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

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

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

Validation of three predictive models for suboptimal cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer

The standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) is cytoreduction surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor volume after surgery is a major prognostic factor for these patients. The ability to perform complete cytoreduction depends on the extent of disease and the skills of the surgical team. Several predictive models have been proposed to evaluate the possibility of performing complete cytoreductive surgery (CCS). External validation of the prognostic value of three predictive models (Fagotti index and the R3 and R4 models) for predicting suboptimal cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in AOC was performed in this study. The scores of the 3 models were evaluated in one hundred and three consecutive patients diagnosed with AOC treated in a tertiary hospital were evaluated. Clinicopathological features were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. The performance of the three models was evaluated, and calibration and discrimination were analyzed. The calibration of the Fagotti, R3 and R4 models showed odds ratios of obtaining SCSs of 1.5, 2.4 and 2.4, respectively, indicating good calibration. The discrimination of the Fagotti, R3 and R4 models showed an area under the ROC curve of 83%, 70% and 81%, respectively. The negative predictive values of the three models were higher than the positive predictive values for SCS. The three models were able to predict suboptimal cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, but they were more reliable for predicting CCS. The R4 model discriminated better because it includes the laparotomic evaluation of the peritoneal carcinomatosis index

Predictive model for major complications after extensive abdominal surgery in primary advanced ovarian cancer

Background Surgery for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) frequently results in serious complications. The present study aimed to determine the importance of various factors and complications in cytoreductive surgery for AOC. Patients and methods The present study included 90 patients with AOC who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery in a single institution from January 2013 to August 2017. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical procedures, residual disease, and follow-up data were analyzed. Cytoreductive surgery was defined as complete (no residual tumor), optimal (residual tumor 1 cm in diameter). Grade III–IV complications were considered major. Patients were evaluated every 3–6 months. Results Surgical outcome was complete in 75 (82%), optimal in 5 (6%), and suboptimal in 11 (12%) patients. Major complications occurred in 28 (31%) patients. Independent risk factors for major complications were ≥five visceral resections, rectosigmoid resection, glissectomy, and pelvic peritonectomy. A score created by weighing the multivariate OR for each risk factor correctly predicted major complications in 67% of cases. A score cut-off of >2 discriminated between patients with and without complications in 79% of cases (95% CI: 70%–86%, P<0.001). Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed as planned in 67 patients (74%), including 50 (75%) without major complications and 17 (25%) with major complications. Conclusion Risk factors for major complications in cytoreductive surgery for AOC are ≥five visceral resections, rectosigmoid resection, glissectomy, and pelvic peritonectomy. Our model predicts morbidity based on major and minor classifications of complications

Analysis of Intraoperative Variables Responsible for the Increase in Lactic Acid in Patients Undergoing Debulking Surgery

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a complex procedure with a high incidence of perioperative complications. Elevated lactacidaemia levels have been associated with complications and perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to analyse the intraoperative variables of patients undergoing CRS and their relationship with lactacidaemia levels. Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 51 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis who underwent CRS between 2014 and 2016 at the Abdomino-Pelvic Oncological Surgery Reference Unit (URCOAP) of the General University Hospital of Castellón (HGUCS). The main variable of interest was the level of lactic acid at the end of surgery. Intraoperative variables, including preoperative haemoglobin, duration of surgery, intraoperative bleeding, fluid therapy administered, administration of blood products, and intraoperative peritoneal cancer index (PCI), were analysed. Results: Positive correlations were found between lactic acid levels and PCI, duration of intervention, fluid therapy, intraoperative bleeding, and transfusion of blood products. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between haemoglobin levels and lactic acid levels. Notably, the strongest correlations were found with operative PCI (ρ = 0.532; p-value p-value Conclusions: PCI and duration of surgery are decisive variables in determining the prognosis of patients undergoing debulking surgery. This study suggests that, for each minute of surgery, lactic acid levels increase by 0.005 mmol/L, and for each unit increase in PCI, lactic acid levels increase by 0.060 mmol/L

Stent management of leaks after bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Despite the low rates of complications of bariatric surgery, gastrointestinal leaks are major adverse events that increase post-operative morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic treatment using self-expanding stents has been used in the therapeutic management of these complications with preliminary good results. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of self-expanding stents placement for the management of gastrointestinal leaks after obesity surgery. Overall proportion of successful leak closure, stent migration, and reoperation were analysed as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were patients’ clinical characteristics, duration and type of stent, other stent complications, and mortality. RESULTS A meta-analysis of studies reporting stents was performed, including 488 patients. The overall proportion of successful leak closure was 85.89% (95% CI, 82.52–89.25%), median interval between stent placement and its removal of 44 days. Stent migration was noted in 18.65% (95% CI, 14.32–22.98%) and the overall proportion of re-operation was in 13.54% (95% CI, 9.94–17.14%). The agreement between reviewers for the collected data gave a Cohen’s κ value of 1.0. No deaths were caused directly by complications with the stent placement. CONCLUSION Endoscopic placement of self-expanding stents can be used, in selected patients, for the management of leaks after bariatric surgery with a high rate of effectiveness and lowamortality rates. Nevertheless, reducing stent migration and re-operation rates representsaan important challenge for future studies