identified from NHS Grampian and NHS Highland surgical IBD databases. Patients that had subtotal colectomy between January 01, 2010 and December 31, 2017 were included with the follow-up end date on April 1, 2021. Socio-demographics, diagnosis, medical and surgical management data were collected from electronic records. RESULTS: Of 250 patients who had subtotal colectomy procedures, only one developed a cancer in their rectal stump (0.4%) over a median follow-up of 80 months. A higher than expected 72% of patients had ongoing symptoms from their rectal stumps. Surveillance was varied and inconsistent. However, no surveillance, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or MRI identified dysplastic or neoplastic disease. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we estimate that the prevalence of rectal cancer is lower than previously reported. Surveillance strategy of rectal stump varied as no current guidelines exist and hence is an important area for future study. Given the relatively low frequency of rectal cancer in these patients, and the low level of evidence available in this field, we would propose a registry-based approach to answering this important clinical question.

Appendiceal stump closure in laparoscopic appendectomy: one endoloop vs. two endoloops vs. two endoclips-does it matter?

PURPOSE: Appendiceal stump leak rate after laparoscopic appendectomy is extremely low. Various methods are used to close the appendiceal stump. This study aimed to compare the outcome of three appendiceal stump closure methods. METHODS: A retrospective study comparing stump closure methods and postoperative outcomes was conducted from January 2018 to June 2020. Patient data included demographics, pre-operative data, surgical technique, findings, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Out of 1021 appendectomy patients, 733 underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis utilizing one of the three compared appendiceal stump closure methods. Consequently, 360 appendixes were ligated with one endoloop (1EL group), 300 appendixes had two endoloops (2EL group), and 73 appendixes were ligated with two endoclips (2EC group). All groups used a LigaSure for resection. The rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess was 1% (4 patients) in 1EL group vs. 1% (3 patients) in 2EL group vs. none in 2EC group (p = 0.43). There were no reported appendiceal stump leaks. Overall complication rates were 4% (14 patients), 3% (9 patients), and 0 (p = 0.15), and the mean operative length was 43 ± 21, 54 ± 22, and 43 ± 20 mins for the 1EL, 2EL, and 2EC, respectively (p < 0.01). Average cost of one endoloop is 110$, and one endoclip cartridge is 180$. CONCLUSIONS: None of the methods were found clinically superior over the others. Considering the low and mild complication rate, it appears reasonable to prefer one method simply by cost. The use of a single endoloop may result in substantial cost reduction. Medical centers may advise surgeons to use a single-endoloop technique.

Optimal cutoff value of carotid stump pressure for determining the need for a carotid shunt in carotid artery endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify the diagnostic value of carotid stump pressure for determining the need for a carotid artery shunt in patients undergoing carotid artery endarterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carotid stump pressure was prospectively measured in all carotid artery endarterectomies performed under local anesthesia between January 2020 and April 2022. The shunt was selectively used when neurological symptoms appeared after carotid cross-clamping. Carotid stump pressure was compared between patients who needed shunting and those who did not. Demographic and clinical characteristics, hematological and biochemical parameters, and carotid stump pressure of the patients with and without shunts were statistically compared. To determine the optimal cutoff value and diagnostic performance of carotid stump pressure for identifying the patients who need a shunt, receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 102 patients (61 men and 41 women) who underwent carotid artery endarterectomy under local anesthesia were included, with an age range of 51-88 years. A carotid artery shunt was used in 16 (8 men and 8 women) patients. The carotid stump pressure values of the patients with a shunt were lower than those without a shunt (median (min-max): 42 (20-55) vs 51 (20-104), p < 0.0006). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis performed to determine the need for a shunt, the optimal cutoff value of carotid stump pressure was ≤48 mmHg, sensitivity was 93.8%, and specificity was 61.6% (area under the curve: 0.773, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Carotid stump pressure has sufficient diagnostic power to determine the need for a shunt, but it cannot be used alone in the clinical setting. Instead, it can be used in combination with other neurological monitoring methods.

Application and curative effect of laparoscopic purse-string sutures in the treatment of adult acute complicated appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of laparoscopic purse-string sutures in adult complicated appendicitis treatment. METHODS: The data of 568 adult cases of complicated appendicitis treated by laparoscopic appendectomy at the Hefei Second People's Hospital, Anhui Province, China, from September 2018 to September 2021 were analysed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: 295 cases in the laparoscopic purse-string suture treatment group (observation group) and 273 cases in the simple Hem-o-lok® clamp treatment group (control group). The baseline data collected included age, gender, preoperative body temperature, leukocyte count and percentage of neutrophils and the surgery time. The postoperative data collected included antibiotic treatment duration, drainage tube placement time and the incidence of complications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baseline data of the two groups, including age, gender, preoperative body temperature, leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (all P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the postoperative hospital length of stay, duration of antibiotic treatment, the recovery time of peripheral white blood cell and neutrophil counts and the incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Purse-string sutures can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative complications after a laparoscopic appendectomy for adult acute complicated appendicitis. There was faster postoperative recovery when patients' appendiceal stumps were treated with laparoscopic purse-string sutures.

The incidence of malignancy in the residual rectum of IBD patients after colectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have had a total colectomy remain with their rectum in situ, and are therefore at risk of rectal carcinoma. It is not clear how high the incidence of rectal cancer is in this cohort. The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the incidence of rectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease who have undergone colectomy but have a residual rectum, and to identify the risk factors for its development. In doing so, we explore the current recommendations for screening processes for these patients. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. Five databases (Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Scopus) were searched from inception to 29 October 2021, to identify studies adhering to the population, intervention, control and outcomes (PICO) criteria. The included studies were critically appraised, and the relevant data was extracted. Cancer incidence was estimated from the reported information. Risk stratification was analysed using RevMan. A narrative approach was undertaken for the exploration of the existing screening guidelines. RESULTS: Data from 23 of the 24 identified studies was suitable for analysis. The pooled incidence of rectal carcinoma was calculated to be 1.3%. Subgroup analysis showed an incidence of 0.7% and 3.2% for patients with a de-functioned rectal stump and ileorectal anastomosis, respectively. Patients with a history of a colorectal carcinoma were more likely to have a subsequent diagnosis of rectal carcinoma (RR 7.2, 95% CI 2.4-21.1). Patients with previous colorectal dysplasia were also at higher risk (RR 5.1, 95% CI 3.1-8.2). No universal standardised guidance regarding screening for this cohort could be identified in the available literature. CONCLUSIONS: The overall risk of malignancy was estimated to be 1.3%, which is lower than previously reported. There is a need for clear and standardised screening guidance for this group of patients.

Stump appendicitis in children: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Stump appendicitis is a rare complication after primary appendectomy and is often not considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have undergone an appendectomy. With this systematic review, the aim was to identify all cases of stump appendicitis in children in order to gain a better insight into the risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostics, and treatment. METHODS: Scopus and PubMed databases were searched. The search combinations used the following MeSH and free text terms: [(stump) OR (residual) OR (remaining) OR (retained) OR (recurrent)] AND (append*). Neither search filters nor text analysis tools were used. To be included, the report had to contain information about a patient between the age of 0 and 18 who was treated for stump appendicitis as a result of an inadequately performed appendectomy. RESULTS: Out of the 19,976 articles, 29 of them, with a total of 34 cases, met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of stump appendectomy was 13.32 ± 3.57 years, while the median time between primary and stump appendectomy was 7.5 (2.3 - 24.0) months. The ratio between boys and girls was 3.2: 1. Primary appendectomy was performed laparoscopically in a greater number of cases compared to the open approach (1.5: 1), and according to the available data, no higher proportion of complicated appendicitis was recorded during a primary appendectomy. The median duration of symptoms during stump appendicitis was 2 days, and in most cases, the pain was localized. Stump appendectomy in most cases was performed with an open approach, and in relation to the type of appendicitis, most of them were complicated. The mean value of the length of the stump was 2.79 ± 1.22 cm, and the smallest recorded length was 0.6 cm. CONCLUSIONS: A non-specific clinical presentation with a history of appendectomy usually makes the diagnosis of stump appendicitis challenging for uninformed physicians, and due to untimely treatment, it usually results in complicated forms of stump appendicitis. Complete appendectomy remains the gold standard in the treatment of stump appendicitis.

Do not get stumped: multimodality imaging findings of early and late post-cholecystectomy complications.

Cholecystectomy is the most performed intra-abdominal surgical procedure in the US, with 1.2 million performed annually, and is predominantly performed laparoscopically. Although largely safe, laparoscopic cholecystectomy results in higher rates of abdominal symptoms consisting of abdominal pain and dyspepsia, which may persist or recur, collectively known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This article aims to (1) provide an overview of post-cholecystectomy syndrome with an emphasis on biliary complications and emergent imaging findings, (2) illustrate the spectrum of imaging findings of early and late post-cholecystectomy complications, (3) enumerate the role of various imaging modalities in evaluating post-cholecystectomy complications and address the role of selective trans-catheter coil embolization in managing bile leaks, and (4) discuss pearls and pitfalls in imaging following cholecystectomy. While common first-line imaging modalities for post-cholecystectomy complications include CT and sonography, ERCP and MRCP can delineate the biliary tree with greater detail. Scintigraphy has a higher sensitivity and specificity than CT or sonography for diagnosing bile leak and may preclude the need for ERCP. Post-operative complications include biliary duct injury or leak, biliary obstruction, remnant gallbladder/cystic duct stones and inflammation, biliary dyskinesia, papillary stenosis, and vascular injury. Subtle cases resulting in lethal outcomes, such as hemorrhage from the gallbladder bed without major vessel injury, have also been described. Cases presented will include biliary complications such as post-cholecystectomy stump cholecystitis, nonbiliary complications such as subcapsular hematoma, and normal post-surgical findings such as oxidized regenerated cellulose. Post-operative biliary complications can cause significant morbidity and mortality, and thus familiarity with the expected post-surgical appearance of the gallbladder fossa and biliary tract, as well as understanding the spectrum of complications and associated multimodality imaging findings, are essential for emergency radiologists and those practicing in the acute care setting to direct appropriate patient management. Furthermore, many of the postoperative complications can be managed by noninvasive percutaneous interventional procedures, from drain placement to cystic artery and cystic duct stump embolization.