Luca Nespoli

CORRELATION BETWEEN POSTOPERATIVE INFECTIONS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL AFTER COLORECTAL RESECTION FOR CANCER

Introduction Predicting long-term survival and cancer recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer is difficult because of the many factors that may affect the prognosis. This study investigated the prognostic significance of postoperative infections for patient outcome. Methods From an electronic database we selected 192 patients undergoing elective radical surgery for Dukes’ stage B and C colorectal adenocarcinoma. The five-year survival rates were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the potential prognostic variables using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results Forty-three patients developed deep incisional or organ/space surgical site infections, while the remaining 149 were complication free. The two groups were comparable for baseline, surgical and histopathological characteristics. At univariate analysis, Dukes’ stage and infections were negative prognostic factors, while peritumoral infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils and fibrotic tissue appeared as protective variables. However, multivariate analysis showed that only Dukes’ stage (P = 0.048) and occurrence of postoperative infectious complications (P = 0.011) were independently associated with outcome. In patients with infectious complications, the survival rate was significantly lower than in patients without infections (log-rank = 0.0004). Conclusions The present results suggest the importance of evaluating other variables besides tumor stage in the prediction of long-term outcome. In prognostic studies more attention should be paid to postoperative infections.

Surgical treatment of liver metastases of gastric cancer: state of the art

BackgroundThe prognosis of patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer (LMGC) is dismal, and little is known about prognostic factors in these patients; so justification for surgical resection is still controversial. Furthermore the results of chemotherapy for these patients are disappointing. The purpose of this study was to review recent outcomes of hepatectomy for LMGC and to determine the suitable candidates for surgery, assessing the surgical results and clinicopathologic features. Moreover we compare these results with those obtained with alternative treatments.

Bleeding in Hepatic Surgery: Sorting through Methods to Prevent It

Liver resections are demanding operations which can have life threatening complications although they are performed by experienced liver surgeons. The parameter “Blood Loss” has a central role in liver surgery, and different strategies to minimize it are a key to improve results. Moreover, recently, new technologies are applied in the field of liver surgery, having one goal: safer and easier liver operations. The aim of this paper is to review the different principal solutions to the problem of blood loss in hepatic surgery, focusing on technical aspects of new devices.

Early detection of urothelial premalignant lesions using hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy in high risk patients

BackgroundTo evaluate fluorescence cystoscopy with hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in the early detection of dysplasia (DYS) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) in select high risk patients.MethodsWe selected 30 consecutive bladder cancer patients at high risk for progression. After endoscopic resection, all patients received (a) induction BCG schedule when needed, and (b) white light and fluorescence cystoscopy after 3 months. HAL at doses of 85 mg (GE Healthcare, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom) dissolved in 50 ml of solvent to obtain an 8 mmol/L solution was instilled intravesically with a 12 Fr catheter into an empty bladder and left for 90 minutes. The solution was freshly prepared immediately before instillation. Cystoscopy was performed within 120 minutes of bladder emptying. Standard and fluorescence cystoscopy was performed using a double light system (Combilight PDD light source 5133, Wolf, Germany) which allowed an inspection under both white and blue light.ResultsThe overall incidence was 43.3% dysplasia, 23.3% CIS, and 13.3% superficial transitional cell cancer. In 21 patients, HAL cystoscopy was positive with one or more fluorescent flat lesions. Of the positive cases, there were 4 CIS, 10 DYS, 2 association of CIS and DYS, 4 well-differentiated non-infiltrating bladder cancers, and 1 chronic cystitis. In 9 patients with negative HAL results, random biopsies showed 1 CIS and 1 DYS. HAL cystoscopy showed 90.1% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity with 95.2% positive predictive value and 77.8% negative predictive value.ConclusionPhotodynamic diagnosis should be considered a very important tool in the diagnosis of potentially evolving flat lesions on the bladder mucosa such as DYS and CIS. Moreover, detection of dysplasic lesions that are considered precursors of CIS may play an important role in preventing disease progression. In our opinion, HAL cystoscopy should be recommended in the early follow-up of high risk patients.

Glutamine Supplementation in Intensive Care Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Abstract The role of glutamine (GLN) supplementation in critically ill patients is controversial. Our aim was to analyze its potential effect in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). We performed a systematic literature review through Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Scopus, Ovid, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane-Controlled Trials Register searching for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from 1983 to 2014 and comparing GLN supplementation to no supplementation in patients admitted to ICU. A random-effect meta-analysis for each outcome (hospital and ICU mortality and rate of infections) of interest was carried out. The effect size was estimated by the risk ratio (RR). Thirty RCTs were analyzed with a total of 3696 patients, 1825 (49.4%) receiving GLN and 1859 (50.6%) no GLN (control groups). Hospital mortality rate was 27.6% in the GLN patients and 28.6% in controls with an RR of 0.93 (95% CI = 0.81–1.07; P = 0.325, I2 = 10.7%). ICU mortality was 18.0 % in the patients receiving GLN and 17.6% in controls with an RR of 1.01 (95% CI = 0.86–1.19; P = 0.932, I2 = 0%). The incidence of infections was 39.7% in GLN group versus 41.7% in controls. The effect of GLN was not significant (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.76–1.03; P = 0.108, I2 = 56.1%). These results do not allow to recommend GLN supplementation in a generic population of critically ills. Further RCTs are needed to explore the effect of GLN in more specific cohort of patients.

Preoperative Computed Tomography to Predict and Stratify the Risk of Severe Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreatoduodenectomy

Abstract The aim of this article is to assess whether measures of abdominal fat distribution, visceral density, and antropometric parameters obtained from computed tomography (CT) may predict postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) occurrence. We analyzed 117 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and had a preoperative CT scan as staging in our center. CT images were processed to obtain measures of total fat volume (TFV), visceral fat volume (VFV), density of spleen, and pancreas, and diameter of pancreatic duct. The predictive ability of each parameter was investigated by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves methodology and assessing optimal cutoff thresholds. A stepwise selection method was used to determine the best predictive model. Clinically relevant (grades B and C) POPF occurred in 24 patients (20.5%). Areas under ROC-curves showed that none of the parameters was per se significantly predictive. The multivariate analysis revealed that a VFV >2334 cm3, TFV >4408 cm3, pancreas/spleen density ratio <0.707, and pancreatic duct diameter <5 mm were predictive of POPF. The risk of POPF progressively increased with the number of factors involved and age. It is possible to deduce objective information on the risk of POPF from a simple and routine preoperative radiologic workup.

Single-incision versus standard multiple-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis of experimental and observational studies.

Objective. The advantages of single-incision surgery for the treatment of gallstone disease is debated. Previous meta-analyses comparing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and standard laparoscopic multiport cholecystectomy (SLMC) included few and underpowered trials. To overcome this limitation, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized studies. Methods. A MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library literature search of studies published in and comparing SILC with SLMC was performed. The primary outcome was safety of SILC as measured by the overall rate of postoperative complications and biliary spillage. Feasibility was another primary outcome as measured by the conversion and operative time. Postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, perioperative blood loss, time to return to normal activity, and cosmetic satisfaction were secondary outcomes. Results. We identified 43 studies of which 30 were observational reports and 13 experimental trials, for a total of 7489 patients (2090 SILC and 5389 SLMC). The overall rate of complications was comparable between groups (relative risk [RR] = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.87-1.35; P = .46), as were the rates of biliary spillage (RR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.73-1.84; P = .53) and conversion rate (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.53-1.46; P = .62). Operative time was in favor of SLMC (weighted mean difference = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.67-0.79; P < .0001). Secondary outcomes favored SILC, but with marginal advantages. Conclusions. SILC is a feasible technique but without any significant advantage over SLMC for relevant end points. Although secondary outcomes favored SILC, the small magnitude of the advantage and the low quality of assessment methods question the clinical significance of these benefits.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of sutures coated with triclosan for the prevention of surgical site infection after elective colorectal surgery according to the PRISMA statement.

Background:Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted to evaluate the effect of triclosan-coated suture on surgical site infection (SSI) yield to controversial results. The primary purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the available RCTs, comparing the effect of triclosan-coated suture with uncoated suture on the incidence of SSI after elective colorectal operations. As secondary endpoint of the analysis, we considered length of hospital stay after surgery. Methods:We performed a systematic literature review through Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Scopus, Ovid, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register searching for RCTs published from 1990 to 2015. To conduct these meta-analyses, we followed the guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Study inclusion criteria were as follows: parallel-group RCTs in adult populations reporting the closure of the abdominal wall after elective colorectal operation with triclosan-coated suture or noncoated suture, and reporting the outcomes considered in the meta-analysis. Results:Six trials including 2168 patients (1102 treated and 1066 controls) provided data on SSIs. The overall rate was 11.7% (129/1102) in the triclosan group and 13.4% (143/1066) in the control group (odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–1.13, P = 0.220). Heterogeneity among studies was moderate (I2 = 44.9%). No evidence of publication bias was detectable. Five RCTs (1783 patients; 914 treated and 689 controls) described hospital length of stay with no significant effect (mean difference: −0.02, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.07, P = 0.668). The I2 test for heterogeneity was 0% (P = 0.836). Moderator analyses showed no significant differences were detected in analyses comparing the suture materials (polydioxanone vs polyglactin). In open-label trials, the odds ratio for SSI risk was 0.62 (95% CI 0.20–1.93, P = 0.413), 0.77 in single-blind (95% CI 0.31–1.95, P = 0.583) and 0.85 in double-blind trials (95% CI 0.46–1.54, P = 0.582). Conclusions:Our findings failed to demonstrate a significant protective effect of triclosan-coated sutures on the occurrence of SSI after elective colorectal resections. Further large RCTs are needed before introducing this technology into clinical practice.

Effect of glutamine dipeptide supplementation on primary outcomes for elective major surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

To evaluate if glutamine (GLN) supplementation may affect primary outcomes in patients undergoing major elective abdominal operations, we performed a systematic literature review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from 1983 to 2013 and comparing intravenous glutamine dipeptide supplementation to no supplementation in elective surgical abdominal procedures. A meta-analysis for each outcome (overall and infectious morbidity and length of stay) of interest was carried out. The effect size was estimated by the risk ratio (RR) or by the weighted mean difference (WMD). Nineteen RCTs were identified with a total of 1243 patients (640 receiving GLN and 603 controls). In general, the studies were underpowered and of medium or low quality. GLN supplementation did not affect overall morbidity (RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.36; p = 0.473) and infectious morbidity (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.38 to 1.07; p = 0.087). Patients treated with glutamine had a significant reduction in length of hospital stay (WMD = −2.67; 95% CI = −3.83 to −1.50; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, GLN supplementation appears to reduce hospital stay without affecting the rate of complications. The positive effect of GLN on time of hospitalization is difficult to interpret due to the lack of significant effects on surgery-related morbidity.

The Role of the Enteral Route and the Composition of Feeds in the Nutritional Support of Malnourished Surgical Patients

In surgical patients, malnutrition is an important risk factor for post-operative complications. In undernourished patients undergoing major gastrointestinal procedures, preoperative enteral nutrition (EN) should be preferred whenever feasible. It may be given either orally or by feeding tubes, depending on patient compliance. Early oral intake after surgery should be encouraged, but if an insufficient postoperative oral intake is anticipated, tube feeding should be initiated as soon as possible. The use of immunomodulating formulas offers significant advantages when compared to standard feeds and the positive results on postoperative complications seem independent from the baseline nutritional status. In malnourished patients, the optimal timing and dose of immunonutrition is unclear, but consistent data suggest that they should be treated peri-operatively for at least two weeks.