Perioperative risk assessment for gastrectomy by surgical apgar score

Laparoscopic gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy for gastric cancer in patients among octogenarians: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Currently, there is no consensus regarding whether super-elderly (aged > 80 years) patients are suitable candidates for laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to analyse the short-term outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

Following PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines, we searched the Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Pubmed databases from inception until May 2024 and performed a meta-analysis. All published studies exploring the surgical outcomes and oncological prognosis of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy in super-elderly patients with GC were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

A total of 1,085 studies were retrieved, eight of which were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 807 patients > 80 years of age with GC. The meta-analysis showed that compared with open gastrectomy, patients with GC > 80 years old who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy had a longer operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 30.48, p < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (WMD = -166.96, P < 0.001), shorter postoperative exhaust time (WMD =-0.83, p < 0.001), shorter length of stay (WMD = -0.78, p < 0.001), fewer overall complications (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.54, p = 0.003), higher 5-year overall survival rate (OR = 1.66, p = 0.03) and disease-specific survival rate (OR = 3.23, p < 0.001). Furthermore, laparoscopic gastrectomy did not significantly affect the number of lymph node dissections, the rate of D2 radical gastrectomy, major postoperative complications, or postoperative pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to open gastrectomy, patients with GC aged > 80 years who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy may have better short-term outcomes. Age should not be a contraindication for minimally invasive surgery.

Predicting outcomes in head and neck surgery with modified frailty index and surgical apgar scores

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of the Modified Frailty Index and Modified Surgical Apgar scores in predicting postoperative outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent major head and neck surgery between 2012 and 2015. Modified Surgical Apgar, and Frailty Index, scores were calculated on 723 patients. The primary outcome was 30-day complication and/or mortality.

RESULTS

The mean Modified Frailty Index was 0.11 ± 0.12, and mean Modified Surgical Apgar score was 6.15 ± 1.67. Both scores were significantly associated with 30-day complication (P<0.05). The Modified Surgical Apgar score was superior to the Modified Frailty Index in predicting complications (Area Under the Curve (AUC) = 0.76; 95 % Confidence Interval (CI), 0.722-0.793; and AUC=0.59; 95 % CI, 0.548-0.633, respectively). Concurrent use of both scoring systems (AUC=0.77) was not superior to individual use. An increase in the mFI from 0.27 to 0.36 was associated with an increase in the risk of complication postoperatively (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.67; 95 % CI, 1.30-10.34, P=.014). A reduction in the mSAS from 7 to 6 increased the risk of complication following surgery (OR=2.64; 95 % CI, 1.45-4.80; P=.002).

CONCLUSION

Both scores are useful in risk stratifying head and neck cancer patients. The Modified Surgical Apgar score was superior at predicting complications; concurrent use of both scores added minimal benefit.

The modified Surgical Apgar Score predictive value for postoperative complications after robotic surgery for rectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The Surgical Apgar Score quantifies three intraoperative parameters: lowest heart rate, lowest mean arterial pressure, and estimated blood loss (EBL). This scoring system predicts postoperative complications based on these measured factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of modified Surgical Apgar Score (mSAS) in predicting postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer treated with robotic surgery in order to improve the survival and quality of life of rectal cancer patients.

METHODS

The study included patients with rectal cancer who underwent robotic surgery in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2015 to December 2023. In minimally invasive surgery, we developed a modified Surgical Apgar Score (mSAS) tailored for robotic rectal cancer surgery, incorporating an adjusted threshold for EBL. This threshold was derived from quartile analysis of a cohort of 524 patients, with a median EBL of 100 mL (IQR 80-130 mL). We analyzed the association of postoperative complications with low mSAS.

RESULTS

This study included 524 patients, of which 91 (17.4%) experienced complications and 22 (4.2%) suffered severe complications. mSAS of 6 provided maximal Youden index and were determined as the cut-off values. The area under the ROC curve for predicting complications using the mSAS was 0.740. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that an older age, lower tumor localization, longer operation time, radiotherapy alone, combined chemoradiotherapy, and lower mSAS as independent risk factors for complications. The AUC of the prediction nomogram was 0.834 (95% CI 0.774-0.867). The calibration curve demonstrated excellent concordance with the nomogram, indicating the prediction curve ft the diagonal well.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that mSAS might be a valuable predictive indicator for postoperative complications following robotic rectal cancer surgery, with potentially higher clinical utility.

Surgical Apgar scores predict complications after emergency general surgery laparotomy

BACKGROUND

The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) is a 10-point validated score comprised of three intraoperative variables (blood loss, lowest heart rate, and lowest mean arterial pressure). Lower scores are worse and predict major postoperative complications. The SAS has not been applied in emergency general surgery (EGS) but may help guide postoperative disposition. We hypothesize that SAS can predict complications in EGS patients undergoing a laparotomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of adult patients at a single, quaternary care center who underwent an exploratory laparotomy for EGS conditions within 6 hours of surgical consultation from 2015 to 2019. Patients were grouped by whether they experienced a postoperative complication (systemic, surgical, and/or death). Multivariable regression was performed to predict complications, accounting for SAS and other statistically significant variables between groups. Using this model, predicted probabilities of a complication were generated for each SAS.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 482 patients: 32.8% (n = 158) experienced a complication, while 67.2% (n = 324) did not. Patients with complications were older, frailer, more often male, had worse SAS (6 vs. 7, p < 0.0001) and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and higher rates of perforated hollow viscus ( p = 0.0003) and open abdomens ( p < 0.0001). On multivariable regression, an increasing SAS independently predicted less complications (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.96; p = 0.009). An SAS ≤4 was associated with a 49.2% predicted chance of complications, greater rates of septic shock (9.7% vs. 3%, p = 0.01), respiratory failure (20.5% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.02), and death (24.1% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.0001). An SAS ≤ 4 did not correlate with surgical complications ( p = 0.1).

CONCLUSION

The SAS accurately predicts postoperative complications in EGS patients undergoing urgent laparotomy, with an SAS ≤ 4 identifying patients at risk for septic shock, respiratory failure, and mortality. This tool can aid in rapidly determining postoperative disposition and resource allocation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

A meta-analysis of the effect of laparoscopic gastric resection on the surgical site wound infection in patients with advanced gastric cancer

By conducting a meta-analysis of relevant clinical studies on the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (GC) using laparoscopic and open surgeries, we aimed to evaluate the impact of these two surgical approaches on postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients with advanced GC. We aimed to provide evidence-based support for preventing SSIs in postoperative patients with advanced GC. From database establishment until May 2023, we systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data databases for relevant studies comparing laparoscopic and open surgeries for the treatment of advanced GC. Two researchers independently performed the literature screening and data extraction based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17.0. Twenty articles involving 3084 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 1462 patients in the laparoscopic group and 1622 cases in the open surgery group. The meta-analysis results revealed that the incidence of postoperative SSIs was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group than in the open surgery group (odds ratio = 0.341, 95% confidence interval: 0.219-0.532, p < 0.001). The current evidence indicates that laparoscopic radical gastrectomy can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative site infections in patients with advanced GC.

Ability to predict surgical outcomes by surgical Apgar score: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The Surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a straightforward and unbiased measure to assess the probability of experiencing complications after surgery. It is calculated upon completion of the surgical procedure and provides valuable predictive information. The SAS evaluates three specific factors during surgery: the estimated amount of blood loss (EBL), the lowest recorded mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the lowest heart rate (LHR) observed. Considering these factors, the SAS offers insights into the probability of encountering postoperative complications.

METHODS

Three authors independently searched the Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases until June 2022. This search was conducted without any language or timeframe restrictions, and it aimed to cover relevant literature on the subject. The inclusion criteria were the correlation between SAS and any modified/adjusted SAS (m SAS, (Modified SAS). eSAS, M eSAS, and SASA), and complications before, during, and after surgeries. Nevertheless, the study excluded letters to the editor, reviews, and case reports. Additionally, the researchers employed Begg and Egger's regression model to evaluate publication bias.

RESULTS

In this systematic study, a total of 78 studies \were examined. The findings exposed that SAS was effective in anticipating short-term complications and served as factor for a long-term prognostic following multiple surgeries. While the SAS has been validated across various surgical subspecialties, based on the available evidence, the algorithm's modifications may be necessary to enhance its predictive accuracy within each specific subspecialty.

CONCLUSIONS

The SAS enables surgeons and anesthesiologists to recognize patients at a higher risk for certain complications or adverse events. By either modifying the SAS (Modified SAS) or combining it with ASA criteria, healthcare professionals can enhance their ability to identify patients who require continuous observation and follow-up as they go through the postoperative period. This approach would improve the accuracy of identifying individuals at risk and ensure appropriate measures to provide necessary care and support.

The surgical Apgar score predicts postoperative complications and the survival in lung cancer patients

PURPOSE

The surgical Apgar score (SAS)-calculated using the intraoperative variables estimated blood loss, lowest heart rate, and lowest mean systolic pressure-is associated with mortality in cancer surgery. We investigated the utility of the SAS in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 691 patients who underwent surgery for primary lung cancer between 2015 and 2019 in a single institute and analyzed the impact of the SAS.

RESULTS

Of the 691 patients, 138 (20%), 57 (8.2%), and 7 (1.0%) had postoperative complications of all grades, grades ≥ III, and grade V, respectively, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The C-index for postoperative complications of grades ≥ III was 0.605. A lower score (0-5 points) (odds ratio 3.09 against 8-10 points, P = 0.04) and a lower percentage of vital capacity (odds ratio 0.97, P = 0.04) were independent negative risk factors for major postoperative complications. Patients with a lower score (0-5 points) had poor 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates (60.1% and 72.3%, respectively; P < 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical Apgar score predicted postoperative complications and the long-term survival. Surgeons may improve surgical results using the SAS.

Risk Factors for Esophagojejunal Anastomotic Leakage in Gastric Cancer Patients after Total Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Leakage at the esophagojejunal anastomosis site is an important postoperative complication of total gastrectomy. We analyzed our surgical cases to determine the risk factors for esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage.

METHODS

This study included 309 patients who underwent total gastrectomy and esophagojejunal anastomosis. The onset of esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage according to age, gender, performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, body mass index, presence or absence of diabetes, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, histological type, presence or absence of esophageal infiltration, operative duration, amount of blood loss, experience of blood transfusion, procedural approach, and the prognostic nutritional index was analyzed.

RESULTS

Univariate analyses revealed a significant difference in the rate of esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage due to advanced age, male gender, the presence of diabetes, the presence of esophageal infiltration, and blood loss ≥1,100 g. In the multivariate analysis, which included factors identified in the univariate analyses, advanced age, male gender, the presence of diabetes, and blood loss ≥1,100 g were identified as independent risk factors for esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced age (≥68 years), male gender, diabetes, and massive blood loss are risk factors for esophagojejunal anastomotic leakage.

The Surgical Apgar Score: A Systematic Review of Its Discriminatory Performance

To review the current literature evaluating the performance of the Surgical Apgar Score (SAS).

Background

The SAS is a simple metric calculated at the end of surgery that provides clinicians with information about a patient's postoperative risk of morbidity and mortality. The SAS differs from other prognostic models in that it is calculated from intraoperative rather than preoperative parameters. The SAS was originally derived and validated in a general and vascular surgery population. Since its inception, it has been evaluated in many other surgical disciplines, large heterogeneous surgical populations, and various countries.

Methods

A database and gray literature search was performed on March 3, 2020. Identified articles were reviewed for applicability and study quality with prespecified inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, and quality requirements. Thirty-six observational studies are included for review. Data were systematically extracted and tabulated independently and in duplicate by two investigators with differences resolved by consensus.

Results

All 36 included studies reported metrics of discrimination. When using the SAS to correctly identify postoperative morbidity, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve or concordance-statistic ranged from 0.59 in a general orthopedic surgery population to 0.872 in an orthopedic spine surgery population. When using the SAS to identify mortality, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve or concordance-statistic ranged from 0.63 in a combined surgical population to 0.92 in a general and vascular surgery population.

Conclusions

The SAS provides a moderate and consistent degree of discrimination for postoperative morbidity and mortality across multiple surgical disciplines.

The utility of surgical Apgar score in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality in general surgery

Objectives

Many surgical scoring systems are used to predict operative risk but most are complicated. The aim of the study was to determine the utility of the Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) in predicting post operative mortality and morbidity in general surgical cases.

Material and Methods

This was a prospective observational study. All adult patients for emergency and elective general surgical procedures were included. Intraoperative data was collected, and post operative outcomes were followed up till 30 days. SAS was calculated from intraoperative lowest heart rate, lowest MAP and blood loss.

Results

A total of 220 patients were included in the study. All consecutive general surgical procedures were included. Sixty of the 220 cases were emergency and the rest were elective. Forty-five (20.5%) of the patients developed complication. Mortality rate was 3.2% (7 out of 220). The cases were divided into high risk (0-4), moderate risk (5-8) and low risk (9-10) based on SAS. Complication and mortality rates were 50% and 8.3% in the high risk group, 23% and 3.7% in the moderate risk and 4.2% and 0 in the low risk group, respectively.

Conclusion

The surgical Apgar score is a simple and valid predictor of postoperative morbidity and 30-day mortality among patients undergoing general surgeries. It is applicable to all types of surgeries for emergency and elective cases and irrespective of the patient general condition and type of anesthesia and surgery planned.

A Machine Learning-Modified Novel Nomogram to Predict Perioperative Blood Transfusion of Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background

Perioperative blood transfusion reserves are limited, and the outcome of blood transfusion remains unclear. Therefore, it is important to prepare plans for perioperative blood transfusions. This study aimed to establish a risk assessment model to guide clinical patient management.

Methods

This retrospective comparative study involving 513 patients who had total gastrectomy (TG) between January 2018 and January 2021 was conducted using propensity score matching (PSM). The influencing factors were explored by logistic regression, correlation analysis, and machine learning; then, a nomogram was established.

Results

After assessment of the importance of factors through machine learning, blood loss, preoperative controlling nutritional status (CONUT), hemoglobin (Hb), and the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index were considered as the modified transfusion-related factors. The modified model was not considered to be different from the original model in terms of performance, but is simpler. A nomogram was created, with a C-index of 0.834, and the decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated good clinical benefit.

Conclusions

A nomogram was established and modified with machine learning, which suggests the importance of the patient’s integral condition. This emphasizes that caution should be exercised regarding transfusions, and, if necessary, preoperative nutritional interventions or delayed surgery should be implemented for safety.

The Surgical Apgar Score Predicts Postoperative Complications in Elderly Patients After Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) has been validated as a risk assessment tool for postoperative complications. However, the utility of the SAS in elderly patients with colorectal cancer remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the utility of the SAS for predicting the severe complications in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 295 patients underwent radical surgery for colorectal cancer in elderly patients ≥75 years old. The SAS was calculated based on 3 intraoperative parameters: estimated blood loss (EBL), lowest mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate. Severe complications were defined as Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥ IIIa. We divided all patients into 2 groups according to with or without severe complications. The optimal cut-off value of SAS for severe complications has been determined by receiver operator characteristic curve. Predictors for severe complications were analyzed by logistic regression modeling.

RESULTS

Severe complications were observed in 57 patients (19.3%). Male, rectal cancer, operation time (>240 minutes), EBL (≥120 mL), and a low SAS (≤6) were significantly associated with severe complications in univariate analysis. A multivariate analysis revealed that male, rectal cancer, and a low SAS (≤6) were independent predictors for severe complications.

CONCLUSIONS

A low SAS (≤6) was associated with severe complications after colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients. The SAS is a valuable predictor for severe complications in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Surgical Apgar score as a complication predictor in gastrointestinal oncologic surgery

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Surgical resection of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the cornerstone of curative treatment but entails considerable morbidity. The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a practical and objective instrument that provides immediate feedback. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of the SAS for predicting complications at 30 days in patients with primary GI cancer that underwent curative surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted that included 50 patients classified into a low SAS (≤ 4) group or a high SAS (≥ 5) group. Complications were defined as any event classified as a Clavien-Dindo grade II to V event. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed through the Cox regression and a p<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Overall postoperative morbidity was 50.0%, with no mortality. Eighty-six percent of cases were catalogued as having an ASA≥3. Eighty-eight percent had a high SAS, of whom 45.5% presented with a complication, whereas 12.0% had a low SAS and a complication rate of 83.3%. In the multivariate analysis, the BMI (OR: 3.351, 95% CI: 1.218-9.217, P=.019), SAS (OR: 0.266, 95% CI: 0.077-0.922, P=.037), surgery duration (OR: 3.170, 95% CI: 1.092-9.198, P=.034), and ephedrine use (OR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.144-0.880, P=.025) were significantly associated with the development of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SAS was shown to be an independent predictive factor of postoperative morbidity at 30 days in the surgical management of GI cancer and appears to offer a reliable sub-stratification in a high-risk population with an ASA≥3.

Usefulness of scoring systems in outcome prediction for older cancer patients undergoing abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND

Several postoperative outcome scoring systems have been developed and validated, combining both pre- and intraoperative factors. Among others are the Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM), the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Stress (E-PASS) and the Surgical Apgar Score combined with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (SASA). The aim of this study was to compare the above scoring systems in the prediction of 30-day postoperative outcome in older patients with cancer undergoing abdominal surgery.

METHODS

Consecutive patients ≥70 years were prospectively enrolled. Pre- and intraoperative variables were used to calculate the scores, the ROC and perform logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The study sample comprised 201 patients with a median age of 77 (range 70-93) years. The most common surgical procedure was for colorectal (75%), followed by gastric (10.4%) pancreas (7.0%), gall bladder (3.5%), small bowel (2.5%), and other (1.5%) types of cancer. All scores were independent predictors of 30-day postoperative mortality. In case of 30-day morbidity only SASA turned to be significant. The ROC curves were highly valid and area under the curve showed fair to good discriminatory ability (0.60-0.77) for 30-day postoperative mortality and fair (AUC 0.6) in case of SASA for the 30-day postoperative.

CONCLUSION

The SASA, E-PASS, and P-POSSUM were confirmed to be predictive of 30-day postoperative mortality in older patients undergoing abdominal elective cancer surgery. Only SASA demonstrated as independent factor predicting postoperative 30-day major morbidity.

Surgical Apgar score as a complication predictor in gastrointestinal oncologic surgery

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Surgical resection of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the cornerstone of curative treatment but entails considerable morbidity. The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a practical and objective instrument that provides immediate feedback. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of the SAS for predicting complications at 30 days in patients with primary GI cancer that underwent curative surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted that included 50 patients classified into a low SAS (≤ 4) group or a high SAS (≥ 5) group. Complications were defined as any event classified as a Clavien-Dindo grade II to V event. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed through the Cox regression and a p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Overall postoperative morbidity was 50.0%, with no mortality. Eighty-six percent of cases were catalogued as having an ASA ≥ 3. Eighty-eight percent had a high SAS, of whom 45.5% presented with a complication, whereas 12.0% had a low SAS and a complication rate of 83.3%. In the multivariate analysis, the BMI (OR: 3.351, 95% CI: 1.218-9.217, P=.019), SAS (OR: 0.266, 95% CI: 0.077-0.922, P=.037), surgery duration (OR: 3.170, 95% CI: 1.092-9.198, P=.034), and ephedrine use (OR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.144-0.880, P=.025) were significantly associated with the development of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SAS was shown to be an independent predictive factor of postoperative morbidity at 30 days in the surgical management of GI cancer and appears to offer a reliable sub-stratification in a high-risk population with an ASA ≥ 3.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for elderly gastric-cancer patients: comparisons with laparoscopic gastrectomy in non-elderly patients and open gastrectomy in the elderly

Background

The benefits of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in elderly gastric-cancer patients still remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of LG in elderly gastric-cancer patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent LG or open gastrectomy (OG) between June 2009 and July 2015 in a single high-volume center. We compared surgical, short-term, and long-term survival outcomes among an elderly (≥70 years old) LG (ELG) group (n = 114), a non-elderly (<70 years old) LG (NLG) group (n = 740), and an elderly OG (EOG) group (n = 383).

Results

Except for extended time to first flatus, the surgical and short-term outcomes of the ELG group were similar to those of the NLG group. The ELG group revealed comparable disease-specific survival (DSS) rates to the NLG group (64.9% vs 66.2%, P = 0.476), although the overall survival (OS) rate was lower (57.0% vs 65.5%, P < 0.001) in the ELG group than in the NLG group. The ELG group showed longer operation time than the EOG group (236.4 ± 77.3 vs 179 ± 52.2 min, P < 0.001). The ELG group had less estimated blood loss (174.0 ± 88.4 vs 209.3 ± 133.8, P = 0.008) and shorter post-operative hospital stay (8.3 ± 2.5 vs 9.2 ± 4.5, P = 0.048) than the EOG group. The severity of complications was similar between the ELG and NLG groups. Multivariate analysis confirmed that LG was not a risk factor for post-operative complications.

Conclusions

LG is a feasible and safe procedure for elderly patients with acceptable short- and long-term survival outcomes.

Laparoscopic versus open resection for elderly patients with gastric cancer: a double-center study with propensity score matching method

PURPOSE

The applicability of laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer is still not well clarified. The aim of this double-center study was to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy on elderly patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

We prospectively collected data of patients who underwent gastrectomy for cancer in two centers from June 2016 to December 2019. Propensity score matching was performed at a ratio of 1:1 to compare the laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy group and open radical gastrectomy group. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses evaluating the risk factors for total, surgical, and medical complications were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 481 patients with gastric cancer met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. After propensity score analysis, 258 patients were matched each other (laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy (LAG) group, n = 129; open radical gastrectomy (OG) group, n = 129). LAG group had lower rate of surgical complications (P = 0.009), lower rate of severe complications (P = 0.046), shorter postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.001), and lower readmission rate (P = 0.039). Multivariate analyses revealed that anemia, Charlson comorbidity index, and combined resection were independent risk factors in the LAG group, whereas body mass index and American Society of Anesthesiology grade in the OG group.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy was relative safe even effective in elderly gastric cancer patients. We should pay attention to the different risk factors when performing different surgical procedures for gastric cancer in elderly patients.

Development of a preoperative risk score on admission in surgical intermediate care unit in gastrointestinal cancer surgery

Background

Gastrointestinal cancer surgery continues to be a significant cause of postoperative complications and mortality in high-risk patients. It is crucial to identify these patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of specific perioperative risk assessment tools to predict postoperative complications, identifying the most informative variables and combining them to test their prediction ability as a new score.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of digestive cancer surgical patients admitted to the surgical intermediate care unit of the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Portugal was conducted during the period January 2016 to April 2018. Demographic and medical information including sex, age, date from hospital admission, diagnosis, emergency or elective admission, and type of surgery, were collected. We analyzed and compared a set of measurements of surgical risk using the risk assessment instruments P-POSSUM Scoring, ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator, and ARISCAT Risk Score according to the outcomes classified by the Clavien-Dindo score. According to each risk score system, we studied the expected and observed post-operative complications. We performed a multivariable regression model retaining only the significant variables of these tools (age, gender, physiological P-Possum, and ACS NSQIP serious complication rate) and created a new score (MyIPOrisk-score). The predictive ability of each continuous score and the final panel obtained was evaluated using ROC curves and estimating the area under the curve (AUC).

Results

We studied 341 patients. Our results showed that the predictive accuracy and agreement of P-POSSUM Scoring, ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator, and ARISCAT Risk Score were limited. The MyIPOrisk-score, shows to have greater discrimination ability than the one obtained with the other risk tools when evaluated individually (AUC = 0.808; 95% CI: 0.755–0.862). The expected and observed complication rates were similar to the new risk tool as opposed to the other risk calculators.

Conclusions

The feasibility and usefulness of the MyIPOrisk-score have been demonstrated for the evaluation of patients undergoing digestive oncologic surgery. However, it requires further testing through a multicenter prospective study to validate the predictive accuracy of the proposed risk score.

Predictive value of the surgical Apgar score on postoperative complications in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical gastrectomy: a single-center retrospective study

Background

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) or modified SAS (mSAS) has been reported as a simple and easy risk assessment system for predicting postoperative complications in primary surgery for gastric cancer. However, few studies have described the SAS’s utility in gastric surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

One hundred and fifteen patients who received NAC and radical gastrectomy from 2008 and 2015 were included in this study. The SAS was determined by the estimated blood loss (EBL), lowest intraoperative mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate. The mSAS was determined by the EBL reassessed using the interquartile values. The predictive values of the SAS/mSAS for postoperative complications were assessed with univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

Among the 115 patients, 41 (35.7%) developed postoperative complications. According to analyses with receiver operating characteristic curves of the SAS and mSAS for predicting postoperative complications, the cut-off value of the mSAS was set at 8. The rates of anastomotic leakage, pancreatic fistula, and arrhythmia in patients with high mSAS (> 8) values were higher than in those with low (0–3) and moderate [1–4] mSAS values. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the operation time, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for postoperative complications. The mSAS was not a significant predictor.

Conclusion

The predictive value of SAS or mSAS for morbidity may be limited in patients who undergo gastric cancer surgery after NAC. Future prospective studies with a large sample size will be needed to confirm the present results.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes after Laparoscopic Versus Open Gastrectomy for Elderly Gastric Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: With the rapid aging of global population, the number of elderly patients with gastric cancer is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus open gastrectomy (OG) in elderly gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library databases from January 1994 to May 2019. Surgical safety, postoperative complications, number of harvested lymph nodes, and overall survival rate were included and analyzed. The qualities of the included studies were evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The evidence of outcomes was evaluated using the GRADE approach. The Review Manager^® 5.3 (Cochrane, London, UK) and Stata^® 14.0 (StataCorp., College Station, Texas) were used to analyze the outcomes. Results: Thirteen studies containing 4768 elderly patients with gastric cancer were included in this meta-analysis. LG was more favorable than OG in terms of overall postoperative morbidity (odds ratio [OR]: 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44 to 0.70; P < .00001), the postoperative stay (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.76 to (-0.37); P < .00001), and the number of harvested lymph nodes (SMD: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.29; P = .0003). No significant difference was found in anastomotic leakage rate (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.12; P = .21), mental disease (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.44; P = .44), or overall survival rate (P = .62) between two groups. However, in the subgroup with a cutoff age of 80 years, the anastomotic leakage rate was higher in LG (OR: 10.27; 95% CI: 1.31 to 80.35; P = .03). Conclusions: LG was more favorable than OG in the elderly patients <80 years old with gastric cancer.

Predictive value of intraoperative factors for complications after oesophagectomy

OBJECTIVES

Oesophagectomy for malignancy is a highly complex and difficult procedure associated with considerable postoperative complications. In this study, we aimed to identify the ability of an intraoperative factor (IPFs)-based classifier to predict complications after oesophagectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective review included 251 patients who underwent radical oesophagectomy from October 2015 to December 2017. Using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model, we extracted IPFs that were associated with postoperative morbidity and then built a classifier. Preoperative variables and the IPF-based classifier were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. A nomogram to predict the risk of postoperative morbidity was constructed and validated using bootstrap resampling.

RESULTS

Following the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, we discovered that those 4 IPF (surgical approach, lowest heart rate, lowest mean arterial blood pressure and estimated blood loss) were associated with postoperative morbidity. After stratification into low-and high-risk groups with the IPF-based classifier, the differences in 30-day morbidity (7.2% vs 70.1%, P < 0.001, respectively) and mortality (0% vs 4.7%, P = 0.029, respectively) were found to be statistically significant. The multivariable analysis demonstrated that the IPF-based classifier was an independent risk factor for predicting postoperative morbidity for patients with oesophageal cancer. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated and proven to be clinically useful.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that an IPF-based nomogram could reliably predict the risk of postoperative morbidity. It has the potential to facilitate the individual perioperative management of patients with oesophageal cancer.

A low surgical Apgar score is a predictor of anastomotic leakage after transthoracic esophagectomy, but not a prognostic factor

BACKGROUND

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) has been a useful predictor of postoperative complications in several types of cancer. However, there are few reports about the correlation of SAS and esophageal cancer. This study aimed to examine the utility of SAS as a predictor of major complications, particularly anastomotic leakage, in patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy, and investigate the correlation between SAS and patient prognosis.

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective observational study. A total of 190 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in 2012-2016 were reviewed to find the correlation between SAS and postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification III or higher). SAS was calculated based on intraoperative estimated blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate. Major complications included anastomotic leakage, respiratory, cardiac, recurrent nerve palsy, chylothorax, and other complications. We also reviewed how SAS was correlated with 3 year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). A high SAS was defined as ≥ 6, and a low SAS as < 6.

RESULTS

On univariate analysis, SAS showed a statistical significance in all major complications and anastomotic leakage. On multiple logistic regression analysis, a low SAS was detected as a risk factor of the major complications and anastomotic leakage, with a significant difference. Moreover, we conducted survival analysis with SAS; however, we could not detect that a low SAS had a negative impact on OS and RFS.

CONCLUSIONS

A low SAS can be a predictor of postoperative complications, especially anastomotic leakage. However, SAS was not correlated with OS or RFS.

Number of retrieved lymph nodes is an independent prognostic factor after total gastrectomy for patients with stage III gastric cancer: propensity score matching analysis of a multi-institution dataset

BACKGROUND

The prognostic significance of the number of retrieved lymph nodes (RLNs) in gastric cancer remains controversial. Therefore, we designed a multicenter collaborative database to investigate the correlation between the number of RLNs and prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer after curative resection.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1103 patients who underwent gastrectomy for stage II/III gastric cancer between 2010 and 2014. Lymph nodes, which were retrieved by surgeons from surgically resected specimens, were validated by pathologists. A target population and the optimal cutoff were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. After propensity score matching of eight variables, including splenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy, the prognostic significance of RLNs was evaluated.

RESULTS

According to ROC curve analysis, the optimum cutoff score for predicting postoperative survival was 40. After matching, the backgrounds of patients in the RLN < 40 and RLN ≥ 40 groups (n = 87 each) became well-balanced. The RLN < 40 group experienced significantly shorter relapse-free and overall survival. The prevalence of peritoneal recurrence was significantly increased in the RLN < 40 group. RLN < 40 was an independent prognostic factor in multivariable analysis, although pathological N status was not. A forest plot revealed that the RLN < 40 group was at greater risk of recurrence in most subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

RLN < 40 was associated with an adverse prognosis of patients with stage III gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy.

Intraoperative Blood Loss is Associated with Shortened Postoperative Survival of Patients with Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: Analysis of a Multi-institutional Dataset

BACKGROUND

The influence of intraoperative blood loss (IBL) on postoperative long-term outcomes of patients with gastric cancer is controversial. Here, we used a large multicenter dataset from nine institutes to evaluate the prognostic impact of IBL on patients with stage II/III gastric cancer.

METHODS

The study analyzed 1013 patients with stage II/III gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy without preoperative treatment and intraoperative transfusion. Patients were equally divided into learning and validation cohorts using a table of random numbers. The optimal cutoff value of IBL to predict recurrence was determined using the learning cohort, and the prognostic significance of the proposed cutoff was validated using the second cohort.

RESULTS

The optimal cutoff value of IBL determined with the learning cohort using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 330 ml. In the validation cohort, IBL > 330 ml was significantly associated with high body mass index, total gastrectomy, and postoperative complications, but not disease stage and the frequency of adjuvant chemotherapy. The disease-free and disease-specific survival rates of patients in the IBL > 330 ml (IBL-high) group were significantly shorter compared with those in the IBL ≤ 330 ml group. IBL-high was identified as an independent prognostic factor of disease recurrence (hazard ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.09, P = 0.0420). The hazard ratio of the IBL-high group was greater in the surgery-alone subgroup compared with that of the postoperative adjuvant-chemotherapy subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis of a multicenter dataset indicates that IBL adversely influenced long-term outcomes of patients with stage II/III gastric cancer.

The Surgical Apgar Score and frailty as outcome predictors in short- and long-term evaluation of fit and frail older patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy - a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Frailty increases the risk of poor surgical outcomes in the older population. Some intraoperative factors may also influence the final result and can be evaluated. The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) is a simple system predicting postoperative mortality and morbidity. However, the utility of the SAS remains unknown in fit and frail older patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to benign gallbladder diseases.

AIM

To evaluate the usefulness of the SAS in predicting 30-day morbidity and 1-year mortality in older fit and frail patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Consecutive patients (≥ 70 years) were enrolled in the prospective study. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) was used to diagnose frailty. Logistic regression was conducted to investigate the association between the scores and the outcomes.

RESULTS

The study included 144 consecutive older patients with a median age of 76 (range: 70-91) years. The prevalence of frailty was 44.4%. The 30-day mortality and morbidity were 0% and 11.8%, respectively. The 1-year mortality was 6.3% and 7 out of 9 occurred in the frail group. SAS < 7 points was identified as an independent predictor of 30-day postoperative morbidity (OR = 5.1; 95% CI: 1.5-18.1). Age > 85 years (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-16.4) and frailty (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.1-19.3) were predictors of 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely performed in older fit and frail patients. The SAS, not age, turned out to be the most important predictor of 30-day morbidity. Frailty and age > 85 years were predictors of 1-year mortality. Older patients with SAS < 7 points should be followed meticulously in order to diagnose and treat potential complications early on.

Utility of the Surgical Apgar Score in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objectives To recognize the utility of the surgical Apgar score (SAS) in a noncutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) population. Study Design Retrospective case series with chart review. Setting Academic tertiary medical center. Subjects and Methods Patients (n = 563) undergoing noncutaneous HNSCC resection between April 2012 and March 2015 were included. Demographics, medical history, intraoperative data, and postoperative hospital summaries were collected. SASs were calculated following the published schema. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative morbidity. A 2-sample t test, analysis of variance, and χ² (or Fisher exact) test were used for statistical comparisons. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of 30-day morbidity. Results Mean SAS was 6.2 ± 1.5. SAS groups did not differ in age, sex, or race. Sixty-five patients (11.6%) had a SAS between 0 and 4, with 40 incidences of morbidity (61.5%), while 31 (5.5%) patients with SAS from 9 to 10 had 3 morbidity occurrences (9.7%). Results show that 30-day postoperative morbidity is inversely related to increasing SAS ( P < .0001). Furthermore, lower SAS was associated with significantly increased operative time (SAS 0-4: 9.3 ± 2.6 hours vs SAS 9-10: 3.0 ± 1.1 hours) and lengths of stay (SAS 0-4: 10.0 ± 7.3 days vs SAS 9-10: 1.6 ± 1.0 days), P < .0001. SAS remained highly significant after adjusting for potential confounding variables in the multivariable analysis ( P < .0001). Conclusions An increasing SAS is associated with significantly lower rates of 30-day postoperative morbidities in a noncutaneous HNSCC patient population.

The Reliability of Surgical Apgar Score in Predicting Immediate and Late Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality: A Narrative Review

Surgical Apgar Score is a simple, 10-point scoring system in which a low score reliably identifies those patients at risk for adverse perioperative outcomes. Surgical techniques and anesthesia management should be directed in such a way that the Surgical Apgar Score remains higher to avoid postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Adapting the Surgical Apgar Score for Perioperative Outcome Prediction in Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Study

Background

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a 10-point scale using the lowest heart rate, lowest mean arterial pressure, and estimated blood loss (EBL) during surgery to predict postoperative outcomes. The SAS has not yet been validated in liver transplantation patients, because typical blood loss usually exceeds the highest EBL category. Our primary aim was to develop a modified SAS for liver transplant (SAS-LT) by replacing the EBL parameter with volume of red cells transfused. We hypothesized that the SAS-LT would predict death or severe complication within 30 days of transplant with similar accuracy to current scoring systems.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of consecutive liver transplantations from July 2007 to November 2013 was used to develop the SAS-LT. The predictive ability of SAS-LT for early postoperative outcomes was compared with Model for End-stage Liver Disease, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores using multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

Of 628 transplants, death or serious perioperative morbidity occurred in 105 (16.7%). The SAS-LT (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [AUC], 0.57) had similar predictive ability to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III, model for end-stage liver disease, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (0.57, 0.56, and 0.61, respectively).

Seventy-nine (12.6%) patients were discharged from the ICU in 24 hours or less. These patients’ SAS-LT scores were significantly higher than those with a longer stay (7.0 vs 6.2, P < 0.01). The AUC on multivariable modeling remained predictive of early ICU discharge (AUC, 0.67).

Conclusions

The SAS-LT utilized simple intraoperative metrics to predict early morbidity and mortality after liver transplant with similar accuracy to other scoring systems at an earlier postoperative time point.

New surgical scoring system to predict postoperative mortality

Purpose

There is still no easy and highly useful method to comprehensively assess both preoperative and intraoperative patient statuses to predict postoperative outcomes. We attempted to develop a new scoring system that would enable a comprehensive assessment of preoperative and intraoperative patient statuses instantly at the end of anesthesia, predicting postoperative mortality.

Methods

The study included 32,555 patients who underwent surgery under general or regional anesthesia from 2008 to 2012. From the anesthesia records, extracted factors, including patient characteristics and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA-PS), and three intraoperative indexes (the lowest heart rate, lowest mean arterial pressure, and estimated volume of blood loss) are used to calculate the surgical Apgar score (sAs). The sAs and ASA-PS, and surgical Apgar score combined with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (SASA), which combines the sAs and ASA-PS into a single adjusted scale, were compared and analyzed with postoperative 30-day mortality.

Results

Increased severity of the sAs, ASA-PS and SASA was correlated with significantly higher mortality. The risk of death was elevated by 3.65 for every 2-point decrease in the sAs, by 6.4 for every 1-point increase in the ASA-PS, and by 9.56 for every 4-point decrease in the SASA. The ROC curves of the sAs and ASA-PS alone also individually demonstrated high validity (AUC = 0.81 for sAs and 0.79 for ASA-PS, P < 0.001). The SASA was even more valid (AUC = 0.87, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The sAs and ASA-PS were shown to be extremely useful for predicting 30-day mortality after surgery. An even higher predictive ability was demonstrated by the SASA, which combines these simple and effective scoring systems.

Risk scores as useful predictors of perioperative complications in patients with rectal cancer who received radical surgery

BACKGROUND

Rectal cancer is associated with a higher rate of surgical complications. The ability to predict the risk of complications before treatment would facilitate the design of personalized treatment strategies optimally suited for each patient.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 260 patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical surgery to examine the relations between complications and 5 types of risk scores.

RESULTS

Complications developed in 56 patients (21.5%). Nineteen patients had infectious complications, 16 had intestinal obstruction, and 12 had other complications. Twelve patients out of 187 patients who received low anterior resection had anastomotic leakage. Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress Comprehensive Risk Score (E-PASS CRS) and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) were significantly related to all complications, infectious complications, and anastomotic leakage. Surgical Apgar Score was significantly related to infectious complications. Prognostic Nutritional Index was significantly related to all complications and intestinal obstruction. Colorectal Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity was significantly related to all complications, and infectious complications. A multivariate analysis showed that body-mass index, E-PASS CRS, and NLR were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage. In particular, NLR was the only score that could be evaluated before surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Five types of risk scores were useful methods for evaluating the risks of complications in patients with rectal cancer. NLR is a score that can be evaluated before surgery and predicted the risk of anastomotic leakage, suggesting that it is useful for assessing the need for a diverting colostomy.

Improvement of the Surgical Apgar Score by Addition of Intraoperative Blood Transfusion Among Patients Undergoing Major Gastrointestinal Surgery

BACKGROUND

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) has been shown to correlate with postoperative outcomes. A key component of the SAS is estimated blood loss (EBL), which has been shown to be inaccurate and discordant with intraoperative blood transfusion. Given this, the objective of the current study was to assess the added predictive value of the including receipt of intraoperative transfusion to the SAS.

METHODS

We identified 1833 patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery (pancreatic, hepato-biliary, and colorectal) between January 1, 2010 and August 31, 2013 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The primary outcome was postoperative complications or death. A modified SAS was created by assigning a "0" EBL score for every patient who received an intraoperative blood transfusion, regardless of the actual EBL. Model performance was tested using logistic regression and c-statistic.

RESULTS

Mean EBL of the entire cohort was 250 mL. Two hundred ninety-two patients (15.9 %) received at least 1 unit of blood intraoperatively. Approximately, one half of patients (55.1 %) who had an EBL <1000 mL received an intraoperative transfusion. Patients who received an intraoperative transfusion (transfusion n = 94, 32.2 % vs. no transfusion n = 221, 14.3 %; P < 0.001) and those with increasing EBL had a higher incidence of postoperative morbidity and/or death (≤100 mL: 11.6 %, 101-600 mL: 16.9 %, 601-1000 mL: 24.5 %, >1000 mL: 29.2 %; P < 0.001). The variance inflation factor between EBL and intraoperative transfusion was 1.23 for postoperative morbidity/mortality, suggesting that the multicollinearity between the two variables was low. With the inclusion of intraoperative transfusion in the modified SAS, the modified model (c-statistic 0.6552) had an improved discrimination of predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality as compared to the original SAS (c-statistic 0.6391) (P = 0.01). The modified SAS demonstrated improvement in predicting raw differences in the incidence of postoperative morbidity/mortality based on the overall score (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of intraoperative transfusion in a modified SAS significantly improves the risk-stratifying ability of the score with regard to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Given the variability of intraoperative transfusion, its discordance with EBL, and its strong negative impact on postoperative outcomes, we strongly support the inclusion of this factor in a modified SAS.

Risk Assessment of Pancreatic Surgery by Surgical Apgar Score and Body Mass Index

Postoperative morbidity is high after pancreatic surgery. Recently, a simple and easy-to-use surgical complication prediction system, the surgical Apgar score (SAS), calculated using 3 intraoperative parameters (estimated blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure, and lowest heart rate) has been proposed for general surgery. In this study, we evaluated the predictability of the SAS for severe complications after pancreatic surgery for pancreatic cancer. We investigated 189 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery at Kanagawa Cancer Center between 2005 and 2014. Clinicopathologic data, including the intraoperative parameters, were collected retrospectively. In this study, the patients with postoperative morbidities classified as Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or higher were classified as having severe complications. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for morbidity. Postoperative complications were identified in 73 patients, and the overall morbidity rate was 38.6%. The results of both univariate and multivariate analyses of various factors for overall operative morbidity showed that an SAS of 0 to 4 points and a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were significant independent risk factors for overall morbidity (P = 0.046 and P = 0.013). The SAS and body mass index were significant risk factors for surgical complications after pancreatic surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy versus open gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) comparing with open gastrectomy (OG) in elderly population.

Methods

Studies comparing LG with OG for elderly population with gastric cancer, published between January 1994 and July 2015, were identified in the PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science databases. Operative outcomes (intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and the number of lymph nodes harvested) and postoperative outcomes (time to first ambulation, time to first flatus, time to first oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity) were included and analyzed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the pooled study. A funnel plot was used to evaluate the publication bias.

Results

Seven studies totaling 845 patients were included in the meta-analysis. LG in comparison to OG showed less intraoperative blood loss (weighted mean difference (WMD) −127.47; 95 % confidence interval (CI) −202.79 to −52.16; P < 0.01), earlier time to first ambulation (WMD −2.07; 95 % CI −2.84 to −1.30; P < 0.01), first flatus (WMD −1.04; 95 % CI −1.45 to −0.63; P < 0.01), and oral intake (WMD −0.94; 95 % CI −1.11 to −0.77; P < 0.01), postoperative hospital stay (WMD −5.26; 95 % CI −7.58 to −2.93; P < 0.01), lower overall postoperative complication rate (odd ratio (OR) 0.39; 95 % CI 0.28 to 0.55; P < 0.01), less surgical complications (OR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.32 to 0.69; P < 0.01), medical complication (OR 0.35; 95 % CI 0.22 to 0.56; P < 0.01), incisional complication (OR 0.40; 95 % CI 0.19 to 0.85; P = 0.02), and pulmonary infection (OR 0.49; 95 % CI 0.26 to 0.93; P = 0.03). No significant differences were observed between LG and OG for the number of harvested lymph nodes. However, LG had longer operative times (WMD 15.73; 95 % CI 6.23 to 25.23; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

LG is a feasible and safe approach for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Compared with OG, LG has less blood loss, faster postoperative recovery, and reduced postoperative morbidity.

Application of the Surgical Apgar Score to Microvascular Head and Neck Reconstruction

PURPOSE

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a recently devised risk-stratifying metric that relies on 3 intraoperative parameters to predict postoperative complications in surgical patients. The purpose of this study was to validate the SAS externally in a cohort of patients undergoing microvascular head and neck reconstruction with fibular free flaps.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing head and neck microvascular reconstruction with fibular free flaps was completed. The primary predictor variable was the calculated SAS. The primary outcome variable was the presence of medical and surgical complications occurring within 30 days of surgery. Basic demographic information, comorbidity indices, and perioperative parameters were abstracted as covariates. Medical and surgical complications were categorized as minor or major depending on severity level. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations with 30-day postoperative complications.

RESULTS

In 154 patients, the partial flap failure rate was 3% and there were no complete flap failures. There were 110 patients (71%) who developed at least 1 30-day postoperative complication and 51 (33%) who developed a major complication. The median SAS was 7. The SAS was not significantly associated with the presence of any 30-day postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-1.42; P = .89) or the presence of any major postoperative complication (OR = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.59-1.09; P = .16) in a univariable setting. The SAS did not achieve statistical significance after multivariable adjustment.

CONCLUSION

Despite validation in numerous other surgical specialties, the SAS might not be useful as a metric for risk stratification among patients undergoing major head and neck reconstruction with fibular free flaps.

C-reactive protein on postoperative day 3 as a predictor of infectious complications following gastric cancer resection

BACKGROUND

Postoperative infectious complications (PICs) after gastric cancer resection remain a clinically relevant problem. Early detection of PICs, before critical illness develops, may be of considerable clinical benefit. The aims of this study were to investigate the predictive factors for PICs and to define the clinical parameters for detecting them early in patients with gastric cancer resection.

METHODS

Clinical data for 417 consecutive patients undergoing elective gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer between 2009 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified clinical factors predicting PICs of grade III or more according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients developed PICs of grade ≥ III [10.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.6-13.5%]. As a systemic inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day (POD) 3 had superior diagnostic accuracy for PICs (AUC 0.802, 95% CI 0.735-0.870) with a calculated cutoff value of 17.7 mg/dl, yielding a sensitivity of 0.66 (95% CI 0.524-0.774) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.821-0.850). Multivariate analysis identified CRP on POD 3 of 17.7 mg/dl or greater [odds ratio (OR) 8.094, 95% CI 3.568-19.342) as well as clinical stage ≥ II (OR 4.445, 95% CI 1.478-15.881) and operation time ≥ 250 min (OR 3.638, 95% CI 1.449-10.137) as significant predictive factors for PICs after gastrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated CRP levels on POD 3 will help physicians predict the postoperative course and facilitate decision-making regarding prompt, comprehensive clinical searches and therapeutic approaches for PICs.

Evaluation of laparoscopic total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: results of a comparison with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

To validate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) in the treatment of patients with local AGC is becoming increasingly popular, and there have been several multicenter randomized controlled trials focused on this treatment. However, few reports on the procedure of LTG for AGC exist.

METHODS

The data of 976 patients who underwent LTG for AGC were retrieved from a prospectively constructed database of 2170 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy between 2007 and 2013. Surgical outcomes of LTG were investigated and compared with those of patients who underwent LDG.

RESULTS

LTG was associated with significantly longer operation time, number of dissected lymph nodes, and time of resume soft diet compared with the LDG group. According to Clavien-Dindo classification, the morbidity and mortality rates of the LTG group were comparable to those of the LDG group. Multivariate analyses revealed that elderly patients, more comorbidities, and longer operation time were the significant independent risk factors for determining postoperative complications. The difference in overall survival rates between the two groups was statistically significant. However, a comparative analysis of overall survival showed no statistical significance for any of the stages of cancer between the LTG and LDG groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings suggest that LTG is an oncologically safe procedure for AGC yields comparable surgical outcomes. A well-designed phase III trial can be carried out to provide valuable evidence for the oncologic safety of LTG for the treatment of AGC.

A scoring system to predict the risk of postoperative complications after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer based on a large-scale retrospective study

To investigate the risk factors for postoperative complications following laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer and to use the risk factors to develop a predictive scoring system.Few studies have been designed to develop scoring systems to predict complications after LG for gastric cancer.We analyzed records of 2170 patients who underwent a LG for gastric cancer. A logistic regression model was used to identify the determinant variables and develop a predictive score.There were 2170 patients, of whom 299 (13.8%) developed overall complications and 78 (3.6%) developed major complications. A multivariate analysis showed the following adverse risk factors for overall complications: age ≥65 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m, tumor with pyloric obstruction, tumor with bleeding, and intraoperative blood loss ≥75 mL; age ≥65 years, a Charlson comorbidity score ≥3, tumor with bleeding and intraoperative blood loss ≥75 mL were identified as independent risk factors for major complications. Based on these factors, the authors developed the following predictive score: low risk (no risk factors), intermediate risk (1 risk factor), and high risk (≥2 risk factors). The overall complication rates were 8.3%, 15.6%, and 29.9% for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, respectively (P < 0.001); the major complication rates in the 3 respective groups were 1.2%, 4.7%, and 10.0% (P < 0.001).This simple scoring system could accurately predict the risk of postoperative complications after LG for gastric cancer. The score might be helpful in the selection of risk-adapted interventions to improve surgical safety.

Current status of management of malignant disease: current management of gastric cancer

Despite a continually decreasing incidence trend, gastric cancer remains a high-risk malignancy. Symptoms are often unspecific, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the key modality for diagnosing early and intermediate-stage disease. Surgeons play a critical role in guiding and managing multiple aspects of gastric cancer diagnosis and care. Potentially curable gastric adenocarcinoma has to be free of distant metastasis and should be staged through endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography. Early (T1N0) gastric cancer can be considered for endosopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection. All other M0 stage groups should be evaluated for preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation followed by resection through a multidisciplinary approach. Laparoscopic staging, complete (R0) resection, and extended lymphadenectomy (D2 dissection) are critical operative components that optimize curability during gastrectomy. The morbidity potential after gastrectomy remains high; splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy should be avoided if possible to minimize postoperative complications. Laparoscopic gastric cancer resections are increasingly pursued and have not shown disadvantages to open gastrectomy as long as oncologic principles are followed. For the palliation of specific symptoms in patients with incurable gastric cancer, operative interventions should be applied selectively if less invasive modalities are insufficient and only if a meaningful benefit can be expected from a resection or bypass procedure. Prophylactic total gastrectomy should be considered for individuals at risk for hereditary diffuse-type gastric cancer through germline E-cadherin gene mutations. Surgeons engaging in gastric cancer care are expected to provide specialty expertise in order to plan and deliver appropriate care, minimize postoperative morbidity, and optimize resulting survival.

Surgical Apgar Score and prediction of morbidity in women undergoing hysterectomy for malignancy

OBJECTIVE

To validate whether Surgical Apgar Score can predict post-operative morbidity in patients undergoing hysterectomies for malignancies.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive hysterectomies performed for cancer at a single academic institution between 2008 and 2010. The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) was derived as previously reported. Peri-operative complications were as outlined by the American Board for Obstetrics and Gynecology, and then further subdivided into intra-operative and post-operative events. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were utilized.

RESULTS

A total of 632 patients were identified. Of our cohort, 64% underwent surgery for cancer arising in the uterus, followed by ovary at 28.6% and cervix at 4%. Median patient age was 60 years old with a mean American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA) score of 2.5 and a median body mass index of 29. Average Surgical Apgar Score was 7.6. As SAS decreased, the risk of peri-operative complications increased (p<0.01). On univariate analysis SAS could predict for both intra-operative and post-operative complications. However, on multivariate analyses SAS could not independently predict for any post-operative complications (OR 1.02, CI 0.47-2.17). In a multivariable model incorporating age, ASA class, SAS <4, disease site, bowel resection and laparotomy, only ASA class and laparotomy were able to predict for postoperative complication events.

CONCLUSIONS

Low Surgical Apgar Score significantly associates with morbidity in women undergoing hysterectomy for malignancy, but is unable to predict which patients will have postoperative complications. This renders the SAS less helpful for the creation of peri-operative metrics to guide post-operative care.