Peritoneal carcinomatosis from a small bowel carcinoid tumour

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal carcinomatosis from a gastrointestinal carcinoid tumour is rare and the long-term management and prognosis have not been clearly defined. The natural history is different from gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, although its capacity to invade regional lymph nodes and generate distal metastasis can make the management more complex. Whilst the development of carcinomatosis is uncommonly reported, it may be higher than expected. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63 years-old woman underwent emergency surgery in 1993 for right iliac fossa pain and a mass that was found to be an ileal carcinoid tumour. Over the next ten years, further surgery was required for disseminated disease with peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastasis. Systemic chemotherapy had little effect, although Somatostatin was used effectively to relieve symptoms caused by the disseminated disease (flushing and diarrhoea). CONCLUSION: Peritoneal carcinomatosis from carcinoid tumours is not well documented in the literature. Aggressive surgery must be performed in order to control the disease since chemotherapy has not been reported to be effective. With repeated surgery long-term survival can be achieved in these patients

Delivery of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: an European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA) cross-sectional survey

Background: The extent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting response has varied globally. The European and African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA), the premier representative body for practicing HPB surgeons in Europe and Africa, conducted this survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on HPB surgery. Methods: An online survey was disseminated to all E-AHPBA members to assess the effects of the pandemic on unit capacity, management of HPB cancers, use of COVID-19 screening and other aspects of service delivery. Results: Overall, 145 (25%) members responded. Most units, particularly in COVID-high countries (>100,000 cases) reported insufficient critical care capacity and reduced HPB operating sessions compared to COVID-low countries. Delayed access to cancer surgery necessitated alternatives including increased neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer and colorectal liver metastases, and locoregional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma. Other aspects of service delivery including COVID-19 screening and personal protective equipment varied between units and countries. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound adverse impact on the delivery of HPB cancer care across the continents of Europe and Africa. The findings illustrate the need for safe resumption of cancer surgery in a “new” normal world with screening of patients and staff for COVID-19

The multi-societal European consensus on the terminology, diagnosis and management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases:an E-AHPBA consensus in partnership with ESSO, ESCP, ESGAR, and CIRSE

Background: Contemporary management of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases is complex. The aim of this project was to provide a practical framework for care of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases with a focus on terminology, diagnosis and management. Methods: This project was a multi-organisational, multidisciplinary consensus. The consensus group produced statements which focused on terminology, diagnosis and management. Statements were refined during an online Delphi process and those with 70% agreement or above were reviewed at a final meeting. Iterations of the report were shared by electronic mail to arrive at a final agreed document comprising twelve key statements. Results: Synchronous liver metastases are those detected at the time of presentation of the primary tumour. The term “early metachronous metastases” applies to those absent at presentation but detected within 12 months of diagnosis of the primary tumour with “late metachronous metastases” applied to those detected after 12 months. Disappearing metastases applies to lesions which are no longer detectable on MR scan after systemic chemotherapy. Guidance was provided on the recommended composition of tumour boards and clinical assessment in emergency and elective settings. The consensus focused on treatment pathways including systemic chemotherapy, synchronous surgery and the staged approach with either colorectal or liver-directed surgery as first step. Management of pulmonary metastases and the role of minimally invasive surgery was discussed. Conclusions: The recommendations of this contemporary consensus provide information of practical value to clinicians managing patients with synchronous colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Evidence-based Guidelines for the Management of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency After Pancreatic Surgery

To provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) after pancreatic surgery

Complete clinical response of liver metastasis after chemotherapy: To resect or not?

This paper aims to update the therapeutical strategies in liver metastasis with complete clinical response (CCR) after chemotherapy and to determine if surgery is always necessary after CCR. The aim of chemotherapy is to achieve a good clinical response rather than CCR of liver metastasis. The CCR of liver metastasis after chemotherapy cannot be considered synonymous with a cure. The resection of the hepatic segment where there was hepatic metastases with CCR after chemotherapy theoretically prevents recurrence, improves survival and makes it possible to confirm whether there has been a complete pathological response. However, the medical literature about this topic is scarce and sometimes contradictory

Ambispective comparative study of two surgical strategies for liver hydatidosis

AIM: To investigate the morbidity, mortality, recurrence and technical aspects of two distinct surgical strategies that were implemented in successive periods

Textbook outcome in oncological gastric surgery: a systematic review and call for an international consensus

Abstract Background Textbook outcome (TO) is a multidimensional measure used to assess the quality of surgical practice. It is a reflection of an “ideal” surgical result, based on a series of benchmarks or established reference points that may vary depending on the pathology in question. References to TO in the literature are scarce, and the few reports that are available were all published very recently. In the case of gastric surgery, there is no established consensus on the parameters that should be included in TO, a circumstance that prevents comparison between series. Aim To present a review of the literature on TO in gastric surgery (TOGS) and to try to establish a consensus on its definition. Material and methods Following the PRISMA guide, we performed an unlimited search for articles on TOGS in the MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE and Cochrane, Latindex, Scielo, and Koreamed databases, without language restriction, updated on December 31, 2022. The inclusion criterion was any type of study assessing TO in adult patients after oncological gastric surgery. Selected studies were assessed, and TOGS was measured. The parameters used to assess the achievement of TOGS in selected studies were also recorded. Results Twelve articles were included, comprising a total of 44,581 patients who had undergone an oncological gastric resection. The median rate of TOGS was 38.6%. All the publications but one included mortality as a TO variable, showing statistically significant differences in favor of the group in which TOGS was achieved. All articles included the number of nodes examined in the surgical specimen, with the assessment of fewer than 15 being associated with a low rate of TOGS achievement in five studies (41.7%). The variable postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo score was the most important cause of failure to achieve TOGS in four studies (33.3%). Seven articles (58.3%) found a significant increase in long-term survival in patients who obtained TO. Advanced age, elevated ASA, and Charlson score had a negative impact on obtaining TOGS. Conclusions The standardization of TOGS is necessary to be able to establish comparable results between groups