Intraoperative ultrasonography during planned liver resections: why are we still performing it?

Background Intraoperative ultrasonography (US) is used in many centers before oncologic liver resections to detect additional tumors and to evaluate the relationship of tumors to major vascular structures. As preoperative imaging improves, it is expected that the diagnostic yield from intraoperative US will diminish. In this study we attempt to determine if fewer unrecognized tumors were being detected and whether intraoperative US is having less impact on surgical decision making. Methods We compared 50 consecutive cases (mean age = 57.2 ± 10 years; 27 men) who underwent laparotomy for a planned resection of primary liver malignancies or metastases between September 2003 and July 2005 with 50 consecutive cases (mean age = 56.9 ± 14 years; 25 men) between January 1999 and September 2003. Dedicated intraoperative liver US was performed or supervised by a gastrointestinal radiologist using a 5.0-MHz linear- or curvilinear-array transducer during each procedure. Results The rate of detecting unrecognized tumors has not changed significantly (14% vs. 20%, p = 0.70). The use of US to establish the relationship between tumor and the vasculature has not changed (48% vs. 60%, p = 0.23). The percentage of cases where the US findings were responsible for altering surgical management was 20% for both groups. The resection rate was 72% for both groups. The negative resection margin rate has also not changed significantly (86% vs. 69%, p = 0.09). Conclusions Despite the advances in cross-sectional imaging, the frequency of unrecognized tumors found during intraoperative liver US and its use for surgical guidance has not changed significantly. Currently routine intraoperative US alters the management of approximately one fifth of our patients undergoing attempted liver resection for primary malignancies or metastases. Presented at the Meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Dallas, TX, 26–29 April 2006     

Childhood Cancer and the Risk of ESKD

BackgroundIncreasing cancer incidence among children alongside improved treatments has resulted in a growing number of pediatric cancer survivors. Despite childhood cancer survivors’ exposure to various factors that compromise kidney function, few studies have investigated the association between childhood cancer and future kidney disease.MethodsTo assess the risk of ESKD among childhood cancer survivors, we conducted a nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study that encompassed all Israeli adolescents evaluated for mandatory military service from 1967 to 1997. After obtaining detailed histories, we divided the cohort into three groups: participants without a history of tumors, those with a history of a benign tumor (nonmalignant tumor with functional impairment), and those with a history of malignancy (excluding kidney cancer). This database was linked to the Israeli ESKD registry to identify incident ESKD cases. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of ESKD.ResultsOf the 1,468,600 participants in the cohort, 1,444,345 had no history of tumors, 23,282 had a history of a benign tumor, and 973 had a history of malignancy. During a mean follow-up of 30.3 years, 2416 (0.2%) participants without a history of tumors developed ESKD. Although a history of benign tumors was not associated with an increased ESKD risk, participants with a history of malignancy exhibited a substantially elevated risk for ESKD compared with participants lacking a history of tumors, after controlling for age, sex, enrollment period, and paternal origin (adjusted HR, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 7.7).ConclusionsChildhood cancer is associated with an increased risk for ESKD, suggesting the need for tighter and longer nephrological follow-up.     

Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Patients Older than 60 Years

Background

Morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) occur at acceptable rates, but its safety and efficacy in the elderly are unknown.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of all patients aged >60 years who underwent LSG from 2008 to 2012. These patients were 1:2 matched, by gender and body mass index (BMI) to young patients, 18?<?age?<?50. Data analyzed included demographics, preoperative and postoperative BMI, postoperative complications, and improvement or resolution of obesity-related comorbidities.

Results

Fifty-two morbid obese patients older than 60 years underwent LSG (mean age, 62.9?±?0.3 years). These were matched to 104 young patients, age 18–50 years (mean age, 35.7?±?0.8 years). Groups did not differ in male gender (44 vs. 43 %, p?=?0.9), preoperative BMI (42.6?±?0.7 vs. 42.6?±?0.6, p?=?0.97), and length of follow-up (17?±?2 vs. 22?±?1.4 months, p?=?0.06). Obesity-related comorbidities were significantly higher in the older group (96 vs. 65 %, p?<?0.001). Excess weight loss (EWL) was higher in the younger group (75?±?2.4 vs. 62?±?3 %, p?=?0.001). Older patients had a significantly higher rate of a concurrent hiatal hernia repair (23 vs. 1.9 %, p?<?0.001). Overall postoperative minor complication rate was higher in the older group (25 vs. 4.8 %, p?<?0.001). This included atrial fibrillation (9.5 %), urinary tract infection (7 %), trocar site hernia (4 %), dysphagia, surgical site infection, bleeding, bowel obstruction, colitis, and nutritional deficiency (2 %, each). No perioperative mortality occurred. Comorbidity resolution or improvement was comparable between groups (88 vs. 80 %, p?=?0.13).

Conclusions

LSG is safe and very efficient in patients aged >60, despite higher rates of perioperative comorbidities.     

Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy in Septuagenarians

Background

Few previous studies have assessed the safety of bariatric surgery in septuagenarians.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all patients 70 years or older who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at our institution between 2012 and 2017 was performed. This group was compared to a matched cohort of younger LSG patients (18–50 years) who were operated during the same time period.

Results

Thirty septuagenarian LSG patients were compared to 60 younger patients. Gender distribution, preoperative weight, and preoperative body mass index (BMI) were comparable, although patients in the older age group suffered from more preoperative comorbidities (100 vs. 51.7%, p?<?0.001). Operative time was longer (77.2 vs. 57.3 min, p?=?0.005) and more hiatal hernias were repaired (46.7 vs. 8.3%, p?<?0.001) in the older age group. Intraoperative complications occurred more in the older age group (6.7 vs. 0%, p?=?0.04) but the overall complication rate (13.3 vs. 5.0%, p?=?0.17) and the postoperative complication rate (10.0 vs. 5.0%, p?=?0.38) were comparable. After a mean follow-up period of 31.3 and 33.5 months, the percentage of total body weight loss was 24.6 and 28.3% for the older and younger patients, respectively (p?=?0.11). Rates of improvement/remission of comorbidities were comparable between the groups.

Conclusions

In a carefully selected group of severely obese patients ≥?70 years old, LSG may be safe, with acceptable postoperative complication rates, weight loss results, and improvement in comorbidities.

     

Effects of radiotherapy on the growth of children with leukemia

The five-year over all survival rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have recently increased to more than 80%. During recent years, CNS radiation doses delivered to all children with ALL according to international guideline protocols have decreased. In the 1980s, the prophylactic radiation dose to the CNS decreased from 2400 cGy to 1800 cGy; in the 1990s chemotherapy alone with intrathecal chemotherapy demonstrated that there was no need for prophylactic CNS radiation in standard risk ALL, except in CNS relapse and high risk patients. Late effects on pituitary function and growth were reported by most endocrinologists involved in the follow-up of the cancer survivors. The long-term effects of cranial irradiation on growth in children treated for ALL are reviewed, specifically addressing the deficit in final height, contributing factors for height deficits, growth catch-up after stopping therapy, and growth hormone replacement therapy.