ERAS Protocol for Perioperative Care of Patients Treated with Laparoscopic Nonanatomic Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The ISMETT Experience

Which Factors Are Associated with Distal Pancreatectomy Outcomes' Optimization with the Application of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program?

Background: Distal pancreatectomy (DP) represents the best therapeutic option for patients with body-tail pancreatic neoplasms (PNs). The enhanced recovery after surgery protocol is widely used for treating patients with PN to speed up postoperative recovery. This study aims to describe our institute's experience in the application of fast recovery protocol in a cohort of patients treated with DP, identifying predictors facilitating a decrease in the length of hospital stay. Patient and Methods: Were retrospectively enrolled 60 consecutive cases of DP performed from January 2016 to June 2022 in patients treated with enhanced recovery protocol, 25% of them were treated with spleen preserving procedure. Single-variable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the potential association between patient characteristics and the probability of postoperative complications. Standard linear regression models were used for length of stay, number of postoperative days (PODs) from surgery to full bowel function recovery, and PODs to the interruption of intravenous analgesia administration. Results: Thirty-four (57%) patients underwent open surgery and 26 (43%) laparoscopic surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery and spleen-preserving procedures experienced a lower complication rate (P = .037), shorter length of stay, and time of analgesic requirements. With single-variable logistic regression models patients treated with laparoscopic surgery had statistically significant higher recovery times in terms of nasogastric tube removal (P = .004) and early enteral nutrition (P = .001). Conclusion: Continual refinement with enhanced recovery protocol for treating PN patients based on perioperative counseling and surgical decision-making is crucial to reduce patient morbidity and time for recovery.

The impact of preoperative interview and prospective nursing on perioperative psychological stress and postoperative complications in patients undergoing TACE intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma

TACE has become one of the main methods for the treatment of liver cancer. The study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperative interview and prospective nursing in patients with hepatic carcinoma undergoing transcatheter chemoembolization (TACE). Eighty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TACE intervention treatment at our hospital between 2020 and 2023 were selected and randomly assigned to 2 groups using computerized randomization. The control group (n = 43) received routine nursing care, while the study group (n = 43) received preoperative interviews in combination with prospective nursing during the procedure. The patients' heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and blood pressure variations were recorded, along with their mood changes after intervention. The postoperative pain and satisfaction levels were compared between the 2 groups of patients, and the incidence of postoperative complications was observed. The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure of the 2 groups of patients were compared 1 day before the operation (P > .05). Compared to 1 day before the operation, there was no significant change for the study group at 10 minutes after entering the room. However, the control group showed an increase. Both groups showed an increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure after the operation, with the study group having lower values than the control group (P < .05). The levels of tension, fatigue, anxiety, energy, anger, depression, self-esteem, and POMS index were compared between the 2 groups before intervention (P > .05). After intervention, there were significant differences between the 2 groups(P < .05). Immediately after the operation, the NRS scores of the 2 groups of patients were compared (P > .05). Compared to the control group, the study group showed a decrease in NRS scores at 12, 24, and 48 hours after the operation (P < .05). The nursing satisfaction rate of the study group patients was 97.67% (42/43), which was higher than the nursing satisfaction rate of the control group of 76.74% (33/43) (P < .05). Compared to routine nursing, preoperative visits and prospective nursing interventions can effectively alleviate patients' psychological stress reactions, relieve pain, reduce the incidence of complications, and improve patients' satisfaction with nursing care.

Application of early enteral nutrition nursing based on enhanced recovery after surgery theory in patients with digestive surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nursing can improve the restlessness and gastrointestinal function of patients with tracheal intubation under general anesthesia in digestive surgery. Wide application of various nursing methods and routine nursing in perioperative nursing of patients with general anesthesia in digestive surgery.

AIM

To investigate the impact of early postoperative enteral nutrition nursing based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) theory on postoperative agitation and gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing general anesthesia that experienced tracheal intubation.

METHODS

The data of 126 patients with digestive surgery from May 2019 to February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different nursing methods, they were divided into control group and observation group, with 63 cases in observation group and 63 cases in control group. The patients in the control group had standard perioperative nursing care, whereas those in the observation group got enteral nourishment as soon as possible after surgery in accordance with ERAS theory. Both the rate and quality of gastrointestinal function recovery were compared between the two groups after treatment ended. Postoperative anesthesia-related adverse events were tallied, patients' nutritional statuses were monitored, and the Riker sedation and agitation score (SAS) was used to measure the incidence of agitation.

RESULTS

When compared to the control group, the awake duration, spontaneous breathing recovery time, extubation time and postoperative eye-opening time were all considerably shorter (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the recovery time of orientation force between the two groups (P > 0.05); however, the observation group had a lower SAS score than the control group (P < 0.05). The recovery time for normal intestinal sounds, the time it took to have the first postoperative exhaust, the time it took to have the first postoperative defecation, and the time it took to have the first postoperative half-fluid feeding were all faster in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05); Fasting blood glucose was lower in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05), while the albumin and hemoglobin levels were higher on the first and third postoperative days; however, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of anesthesia-related adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The extremely early postoperative enteral nutrition nursing based on ERAS theory can reduce the degree of agitation, improve the quality of recovery, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, and improve the nutritional status of patients in the recovery period after tracheal intubation under general anesthesia.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: A retrospective study

Few reports have focused on the use of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) to promote the postoperative recovery of patients with choledocholithiasis. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the advantages and safety of ERAS in patients who underwent LCBDE. From December 2016 to February 2020, 86 and 84 patients were retrospectively enrolled in the control and ERAS groups, respectively. The perioperative insulin resistance index, perioperative C-reactive protein level, time of postoperative analgesic use, time of postoperative first flatus, time of abdominal drainage tube removal, time of liver function recovery, and postoperative complications were analyzed between the two groups. The insulin resistance index (1, 3, and 5 days postoperatively) and C-reactive protein level (1, 3, 5, and 7 days postoperatively) in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P < .05). In terms of the postoperative rehabilitation efficacy, the time of postoperative activity of the patient, time of postoperative first flatus, time of postoperative analgesic use, time of abdominal drainage tube removal, time of postoperative T-tube closing, and length of postoperative hospital stay in the ERAS group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (all P < .05). Additionally, the overall incidence of postoperative complications in the ERAS group had a decreasing trend when compared with that in the control group (P = .05). ERAS can reduce the postoperative stress response and postoperative complications of patients undergoing LCBDE, promote rehabilitation and shorten the length of postoperative hospital stay and therefore has good social and economic benefits.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Laparoscopic Hepatectomy

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Methods: From September 2016 to June 2019, 282 patients were enrolled, and ERAS was implemented since March 2018. All indicators related to surgery, liver function, and postoperative outcomes were included in the analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) identified 174 patients for further comparison.

Results: After PSM, the clinicopathological baselines were well-matched. The group showed significantly less intraoperative blood loss (100.00 [100.00–200.00] vs. 200.00 [100.00–300.00] ml, P = 0.001), fewer days before abdominal drainage tube removal (4.00 [3.00–4.00] days vs. 4.00 [3.00–5.00] days, P = 0.023), shorter hospital stay after surgery (6.00 [5.00–6.00] days vs. 6.00 [6.00–7.00] days, P < 0.001), and reduced postoperative morbidity (18.39 vs. 34.48%, P = 0.026). The proportion of patients with a pain score ≥ 4 was significantly lower in the ERAS group within the first 2 days after surgery (1.15 vs. 13.79% and 8.05 vs. 26.44%, P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Pringle maneuver was performed more frequently in the ERAS group (70.11 vs. 18.39%, P < 0.001), and a significantly higher postoperative alanine aminotransferase level was also observed (183.40 [122.85–253.70] vs. 136.20 [82.93–263.40] U/l, P = 0.026). The 2-year recurrence-free survival was similar between the two groups (72 vs. 71%, P = 0.946).

Conclusions: ERAS programs are feasible and safe and do not influence mid-term recurrence in HCC patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Clinical and Molecular-Based Approach in the Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Radical Liver Resection

BACKGROUND

Hepatic resection remains the treatment of choice for patients with early-stage HCC with preserved liver function. Unfortunately, however, the majority of patients develop tumor recurrence. While several clinical factors were found to be associated with tumor recurrence, HCC pathogenesis is a complex process of accumulation of somatic genomic alterations, which leads to a huge molecular heterogeneity that has not been completely understood. The aim of this study is to complement potentially predictive clinical and pathological factors with next-generation sequencing genomic profiling and loss of heterozygosity analysis.

METHODS

124 HCC patients, who underwent a primary hepatic resection from January 2016 to December 2019, were recruited for this study. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis and allelic imbalance assessment in a case-control subgroup analysis were performed. A time-to-recurrence analysis was performed as well by means of Kaplan-Meier estimators.

RESULTS

Cumulative number of HCC recurrences were 26 (21%) and 32 (26%), respectively, one and two years after surgery. Kaplan-Meier estimates for the probability of recurrence amounted to 37% (95% C.I.: 24-47) and to 51% (95% C.I.: 35-62), after one and two years, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified as independent predictors of HCC recurrence: hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (HR: 1.96, 95%C.I.: 0.91-4.24, p = 0.085), serum bilirubin levels (HR: 5.32, 95%C.I.: 2.07-13.69, p = 0.001), number of nodules (HR: 1.63, 95%C.I.: 1.12-2.38, p = 0.011) and size of the larger nodule (HR: 1.11, 95%C.I.: 1.03-1.18, p = 0.004). Time-to-recurrence analysis showed that loss of heterozygosity in the PTEN loci (involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway) was significantly associated with a lower risk of HCC recurrence (HR: 0.35, 95%C.I.: 0.13-0.93, p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

multiple alterations of cancer genes are associated with HCC progression. In particular, the evidence of a specific AI mutation presented in 20 patients seemed to have a protective effect on the risk of HCC recurrence.