Jerome H. Liu

The aging population and its impact on the surgery workforce.

Objective To predict the impact of the aging population on the demand for surgical procedures. Summary Background Data The population is expanding and aging. According to the US Census Bureau, the domestic population will increase 7.9% by 2010, and 17.0% by 2020. The fastest growing segment of this population consists of individuals over the age of 65; their numbers are expected to increase 13.3% by 2010 and 53.2% by 2020. Methods Data on the age-specific rates of surgical procedures were obtained from the 1996 National Hospital Discharge Survey and the National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery. These procedure rates were combined with corresponding relative value units from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The result quantifies the amount of surgical work used by an average individual within specific age groups (<15 years old, 15–44 years old, 45–64 years old, 65+ years old). This estimate of work per capita was combined with population forecasts to predict future use of surgical services. Results Based on the assumption that age-specific per capita use of surgical services will remain constant, we predict significant increases (14–47%) in the amount of work in all surgical fields. These increases vary widely by specialty. Conclusions The aging of the US population will result in significant growth in the demand for surgical services. Surgeons need to develop strategies to manage an increased workload without sacrificing quality of care.

Do young breast cancer patients have worse outcomes

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have suggested that young breast cancer patients have poorer survival as compared with their older counterparts. Most of this research reflects single institution experiences that may not be representative of the population. This study was designed to determine whether young breast cancer patients have poorer survival as compared with an older cohort using a national population-based cancer registry and, more specifically, to determine whether differences in survival are caused by more advanced tumor stage, more aggressive disease, or patient-specific characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer database (1992-1998), data for all patients with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer were extracted. Two age categories were analyzed: young group (<or=35 years old, n = 4616) and older group (50-55 years old, n = 20319). Patient demographics, 5-year survival rates, tumor characteristics (stage, grade, and receptor status), surgical treatment, and use of radiation were compared between the groups. RESULTS Overall, young patients had worse 5-year survival when compared with the older group (74.3% vs. 85.1%). Stage for stage, the young patients also had poorer survival (except for stage IV). They present with more advanced stage disease and have more aggressive tumor characteristics, that is, higher grade tumors and more estrogen- and progesterone receptor-negative tumors. Even after controlling for patient characteristics, tumor factors, and receipt of treatment, a multivariate regression showed that young age was an independent risk factor for death (HR = 1.095). CONCLUSIONS Young breast cancer patients have poorer outcomes, which are in part attributed to later stage disease, more aggressive tumors, and less favorable receptor status. There still appears to be other important factors, not included in our study, that are contributing to the worse outcomes for these young patients, such as socioeconomic status. Physicians need to have heightened awareness when evaluating this population, and increasingly efficacious adjuvant therapies need to be developed.

Do young colon cancer patients have worse outcomes

Previous studies on colon cancer have noted rising incidence rates among young individuals and suggest that they may have more aggressive disease and worse 5-year survivals than their older counterparts. Our study uses a nationwide population-based cancer registry to analyze colon cancer presentations and outcomes in a young versus an older population. The records of patients with colon carcinoma were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) national cancer database (1991–1999). Two cohorts based on age at diagnosis (20–40 years, n = 1334 vs. 60–80 years, n = 46,457) were compared for patient and tumor characteristics, treatment, and 5-year cancer-specific survival. A multivariate Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of survival. The young group had a higher proportion of black and Hispanic patients than did the older group (p < 0.001). Young patients had less stage I or II disease, more stage III or IV disease (p < 0.001), and worse-grade (poorly differentiated or anaplastic) tumors (p < 0.001). The 5-year stage-specific survival was similar for stage I and III disease (p = NS) but was significantly better for young patients with stage II and IV disease (p < 0.01). Using a nationally representative cancer registry, we found that young colon cancer patients tend to have later-stage and higher-grade tumors. However, they have equivalent or better 5-year cancer-specific survival compared to older patients. This population-based finding contradicts prior single-institution reports.

Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Does It Improve Survival?

Background: The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are increasing in the United States. Whether surgery is associated with improved survival at the population level is relatively unknown. To address this question, we used a population-based cancer registry to compare survival outcomes between patients receiving and not receiving surgery with similar tumor sizes and health status.Methods: By using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified HCC patients who had surgically resectable disease as defined by published expert guidelines. After excluding patients with contraindications to surgery, we performed both survival analysis and Cox regression to identify predictors of improved survival.Results: Of the 4008 patients diagnosed with HCC between 1988 and 1998, 417 were candidates for surgical resection. The mean age was 63.6 years; mean tumor size was 3.3 cm. The 5-year overall survival with surgery was 33% with a mean of 47.1 months; without surgery, the 5-year overall survival was 7% with a mean of 17.9 months (P < .001). In the multivariate Cox regression, surgery was significantly associated with improved survival (P < .001). Specifically, patients who received surgery had a 55% decreased rate of death compared with patients who did not have surgery, even after controlling for tumor size, age, sex, and race.Conclusions: This study shows that surgical therapy is associated with improved survival in patients with unifocal, nonmetastatic HCC tumors <5 cm. If this is confirmed in future studies, efforts should be made to ensure that appropriate patients with resectable HCC receive high-quality care, as well as the opportunity for potentially curative surgery.

Are Survival Rates Different for Young and Older Patients With Rectal Cancer

PURPOSEAlthough it is generally believed that young patients with rectal cancer have worse survival rates, no comprehensive analysis has been reported. This study uses a national-level, population-based cancer registry to compare rectal cancer outcomes between young vs. older populations.METHODSAll patients with rectal carcinoma in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer database from 1991 to 1999 were evaluated. Young (range, 20–40 years; n = 466) and older groups (range, 60–80 years; n = 11,312) were compared for patient and tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and five-year overall and stage-specific survival. Cox multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of survival.RESULTSMean ages for the groups were 34.1 and 70 years. The young group was comprised of more black and Hispanic patients compared with the older group (P < 0.001). Young patients were more likely to present with late-stage disease (young vs. older: Stage III, 27 vs. 20 percent respectively, P < 0.001; Stage IV, 17.4 vs. 13.6 percent respectively, P < 0.02). The younger group also had worse grade tumors (poorly differentiated 24.3 vs. 14 percent respectively, P < 0.001). Although the majority of both groups received surgery (85 percent for each), significantly more young patients received radiation (P < 0.001). Importantly, overall and stage-specific, five-year survival rates were similar for both groups (P = not significant).CONCLUSIONSAlthough previous studies have found young rectal cancer patients to have poorer survival compared with older patients, this population-based study shows that young rectal cancer patients seem to have equivalent overall and stage-specific survival.

Workload Projections for Surgical Oncology: Will We Need More Surgeons?

AbstractBackground: Over the next two decades, the US population will experience dramatic growth in the number and relative proportion of older individuals. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of these changes on the demand for oncological procedures. Methods: The 2000 Nationwide Inpatient Sample and the 1996 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery were used to compute age-specific incidence rates for oncological procedures of the breast, colon, rectum, stomach, pancreas, and esophagus. Procedure rates were combined with census projections for 2010 and 2020 to estimate the future utilization of each procedure. Results: By 2020, the number of patients undergoing oncological procedures is projected to increase by 24% to 51%. The bulk of growth in procedures is derived from outpatient procedures, but significant growth will also be seen in inpatient procedures. Conclusions: The aging of the population will generate an enormous growth in demand for oncological procedures. If a shortage of surgeons performing these procedures does occur, the result will inevitably be decreased access to care. To prevent this from happening, the ability of surgeons to cope with an increased burden of work needs to be critically evaluated and improved.

Disease relapse after segmental resection and free flap reconstruction for mandibular osteoradionecrosis

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes, complications, and incidence of disease recurrence of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) after resection and microvascular free flap reconstruction. Study Design: Case series with chart review. Setting: Academic medical center. Subjects And Methods: Retrospective patient data review of 40 patients with mandibular ORN who were treated by segmental mandibulectomy and microvascular reconstruction between 1995 and 2009. All patients received radiation therapy for previous head and neck cancer, and 12 of 40 patients received concurrent chemotherapy. All patients failed to respond to conservative management. There were 26 males and 14 females, with a median age of 62 years. Median follow-up was 17.4 months. Results: There were no free flap failures. The incidence of wound-related complications was 55 percent. Median time to complication was 10.6 months. Ten (25%) patients developed symptoms of residual or recurrent ORN, with 70 percent of the recurrences arising in unresected condyles that were adjacent to the segmental mandibulectomy. Statistical analysis revealed that current smokers were at reduced risk to develop residual or recurrent ORN. Conclusion: This present study confirms that microvascular free flaps are reliable for treatment of advanced mandibular ORN. Nevertheless, there remains a 55 percent incidence of wound-healing complications. The lack of objective clinical criteria to judge the appropriate amount of mandible resection in patients with ORN remains an unresolved issue that resulted in the development of recurrent ORN in 25 percent of patients. Further investigations are needed to better understand the pathophysiology of ORN to prevent postoperative wound complications and disease recurrence.

Survival in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Abstract:  Immediate and early‐delayed breast reconstruction are the preferred methods of reconstruction in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy. These options for reconstruction allow for superior outcomes through peri‐operative planning between the oncologic surgeon and reconstructive team. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to study the overall survival of patients treated with immediate or early‐delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Population level de‐identified data was abstracted from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER cancer database. We obtained data for all female patients with breast cancer treated with mastectomy from 2000 to 2002. Patients with missing or incomplete data were excluded. Univariate and multivariate statistics were performed using Intercooled Stata 7.0 (College Station, TX). A total of 51,702 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.8 (range 20–104) years old. Reconstruction was performed in 16.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that patients treated with mastectomy and reconstruction had a significantly lower hazard ratio of death (HR = 0.62, p < 0.001) compared with patients treated with mastectomy only, when controlling for demographic and oncologic covariates. Black patients comprised 7.5% of the total population, and multivariate analysis showed that black patients had a significantly increased hazard ratio of death (HR = 1.43, p < 0.001) when compared with white patients, when controlling for all other covariates including reconstruction status. We show that women with breast cancer who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy do not have a worse overall survival than those not undergoing breast reconstruction. This is true when patient age, race, income, and marital status; and tumor stage, histology, grade, use of radiotherapy, and mastectomy site (bilateral or unilateral) are controlled for.

Reirradiation after salvage surgery and microvascular free flap reconstruction for recurrent head and neck carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the outcome and complications of reirradiation of recurrent head and neck cancer after salvage surgery and microvascular reconstruction. Study Design Retrospective. Subjects and Methods Twelve patients underwent salvage surgery with microvascular reconstruction for recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer in a previously irradiated field. Median prior radiation therapy dose was 63.0 Gy. Patients then underwent postoperative reirradiation, and received a median total cumulative radiation dose of 115.0 Gy. Results Three (25%) patients experienced acute complications (<3 months) during reirradiation. Four (33%) patients developed grade 3 or 4 late reirradiation complications (>3 months). There were no incidences of free flap failure, brain necrosis, spinal cord injury, or carotid rupture. The incidence of soft tissue necrosis and osteoradionecrosis was 8%. Six (50%) patients are alive without evidence of recurrent disease a median of 40 months after reirradiation. Conclusion Microvascular free flaps allow for maximal resection and reliable reconstruction of previously irradiated cancers before high dose reirradiation and may reduce the incidence of severe late complications and treatment related mortality.

Inpatient Surgery in California: 1990-2000

BACKGROUND The practice environment for surgery is changing. However, little is known regarding the trends or current status of inpatient surgery at a population level. HYPOTHESIS Inpatient surgical care has changed significantly over the last 10 years. DESIGN Longitudinal analysis of California inpatient discharge data (January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2000). SETTING All 503 nonfederal acute care hospitals in California. PATIENTS All inpatients undergoing general, vascular, and cardiothoracic surgery in California from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2000, were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Volume, mean age, comorbidity profile, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality were obtained for inpatient general, vascular, and cardiothoracic surgical procedures performed during the period 1990 to 2000. Rates of change and trends were evaluated for the 10-year period. RESULTS Between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2000, 1.64 million surgical procedures were performed. The number of surgical procedures increased 20.4%, from 135,795 in 1990 to 163,468 in 2000. Overall, patients were older and had more comorbid disease in 2000 compared with 1990. Both crude and adjusted (by type of operation) in-hospital mortality decreased from 3.9% in 1990 to 2.75% (P<.001) and 2.58% (P<.001), respectively, in 2000. Length of hospital stay decreased over the period for all operations analyzed. CONCLUSIONS The total number of inpatient general, vascular, and cardiothoracic surgical procedures has increased over the past decade. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the outcomes of care (eg, in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay) for patients who undergo general, vascular, and cardiothoracic surgical procedures have improved. However, continued evaluations at the population level are needed.