Post-operative enteral immunonutrition for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy decreases wound complications

Extended-duration antibiotics are not associated with a reduction in surgical site infection in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery with large bowel resection

OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate whether extended dosing of antibiotics (ABX) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with large bowel resection for advanced ovarian cancer is associated with reduced incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) compared to standard intra-operative dosing and evaluate predictors of SSI.

METHODS

A retrospective single-institution cohort study was performed in patients with stage III/IV ovarian cancer who underwent CRS from 2009 to 2017. Patients were divided into two cohorts: 1) standard intra-operative dosing ABX and 2) extended post-operative ABX. All ABX dosing was at the surgeon's discretion. The impact of antibiotic duration on SSI and other postoperative outcomes was assessed using univariate and multivariable Cox regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 277 patients underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with large bowel resection between 2009 and 2017. Forty-nine percent (n = 137) received standard intra-operative ABX and 50.5% (n = 140) received extended post-operative ABX. Rectosigmoid resection was the most common large bowel resection in the standard ABX (89.9%, n = 124) and extended ABX groups (90.0%, n = 126), respectively. No significant differences existed between age, BMI, hereditary predisposition, or medical comorbidities (p > 0.05). No difference was appreciated in the development of superficial incisional SSI between the standard ABX and extended ABX cohorts (10.9% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.62). Of patients who underwent a transverse colectomy, a larger percentage of patients developed a superficial SSI versus no SSI (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION(S)

In this retrospective study of patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing CRS with LBR, extended post-operative ABX was not associated with reduced SSI, and prolonged administration of antibiotics should be avoided unless clinically indicated.

Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Perioperative Immunonutrition for Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

BACKGROUND

Immunonutrition has been shown to reduce hospital stay and postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing gastrointestinal, and head and neck surgery. However, its use has not been demonstrated in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). This study aims to determine the effectiveness of perioperative immunonutrition on patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC in reducing length of hospitalization and postoperative complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From April 2017 to December 2018, patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC for peritoneal metastases in a single center were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Patients with evidence of intestinal obstruction or with diabetes mellitus were excluded. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion to receive perioperative oral immunonutrition or standard nutritional feeds. Length of hospital stay and rates of wound infection and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups in an intention-to-treat manner.

RESULTS

A total of 62 patients were recruited and randomized into two groups. Compliance to nutritional feeds in the preoperative period was significantly higher in the standard nutrition group (95.2% versus 75.4%, p = 0.004). There was no difference in postoperative compliance rates. Length of hospital stay and rates of wound infection and postoperative complications were higher in the standard nutrition group when compared with patients on immunonutrition (15.5 versus 11.1 days, p = 0.186; 19% versus 9.7%, p = 0.473; 16% versus 9.7%, p = 0.653; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC who received perioperative immunonutrition had shorter hospitalization and less wound infections and postoperative complications, although the differences with the standard nutrition group were not statistically significant. Potential benefits of perioperative immunonutrition need to be further evaluated in larger studies.

Immunonutrition in ovarian cancer: clinical and immunological impact?

OBJECTIVE

Malnutrition is frequent in ovarian cancer (OC) patients and may compromise post-operative outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of pre-operative immunonutrition on the surgical outcome of OC patients, and on their nutritional, inflammatory and peripheral blood immune status.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed between September 2016 and April 2020. Immune-enhancing enteral nutrition was administered to 42 patients before surgery according to their nutritional status assessed by the Malnutritional Universal Screening Tool. Biochemical and hematological monitoring was performed before and after immunonutrition. Post-operative outcomes were assessed and compared with those of a similar group of patients treated without nutritional support.

RESULTS

Of the 42 immune-nourished patients, 23 (54.8%) had a low, 11 (26.2%) an intermediate and 8 (19%) a high risk of malnutrition. After the immunonutritional intake, significant variations of prealbumin, creatinine and white blood cells were detected. All T cell populations had an increasing trend, in particular CD3⁺ T lymphocytes (p=0.020), CD3⁺CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (p=0.046) and lymphocyte with HLA-DR expression (p=0.012). The rate of grade II-III post-operative complications was lower (21.4% vs. 42.9%, p=0.035) and the time of hospitalization was shorter (7.5 vs. 9.2, p=0.009) in the immune-nourished group.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative immunonutrition improves the surgical outcome of OC patients. After immunonutrition, an increase of CD3⁺CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes was observed.

Research Status and Progress of Nutritional Support Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most fatal gynecological cancers. For most ovarian cancer patients, nutritional risk or malnutrition may accompany them for life. Regular nutritional risk screening, timely nutritional assessment and necessary nutritional treatment play an extremely important role in the process of comprehensive treatment of ovarian cancer. The nutritional status and influence of ovarian cancer patients, preoperative screening and assessment of nutritional risk, preoperative and postoperative nutritional treatment indicate that nutritional treatment of ovarian cancer is one of the key factors in the treatment of cancer. We have summarized the status and progress of nutritional support therapy for ovarian cancer. We are aimed to improve the understanding of the impact of nutritional support therapy for ovarian cancer and to guide the clinical work.

Use of prophylactic closed incision negative pressure therapy is associated with reduced surgical site infections in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection after surgery for gynecologic cancer increases morbidity. Prophylactic closed incision negative pressure therapy has shown promise in reducing infectious wound complications across many surgical disciplines.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether closed incision negative pressure therapy is associated with reduced surgical site infections in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy compared with standard dressings.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing laparotomy for known or suspected gynecologic cancer from Jan. 1, 2017, to Feb. 1, 2020. Patients were matched in a 1:3 ratio (closed incision negative pressure therapy to standard dressing) by body mass index, age, diabetes, bowel surgery, smoking, and steroid use. Surgical site infection was defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multivariable logistic regression using backward selection was performed.

RESULTS

Of the 1223 eligible patients undergoing laparotomy, 64 (5.2%) received closed incision negative pressure therapy dressings and were matched to 192 (15.7%) controls. There were no differences in medical comorbidities (P>.05), site or stage of malignancy (P>.05), duration of surgery (P=.82), or surgical procedures (P>.05). Use of closed incision negative pressure therapy was associated with reduction in all adverse wound outcomes (20.3% vs 40.1%; P<.001). In particular, closed incision negative pressure therapy was associated with a significant reduction in both superficial incisional surgical site infections (9.4% vs 29.7%; P<.001) and deep incisional surgical site infections (0.0% vs 6.8%; P=.04). In multivariable analysis, use of closed incision negative pressure therapy was associated with significant reduction in the incidence of superficial incisional infections alone (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.73; P=.008) and both superficial and deep incisional infections (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.71; P=.007).

CONCLUSION

Use of prophylactic closed incision negative pressure therapy after laparotomy in gynecologic oncology patients was found to be associated with reduced superficial incisional and deep incisional infections compared with standard dressings. Furthermore, closed incision negative pressure therapy was associated with reduction in all other adverse wound outcomes. Closed incision negative pressure therapy may be considered for surgical site infection prevention in high-risk gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.

Impact of a Novel Preoperative Patient-centered Surgical Wellness Program

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate if a preoperative wellness bundle significantly decreases the risk of hospital acquired infections (HAI).

BACKGROUND

HAI threaten patient outcomes and are a significant burden to the healthcare system. Preoperative wellness efforts may significantly decrease the risk of infections.

METHODS

A group of 12,396 surgical patients received a wellness bundle in a roller bag during preoperative screening at an urban academic medical center. The wellness bundle consisted of a chlorhexidine bath solution, immuno-nutrition supplements, incentive spirometer, topical mupirocin for the nostrils, and smoking cessation information. Study staff performed structured patient interviews, observations, and standardized surveys at key intervals throughout the perioperative period. Statistics compare HAI outcomes of patients in the wellness program to a nonintervention group using the Fisher's exact test, logistic regression, and Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Patients in the nonintervention and intervention groups were similar in demographics, comorbidity, and type of operations. Compliance with each element was high (80% mupirocin, 72% immuno-nutrition, 71% chlorhexidine bath, 67% spirometer). The intervention group had statistically significant reductions in surgical site infections, Clostridium difficile, catheter associated urinary tract infections, and patient safety indicator 90.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel, preoperative, patient-centered wellness program dramatically reduced HAI in surgical patients at an urban academic medical center.

Association between hypoalbuminemia and surgical site infection in vulvar cancers

OBJECTIVE

To determine if preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with postoperative wound complications among patients with vulvar cancer.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for cases of vulvar cancer undergoing vulvectomy with or without lymphadenectomy (LND) from 2008 to 2013. Primary outcome was major wound complication. Secondary outcome was minor wound complication. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as albumin<3.5g/dL. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Of 777 vulvar cancer patients, 514 (66.2%) had vulvar surgery alone and 263 (30.3%) had a LND. Median age was 66 (range 20-90) and median BMI was 28.9kg/m(2) (range 14.3-65.5). The incidence of wound complication was 10.4% (81/777) with 48 minor and 39 major complications. There was no difference in major wound complications when a LND was performed (p=1.0). Preoperative albumin was recorded in 429 patients (55.2%). Patients with hypoalbuminemia were more likely to have a major wound complication (OR 2.9 95% CI 1.1-7.3, p=0.02), even after adjusting for BMI, age, preoperative hematocrit, and diabetes (aOR 2.7 95% CI 1.1-7.1, p=0.04). In bivariable analysis, age, diabetes, and BMI were not associated with wound complication. Patients with a wound infection had 10 times the odds of being readmitted within 30days (OR 9.5, 95% CI 4.9-18.4, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Low preoperative albumin is associated with major postoperative wound complications in women undergoing surgery for vulvar cancer. When obtaining informed consent, patients with low albumin should be counseled regarding higher risks of postoperative wound complication.

Diabetes and Risk of Surgical Site Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE To determine the independent association between diabetes and surgical site infection (SSI) across multiple surgical procedures. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Studies indexed in PubMed published between December 1985 and through July 2015 were identified through the search terms "risk factors" or "glucose" and "surgical site infection." A total of 3,631 abstracts were identified through the initial search terms. Full texts were reviewed for 522 articles. Of these, 94 articles met the criteria for inclusion. Standardized data collection forms were used to extract study-specific estimates for diabetes, blood glucose levels, and body mass index (BMI). A random-effects meta-analysis was used to generate pooled estimates, and meta-regression was used to evaluate specific hypothesized sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS The primary outcome was SSI, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance criteria. The overall effect size for the association between diabetes and SSI was odds ratio (OR)=1.53 (95% predictive interval [PI], 1.11-2.12; I2, 57.2%). SSI class, study design, or patient BMI did not significantly impact study results in a meta-regression model. The association was higher for cardiac surgery 2.03 (95% PI, 1.13-4.05) compared with surgeries of other types (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS These results support the consideration of diabetes as an independent risk factor for SSIs for multiple surgical procedure types. Continued efforts are needed to improve surgical outcomes for diabetic patients. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;37(1):88-99.