Transannular patch repair of tetralogy of Fallot with or without monocusp valve reconstruction: a meta-analysis

Background Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases. Pulmonary regurgitation is the most common and severe comorbidity after transannular patch (TAP) repair of TOF patients. It has not been confirmed whether a TAP repair with monocusp valve reconstruction would benefit TOF patients in perioperative period compared to those without monocusp valve reconstruction. The purpose of the study is to review and analyze all clinical studies that have compared perioperative outcomes of TOF patients undergoing TAP repair with or without monocusp valve reconstruction and conduct a preferable surgery. Methods Eligible studies were identified by searching the electronic databases. The year of publication of studies was restricted from 2000 till present. The primary outcome was perioperative mortality, and secondary outcomes included cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, ventilation duration, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, perioperative right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pressure gradient, and moderate or severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR). The meta-analysis and forest plots were drawn using Review Manager 5.3. Statistically significant was considered when p-value ≤ 0.05. Results Eight studies were included which consisted of 8 retrospective cohort study and 2 randomized controlled trial. The 10 studies formed a pool of 526 TOF patients in total, in which are 300 undergoing TAP repair with monocusp valve reconstruction (monocusp group) compared to 226 undergoing TAP repair without monocusp valve reconstruction (non-monocusp group). It demonstrated no significant differences between two groups in perioperative mortality (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.20–2.41, p = 0.58). It demonstrated significant differences in perioperative cardiopulmonary bypass time (minute, 95% CI 17.93–28.42, p < 0.00001), mean length of ICU stay (day, 95% CI − 2.11–0.76, p < 0.0001), and the degree of perioperative PR (OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.010.12, p < 0.00001). Significant differences were not found in other secondary outcomes. Conclusion Transannular patch repair with monocusp valve reconstruction have significant advantages on decreasing length of ICU stay and reducing degree of PR for TOF patients. Large, multicenter, randomized, prospective studies which focuse on perioperative outcomes and postoperative differences based on long-term follow-up between TAP repair with and without monocusp valve reconstruction are needed.

Comparison of Intestinal Stent Placement Followed By Laparoscopic Surgery and Emergency Surgery in Obstructive Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis and Meta-analysis

Background: For patients with colorectal cancer and malignant intestinal obstruction, it is still controversial to perform endoscopic intestinal stent placement followed by laparoscopic surgery. This study compares the endoscopic intestinal stent placement followed by laparoscopic surgery and emergency surgery in patients with colorectal cancer and malignant intestinal obstruction.Method: 11 compliant publications from Pubmed, Cochrane and Embase databases were analyzed using Revies Manager 5.2 software. SPSS 21 was used to retrospectively analyze 99 patients admitted to our center from 2014 to 2019.Results: There were significant differences between the two groups in three of the five criteria. In the SBTS group, the perioperative mortality rate was lower, with an OR of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.22-0.95, P=0.04), the incidence of postoperative wound infection was lower; OR was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.24-0.82, P=0.009); Postoperative hospital stay was shorter, MD was -2.07 (95% CI: -2.55--1.59, P<0.00001).Retrospective analysis of the clinical outcome differences between the SBTS group and ES group in our center: Compared to the ES group, the SBTS group displayed lower infection rate of surgical incision (χ2=3.94,P =0.04) ); no difference in the frequency of occurrence of anastomotic leakage (χ2=0.18,P=0.67), did not reduce perioperative mortality (χ2=0.94,P=0.33);shorter operating time (204.13±37.35 min) (t=5.08,P=0.000), lower intraoperative blood loss (155.65±94.90 ml) (t=3.90,P=0.001); and shorter postoperative hospital stay (12.91±5.47 d) (t=2.64, P=0.01).Conclusion: Compared the emergency surgery group, endoscopic intestinal stent placement followed by the laparoscopic surgery can reduce perioperative mortality, postoperative wound infection, intraoperative blood loss, and the length of postoperative hospital stay. There was no difference between the two methods as far as the incidence of posterior anastomotic leakage and operating time were concerned.

Perioperative Mortality Risk in Patients Undergoing Transoral Robotic Surgery for T1-T2 Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A National Cancer Database Study

The National Cancer Database is a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. The American College of Surgeons and the Commission on Cancer have not verified and are not responsible for the analytic or statistical methods used or for the conclusions drawn from these data by the investigators.IntroductionTransoral robotic surgery (TORS) is well established as initial definitive treatment for early-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) as an alternative to radiation therapy with similar survival rates. While proponents of TORS focus on the reduced morbidity of treatment compared to open procedures, shortened hospital admissions and equivalent survival outcomes to non-surgical treatment, there remain concerns over the risk of mortality within the acute perioperative period. Therefore, we sought to determine the 30-day and 90-day perioperative mortality risk using the National Cancer Database.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis was performed for patients diagnosed with pathologic T1/2 OPSCC between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016 that underwent primary surgical treatment with TORS and was not restricted by HPV status. The primary outcome was 30-day perioperative mortality. The secondary outcome was 90-day perioperative mortality. Univariable analysis was used to identify variables associated with 30-day perioperative mortality.ResultsIn total, 4,127 patients (mean [SD; range] age, 59 [9.5; 22-90] years; 3,476 [84%] men and 651 [16%] women) met inclusion criteria. The number of patients with pT1-2 OPSCC undergoing TORS increased three-fold between 2010 (279/4,127; 7%) to 2016 (852/4,127; 21%). The overall 30-day and 90-day perioperative mortality rate for TORS during the study period was 0.6% (23/4,127) and 0.9% (38/4,127), respectively. On univariable analysis (UVA), age≥65 was the only predictor of 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 3.41; 95% CI 1.49-7.81).ConclusionThe overall risk of all cause mortality following TORS for early-stage OPSCC remains low. The risk of mortality is higher in elderly patients and should be considered, in addition to previously established risk factors, during patient selection and counselling.

Awareness and Perspectives among Asian Anesthesiologists on Postoperative Delirium: A Multinational Survey

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common perioperative complication. Although POD is preventable in up to 40% of patients, it is frequently overlooked. The objective of the survey is to determine the level of knowledge and clinical practices related to POD among anesthesiologists in different Asian countries. A questionnaire of 22 questions was designed by members of the Asian focus group for the study of POD, and it was sent to anesthesiologists in Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea from 1 April 2019 through 17 September 2019. In total, 531 anesthesiologists (Singapore: 224, Thailand: 124, Korea: 183) responded to the survey. Half the respondents estimated the incidence of POD to be 11–30% and believed that it typically occurs in the first 48 h after surgery. Among eight important postoperative complications, POD was ranked fifth. While 51.4% did not perform any test for POD, only 13.7% monitored the depth of anesthesia in all their patients. However, 83.8% preferred depth of anesthesia monitoring if they underwent surgery themselves. The results suggest that Asian anesthesiologists underestimate the incidence and relevance of POD. Because it increases perioperative mortality and morbidity, there is an urgent need to educate anesthesiologists regarding the recognition, prevention, detection, and management of POD.

Rates of surgical deaths and infections at district hospitals in Malawi and Zambia: a prospective multicentre cohort study

ObjectiveThis paper reports perioperative mortality and postoperative infection rates of surgical patients who underwent operations at district-level hospitals in Malawi and Zambia, and the associations of these outcomes with patient characteristics based on routinely available data.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingEight government district hospitals in Malawi and nine mission and government district hospitals in Zambia.Outcome measuresPerioperative mortality and postoperative infection were used as primary outcome measures in this study. Logistic regression and penalised maximum likelihood logistic regression were used to examine the factors correlated with surgical outcomes.ResultsThe average perioperative mortality rates were 0.19% and 0.43% in Malawi and Zambia, respectively. Penalised maximum likelihood logistic regression showed that age (OR=1.046, 95% CI 1.016 to 1.078) and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score II (OR=6.658, 95% CI 2.363 to 18.762) were significantly associated with perioperative deaths. General surgery procedures were significantly more likely than obstetrical procedures to result in perioperative deaths (OR=3.821, 95% CI 1.226 to 11.908). The average rates of postoperative infections in Malawi and Zambia were 2.69% and 2.24%, respectively. Age (OR=1.010, 95% CI 1.000 to 1.020) and male sex (OR=0.407, 95% CI 0.260 to 0.637) were significantly associated with postoperative infections. Additional factors, general procedures (OR=2.319, 95% CI 1.397 to 3.850) and trauma-related procedure (OR=5.490, 95% CI 2.632 to 11.449) were significantly associated with infection rates. There was no significant correlation between surgical outcomes and cadre of lead surgeon (a non-physician clinician or doctor).ConclusionRates of mortality and postoperative infections in this sample of district-level hospitals in Malawi and Zambia were relatively low, with poorer preoperative physical status as the main predictor of both greater postoperative infection and mortality. The study demonstrates that outcomes of major surgical cases do not depend on the cadre (type) of surgeon performing it, and outcomes can be monitored using routine data, at district level in these countries.Trial registration numberISRCTN66099597.

A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Repair Versus Open Surgery for Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aorta

Objective: The comparisons between thoracic endovascular aortic repair for ruptured thoracic aorta (TEVAR) and open surgery (OS) have not been well documented, although both procedures have been widely utilized. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness and safety between TEVAR and OS in the repair of ruptured descending thoracic aorta. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to find relevant studies to assess TEVAR and OS outcomes. The comparative parameters were perioperative mortality (30 day/in-hospital), 1 year mortality, paraplegia or paraparesis, renal insufficiency, stroke, pulmonary embolism, re-intervention rate, pulmonary complications, and cardiac complications. A fixed-effects model was applied to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) on pooled outcomes from different studies. Results: Eighteen observational trials involving 2088 patients were evaluated (TEVAR=560; OS=1528). Meta-analysis showed that TEVAR in repairing the ruptured descending thoracic aorta was associated with lower perioperative mortality (OR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.34–0.66; p<0.01), 1 year mortality (OR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.29–0.75; p<0.01), renal insufficiency incidence (OR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.33–0.93; p=0.03), and pulmonary complications (OR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.52–0.92; p=0.01) when compared with OS. There was no significant difference between TEVAR and OS in terms of paraplegia, stroke, pulmonary embolism, cardiac complications, and early re-intervention rates. However, the late re-intervention rate was higher in the TEVAR group than that in the OS group. Conclusions: When repairing the ruptured descending thoracic aorta, TEVAR may be performed rapidly and safely. TEVAR is associated with lower rates of perioperative morbidity and early postoperative complications than OS.