Complications profile after robotic pancreatic surgery

Introduction: General acceptance of the robotic platform in pancreatic surgery is poor. One of the main concerns regarding this technique is that the likelihood of complications is greater compared to other approaches. Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of our database on robotic pancreatic surgery. Results: A total of 22 patients (12 male) underwent robotic pancreatic surgery. 6 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD 27.3%), 12 distal pancreatectomies (DP 54.5%), 2 tumor enucleations (9.1%) and 2 pseudocyst-gastrostomy (9.1%) were performed. The overall operative time was 425 (390–620) min, the median blood loss was 150 ml (70–600). We observed 10/22 (45.4%) overall postoperative morbidity, with 4 grade III to V complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classifi cation system. The Clinically relevant pancreatic fi stula rate was 3/22 (13.6%): 2 in DP group, 1 in the PD group. The reoperation rate was 2/22, one in the PD group, the other in the PG group; while the readmission rate was 18.6%. There was no postoperative death during the 30 days post surgery. Conclusion: Robotic pancreatic surgery seems to be safe and feasible and it is associated with an acceptable risk of complications, low estimated blood loss and low conversion rate.Wprowadzenie: Ogólny stopień akceptacji dla stosowania chirurgii robotowej w chirurgii trzustki jest niski. Jedną z podstawowych barier dla wprowadzania tej techniki jest obawa przed większym niż w przypadku innych technik operacyjnych ryzykiem wystąpienia powikłań pooperacyjnych. Materiał i metody: Przeprowadzono retrospektywną analizę danych szpitalnych dotyczących zabiegów operacyjnych trzustki z dostępu robotowego. Wyniki: Ogółem operowano 22 chorych (w tym 12 mężczyzn) z zastosowaniem systemu robotowego do operacji trzustki. Wykonano 6 pankreatoduodenektomii (27,3%), 12 pankreatektomii obwodowych (54,5%), 2 wyłuszczenia guza (9,1%) oraz 2 zespolenia pseudotorbieli trzustki ze światłem żołądka (9,1%). Czas operacji wyniósł średnio 425 min (390–620 min), a mediana utraty krwi – 150 ml (70–600 ml). Powikłania pooperacyjne stwierdzono u 10 z 22 chorych (45,4%) przy czym u 4 wystąpiły powikłania w stopniu III–V według skali Claviena-Dindo. Klinicznie istotna przetoka trzustkowa wystąpiła u 3 z 22 chorych (13,6%), w tym u 2 chorych po resekcji obwodowej trzustki i u 1 po pankreatoduodenektomii. Reoperacje były konieczne u 2 z 22 chorych: jedna po zabiegu pankreatoduodenektomii i jedna po zespoleniu pseudotorbieli ze światłem żołądka. Odsetek ponownych przyjęć do szpitala wyniósł 18,6%. Nie stwierdzono zgonów w okresie 30 dni po zabiegu operacyjnym. Wnioski: Robotowa chirurgia trzustki wydaje się być techniką bezpieczną i wykonalną przy akceptowalnym ryzyku powikłań pooperacyjnych, niskiej śródoperacyjnej utracie krwi oraz niskim ryzyku konwersji

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Management of bicalutamide induced gynaecomastia. A randomized study comparing therapy versus prophylaxis with tamoxifen.

Introduction and Objective: Gynaecomastia is a potentially treatment limiting adverse event of antiandrogen monotherapy for prostate cancer. Tamoxifen has shown to be effective in therapy and prophylaxis of gynecomastia and breast pain. However, tamoxifene dosage and treatment duration are not established and debate still exists if prophylaxis is more effective than therapy at the early onset. This randomized study compared the prophylactic activity of tamoxifene at the dose of 10 mg with its therapeutic activity when given at the dose of 20 mg at the early appearance of gynecomastia in patients receiving bicalutamide 150 mg/d for prostate cancer. Methods: Between June 2005 and June 2007, 176 patients (median age 74 years), affected by prostate cancer have been randomized, at the moment of bicalutamide prescription, in to 2 arms according to gynecomastia treatment with tamoxifen. Arm A: Tamoxifen 20 mg/daily given for one year starting at the early onset of gynecomastia (within one month); tamoxifen 10 mg/daily given for one year starting at the prescription of bicalutamide. Routine laboratory exams, testosterone, PSA and follow-up visits were obtained at one month and then 3-monthly. Gynecomastia and breast pain were evaluated by the patients through a self-administered visual analog scale. Moreover, gynecomastia was classified into 4 grades (0-4) by physical examination. Results: At a follow-up between 3 and 24 months, gynecomastia increased in arm A from 34% at 3 months up to 78% after 12 months of bicalutamide therapy. When tamoxifen 20mg was given all patients showed gynecomastia and breast pain reduction, not vanishing, however, in 56% and 34% of cases respectively. Two patients interrupted the treatment after 3 months due to dizziness and 4 (5%) patients did not considered relevant the gynecomastia and did not take the drug. The incidence of gynecomastia and breast pain was significantly reduced (p<0.0001) by tamoxifen 10 mg prophylaxis but not completely abolished. Both gynecomastia and breast pain increased up to 25% after one year of bicalutamide plus tamoxifene administration. No patient interrupted the treatment due to intolerance. No significant difference emerged between the 2 groups in term of PSA response and plasma testosterone levels. Conclusions: Bicalutamide induced gynaecomastia is significantly reduced but not abolished by tamoxifen 10 mg prophylaxis. Gynecomastia and breast pain, although reduced, persists after tamoxifen 20 mg given at the early onset in 56% and 34% of the patients respectively

Państwo i Społeczeństwo 2020, nr 2 Medycyna i zdrowie publiczne

Z wprowadzenia: "Z ogromną przyjemnością oddaję w ręce Czytelników kolejny numer „Państwa i Społeczeństwa. Medycyna i Zdrowie Publiczne”, będący jednocześnie pierwszym numerem powstającym pod moim kierownictwem. Zmiana na stanowisku redaktora naczelnego zbiegła się niestety ze śmiercią cenionego wykładowcy Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego, ś.p. prof. Stanisława Spornego. Zachęcam do zapoznania się z otwierającym ten numer czasopisma biogramem Profesora, stanowiącym skromną formę pożegnania z tym wybitnym naukowcem."(...