Routine pathology examination in the era of value-based healthcare: the case of haemorrhoids specimens

Routine pathologic examination of specimens is a common practice with ill-defined value. The present study is the first to investigate the incidence and cost of incidental microscopic lesions in both haemorrhoidectomy and stapled haemorrhoidopexy specimens. Pathological reports of specimens obtained from haemorrhoidectomy and stapled haemorrhoidopexy procedures performed from January 2003 to May 2017 were analysed. Specimens resulting from patients treated for any disease other than haemorrhoids alone were excluded from the study. Unexpected diagnoses in the pathological report were defined as incidental diagnoses. A cost analysis was then performed. In the considered period we performed a total of 3017 procedures complying with our criteria. We found 65 (2.15%) unexpected lesions. Of the incidental diagnosis, 30 (0.99%) altered either the follow-up or the treatment. The incidences of both findings were extremely higher in haemorrhoidectomies specimens (p < 0.0001). We estimated that the cost of 14 years of routine pathological examination of haemorrhoids specimens was 133,351.4 euros, each consequential incidental diagnosis costing 4445.03 euros. The incidence of unexpected lesions in routine pathologic examination of haemorrhoidectomy and haemorrhoidopexy specimens is low but not negligible. The vast majority of incidental findings were found among haemorrhoidectomy specimens. Even though the real value of routine pathological examination of haemorrhoids specimens is still uncertain, from a clinical standpoint we were glad to suggest each patients the best follow-up and/or treatment. Future studies should assess preoperative patient's risk stratification and careful intraoperative macroscopic inspection strategies for selective pathology examination of haemorrhoids specimens

Hyperspectral Imaging in Major Hepatectomies: Preliminary Results from the Ex-Machyna Trial.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury during major hepatic resections is associated with high rates of post-operative complications and liver failure. Real-time intra-operative detection of liver dysfunction could provide great insight into clinical outcomes. In the present study, we demonstrate the intra-operative application of a novel optical technology, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), to predict short-term post-operative outcomes after major hepatectomy. We considered fifteen consecutive patients undergoing major hepatic resection for malignant liver lesions from January 2020 to June 2021. HSI measures included tissue water index (TWI), organ hemoglobin index (OHI), tissue oxygenation (StO2%), and near infrared (NIR). Pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative serum and clinical outcomes were collected. NIR values were higher in unhealthy liver tissue (p = 0.003). StO2% negatively correlated with post-operative serum ALT values (r = -0.602), while ΔStO2% positively correlated with ALP (r = 0.594). TWI significantly correlated with post-operative reintervention and OHI with post-operative sepsis and liver failure. In conclusion, the HSI imaging system is accurate and precise in translating from pre-clinical to human studies in this first clinical trial. HSI indices are related to serum and outcome metrics. Further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to determine clinical value of this technology

Arachnoiditis ossificans, isthmic spondylolisthesis and pseudomeningocele. A rare clinical scenario

The combination of arachnoiditis ossificans, isthmic spondylolisthesis and calcific pseudomeningocele is an extremely unusual condition. In the current literature, there is no previous report of this intricate clinical scenario, and therefore there are no clear indications on the best treatment. In the reported surgical case, the excision of calcific pseudomeningocele, L4 bilateral laminectomy and foraminotomy and posterolateral fusion were performed. L4L5 interbody fusion was aborted for impossibility of neural elements mobilization and a consequent intraoperative dural tear. The aims of the adopted surgical procedure are the decompression of neural elements and the stability due to bone fusion

Antiangiogenic agents after first line and sorafenib plus chemoembolization: A systematic review

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard treatment for intermediate stage, although the combination of TACE with sorafenib may theoretically benefit HCC patients in intermediate stage. Owing to the significant antiangiogenic effect of sorafenib and the limitation of TACE, it is rational to combine them. Though the strategy of combining TACE and sorafenib has been increasingly used in patients with unresectable HCC but the current evidence is controversial and its clinical role has not been determined yet. In first-line therapy, patients receiving sorafenib had increased overall survival and progression free survival. Therefore several antiangiogenic agents have entered clinical studies on HCC, many with negative results. This review discusses the current drug development for patients with HCC and role of TACE plus sorafenib

Liver resection vs radiofrequency ablation in single hepatocellular carcinoma of posterosuperior segments in elderly patients

Background: Liver resection and radiofrequency ablation are considered curative options for hepatocellular carcinoma. The choice between these techniques is still controversial especially in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma affecting posterosuperior segments in elderly patients. Aim: To compare post-operative outcomes between liver resection and radiofrequency ablation in elderly with single hepatocellular carcinoma located in posterosuperior segments. Methods: A retrospective multicentric study was performed enrolling 77 patients age ≥ 70-years-old with single hepatocellular carcinoma (≤ 30 mm), located in posterosuperior segments (4a, 7, 8). Patients were divided into liver resection and radiofrequency ablation groups and preoperative, peri-operative and long-term outcomes were retrospectively analyzed and compared using a 1:1 propensity score matching. Results: After propensity score matching, twenty-six patients were included in each group. Operative time and overall postoperative complications were higher in the resection group compared to the ablation group (165 min vs 20 min, P < 0.01; 54% vs 19% P = 0.02 respectively). A median hospital stay was significantly longer in the resection group than in the ablation group (7.5 d vs 3 d, P < 0.01). Ninety-day mortality was comparable between the two groups. There were no significant differences between resection and ablation group in terms of overall survival and disease free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years. Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation in posterosuperior segments in elderly is safe and feasible and ensures a short hospital stay, better quality of life and does not modify the overall and disease-free survival

Clinical features and outcomes of elderly hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or both

Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) mutually increase the risk of being present in the same patient, especially if older. Whether or not this coexistence may be associated with a worse prognosis is debated. Therefore, employing data derived from the REPOSI register, we evaluated the clinical features and outcomes in a population of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine wards and having COPD, HF or COPD + HF. Methods: We measured socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, severity and prevalence of comorbidities, clinical and laboratory features during hospitalization, mood disorders, functional independence, drug prescriptions and discharge destination. The primary study outcome was the risk of death. Results: We considered 2,343 elderly hospitalized patients (median age 81 years), of whom 1,154 (49%) had COPD, 813 (35%) HF, and 376 (16%) COPD + HF. Patients with COPD + HF had different characteristics than those with COPD or HF, such as a higher prevalence of previous hospitalizations, comorbidities (especially chronic kidney disease), higher respiratory rate at admission and number of prescribed drugs. Patients with COPD + HF (hazard ratio HR 1.74, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.16-2.61) and patients with dementia (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06-2.90) had a higher risk of death at one year. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher mortality risk in the group of patients with COPD + HF for all causes (p = 0.010), respiratory causes (p = 0.006), cardiovascular causes (p = 0.046) and respiratory plus cardiovascular causes (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this real-life cohort of hospitalized elderly patients, the coexistence of COPD and HF significantly worsened prognosis at one year. This finding may help to better define the care needs of this population

Interpatient heterogeneity in hepatic microvascular blood flow during vascular inflow occlusion (Pringle manoeuvre).

Hepatic inflow occlusion (Pringle manoeuvre), is a widely used technique, consisting in temporary intermittent or continuous clamping of the hepatic pedicle. This technique was described in 1908 by Pringle to minimize blood loss during emergency surgery for liver trauma. Therefore, in hepatobiliary surgery, the Pringle manoeuvre assumes a primary role especially in complex liver resections where an intraoperative blood loss could be significant. Afterwards, selective vascular occlusions, notably the glissonean approach described by Takasaki (1), were proposed as an alternative to the Pringle manoeuvre to decrease oxidative stress and postoperative complications in major and minor liver resections. However, this technique also presents some drawbacks as it can increase post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) secondary to prolonged ischemia, especially on fibrotic or cirrhotic livers

Apport de la médecine de précision dans le traitement du carcinome hépatocellulaire

Le carcinome hépatocellulaire (CHC) est le cancer primitif du foie le plus fréquent et qui survient presque exclusivement sur une cirrhose sous-jacente. Ce travail de thèse avait comme objectif l’intégration du concept de médecine de précision dans le traitement du CHC dans un contexte de multidisciplinarité. L’ensemble du projet a été développé en trois principaux chapitres : le premier basé sur l’imagerie préopératoire et la stratégie chirurgicale. L’objectif d’évaluer dans une étude français prospectif multicentrique l’apport des reconstructions 3D dans la détermination de la stratégie préopératoire en regard dès l’imagerie 2D traditionnelle. Le deuxième chapitre basé sur l’imagerie intra opératoire. Les récentes avancées dans la réalité augmentée, dans l’intelligence artificielle, et dans les nouvelles technologies d’imagerie, ont encouragé notre équipe à trouver des solutions pour améliorer les suites postopératoires. La troisième partie de ce travail interactif et transversale avait comme objectif d’améliorer les modelés ex-vivo en optimisant les échantillons dérivés de pièces opératoires des hépatectomies pour la bio banque LIVMOD, en collaboration étroite avec l’Institut de Maladies Virales et Hépatiques de Strasbourg. L’étude prospective multicentrique réalisée dans des centres de référence en chirurgie HBP a montré des changements significatifs dans la stratégie préopératoire après analyse préopératoire des reconstructions 3D. L’imagerie hyper spectrale appliquée à des modelés animaux et en cours des hépatectomies a montré la possibilité de discriminer entre parenchyme hépatique perfusé et non perfusé, et de pouvoir prédire les conséquences de l’ischémie-réperfusion avec un modèle de machine learning. Cette nouvelle technologie n’est pas encore explorée dans la pratique clinique, les articles présentés les premiers publiés dans ce domaine. Pour terminer, le travail transversal a été un exemple de multidisciplinarité entre l’activité clinique et la recherche transrationnelle. En conclusion, la médecine de précision appliquée au traitement du CHC est complexe et ambitieuse, et liées à différentes spécialités médicales, science de base, et ingénierie. Des nouvelles technologies de pointe sont en train de rentrer dans la pratique clinique, et l’innovation joue un rôle fondamental dans le procès décisionnel.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive liver cancer occurring almost exclusively in cirrhotic patients. This thesis work aimed to integrate the concept of precision medicine applied to the treatment of HCC on a multidisciplinary basis. The whole project, developed in three main fields of application : the first part is focused on preoperative imaging and surgical strategy. The goal was to evaluate, in a French multicentric prospective non-randomized trial, the benefit of the 3D reconstruction over the standard 2D imaging analysis. The second part is focused on intraoperative imaging. The recent advances in optical imaging, enhanced reality, and artificial intelligence, encouraged our team to find solutions for improved patient outcomes by taking advantage of all these novel and promising technologies. The third part of our interactive and transversal work aimed to improve ex-vivo models by optimizing the harvesting and conservation of patient-derived hepatic tissue and enrich the collection of patient derived liver specimens of the LIVMOD Biobank based on a tight collaboration with the Institute for Viral and Hepatic Diseases of Strasbourg. The multicentric prospective trial showed that in tertiary referral HPB centers substantial modifications were reported after 3D images analysis. Hyperspectral imaging applied animal and humans revealed the possibility to discriminate between perfused and not perfused parenchyma, along with the possibility to predict the ischemia reperfusion injury with a machine learning model. This new technology is still not explored nor clinically routinely applied, the presented articles are among the first on that kind in this really innovative field. Finally, the transversal work was an example of a multidisciplinary approach to clinical and translational research from the bedside to the bench. In conclusion, precision medicine applied to the treatment of HCC is complex and ambitious, and most of all related to different medical specialties, basic science, and engineering. Cutting edge technologies are entering today’s clinical practice, and innovation is playing a key role in the decision-making process

The counterclock-clockwise approach for central hepatectomy: A useful strategy for a safe vascular control.

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Robotic Double Purse-String Telescoped Pancreaticogastrostomy: How I Do It

INTRODUCTION: Some articles have recently shown that robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is feasible and can be a safe method. On the other hand, pancreatic fistulas (PF) remain the most dreaded complication after PD, and a secured pancreaticoenteric reconstruction may be essential in this regard. Previous articles have highlighted the usefulness of telescoped pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) in open PD to reduce the risk of postoperative PF. Additionally, in 2016, Addeo et al. described a double purse-string telescoped PG (DPS-PG), simplified from previous techniques, with favorable short-term results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The attached video reports our standardized technique for robotic DPS-PG, which is based on Addeo's approach. The main characteristic of this technique is an easy placement of two seromuscular purse-string sutures without the need for gastric wall dissection or deep pancreatic parenchymal sutures. We modified and developed Addeo's technique to suit the robotic PD. In our robotic DPS-PG, there is no need to perform the opening of the distal gastric stump, the anterior gastrostomy, or the suture fixation of the pancreatic parenchyma to the stomach, as it could lead to a rupture of the pancreas, particularly when the parenchyma is soft. RESULTS: We consider that our technique of robotic DPS-PG might be feasible and can be safely performed, just as a previously described technique in open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Further evaluation with clinical trials is required to validate its real benefits