SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence in Laparoscopic Surgery Filters. Analysis in Patients with Negative Oropharyngeal RT-qPCR in a Pandemic Context: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Surgical societies of different specialties have lately demonstrated a growing concern regarding the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during surgery, mainly via aerosols carrying SARS-CoV-2 particles during laparoscopy smoke evacuation. Since there is not sufficient scientific evidence to rule out this hypothesis, our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in the in-filter membrane of the smoke filter systems, used in laparoscopic surgery, in a tertiary referral hospital during the peak phases of the pandemic. Methods: During the highest incidence of the pandemic outbreak, 180 laparoscopic smoke evacuation systems were collected from laparoscopies performed between April 2020 and May 2021 in University General Hospital of Castellón. As part of the safety protocol established as a result of the pandemic, an oropharyngeal reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed before surgery. We performed RT-qPCR tests for the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in the in-filter membranes extracted from the smoke evacuation systems. Results: We found two RT-qPCR positive in-filters from a sample of 128 patients with SARS-CoV-2-negative results in their oropharyngeal RT-qPCR, i.e., 1.6% (95% CI: 0.5–5.5%). From this estimation, the predictive posterior probabilities of finding n cases of negative oropharyngeal COVID-19 patients with positive filters increases with the increasing number of surgeries performed. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study provides evidence suggesting that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 particles from smoke evacuation of aerosols carrying viral particles during laparoscopy should not be ruled out

Short-term results for laparoscopic repair of large paraesophageal hiatal hernias with Gore Bio A® mesh

AbstractBackgroundThe application of mesh-reinforced hiatal closure has resulted in a significant reduction in recurrence rates in comparison with primary suture repair. One of the most debated issues is the risk of complications related to the use of the prosthesis, such as esophageal erosion and postoperative dysphagia. The aim of this study is to present our short-terms results in the treatment of laparoscopic paraesophageal hiatal hernia (LPHH) with a synthetic polyglycolic acid:trimethylene carbonate mesh (Gore Bio A®).MethodsFrom January 2011 to December 2012, 10 patients with large paraesophageal hiatal hernias and hiatal defect over 5 cm were included. Primary simple suture of the crura and additional reinforcement with a Gore Bio A® mesh was performed. Hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms recurrence, dysphagia and mesh-related complications were investigated.ResultsOf the 10 patients undergoing mesh repair, there were 7 women and 3 men with a mean age of 65.5 years. All operations were completed laparoscopically. Median postoperative stay was 3 days. After a median follow-up of 20.3 months, one patient developed a recurrent hiatal hernia (10%). There were no mesh-related complications.ConclusionsThe use of Gore Bio A® mesh for the laparoscopic repair of large paraesophageal hiatal hernias is safe and with a reasonably low recurrence rate in this short-term study. Additional long-term studies with ample numbers carried out for years will be necessary to see if this synthetic mesh is not only safe but also successful in the prevention of recurrences

A radiologic-laparoscopic model to predict suboptimal (or complete and optimal) debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer: a pilot study

Introduction: Medical models assist clinicians in making diagnostic and prognostic decisions in complex situations. In advanced ovarian cancer, medical models could help prevent unnecessary exploratory surgery. We designed two models to predict suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: We collected clinical, pathological, surgical, and residual tumor data from 110 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Computed tomographic and laparoscopic data from these patients were used to determine peritoneal cancer index (PCI) and lesion size score. These data were then used to construct two-by-two contingency tables and our two predictive models. Each model included three risk score levels; the R4 model also included operative PCI, while the R3 model did not. Finally, we used the original patient data to validate the models (narrow validation). Results: Our models predicted suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery with a sensitivity of 83% (R4 model) and 69% (R3 model). Our results also showed that PCI>20 was a major risk factor for unresectability. Conclusion: Our medical models successfully predicted suboptimal or complete and optimal cytoreductive surgery in 110 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Our models are easy to construct, based on readily available laboratory test data, simple to use clinically, and could reduce unnecessary exploratory surgery in this patient group

Outcome quality standards in advanced ovarian cancer surgery

Advanced ovarian cancer surgery (AOCS) frequently results in serious postoperative complications. Because managing AOCS is difficult, some standards need to be established that allow surgeons to assess the quality of treatment provided and consider what aspects should improve. This study aimed to identify quality indicators (QIs) of clinical relevance and to establish their acceptable quality limits (i.e., standard) in AOCS

Use of the barbed suture (V-loc ™) in the laparoscopic gastroyeyunal by-pass: experience in 354 intervened patients

Introduction: The barbed suture is a device developed in recent years to simplify the intracorporeal suture and improve safety in laparoscopic surgery. We describe our experience in the use of V-Loc ™ in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). This suture has been used for the closure of enterotomy after mechanical lateral J-J anastomosis (bile limb-alimentary limb), for the closure of the mesenteric defect and, occasionally, for the closure of the Petersen space. It is presented as an observational study from 2012 to 2019 with the results of 354 patients undergoing bypass. Objective: To evaluate the safety of this type of suture by demonstrating the absence of leakage, bleeding, stenosis or other complications associated with its use in bariatric laparoscopic surgery. Material and Methods: Between June 2012 and July 2019, a total of 746 bariatric surgeries were performed in our unit. Of all of them, 354 corresponded to bypass in which barbed suture (V-Loc ™ 3-0 6 ”15cm, non-absorbable Polybutester (PBT), Covidien ™) was used in different phases of surgery. The results of the series are analyzed retrospectively. Results: Of the 354 surgical procedures performed, only one case underwent urgent laparoscopic examination within the next 24 hours after surgery due to a defect in the closure of enterotomy in the J-J anastomosis. There were no short-term or longterm postoperative complications in the rest of the patients operated on. Conclusion: The use of V-Loc ™ is safe, effective and reproducible applied to bariatric surgery, especially LGYB

Peritoneal carcinomatosis index as a predictor of diaphragmatic involvement in stage III and IV ovarian cancer.

Objective: To analyze the surgical outcomes and diaphragmatic involvement in stage III and IV ovarian cancer. Patients and methods: All patients with stage III-IV ovarian cancer between January 2013 and January 2016 were included. The outcomes of interest reviewed were as follows: surgical (complications, mortality), peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI), rate of complete resection, and disease-free interval and survival. Results: Fifty-seven patients were included, 38 (67%) with diaphragmatic involvement; in 10 cases (18%), diaphragmatic resection was required. Optimal cytoreduction (OCR) was obtained in 49 cases (86%). The PCI was 10 in 31 cases (54%). Respiratory complications occurred in 10 cases (18%) and mortality in 3 (5%). Disease-free survival rate in 3 years was 53%, being 87% in cases without diaphragmatic involvement. The overall survival rate in 3 years is 46%, 83% in the cases without diaphragmatic involvement and 27% in cases with affectation (p 0.05). In cases of OCR, 3 year survival rate was 65%. In the multivariate analysis for the overall survival of cases with OCR, the only independent prognostic factor found was the operative PCI. A strong correlation was found between the total PCI and the diaphragmatic PCI (p 0.001). With a PCI 10, virtually all cases will present diaphragmatic involvement (p 0.05). Conclusion: The tumor burden is different in stages III and IV of advanced ovarian cancer and the PCI is an effective method to quantify it. The PCI constitutes an independent prognostic factor for the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. A PCI 10 constitutes a useful prognostic factor of the affectation and forces the surgeon to thoroughly review both diaphragms

Cross-sectional analysis of the medium-term impact of bariatric surgery onpharmacological expenditure

Introduction:Obesity and associated diseases represent an important health and economic problem sincepharmacological treatment for many of these pathologies needs lifelong subsidies. Theoretically, bariatric andmetabolic surgery decreases the medication requirements of patients for these diseases but may result in othertypes of pharmacological needs. This study aims to demonstrate whether there is a real decrease in pharma-cological expenditure after bariatric surgery.Material and methods:Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients who were treated in our centre between2012 and 2015, comparing different associated comorbidities and pharmacological expenses one month beforeand 2 years after surgery.Results:A total of 280 patients underwent surgery; 36.8% of patients had diabetes, 50% hypertension, 11.1%cardiovascular disease, 13.9% osteoarticular disease, 13.6% endocrine disorders, 30% non-diabetic metabolicdisorders, and 35.4% psychiatric disease. At 2 years after surgery, 12.1% of patients continued medication fordiabetes, and 28.2% for arterial hypertension. Additionally, 9.3% of patients still had cardiovascular disease,7.1% osteoarticular disease, 10.4% endocrine disorder, 13.9% non-diabetic metabolic disorder, and 29.3%psychiatric disease. Median pharmacological expenditure before surgery was 17 euros per month; 2 years aftersurgery, it was 12 euros a month, resulting in a significant decrease (p < 0.001).Conclusions:In a 2-year follow-up after bariatric surgery, a decreased prevalence of obesity-related diseases andassociated pharmacological expenditure was observed, showing the efficiency of this intervention over themedium term and potentially over the long term

Nutritional assessment and support in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer with cytoreductive surgery

Introduction: The multidisciplinary treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis, also known as Sugarbaker´s procedure, aims to eradicate microscopic residual tumor after surgery. This technique is highly complex and it´s associated with high mortality and morbidity, so the patient selection is relevant. There is a direct relationship between nutritional status, quality of life, survival and ability to tolerate treatment. It is therefore important to assess nutritional status prior to detect if there is risk or malnutrition. Objectives: The main objective is to evaluate the results of the nutritional assessment after all patients operated by Sugarbaker´s procedure. Secondary objectives are to know the parenteral nutrition composition formula most commonly used and to compare the results of those patients with a historical cohort to which the previous nutritional assessment wasn´t performed.. Methods: Prospective study where all adult patients who were undergoing Sugarbaker procedure and who underwent previous nutritional assessment were included. Postoperative clinical and patient follow-up data were compared with a historical cohort of patients undergoing the same procedure (which will not be made prior nutritional assessment). For the diagnosis of malnutrition were used anthropometric and laboratory parameters. Study parameters were: age, albumin prior to the intervention, peritoneal carcinomatosis index, quimiotherapy administration and tumor staging. In the postoperative follow-up, the study parameters were: days in intensive care unit, hospitalization days, total days of hospitalization and postoperative complications. Results: A total of 32 patients were included: twenty patients without nutritional assessment and twelve patients with previous nutritional assessment with a mean age of 59 ± 14 years. No statistically significant differences are observed between groups in peritoneal carcinomatosis index, tumor stage, chemotherapy and albumin before the intervention. A total of 30 patients were required parenteral nutrition. The average composition formula of parenteral nutrition was 1.2 ± 0.1 g proteins per kg body weight and per day, 2.8 ± 0.4 g of carbohydrates per kg body weight and per day and 1 ± 0.1 g of lipid per kg body weight and per day. Of the twelve previous nutritional assessment conducted in nine of them some form of malnutrition was observed. In the parameters evaluated during follow-up of patients, no statistically significant differences were found, although was observed a trend to a shorter in the intensive care unit stay and fewer complications in patients who have undergone nutritional assessment. Discussion: It should be noted that body mass index and the percentage weight loss in these patients is not representative of the observed malnutrition. The high needs of parenteral nutrition in this study may be due the complications of gastrointestinal resection. Possibly no differences are observed in study parameters due to sample size, but if there is a tendency to increase the stay and complications as shown in the literature. Nutritional intervention provides energy and protein needed to reduce the loss of weight and muscle mass from the pathological process of cancer and surgery. Conclusions: The results of the previous nutritional assessment indicate that malnutrition is a pathology that has high prevalence in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian origin. A trend that improve nutritional status will increase the quality of life by reducing these parameters is observed. The macronutrient composition of parenteral nutrition is similar to nutritional requirement in critically ill patients. We believe that the selection of patients who are going to undergo a Sugarbaker procedure should include assessment of prior nutritional status.Introducción: El tratamiento multidisciplinar de la carcinomatosis peritoneal, también conocido como procedimiento Sugarbaker, pretende erradicar el tumor microscópico residual a la cirugía. Esta técnica de alta complejidad está asociada a morbilidad y mortalidad elevada por lo que es relevante la selección de los pacientes. Existe una relación directa entre el estado nutricional, la calidad de vida, la supervivencia y la capacidad de tolerancia al tratamiento. Por tanto, es importante evaluar previamente el estado nutricional para detectar si existe riesgo de malnutrición. Objetivos: El objetivo principal es evaluar los resultados de la valoración nutricional completa previa a to das las pacientes intervenidas por el procedimiento Sugarbaker. Los objetivos secundarios son: conocer las composición promedio de la fórmula de nutrición parenteral más utilizada y comparar los resultados obtenidos de dichas pacientes con una cohorte histórica a la que no se realizó la valoración nutricional previa. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo donde se incluyeron todas las pacientes adultas que se iban a someter al procedimiento Sugarbaker a las que se les realizó la valoración nutricional previa. Se compararon los datos clínicos del seguimiento postoperatorio de las pacientes con una cohorte histórica retrospectiva de pa cientes sometidas al mismo procedimiento (a las que no se les realizó la valoración nutricional previa). Los parámetros que se utilizaron para el diagnóstico de malnutrición fueron antropométricos y analíticos. Los parámetros de estudio fueron los siguientes: edad, albúmina previa a la intervención, índice de carcinomatosis peritoneal, la administración o no de quimioterapia previa a la intervención y el estadiaje del tumor. En el seguimiento postoperatorio se establecieron como parámetros a valorar: días en unidad de cuidados intensivos, días en planta, días totales de hospitalización y complicaciones postoperatorias. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 32 pacientes: veinte pacientes sin valoración nutricional previa y doce pacientes con valoración nutricional previa con una edad media de 58,9±14 años. No se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos en índice de carcinomatosis peritoneal, estadio tumoral, quimioterapia previa a la intervención y albúmina previa a la intervención. Requirieron nutrición parenteral 30 pacientes durante el postoperatorio. La composición media de la fórmula de nutrición parenteral fue 1,2±0,1 g de proteína por kg peso y día, 2,8±0,4g de hidratos de carbono por kg peso y día y 1±0,1g de lípidos por kg peso y día. De las doce valoraciones nutricionales previas realizadas, en nueve de ellas se observó algún tipo de desnutrición. En los parámetros evaluados durante el seguimiento de las pacientes no se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, aunque se observó una tendencia a una menor estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos y un menor número de complicaciones en las pacientes a las que se les ha realizado valoración nutricional previa. Discusión: Se observa que el índice de masa corporal y el porcentaje de pérdida de peso en estas pacientes no es representativo de la desnutrición que presentan. Las necesidades elevadas de nutrición parenteral en este estudio pueden ser debidas las complicaciones derivadas de la resección gastrointestinal. Posiblemente no se observen diferencias en los parámetros de estudio debido al tamaño muestral del mismo, pero si existe una tendencia a disminuir la estancia y complicaciones como muestra la bibliografía. La intervención nutricional aporta la energía y proteínas necesarias para disminuir la pérdida de peso y de masa muscular derivada del proceso patológico del cáncer y la cirugía. Conclusiones: Los resultados de la valoración nutricional previa indican que la desnutrición es una patología que tiene elevada prevalencia en las pacientes con carcinomatosis peritoneal de origen ovárico. Se observa una tendencia de que la mejora del estado nutricional aumentará la calidad de vida reduciendo estos parámetros. La composición en macronutrientes de la nutrición parenteral es similar a los requierimientos nutricionales en un paciente crítico. Consideramos que la selección de pacientes que van a ser sometidos a un procedimiento Sugarbaker debe incluir la evaluación del estado nutricional previo

Laterally Extended Endopelvic Resection (Leer) and Reconstructive Techniques for Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervix Cancer: A Case Report

The aim of this report is to describe the surgical procedure done in a 24-year-old woman who presents a locally advanced squamous cervix carcinoma and is proposed to laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER), intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons (IORT) and urinary and colon diversion with vaginal reconstruction. A year after surgery the patient is alive, without disease and with and acceptable quality of life

Postoperative intestinal fistula in primary advanced ovarian cancer surgery

Background: Advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) requires an aggressive surgery with large visceral resections in order to achieve an optimal or complete cytoreduction and increase the patient’s survival. However, the surgical aggressiveness in the treatment of AOC is not exempt from major complications, such as the gastrointestinal fistula (GIF), which stands out among others due to its high morbidity and mortality. Methods: We evaluated the clinicopathological features in patients with AOC and their association with GI. Data for 107 patients with AOC who underwent primary debulking surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Clinicopathological features, including demographic, surgical procedures and follow-up data, were analyzed in relation to GIF. Results: GIF was present in 11% of patients in the study, 5 (4.5%) and 7 (6.4%) of colorectal and small bowel origin, respectively. GIF was significantly associated with peritoneal cancer index (PCI) > 20, more than 2 visceral resections, and multiple digestive resections. Overall and disease-free survival were also associated with GIF. Multivariate analysis identified partial bowel obstruction and operative bleeding as independent prognostic factors for survival. The presence of GIF is positively associated with poor prognosis in patients with AOC. Conclusion: Given the importance of successful cytoreductive surgery in AOC, the assessment of the amount of tumor and the aggressiveness of the surgery to avoid the occurrence of GIF become a priority in patients with AOC