Hospital charge and resource use analysis of extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic therapy after pancreatoduodenectomy in intermediate- and high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that an extended antibiotic mitigation pathway following pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with intermediate-/high-risk glands is associated with 83 % lower odds of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). We now describe associations between the pathway, resource utilization, and hospital charges. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent elective pancreatoduodenectomy with soft gland texture and fistula risk score (FRS) ≥3 who received standard or extended antibiotics. Hospital charges and resource utilization within 90 days of surgery were compared by CR-POPF status and antibiotic pathway. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients received extended antibiotics and 53 received standard antibiotics. In patients with CR-POPF, patients who received extended antibiotics had lower likelihood of surgical or percutaneous reintervention (75.0 % vs. 100.0 %, p = 0.022). Ninety-day postoperative charges associated with CR-POPF were higher than no CR-POPF ($60,527 vs.$25,631, p = 0.028). Our risk-based model predicted a $15,825 decrease in hospital charges per patient receiving extended antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: CR-POPF is associated with higher 90-day hospital charges. Extended antibiotic therapy following pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with soft gland texture and FRS ≥3 is associated with fewer reinterventions in patients who develop CR-POPF. These outcomes will be formally tested in a randomized controlled trial (NCT05753735)

Immune-Based and Novel Therapies in Variant Histology Renal Cell Carcinomas.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous disease that represents the most common type of kidney cancer. The classification of RCC is primarily based on distinct morphological and molecular characteristics, with two broad categories: clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC). Clear cell RCC is the predominant subtype, representing about 70-80% of all RCC cases, while non-clear cell subtypes collectively make up the remaining 20-30%. Non-clear cell RCC encompasses many histopathological variants, each with unique biological and clinical characteristics. Additionally, any RCC subtype can undergo sarcomatoid dedifferentiation, which is associated with poor prognosis and rapid disease progression. Recent advances in molecular profiling have also led to the identification of molecularly defined variants, further highlighting the complexity of this disease. While immunotherapy has shown efficacy in some RCC variants and subpopulations, significant gaps remain in the treatment of rare subtypes. This review explores the outcomes of immunotherapy across RCC subtypes, including rare variants, and highlights opportunities for improving care through novel therapies, biomarker-driven approaches, and inclusive clinical trial designs

Risk stratification for postoperative hypoxemia among bariatric surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity, especially those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are prone to postoperative respiratory hypoxemia. The PRODIGY (prediction of opioid-induced respiratory depression in patients monitored by capnography) Score is used to predict respiratory complications that factor in sleep-disordered breathing. Data on the impact of OSA on the frequency and timing of postoperative desaturation trends after bariatric surgery are lacking. METHODS: This cohort study included 195 patients who underwent robotic-assisted bariatric surgery between June 2022 and December 2023. Patients underwent were classified by OSA status (yes/no) and PRODIGY Risk Score (high/intermediate/low). All patients received low or opioid sparing anesthesia and were continuously monitored postoperatively using the Masimo Rad-97 device (Masimo, Irvine, CA, USA). Postoperative monitoring averaged 14.5 hours, including tracking several variables and SpO2 values. We documented desaturations and opioid usage in 2-hour intervals. Patients also underwent 30-day postoperative follow up. Descriptive statistics were analyzed based on OSA status and PRODIGY scores using Student\u27s t-test, ANOVA, and Fisher\u27s Exact Test. RESULTS: Most study patients (57.4%) had OSA, were significantly older, and were predominantly female. Patients with OSA had substantially more prolonged exposure to SpO2 ranges between 80-95% and experienced more frequent desaturation events between 10 and 14 hours after Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) discharge. Patients with high PRODIGY scores (\u3e15) had significantly more desaturation events compared to intermediate and low-score groups. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative desaturation rates are significantly higher among patients with OSA with high PRODIGY scores, especially in the delayed postoperative period. Continuous extended postoperative monitoring is warranted for these high-risk patients after bariatric surgery