Local anesthesia versus general anesthesia for evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma in elderly patients above 70 years old

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) evacuation by two burr-hole craniostomies under local versus general anesthesia (GA) in elderly patients over 70 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 45 patients with CSDH aged over 70 years old treated from March 2018 to April 2020. The cases were subdivided into Group A (n = 22) that underwent evacuation under local anesthesia and Group B (n = 23) that was treated under GA. Patients’ demographics and history of comorbidities were recorded. Variables including pre- and post-operative neurological status and Markwalder’s score, complication rate, operative time, and length of hospital stay were evaluated. Results: The mean and standard deviation of patients’ age of groups (A) and (B) were 74.3 ± 2.5 and 73.2 ± 1.7 years, respectively. Postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale of group (A) was statistically higher than Group B at postoperative day 1 (P = 0.01). Operative time was statistically shorter in Group A than B (P < 0.0001). The length of hospital stay was found to be longer in group (B) than (A) (P = 0.0001). The complication rate was found to be higher in group (B) than (A) (P = 0.044). Conclusion: Evacuation of CSDH under local anesthesia in elderly patients over 70 years is effective, safe, and economic with less complication rate than the traditional technique with GA.

COMPARISON OF ILEAL CONDUIT AND TUUC: A 4 YEARS STUDY

Objective: This study aims to compare 4 years of experience of IC and TUUC in the same period and among similar experienced surgeons. Material & Methods: Between January 2016 and August 2019, 44 radical cystectomies were performed, but 4 patients were excluded due to incomplete data or who underwent neo-bladder procedures. The primary endpoint was 30 days of complication rate and intraoperative complications. Bowel movement, ambulation, and length of stay (LOS) postoperatively were followed-up over a period of 30-day postoperatively. Results: 12 male patients underwent TUUC and 24 male patients IC, while only 4 female patients underwent IC. The mean of LOS of IC was 12.72 8.6 and 10.08 3.5 for TUUC; there were no significant differences between arms. However, TUUC had lower intra-operatively bleeding (779.17 441.15 ml) compared to IC (1328.57 810.40 ml). There was no difference in early complications between arms. Conclusion: Our results suggest that TUU with UC diversion may be used as a viable option of urinary diversion in radical cystectomy. This technique provides similar safety both surgically and oncologically.

Are Orthopedic Hand Surgeons Undercompensated for Time Spent in the Operating Room? A Study of Relative Value Units

Background: This study aims to investigate whether compensation is equitable among the most commonly performed orthopedic hand surgeries and when compared with general orthopedic procedures. Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all orthopedic procedures, from 2016 to 2018, performed more than 150 times using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Physician work relative value unit (wRVU) data were obtained from the 2020 US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fee schedule. Linear regressions were used to determine whether there was an association among wRVU, operative time, and wRVU per hour (wRVU/h). Reimbursement for hand surgery CPT codes was compared with that of nonhand orthopedic CPT codes. The CPT codes were stratified into quartile cohorts based on mean operative time, major complication rate, mortality rate, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, reoperation rate, and readmission rate. Student t tests were used to compare wRVU/h between cohorts. Results: Forty-two hand CPT codes were identified from 214 orthopedic CPT codes, accounting for 32 333 hand procedures. The median wRVU/h was significantly lower for procedures in the longest operative time quartile compared with the shortest operative time quartile ( P < .001). Compared with hand procedures, nonhand procedures were found to have significantly higher mean operative time ( P < .001), mean complication rate ( P < .001), mean wRVU ( P = .001), and mean wRVU/h ( P = .007). Conclusions: The 2020 Physician wRVU scale does not allocate proportional wRVUs to orthopedic hand procedures with longer mean operative times. There is a decrease in mean reimbursement rate for hand procedures with longer mean operative time. When compared with general orthopedic procedures, hand procedures have a lower mean wRVU/h and complication rate.

A Real-World Comparative Study of Microwave and Radiofrequency Ablation in Treatment-Naïve and Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with treatment-naïve and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clarified in Korea. There were 150 HCC patients (100 in the RFA group and 50 in the MWA group) enrolled in our study. The primary outcome was one- and two-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were complete response (CR) rate, two-year survival rate, risk factors for DFS and complication rate. Treatment outcomes were also assessed using propensity-score matching (PSM). The MWA group had better one- and two-year DFS than the RFA group (p = 0.035 and p = 0.032, respectively), whereas the CR rate, two-year survival rate, and complication rate were similar between the two groups with fewer major complications in the MWA group (p = 0.043). Patients with perivascular tumors, high risk of recurrence, and small tumor size (≤3 cm) were more suitable for MWA than RFA. MWA was also an independent factor for favorable one- and two-year DFS. Finally, the MWA group still showed better one- and two-year DFS than the RFA group after PSM. In conclusion, MWA could be an alternative treatment to RFA especially in patients with a high risk of recurrence, perivascular tumors, and small tumor size.

Quality of life and complications after nephron-sparing treatment of renal cell carcinoma stage T1—a systematic review

Background Despite the fact that nephron-sparing treatment is considered preferable from a surgical perspective patients’ quality of life (QoL) following different types of nephron-sparing treatments remains unclear. Purpose To investigate the quality of life and complications after nephron-sparing treatment of renal cell carcinomas of stage T1. Materials and methods A systematic search of six databases was carried out. We included studies that reported the quality of life and complications in patients aged 18 years or older following nephron-sparing treatment of renal cell carcinoma stage T1. The quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for cohort studies and the CASP Randomized Controlled Trial Checklist. Data were analyzed using a narrative approach. Results Eight studies were included, six of which investigated QoL after partial nephrectomy and two after ablation therapies. Seven studies reported complications. Three studies reported higher QoL scores after partial nephrectomy compared to radical nephrectomy. Two studies showed that QoL increased or returned to baseline levels up to 12 months following partial nephrectomy. One study reported a gradual increase in QoL after radiofrequency ablation, and one study reported that all patients recovered to baseline QoL following cryoablation. Across studies, we found a complication rate up to 20% after partial nephrectomy and up to 12.5% after ablation therapy. Conclusions The results of this systematic review suggest that nephron-sparing treatment appears to be superior or comparable to other treatment alternatives with regard to QoL outcomes. Additionally, based on the studies included in this review, partial nephrectomy appears to have a higher complication rate compared with ablation therapies. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020155594

Comparison of Lateralized Versus Medialized Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is an established procedure for cuff tear arthropathy. More lateralized prostheses have been designed to overcome the reported adverse outcomes of Grammont-style rTSA. Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of medialized and lateralized center of rotation (COR) in rTSA. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Included were studies with a level of evidence ≥3 that compared medialized and lateralized rTSA with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Functional scores including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and Constant score (CSS), range of motion at final follow-up, gain of external rotation (ER), visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, scapular notching, and heterotopic ossification (HO) were compared. Data were analyzed using random-effects or fixed-effects models in accordance with heterogeneity. Results: Five retrospective cohort studies and 1 randomized controlled study (n = 594 patients) were included. Lateralized rTSA resulted in greater improvement in ER degree ( P < .001), a lower VAS pain score (standardized mean difference [SMD], –0.39; P = .002), and a lower rate of scapular notching (risk ratio [RR], 0.40; P < .001) and HO (RR, 0.52; P < .001). Final forward flexion (SMD, –0.14; P = .629) and ER (SMD, 0.21; P = .238) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Overall functional scores, including ASES score (SMD, 0.22; P = .310) and CSS (SMD, 0.37; P = .077), also did not differ significantly (SMD, 0.28; P = .062). The overall complication rate did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (RR, 0.71; P = .339). Conclusion: Compared with medialized rTSA, lateralized COR rTSA results in greater improvement in ER and the VAS pain score, decreased rates of scapular notching and HO, and no significant changes in functional outcome scores or the complication rate.

A study of efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery in a tertiary care center, Pokhara, Nepal

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard technique for most of the gastrointestinal surgeries in developed countries. However, challenges in developing countries, apart from cost of instrumentation, include lack of awareness. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the efficacy and feasibility of laparoscopic surgeries in our part of the world. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Patient’s information on demographic details, type of laparoscopic surgery, operation time, length of hospital stay, reasons for conversion to open surgery, and intra-operative and post-operative complication details were retrieved from the operation log book and patient’s chart. Results: A total of 380 patients that underwent laparoscopic surgeries were included in the study. Out of 193 patients that underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there were 144 (74.61%) females and 49 (25.38%) males with conversion rate of 4.66% and post-operative complication rate of 8.80%. Similarly, among 136 patients that underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, there were 68 (50%) females and 68 (50%) males with conversion rate of 4.41% and post-operative complication rate of 14.70%. Finally, amid 51 patients who underwent trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal approach, post-operative seroma collection was seen in three cases and port site hematoma formation was seen in two cases only. Conclusions: Our results were comparable with various literature demonstrating that laparoscopic surgeries are safe and effective. However, evolution of laparoscopic surgery in developing countries is still slow. Therefore, effective training and availability of required instruments is needed.