Post-discharge Telemonitoring of Physical Activity, Vital Signs, and Patient-Reported Symptoms in Older Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative home monitoring could potentially detect complications early, but evidence in oncogeriatric surgery is scarce. Therefore, we evaluated whether post-discharge physical activity, vital signs, and patient-reported symptoms are related to post-discharge complications and hospital readmissions in older patients undergoing cancer surgery. METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we monitored older patients (≥65 years of age) undergoing cancer surgery, for 2 weeks post-discharge using tablet-based applications and connected devices. Outcome measures were post-discharge complications and readmissions; physical activity and patient-reported symptoms over time; and threshold violations for physical activity (step count 38°C; blood pressure 150/100 mmHg; heart rate 100 bpm; weight -5% or +5% of weight at discharge); and patient-reported symptoms (pain score greater than the previous day; presence of dyspnea, vomiting, dizziness, fever). RESULTS: Of 58 patients (mean age 72 years), 24 developed a post-discharge complication and 13 were readmitted. Measured parameters indicated 392 threshold violations out of 5379 measurements (7.3%) in 40 patients, mostly because of physical inactivity. Patients with readmissions had lower physical activity at discharge and at day 9 after discharge and violated a physical activity threshold more often. Patients with post-discharge complications had a higher median pain score compared with patients without these adverse events. No differences in threshold violations of other parameters were observed between patients with and without post-discharge complications and readmissions. CONCLUSION: Our results show the potential of telemonitoring older patients after cancer surgery but confirm that detecting post-discharge complications is complex and multifactorial

Perioperative telemonitoring of older adults with cancer:Can we connect them all?

OBJECTIVES: Although the increasing cancer incidence in older patients is widely recognised, older patients remain underrepresented in clinical cancer trials and eHealth studies. The aim of this research is to identify technological and patient-related barriers to inclusion of this population in a clinical eHealth study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study with older patients (≥ 65 years) undergoing cancer-related surgery, who were identified for a perioperative telemonitoring study. Reasons for ineligibility and refusal had been prospectively registered. Characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between participants and non-participants. RESULTS: Between May 2018 and March 2020, 151 patients were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 65 participants and 86 non-participants. The main reason for ineligibility was lack of internet access at home (n = 16), while main reasons for refusal were perceived high mental burden (n = 46) and insufficient digital skills (n = 12). Compared with participants, non-participants were significantly older (mean age 75 vs. 73, p = 0.01); more often female (64% vs. 35%, p = 0.00), unmarried (42% vs. 8%, p = 0.01) living alone (38% vs. 19%, p = 0.02); had a higher ASA classification (43% vs. 19%, p = 0.00); often had polypharmacy (67% vs. 43%, p = 0.00); and were more often discharged to skilled nursing facilities (0% vs. 15%, p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the underrepresentation of older female patients with little support from a partner and higher comorbidity. We should be aware of technological and patient-related barriers to including older adults with cancer, in order to avoid further dividing patients with low and high digital health literacy

Autologous lipoaspirate as a new treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus:A review on literature

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that mostly affects the genital and anal skin areas. Symptoms may vary from pruritis and pain to sexual dysfunction; however, LS can also be asymptomatic. LS occurs at all ages and in both sexes. Approximately 5% of all women affected by vulvar LS will develop vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Topical treatment is safe but less effective resulting in chronic course in most patients, who suffer from persistent itching and pain. In severe cases of therapy-resistant LS, there is no adequate treatment. Fat grafting is a novel regenerative therapy to reduce dermal fibrosis. The therapeutic effect of adipose tissue grafts for LS is already investigated in various pioneering studies. This review provides an overview of these studies and the putative mechanisms-of-action of fat grafting to treat LS

The OncoLifeS data-biobank for oncology:a comprehensive repository of clinical data, biological samples, and the patient's perspective

BACKGROUND: Understanding cancer heterogeneity, its temporal evolution over time, and the outcomes of guided treatment depend on accurate data collection in a context of routine clinical care. We have developed a hospital-based data-biobank for oncology, entitled OncoLifeS (Oncological Life Study: Living well as a cancer survivor), that links routine clinical data with preserved biological specimens and quality of life assessments. The aim of this study is to describe the organization and development of a data-biobank for cancer research. RESULTS: We have enrolled 3704 patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with cancer, of which 45 with hereditary breast-ovarian cancer (70% participation rate) as of October 24th, 2019. The average age is 63.6 ± 14.2 years and 1892 (51.1%) are female. The following data are collected: clinical and treatment details, comorbidities, lifestyle, radiological and pathological findings, and long-term outcomes. We also collect and store various biomaterials of patients as well as information from quality of life assessments. CONCLUSION: Embedding a data-biobank in clinical care can ensure the collection of high-quality data. Moreover, the inclusion of longitudinal quality of life data allows us to incorporate patients' perspectives and inclusion of imaging data provides an opportunity for analyzing raw imaging data using artificial intelligence (AI) methods, thus adding new dimensions to the collected data

European Society of Gynaecological Oncology Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Vulvar Cancer

Objective The aim of this study was to develop clinically relevant and evidence-based guidelines as part of European Society of Gynaecological Oncology's mission to improve the quality of care for women with gynecologic cancers across Europe. Methods The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology Council nominated an international development group made of practicing clinicians who provide care to patients with vulvar cancer and have demonstrated leadership and interest in the management of patients with vulvar cancer (18 experts across Europe). To ensure that the statements are evidence based, the current literature identified from a systematic search has been reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of any clear scientific evidence, judgment was based on the professional experience and consensus of the development group (expert agreement). The guidelines are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 181 international reviewers including patient representatives independent from the development group. Results The guidelines cover diagnosis and referral, preoperative investigations, surgical management (local treatment, groin treatment including sentinel lymph node procedure, reconstructive surgery), radiation therapy, chemoradiation, systemic treatment, treatment of recurrent disease (vulvar recurrence, groin recurrence, distant metastases), and follow-up

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of gynecologic cancer

Purpose of review To summarize current knowledge and recent advances in sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept in the three most frequent gynecological cancers. Recent findings In cervical cancer, SLN biopsy and ultrastaging has high sensitivity in lymph node staging in patients with bilaterally detected SLN. The presence of micrometastasis is associated with shortened survival. In endometrial cancer, SLN biopsy incorporating an institutional mapping algorithm and ultrastaging has been shown to significantly reduce false-negative rates and increase sensitivity and negative predictive value. Summary SLN biopsy and ultrastaging is useful in current management of patients with early-stage cervical cancer for multiple reasons, such as the reliable detection of key lymph nodes, identification of micrometastasis and intraoperative triage of patients. Although a complete or selective pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for adequate staging remains the standard treatment approach in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, SLN biopsy has been shown to be safe and effective in detecting lymph node metastases. The application of the SLN procedure is safe in patients with early-stage unifocal squamous cell cancer of the vulva

Update on sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage vulvar cancer

Two prospective, multicenter clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility and reproducibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy as part of the standard management of early-stage vulvar carcinoma. On the basis of the results of these trials, many gynecologic oncologists have incorporated SLN biopsy for vulvar cancer into their practice. Studies have further shown that SLN biopsy is associated with better quality of life than full lymphadenectomy, is more cost-effective than full lymphadenectomy, and improved pathologic evaluation. A large observational study is currently evaluating the outcomes of patients with early-stage vulvar cancer according to the results of their SLN biopsy and the approach to their care; this study may confirm that full inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy is no longer necessary in most patients with this disease. Here, we review the published data supporting SLN biopsy as part of the standard of care for women with early-stage vulvar cancer and discuss future considerations for the management of this disease. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved