Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in severe osteoarthritis: a crossover comparison of four exercise modalities*

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is performed increasingly for cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and pre-operative risk stratification. Lower limb osteoarthritis is a common comorbidity in surgical patients, meaning traditional cycle ergometry-based cardiopulmonary exercise testing is difficult. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary exercise testing variables and subjective responses in four different exercise modalities. In this crossover study, 15 patients with osteoarthritis scheduled for total hip or knee arthroplasty (mean (SD) age 68 (7) years; body mass index 31.4 (4.1) kg.m^-2) completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill, elliptical cross-trainer, cycle and arm ergometer. Mean (SD) peak oxygen consumption was 20-30% greater on the lower limb modalities (treadmill 21.5 (4.6) (p < 0.001); elliptical cross-trainer (21.2 (4.1) (p < 0.001); and cycle ergometer (19.4 (4.2) ml.min⁻¹.kg⁻¹ (p = 0.001), respectively) than on the arm ergometer (15.7 (3.7) ml.min^-1.kg^-1). Anaerobic threshold was 25-50% greater on the lower limb modalities (treadmill 13.5 (3.1) (p < 0.001); elliptical cross-trainer 14.6 (3.0) (p < 0.001); and cycle ergometer 10.7 (2.9) (p = 0.003)) compared with the arm ergometer (8.4 (1.7) ml.min⁻¹.kg⁻¹). The median (95%CI) difference between pre-exercise and peak-exercise pain scores was greater for tests on the treadmill (2.0 (0.0-5.0) (p = 0.001); elliptical cross-trainer (3.0 (2.0-4.0) (p = 0.001); and cycle ergometer (3.0 (1.0-5.0) (p = 0.001)), compared with the arm ergometer (0.0 (0.0-1.0) (p = 0.406)). Despite greater peak exercise pain, cardiopulmonary exercise testing modalities utilising the lower limbs affected by osteoarthritis elicited higher peak oxygen consumption and anaerobic threshold values compared with arm ergometry.     

心肺运动试验评估肺功能减退的肺癌患者手术适应证探讨

目的探讨心肺运动试验对肺功能减退的肺癌患者手术适应证评估的临床意义. 方法术前采用运动负荷递增的方案,测定195例肺功能减退的肺癌患者终止负荷运动时的功率(W%)、最大摄氧量((·V)O2%P)、公斤氧耗量((·V)O2/kg)等指标,并对术后有呼吸衰竭和无呼吸衰竭患者中上述指标的异常发生率行单因素和logistic多因素分析. 结果全肺切除术后有呼吸衰竭患者W%、(·V)O2%P、(·V)O2/kg、代谢当量(MET)、每分通气量((·V)E)、呼吸频率(BF)均低于无呼吸衰竭患者(P<0.05或0.01),logistic回归分析显示(·V)E<30 L/min和BF<30次/分与术后有呼吸衰竭发生密切相关.肺叶切除术后上述指标两者间差别无显著性意义,但一秒率(FEV1%)<60%、肺叶切除术后有呼吸衰竭者上述指标降低(P<0.05或0.01); logistic回归分析显示(·V)O2% P<60%与术后呼吸衰竭密切相关.结论心肺运动试验可用于肺功能减退肺癌患者手术适应证的评估,应选择(·V)O2% P<60%作为评估指标.     

Neoadjuvant therapy and breast cancer surgery: a closer look at postoperative complications

Background

Neoadjuvant therapy is important in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Methods

Postoperative complications in neoadjuvant patients were analyzed.

Results

One hundred forty patients underwent 148 breast cancer surgeries after neoadjuvant therapy: 28% breast-conserving therapy procedures, 36% mastectomies, 28% mastectomies with immediate reconstruction, and 8% mastectomies with delayed reconstruction. Forty-seven patients (34%) suffered 59 complications: 18% of those undergoing breast-conserving therapy, 30% of those undergoing mastectomy, 44% of those undergoing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and 67% of those undergoing mastectomy with delayed reconstruction. Major complications occurred in 18% of patients. Skin loss occurred in 6% of patients. One patient had partial nipple necrosis. Three patients suffered implant loss. One patient had deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap loss. Eleven hematomas and 5 infectious complications required reoperation.

Conclusions

Surgery after neoadjuvant therapy is safe, but careful counseling is warranted given that 18% of patients experienced major complications. Complications rates are higher with reconstruction, but feared complications of skin, nipple, implant, or flap loss were infrequent.     

A modified Delphi process to establish future research priorities in malignant oesophagogastric surgery

BackgroundWith rapid advancement in the genomics of oesophagogastric (OG) cancer and raised expectations in clinical outcomes from patients and clinicians alike there is a clear need to determine the current research priorities in OG cancer surgery. The aim of our study was to use a modified Delphi process to determine the research priorities among OG cancer surgeons in the United Kingdom.MethodsDelphi methodology may be utilised to develop consensus opinion amongst a group of experts. Members of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland were invited to submit individual research questions via an online survey (phase I). Two rounds of prioritisation by multidisciplinary expert healthcare professionals (phase II and III) were completed to determine a final list of high priority research questions. All questions submitted and subsequently ranked were analysed on an anonymised basis.ResultsIn total, 427 questions were submitted in phase I and 75 with an OG cancer focus were taken forward for prioritisation in phase II. Phase III produced a final list of 12 high priority questions with an emphasis on tailored or personalised treatment strategies in OG cancer surgery.ConclusionA modified Delphi process produced a list of 12 high priority research questions in OG cancer surgery. Future studies and awards from funding bodies should reflect this consensus list of prioritised questions in the interest of improving patient care and encouraging collaborative research across multiple centres.     

Assessing the impact of rurality on oesophagogastric cancer survival in the North-East of Scotland- a prospective population cohort study

IntroductionDespite advances in oncology therapies and surgical techniques, survival from oesophagogastric cancer remains low. Poorer cancer outcomes and survival for rural dwellers is documented worldwide and has been an area of focus in Scotland since 2007 when changes to suspected cancer national referral guidelines and governmental mandates on delivering remote and rural healthcare occurred. Whether these changes in clinical practice has impacted upon upper gastrointestinal cancer remains unclear.MethodsA prospective, single-centre observation study was performed. Data from the regional oesophagogastric cancer MDT between 2013 and 2019 were included. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020 tool provided a rurality code (1 or 2) based on patient postcode at time of referral. Survival outcomes for urban and rural patients were compared across demographic factors, disease factors and stage at presentation.ResultsA total of 1038 patients were included in this study. There was no significant difference between rural and urban groups in terms of sex of patient, age at diagnosis, cancer location, or tumour stage. Furthermore, no difference was identified between those commenced on a radical therapy with other treatment plans. Despite this, rurality predicted for an improved outcome on survival analysis (p = 0.012) and this was independent of other factors on multivariable analysis (HR = 0.78, 95%CI 0.66–0.98; p = 0.032).DiscussionThe difference in survival demonstrated here between urban and rural groups is not easily explained but may represent improvements to rural access to healthcare delivered as a result of Scottish Government reports.     

Physiological basis of preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing

The use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is gaining popularity as a preoperative functional assessment tool and a useful adjunct to risk stratification before surgery. Determination of the integrated response of multiple body systems (including the cardiorespiratory and peripheral oxygen delivery systems) to exercise stress, adds important prognostic value to pre-surgical assessment, shared-decision making and postoperative management of the surgical patient. Thorough CPET interpretation is complex but may be assisted by an understanding of basic exercise physiology and its application to the preoperative context.     

Prognostic impacts of categorized postoperative complications in surgery for gastric cancer

BackgroundPostoperative complications generally aggravate postoperative prognosis and are correlated with both cancer-specific death and death from other causes.MethodsSubjects were 197 patients who underwent gastrectomy at Kyoto Chubu Medical Center. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and non-CSS (NCSS) were compared between cases with and without complications. Major complications were classified into C-com and N-com groups based on their prognostic impact on CSS and NCSS, respectively. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted using clinicopathological factors.ResultsDuring the study period, 30 patients (15.2%) died from gastric cancer and 34 (17.3%) died from other causes. The incidence of postoperative complications was 16.8%. Sixteen patients with anastomosis leakage, pancreatic fistula, or organ/space surgical site infection had significantly poorer CSS, whereas 30 patients with pneumonia or passage obstruction had significantly poorer NCSS. These were defined as C-com and N-com cases, respectively. In the uni- and multivariate analyses, C-com was a significant prognostic factor for CSS (p = 0.002, p = 0.039) and N-com was a significant prognostic factor for NCSS (p < 0.0001, p = 0.004). C-reactive protein levels indicated intermediate and severe inflammation in N-com and C-com cases, respectively.ConclusionIn N-com cases, surgical stress caused disruption of essential organ function, whereas damage in C-com cases occurred mostly in the abdominal cavity but was a risk for cancer regrowth. Thus, different postoperative complications worsen patient prognosis after gastrectomy in different ways. To optimize surgical outcomes, improved selection of treatment strategies for different complication types may be important.     

Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing: physiological basis and investigation

The number of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) centres has doubled in the UK since 2011. Approximately 30,000 tests are performed every year in the UK now. It is a useful tool helping preoperative risk stratification. Patients with poor exercise tolerance are more likely to suffer perioperative complications and death. Interpretation of a large amount of data generated during the test requires a good understanding of basic exercise physiology and its clinical application. Incorporation of CPET data in a global preoperative assessment provides a personalized risk estimate for a patient. This risk estimate discussed with the multidisciplinary team and the patient is an opportunity to make a decision which is in the patient's best interest. Such decisions also help in the best use of healthcare resources. Newer studies in this field are addressing the ongoing debate about the future use of CPET-derived parameters.     

Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing: physiological basis and investigation

The number of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) centres has doubled in the UK since 2011. Approximately 30,000 tests are performed every year in the UK now. It is a useful tool helping preoperative risk stratification. Patients with poor exercise tolerance are more likely to suffer perioperative complications and death. Interpretation of a large amount of data generated during the test requires a good understanding of basic exercise physiology and its clinical application. Incorporation of CPET data in a global preoperative assessment provides a personalized risk estimate for a patient. This risk estimate discussed with the multidisciplinary team and the patient is an opportunity to make a decision which is in the patient’s best interest. Such decisions also help in the best use of healthcare resources. Newer studies in this field are addressing the ongoing debate about the future use of CPET-derived parameters.     

腹腔镜直肠癌手术常见并发症的预防与处理原则

腹腔镜直肠癌手术相关并发症的预防与治疗是手术成功和术后恢复的关键。腹腔镜直肠癌根治术常见腹部并发症有腹腔内出血、腹腔脏器损伤、神经损伤、吻合口漏、出血、狭窄等。笔者结合该领域相关现状和自身经验,对腹腔镜直肠癌手术常见腹部并发症的防治及其处理原则作一总结与分享。     

老年胃癌术后肺部并发症危险因素分析

目的：探讨老年胃癌术后肺部并发症的相关危险因素。方法回顾性分析2005年1月至2013年8月195例70岁以上老年胃癌手术患者的术后肺部并发症发生的情况,采用 SPSS13．0统计软件,组间计数资料比较用χ2检验,以 P﹤0．05为差异有显著性。结果195例老年胃癌手术患者,出现术后肺部并发症50例,发病率为25．64％（50／195）。患者年龄大于80岁、体重指数＞25、有吸烟史、慢性阻塞性肺气肿史、低蛋白血症、糖尿病史等术前状况因素与术后的肺部并发症发生有关,差异均有统计学意义（χ2＝5．63、6．28、7．32、8．62、6．56、6．95, P﹤0．05）。手术方式包括近端胃切除术、全胃切除术、联合脾切除术及全麻插管时间超过3h等因素与术后的肺部并发症发生有关,差异均有统计学意义,（χ2＝8．26、8．52、8．67、9．12, P﹤0．05）。结论术后肺部并发症的发生与高龄、肥胖、吸烟、慢性阻塞性肺气肿史、低蛋白血症、糖尿病、手术方式有明显关系,是主要的危险因素。     

不同剂量糖皮质激素预防患者冠状动脉旁路移植术后并发症的效果:meta分析

目的 采用meta分析评价不同剂量糖皮质激素预防患者冠状动脉旁路移植术后并发症的效果.方法 检索PubMed、EMbase、Highwire、CENTREN及其下属各临床注册试验数据中心、中国生物医学文献数据库和中国期刊全文数据库,检索时间限定2000年至2010年.收集冠状动脉旁路移植术患者给予不同剂量糖皮质激素预防术后并发症的随机对照研究.采用Cochrane协作网系统评价文献质量,并分析有关资料,主要包括术后房颤的发生情况、术后因高血糖需胰岛素治疗的情况、术后感染发生情况、术后死亡情况(住院期间或出院30 d内)和机械通气时间.采用RevMan 5.1软件进行meta分析.结果 纳入21项研究,共1737例患者.冠状动脉旁路移植术患者给予不同剂量糖皮质激素可降低术后房颤发生的风险,不增加各种原因感染及死亡的风险;中、大剂量增加因高血糖需要胰岛素治疗的风险;大剂量糖皮质激素患者机械通气时间延长.结论 冠状动脉旁路移植术患者给予不同剂量糖皮质激素可降低术后房颤的发生风险,且不增加感染和死亡的风险;中、大剂量可增加因高血糖需胰岛素治疗的风险;大剂量可增加机械通气时间延长的风险.     

Prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications in oesophagogastric cancer surgery

In a series of 102 patients with cancer of the oesophagus or gastric cardia in whom surgery had been performed, postoperative respiratory infection, respiratory failure and mortality secondary to respiratory complication occurred in 55.8, 34.3 and 21.6 per cent respectively. The incidence of complications correlated well with the pre-operative peak expiratory flow rate when it was less than 65 per cent of the predicted normal value. However, the predictive ability of peak expiratory flow rate was much less than the patient's age, pre-operative serum albumin level, pre-operative Pa,O2 and number of surgical wounds when all risk factors were considered. Significantly more complications occurred when the patient was greater than 65 years old, Pa,O2 was less than 10 kPa, serum albumin was less than 39 g/l and when the operation required three incisions. These findings may serve as guidelines for identification of high-risk patients in the future.     

特发性脊柱侧凸手术并发症分析

目的：探讨特发性脊柱侧凸手术并发症及预防方法。方法：2002年6月至2007年5月治疗特发性脊柱侧凸86例,男21例,女65例;年龄8～22岁,平均17.8岁。侧凸按Lenke分型,1型33例,2型10例,3型18例,4型5例,5型10例,6型10例。Risser征0～Ⅰ度5例,Ⅱ～Ⅲ度20例,Ⅳ～Ⅴ度61例。术前患者冠状位主侧凸Cobb角45°～85°,平均Cobb角60.35°,采用TSRH等钉棒系统进行全脊柱椎弓根螺钉三维矫形、融合固定技术。对手术后矫形情况及手术后并发症进行总结。结果：所有患者平均手术时间3.2h,平均出血1000ml（800～2400ml）,共置椎弓根螺钉924枚,术后平均Cobb角18.46°。全部患者均获随访,时间5～40个月,平均20.5个月。86例患者中,1例脊髓损伤;25枚螺钉偏位;2例神经根损伤;1例胸膜损伤;1例肠系膜上动脉综合征;3例手术切口感染;2例躯体失平衡;1例交界性后凸;3例内固定松动;2例假关节形成;1例曲轴现象;2例平腰畸形。结论：特发性脊柱侧凸手术有很多种并发症,正确的诊治方案是减少并发症的关键。     

颈椎前路手术早期并发症原因分析及对策

目的总结颈椎前路手术的术中、术后早期并发症,分析原因并提出对策。方法回顾1992年1月至2003年12月颈椎前路手术412例,男308例,女104例;年龄18～76岁,平均45.6±12.9岁。颈椎病258例,颈椎外伤138例,颈椎肿瘤8例,颈椎结核8例。412例患者,病史最短4小时,最长达20年,平均548d。全瘫58例(14.1%),不全瘫192例(46.6%),无瘫痪症状162例(39.3%)。麻醉包括三大类(5种)局麻(局部浸润35例、颈丛阻滞52例、局部浸润 颈丛阻滞6例、全麻318例、全麻 颈丛1例。前路减压、自体髂骨植骨融合33例,前路减压、椎间融合器椎间融合术32例,前路减压、自体髂骨植骨融合、前路钢板内固定术347例。结果共42例51例次出现早期并发症,并发症的例次发生率为12.37%。28例次(6.80%)同手术直接相关,喉上神经损伤5例次,喉返神经损伤4例次,颈部切口感染及血肿4例次,脊髓损害症状加重5例次,神经根损伤2例次,植骨块移位2例次,取骨区感染及血肿各1例次,钢板、螺钉松动2例次,螺钉位置不当1例次,食管瘘1例次;23例次(5.08%)同手术间接相关。结论降低颈椎前路手术并发症的发生率,不仅要熟悉颈椎前路临床解剖,提高手术技巧,还要做好颈椎前路手术围手术期的处理。     

Postoperative complications in patients irradiated pre-operatively for rectal cancer: report of a randomised trial comparing short-term radiotherapy vs chemoradiation

OBJECTIVE: The primary outcome was sphincter preservation. No benefit was found with chemoradiation. The aim of this report is to analyse postoperative complications, which were the secondary outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with resectable T3-4 low rectal carcinoma were randomised to receive either pre-operative 5 x 5 Gy irradiation with subsequent total mesorectal excision (TME) performed within 7 days or chemoradiation (50.4 Gy, 1.8 Gy per fraction plus bolus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) followed by TME after 4-6 weeks. RESULTS: Three hundred and five patients (153 in 5 x 5 Gy group and 152 in chemoradiation group) were analysed. The rates of patients with postoperative complications for the 5 x 5 Gy group and for the chemoradiation group were 27 vs 21%, respectively (P = 0.27). If the values were expressed in terms of number of complications, the rates were 31 vs 22%, respectively (P = 0.06). The corresponding values for severe complications were 10 vs 11% (P = 0.85) of patients with complications and 12 vs 11% (P = 0.85) of events. CONCLUSION: The study did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications after short-course pre-operative radiotherapy compared with full course chemoradiation.