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Objective: This study aims to highlight the trends in the minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) research field from the bibliometrics perspective., Methods: The articles and reviews from 2002 to 2022 were manually retrieved from Scopus based on predefined inclusion criteria. A total of 296 articles for robotics and 13 articles for AI were included in the final analysis. All publication records were imported and analyzed in Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer., Results: An increase in the number of publications per year was observed in the last five years. For robotics, the United States published the largest number of articles (161), but the Netherlands had the highest total citations (1216). Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, China, was the most prolific institution. For journals, World Neurosurgery had the most publications (31), while Spine journal was the most impactful (average citation index = 86.6). Wang T.Y was the author with the most published articles (5). For AI, the United States had the greatest number of publications (10) and the highest citations (229). Global Spine Journal had the most publications (3), while Spine had the most citations (112). Kim J.S. was the most cited author (102). Recent keywords mainly focused on techniques and prognoses using these modalities in MISS. There were relatively fewer collaborations among countries., Conclusions: An increasing trend in publications regarding robotics and AI use reflects the recent MISS technique advancements. Our findings can provide useful information to identify potential research fronts in the coming years. Enhanced collaboration on an international level should be pursued., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patient satisfaction has become an important variable in assessing outcomes after spine surgery. Although minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques have become popular owing to reduced perioperative complications compared with open deformity surgery, whether patient-reported postoperative satisfaction differ between the 2 surgical approaches is unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in patients who underwent open surgery or MIS for adult spinal deformity (ASD)., Methods: PRO scores were prospectively collected for patients undergoing deformity correction surgery between 2016 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, ASD, and completed PRO surveys. Patient demographic, clinical, and radiographic data and PRO survey responses were analyzed. A post hoc analysis comparing patients who were satisfied with their outcome and those who were unsatisfied was performed., Results: Forty patients who underwent operative management of ASD (19 in the open surgery group and 21 in the MIS group) met the criteria for inclusion in this study. Patients in the MIS group reported higher mental health and self-image scores at 6 months; however, at the 12-month follow-up, both the open surgery and MIS groups reported minimal clinically important differences in back pain, leg pain, and functional status. Patient satisfaction scores did not differ based on surgical approach or intraoperative complications., Conclusions: PRO after open surgery and after MIS for ASD reflected successful outcomes with significant improvements in PRO survey scores but with subtle differences in the postoperative recovery process. The MIS group reported faster recovery with earlier improvement in self-image and mental health scores, which may stem from correction of smaller deformities. At the 12-month follow-up, postoperative satisfaction was high for the majority of patients in both groups., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Sphenopetroclival (SPC) meningiomas are considered among the most complex skull-base neoplasms to approach surgically. We aim to determine whether some SPC meningiomas can be safely and effectively treated using a modified minimally invasive pterional posterolateral transcavernous-transtentorial approach (MIPLATTA)., Methods: Fourteen patients harboring SPC meningiomas were surgically treated through a MIPLATTA. MIPLATTA includes a minipterional craniotomy, anterior extradural clinoidectomy, peeling of the temporal fossa, decompression of cranial nerves (CNs) in the cavernous sinus, and sectioning of the tentorium to reach the upper part of the posterior fossa., Results: Gross total resection was achieved in 11 of 14 patients (78%), whereas near-total resection was accomplished in the other 3 patients (22%), each of whom underwent a further complementary retrosigmoid approach for gross total tumor resection. There were no deaths, and 13 of 14 patients were independent at 6 months follow-up (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2). One patient had pontine infarction after the procedure and experienced moderate disability at follow-up (modified Rankin Scale score 3). All patients had some degree of CN impairment. Of 38 cranial neuropathies, 15 (39%) improved, 20 (53%) remained stable, and 3 (8%) worsened postoperatively. Four new CN deficits were observed postoperatively in 3 patients (fourth CN, 2 patients; third CN, 1; fifth CN, 1)., Conclusions: MIPLATTA is a useful and safe treatment alternative that allows resection of large SPC tumors with dominant invasion of cavernous sinus and middle fossa, preserves hearing and facial motor function, and provides good chances of recovery of visual and oculomotor deficits., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although the Veterans RAND 12-item Physical Component Survey (VR-12 PCS) has been broadly used to evaluate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in spine surgery, its feasibility for use in patients undergoing minimally invasive lumbar discectomy (MIS LD) has not been well studied. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of VR-12 PCS for use up to 2 years postoperatively for MIS LD by correlation with PROMs for physical function., Methods: Patients undergoing primary single-level MIS LD procedures were reviewed retrospectively. Results on the VR-12 PCS, 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) PCS, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS PF) were recorded preoperatively and up to 2 years postoperatively. Improvements in postoperative PROMs were calculated and assessed for significant differences from baseline values. Correlation significance and strength were evaluated between VR-12 PCS and SF-12 PCS or PROMIS PF. Scatterplots were constructed to demonstrate relationships of VR-12 PCS with SF-12 PCS and PROMIS PF at each time point., Results: Our cohort comprised 402 patients. Patients improved significantly from preoperative baseline for all 3 PROMs at all postoperative time points. Both Pearson's correlation and time-independent partial correlation revealed statistically significant strong correlations of VR-12 PCS with SF-12 PCS and PROMIS PF through 2-years., Discussion: Physical function scores for VR-12, SF-12, and PROMIS PF all demonstrated significant improvements following MIS LD. Strongly statistically significant correlations of VR-12 PCS with SF-12 PCS and PROMIS PF from preoperative measures through 2 years demonstrate the feasibility of VR-12 for assessing patient-reported physical function in MIS LD patients., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Head and neck cancer surgery often has functional and aesthetic consequences. De-escalation surgery is a major concern for surgeons with a constant desire to develop surgical techniques with less invasive approaches and to preserve anatomical structures as much as possible. This was made possible by the appearance of minimally transoral and endonasal surgery as well as by the limitation of the surgical procedure by neoadjuvant treatments or by the limitation of surgical excision without compromising the oncological outcome and patient survival. This evolution continues with the arrival of new technologies such as virtual reality or artificial intelligence., (Copyright © 2021 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To present updated information regarding compensation patterns for Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS)-graduated physicians in the United States beginning practice during the last 10 years, focusing on the variables that have an impact on differences in salary, including gender, fellowship duration, geographic region, practice setting, and practice mix., Design: An online survey was sent to FMIGS graduates between March 15, 2019 and April 12, 2019. Information on physicians' demographics, compensation (on the basis of location, practice model, productivity benchmarks, academic rank, and years in practice), and attitudes toward fairness in compensation was collected., Setting: Online survey., Participants: FMIGS graduates practicing in the United States., Intervention: E-mail survey., Measurements and Main Results: We surveyed 298 US FMIGS surgeons who had graduated during the last 10 years (2009-2018). The response rate was 48.7%. Most of the respondents were women (69%). Most of the graduates (84.8%) completed 2- or 3-year fellowship programs. After adjustment for inflation, the median starting salary for the first postfellowship job was $252 074 ($223 986-$279 983) (Table 1). The median time spent in the first job was 2.6 years, and the median total salary at the current year rose to $278 379.4 ($241 437-$350 976). The median salary for respondents entering a second postfellowship job started at $280 945 ($261 409-$329 603). Significantly lower compensation was reported for female FMIGS graduates in their initial postfellowship jobs and was consistently lower than for that of men over time. Most FMIGS graduates (59.7%) reported feeling inadequately compensated for their level of specialization., Conclusion: A trend toward higher self-reported salaries is noted for FMIGS graduates in recent years, with significant differences in compensation between men and women. Among obstetrics and gynecology subspecialists, FMIGS graduates earn significantly less than other fellowship-trained physicians, with median salaries that are lower than those of generalist obstetrics and gynecology physicians., (Copyright © 2020 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

With the health care environment becoming increasingly patient centric and cost-conscious, interest levels in spinal endoscopy are at an all-time high. Patient demand for the least invasive procedures combined with surgeon desire to maximally shorten the postoperative recovery period has further driven this surgical evolution. Mounting scientific evidence demonstrates the noninferiority and perhaps even superiority of endoscopic techniques to more conventional spinal surgery for the treatment of spinal stenosis and disc herniations. Although higher level evidence is much needed to support the clinical utility of the latest endoscopic techniques and surgical indications, it appears that the entrance of spinal endoscopy into the mainstream arena of spinal surgery is inevitable., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transforaminal endoscopic spine surgery (T-ESS) has become a well-accepted technique. The first attempts at percutaneous discectomy by Kambin and Hijikata opened a new chapter of endoscopic spine surgery. By the last quarter of the twentieth century, spine surgeons had begun to adopt this novel technique. Many researchers helped advance endoscopic spine surgery, but the turning point was the description of a safe transforaminal triangle of safety by Parviz Kambin. Since then, the indications for T-ESS have increased as a result of the description of different surgical approaches such as inside-out, outside-in, and half-and-half. We present a review of crucial historical advancements in T-ESS and also discuss the evolution of endoscopes, the techniques used, development of endoscopic instruments and equipment, transforaminal thoracic endoscopy, transforaminal endoscopic interbody fusions, the growth of extended indications, and the future direction of T-ESS. This review provides a detailed description of key historical moments and a bird's-eye view of the vast scope of T-ESS., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

As an essential component of minimally invasive spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) has continuously evolved and has been accepted as a practical procedure by the worldwide spine community. Especially for lumbar disc herniation (LDH), the percutaneous endoscopic or full-endoscopic discectomy technique has been scientifically proven through randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses to be a good alternative to open discectomy. The initial concept of endoscopic spine discectomy was concerned with indirect disc decompression using various instruments such as blind forceps, a nucleotome, laser, radiofrequency coblation, and some chemical agents. The main surgical field has been shifted from the intradiscal space to the epidural space. Precise and selective discectomy for extruded LDH in the epidural space under high-quality endoscopic visualization is now feasible. Furthermore, the medical applications of ESS is broadening to include spinal stenosis, segmental instability, infection, and even intradural lesions. In this review article, I describe the history of endoscopic spine discectomy and decompression techniques, as well as evolution of the paradigm. This history may help indicate the future of practical ESS., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spine surgery has evolved over centuries from first being practiced with Hippocratic boards and ladders to now being able to treat spinal pathologies with minimal tissue invasion. With the advent of new imaging and surgical technologies, spine surgeries can now be performed minimally invasively with smaller incisions, less blood loss, quicker return to daily activities, and increased visualization. Modern minimally invasive procedures include percutaneous pedicle screw fixation techniques and minimally invasive lateral approach for lumbar interbody fusion (i.e., minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, extreme lateral interbody fusion, oblique lateral interbody fusion) and midline lumbar fusion with cortical bone trajectory screws. Just as evolutions in surgical techniques have helped revolutionize the field of spine surgery, imaging technologies have also contributed significantly. The advent of computer image guidance has allowed spine surgeons to advance their ability to refine surgical techniques, increase the accuracy of spinal hardware placement, and reduce radiation exposure to the operating room staff. As the field of spine surgery looks to the future, many novel technologies are on the horizon, including robotic spine surgery, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to help improve preoperative planning, improve surgical execution, and optimize patient selection to ensure improved postoperative outcomes and patient satisfaction. As more spine surgeons begin incorporating these novel minimally invasive techniques into practice, the field of minimally invasive spine surgery will continue to innovate and evolve over the coming years., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The desire to improve accuracy and safety and to favor minimally invasive techniques has given rise to spinal robotic surgery, which has seen a steady increase in utilization in the past 2 decades. However, spinal surgery encompasses a large spectrum of operative techniques, and robotic surgery currently remains confined to assistance with the trajectory of pedicle screw insertion, which has been shown to be accurate and safe based on class II and III evidence. The role of robotics in improving surgical outcomes in spinal pathologies is less clear, however., Methods: This comprehensive review of the literature addresses the role of robotics in surgical outcomes in spinal pathologies with a focus on the various meta-analysis and prospective randomized trials published within the past 10 years in the field., Results: It appears that robotic spinal surgery might be useful for increasing accuracy and safety in spinal instrumentation and allows for a reduction in surgical time and radiation exposure for the patient, medical staff, and operator., Conclusion: Robotic assisted surgery may thus open the door to minimally invasive surgery with greater security and confidence. In addition, the use of robotics facilitates tireless repeated movements with higher precision compared with humans. Nevertheless, it is clear that further studies are now necessary to demonstrate the role of this modern tool in cost-effectiveness and in improving clinical outcomes, such as reoperation rates for screw malpositioning., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Residency training in obstetrics-gynecology has changed significantly over time, with residents expected to master an increasing number of surgical procedures. Residency operative case logs are tracked by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which sets case minimums for all procedures. In 2018, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education created a combined minimally invasive hysterectomy category and now requires graduating residents to complete a minimum of 70 minimally invasive hysterectomies., Objectives: The objectiges of the study were to evaluate the range of operative gynecological experience across graduating obstetrician-gynecologist residents in the United States and to estimate the number of residents able to meet new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education minimum hysterectomy cases., Study Design: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education surgical case logs of graduating obstetrician-gynecologist residents from 2009 to 2017 were analyzed for case volume trends., Results: The average total number of gynecological cases per resident decreased from 438.2 to 431.5 (P < .0001). Minimally invasive hysterectomy averages increased from 43.6 to 69.3 (P < .0001), a trend driven principally by an increase in total laparoscopic hysterectomies. Mean case log decreases were noted in invasive cancer (70.7 to 54.3), incontinence and pelvic floor (85.6 to 56.7), and total abdominal hysterectomies (74.4 to 42.9); (P < .0001 for all). Mean increases were seen in total laparoscopic (118.8 to 146.3) and operative hysteroscopy (68.6 to 77.1) cases (P < .0001 for all). The ratio of the 90th percentile to the 10th percentile of resident case logs showed substantial variation in surgical volume for all procedures, although this ratio decreased over time. Graduates who logged 70 minimally invasive hysterectomy cases were estimated to fall at the 51st percentile in 2017; this was down from the 91st percentile in 2009., Conclusion: Nationwide, graduates of obstetrician-gynecologist residency experience significant variability in their surgical training. Based on our extrapolation of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education data, approximately half of residency graduates fell below the 70 case minimally invasive hysterectomy minimum in 2017. Meeting the new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education hysterectomy minimums may be challenging for a significant proportion of residency programs. Understanding the scope and variability of gynecology training is needed to continue to improve and address gaps in resident education., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has constantly evolved over the past years, and new technologies have been introduced. The aims of this study were to analyze the evolution of our 10-year experience in MICS and to highlight outcomes in different spans of time., Methods: Patients undergoing MICS for mitral valve, tricuspid valve, and/or atrial septal defect or atrial masses from November 2005 to November 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. A comparative analysis was performed by identifying 2 groups: the control group (in the first time span of our experience) and the tailored group (patients who underwent surgery after a full preoperative anatomic evaluation with allocation to the proper setting)., Results: During the study period 971 patients underwent MICS. MICS procedures increased from 44% in 2006 to 96% in 2015. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant decrease in the rate of procedures performed with retrograde arterial perfusion (99.1% vs 91.7%, P < .0001), a significant increase in the rate of complex mitral valve procedures (22.4% vs 7.9%, P < .0001), and a significant decrease in the rate of stroke (from 5.2% to 1%, P < .001) in the tailored group. The logistic regression analysis showed that the tailored approach was a protective factor against neurologic complications., Conclusions: The present study shows the considerable and attractive results of our decision-making process based on the tailored approach. The 10-year outcome analysis demonstrated a trend toward a progressive decrease in the overall rate of postoperative complications and a significant protective effect of the tailored approach on the occurrence of stroke., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study describes the observed trends in hysterectomy routes at Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH) in Langley, British Columbia, over 5 consecutive years. Associations between patient characteristics and surgical approach were explored, and approach-based surgical outcomes were evaluated using the institutional technicity index (TI), defined as the ratio of hysterectomies performed by minimally invasive surgery to all hysterectomies., Methods: A retrospective descriptive study involving 706 women who underwent hysterectomy at LMH between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 by six full-time surgeons was performed. From the patient characteristics and surgical outcomes associated with the route of hysterectomy, the annual institutional and overall rates of hysterectomy by type were calculated according to the Canadian Task Force Classification II-2., Results: The TI increased from 67% to 92% from 2012 to 2016. Specifically, the proportion of hysterectomies completed by a total laparoscopic approach increased from 37% to 78%, whereas hysterectomies performed by the abdominal or laparoscopic-assisted vaginal approach decreased from 32% to 8% and from 17% to 1%, respectively. Vaginal hysterectomy rates remained constant across the study period. Minimally invasive surgery was associated with significantly reduced surgical blood loss and decreased length of hospital stay, with no difference in surgical time compared with an open approach., Conclusions: As far as the study investigators are aware, the TI at LMH is among the highest reported to date in Canada. Potential contributing factors include well-trained and experienced gynaecologic surgeons, readily available peer-to-peer mentorship, certified gynaecologic assistance, dedicated surgical staff, and consistency in the operating room set-up. Hence, achieving a high TI in a community setting is feasible without increasing the risk of surgical complications or length of surgery., (Copyright © 2019 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To describe perioperative complications occurring during oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) assisted by a retractor system for degenerative lumbar diseases., Patients and Methods: The perioperative complications in 113 cases series utilizing a minimally invasive approach were recorded and analyzed. One hundred thirteen patients who received OLIF for degenerative lumbar diseases between November 2014 and February 2017 at a single center were evaluated. The most frequent diagnosis was spondylolisthesis (59 cases, 52.2%), followed by lumbar instability (24 cases, 21.2%), adjacent segmental disease (12 cases, 10.6%), adult degenerative scoliosis (11 cases, 9.8%) and discogenic low back pain (7 cases, 6.2%). One hundred thirty-four levels were treated, 88.5% one-level, 4.4% two-level, and 7.1% three-level surgeries. The most fused level was L4-5 (94 levels, 70.2%), followed by L3-4 (31 levels, 23.1%), and L2-3 (9 levels, 6.7%)., Results: All perioperative complications only included adverse events related to the OLIF procedure. The most observed complications were donor-site pain (24 cases, 21.2%), followed by vertebral endplate fracture (15 cases, 13.3%), thigh numbness/pain (12 cases, 10.6%), psoas/quadriceps weakness (5 cases, 4.4%), sympathetic nerve injury (2 case, 1.8%), paralytic ileus (one case, 0.9%), segmental artery injury (one case, 0.9%), intervertebral infection (one, 0.9%), and contralateral femoral nerve palsy (one, 0.9%). All complications, including postoperative ipsilateral or contralateral thigh paresthesia, pain, and psoas/quadriceps weakness, were observed when operating at L4-L5. The incidence of complications excluding donor-site pain was 24.8% (28/113 cases). The patients with donor-site pain, thigh numbness/pain, psoas/quadriceps weakness, sympathetic nerve injury and paralytic ileus recovered within two months following surgery. The patient with intervertebral infection recovered at 3 months after surgery. One case of contralateral femoral nerve palsy recovered completely with no residual sensory or motor deficit at 6 months., Conclusions: OLIF performed using a retractor system is a validated option to treat a wide spectrum of degenerative lumbar diseases with few perioperative complications and a quick recovery. Judicious use of this technique at the L4/5 level is recommended. Close attention to detail during the procedure can minimize complications that may be associated with the learning curve., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Valvular heart diseases are one of the most frequent causes for heart failure. Degenerative diseases of the aortic and mitral valve as well as a dysfunctional tricuspid valve disease result in a worse clinical outcome if severe. Minimal-invasive, surgical and/or catheter-based structural heart disease (SHD) interventions have recently seen a dramatic increase. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS) is a disruptive technology, and next generation devices and careful patient selection will minimize limitations of TAVI such as paravalvular leak, conductance disturbances, ischemic stroke, and vascular complications. The indication of TAVI continues to shift toward lower risk patients and patients with complex anatomy such as bicuspid AS or native pure aortic regurgitation. Successful clinical results in TAVI have generated considerable interest in further transcatheter technologies targeting mitral regurgitation (MR) and also toward tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The efficacy and safety of edge-to-edge with or without annuloplasty leaflet repair mimicking surgical repair will have to be confirmed by technical improvement, device development, and further emerging studies. Transcatheter mitral valve implantation might be an alternative strategy in patients with symptomatic severe MR and favorable anatomy. Possible interventional treatment approaches for TR have gained more attention. Improvement and development of SHD interventions have enabled more patients to receive minimally invasive heart valve interventions and these procedures have prolonged life and/or improved quality of life for many patients who were previously considered unsuitable for surgery. Continued technical and device improvements and accumulated evidence will expand its possibility and future of SHD interventions., (Copyright © 2019 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare circumferential minimally invasive (cMIS) versus open surgeries for mild-to-moderate adult spinal deformity (ASD) with regard to intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay (LOS)., Methods: A retrospective review of 2 multicenter ASD databases with 426 ASD (sagittal vertical axis <6 cm) surgery patients with 4 or more fusion levels and 2-year follow-up was conducted. ICU stay, LOS, and estimated blood loss (EBL) were compared between open and cMIS surgeries., Results: Propensity matching resulted in 88 patients (44 cMIS, 44 open). cMIS were older (61 vs. 53 years, P = 0.005). Mean levels fused were 6.5 in cMIS and 7.1 in open (P = 0.368). Preoperative lordosis was higher in open than in cMIS (42.7° vs. 40.9°, P = 0.016), and preoperative visual analog score back pain was greater in open than in cMIS (7 vs. 6.2, P = 0.033). Preoperative and postoperative spinopelvic parameters and coronal Cobb angles were not different. EBL was 534 cc in cMIS and 1211 cc in open (P < 0.001). Transfusions were less in cMIS (27.3% vs. 70.5%, P < 0.001). ICU stay was 0.6 days for cMIS and 1.2 days for open (P = 0.009). Hospital LOS was 7.9 days for cMIS versus 9.6 for open (P = 0.804)., Conclusions: For patients with mild-to-moderate ASD, cMIS surgery had a significantly lower EBL and shorter ICU stay. Major and minor complication rates were lower in cMIS patients than open patients. Overall LOS was shorter in cMIS patients, but did not reach statistical significance., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with higher stroke and mortality risk than paroxysmal AF (pAF). Outcomes of catheter or surgical ablation are worse in patients with persistent AF than in pAF, and the optimal invasive rhythm control strategy has not been established., Purpose: We provide a contemporary systematic overview on efficacy and safety of catheter and minimally-invasive surgical ablation for persistent AF., Methods: We systematically searched EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL from inception to July 2018 for randomized trials on surgical and catheter ablation, and included all study arms on persistent AF. Outcome was AF freedom after ≥12 months follow-up without AAD use. Random effects models were used to calculate proportions with 95%-confidence intervals. Safety consisted of adverse events during treatment and follow-up., Results: We included 6 studies on minimally-invasive surgical ablation and 56 on catheter ablation, involving 7624 patients with persistent AF. AF Freedom at 12 months was 69% (95%CI 64-74%) after surgical and 51% (95%CI 46-56%) after catheter ablation. More severe procedural adverse events occurred with surgery than with catheter ablation., Conclusions: In persistent AF patients, minimally-invasive surgical ablation is associated with more procedural complications, but higher AF freedom. As adverse events after surgical ablation appear more severe than in catheter ablation, a patient-tailored therapy choice is warranted., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Treatment of renal cell carcinoma has evolved with emphasis on nephron preservation for small renal masses. Our objective was to evaluate the proportions of treatment types for octogenarians with clinical stage 1 renal cell carcinoma., Materials and Methods: The National Cancer Database was analyzed from 2004 to 2015. Patients with clinical stage 1, tumor size ≤ 7 cm, and age 80-89 years old were compared to a younger control arm of patients ≤ 70 years old. Treatment modality was categorized as radical nephrectomy (RN), partial nephrectomy (PN), percutaneous ablative therapy (PAT), and no treatment (NT). Primary outcome was treatment utilization over time using estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Secondary outcomes included logistic regression for 30 day readmission after treatment and any definitive tumor treatment choice., Results: 18,903 octogenarians were identified and compared to a control of 142,179 patients ≤ 70 years old. Overall, NT (36%) was the most common modality for octogenarians while PN (44.8%) was most common for the control arm. Using EAPC for octogenarians, we found increases for PAT (7.1%), PN (2.8%), and NT (1.6%) but a decrease for RN (-4.6%). EAPC for the younger cohort noted increases for PAT (6.8%), PN (5.4%), and NT (4.4%) but a decrease for RN (-5.5%)., Conclusion: For octogenarians with stage 1 renal cell carcinoma, minimally invasive treatments are increasingly utilized, while RN is decreasing. Compared to a younger cohort, a greater proportion of octogenarians are receiving NT. These findings remain encouraging for appropriate treatment of localized disease in patients with advanced age., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) correction for adult spinal deformity (ASD) may reduce the need the need for postoperative skilled nursing facility (SNF) or inpatient rehabilitation (IR) placement following surgery. The likelihood of requiring placement in a facility rather than home disposition may be influenced by various factors. In addition, the associations between discharge location and outcomes and complication rates have not been elucidated in these patients. In this study, we aimed to define factors predicting disposition to an SNF/IR and to elucidate the rates of complications occurring in patients sent to home versus to a facility., Methods: A retrospective review of a multicenter ASD database, which included patients who underwent surgery between 2009 and 2014. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, MIS as part of index surgery, location of discharge, and at least 1 of the following: pelvic tilt >20°, sagittal vertical axis >5 cm, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch >10, or lumbar scoliosis >20°. Patients with a 2-year follow-up were included. Preoperative demographic and radiographic data, postoperative (<30 day) complications, and health-related quality of life were analyzed., Results: A total of 182 patients met our inclusion criteria, including 113 who were discharged to home and 69 who were discharged to an SNF/IR. Older patients (>50 years) were more likely to be discharged to an SNF/IR (P = 0.043). Those aged >70 years were 6-fold more likely to go to an SNF/IR. No association was identified between discharge to an SNF/IR and any radiographic parameters except preoperative pelvic tilt (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; P = 0.009). Staged cases were more likely to be discharged to an SNF/IR (OR, 3.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-9.46; P = 0.032); otherwise, there was no difference in levels treated, operating time, estimated blood loss, osteotomy, or length of hospital stay. Patients requiring discharge to an SNF/IR had a higher rate of complications (58% vs. 39.8%; P = 0.017), including major complications (19.5% vs. 42%; P = 0.001), perioperative complications (14.2% vs. 31.9%; P = 0.004) and infections (3.5% vs. 13%; P = 0.016). Patients discharged to an SNF/IR had a higher rate of revision (19.5% vs. 33%; P = 0.035). Health-related quality of life measures were similar regardless of disposition., Conclusions: Older patients and those undergoing staged MIS deformity correction have a higher likelihood of postoperative disposition to an SNF/IR. Complications occurred more commonly in those patients requiring transfer to an SNF/IR after hospitalization., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Foraminal disc herniation is rare. When conservative treatment fails, it is often treated with discectomy via a paraspinal or Wiltse approach. In contained foraminal disc herniation, more symptoms arise from the foraminal compression of the exiting nerve root, including the dorsal root ganglion, than from the herniation itself. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of stand-alone decompression without discectomy for patients with contained foraminal disc herniation., Methods: This study included 17 patients with unilateral single-level foraminal disc herniation (14 women and 3 men; mean age, 62.8 ± 14.6 years, range, 37-86 years). Disc herniation was confirmed as contained by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography and by intraoperative exploration. All patients underwent thorough decompression without discectomy, via a paraspinal approach. Pain was evaluated preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months postoperatively using a visual analog scale (VAS). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Macnab criteria were used to evaluate final outcomes., Results: The most commonly affected level was L5-S1. All 17 patients showed significant improvements in VAS and ODI scores at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. According to the Macnab criteria, outcome results were excellent in 13 patients and good in 4. The mean duration of follow-up was 18.4 ± 2.4 months, with no recurrences or lumbar instability at the final follow-up., Conclusions: Stand-alone decompression without discectomy is an effective method for relieving symptoms and preserving the disc in contained foraminal disc herniation. A minimally invasive approach with thorough decompression techniques yields good results., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) has become a popular method of interbody fusion. Clinical outcomes after single-level MIS-TLIF have been reported, but few studies have focused on the radiologic changes in the segmental parameters of the operated and adjacent segments and in lumbar lordosis., Methods: From March 2009 to September 2016, 117 patients who underwent a single-level MIS-TLIF surgery for lumbar degenerative disease were enrolled in this retrospective study. The anterior disc height (ADH), posterior disc height (PDH), and segmental angle (SA) of the operated and adjacent levels and lumbar lordosis (LL) were evaluated on radiographs obtained pre- and postoperatively at 6- to 12-month follow-up visits. Cage-related parameters including fusion and subsidence rates were analyzed on postoperative computed tomography scans. Clinical assessment used validated outcome scores such as the Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire and the Odom criteria., Results: ADH and PDH of the operated segment increased significantly after surgery, but no significant changes were seen in the SA of that level. Statistically significant decreases were observed in the PDH of both adjacent segments and increases in the adjacent superior SA. LL showed a slight but statistically significant improvement after surgery that was mostly correlated with a postoperative increase in the adjacent superior SA (r = 0.58; P < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between clinical and radiologic results., Conclusions: Single-level MIS-TLIF increased disc height but not the SA at the operated level. LL improvement after surgery was mainly associated with the increase of the cranial segmental angle., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Direct lateral (DLIF) and transforaminal (TLIF) lumbar interbody fusions have been shown to produce satisfactory clinical outcomes with significant reduction in pain and functional disability. Despite their increasing use in complex spinal deformity surgeries, there is a paucity of data comparing outcome measures, which this study addresses., Methods: This is a retrospective, comparative study of patients who underwent minimally invasive, 1-level TLIF or DLIF between 2013 and 2015. Only patients 18 years and older were included. Preoperative and demographic variables were collected, and clinical outcome measures were compared between cohorts., Results: In total, 46 patients were included (DLIF: 17 patients; TLIF: 29 patients). Preoperatively, there was no difference in visual analog scale pain score or Oswestry Disability Index. Overall, there was a significant improvement in the postoperative visual analog scale score and Oswestry Disability Index in the separate cohorts, without significant difference when compared. The duration of postoperative narcotic use was similar in both cohorts (DLIF: 4.8 ± 4.7 months vs. TLIF: 5.2 ± 5.1 months, P = 0.82). Significantly more patients in DLIF cohort were cleared for work after surgery. Patients who underwent MIS TLIF had a significantly longer time to return to work (7.1 ± 4.8 months) compared with patients undergoing DLIF (2.3 ± 1.3, P = 0.006). There was a greater incidence of reoperation in the TLIF cohort., Conclusions: Both MIS TLIF and DLIF provide long-term improvement in pain andfunctional outcomes, with an overall reduction in postoperative narcotic requirement. However, there was a significantly longer time to return to work and a greater incidence of reoperation in the TLIF cohort compared with the patients who underwent DLIF., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We sought to evaluate 5-year outcomes between microendoscopy-assisted minimally invasive (MIS) and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)., Methods: Sixty single-level MIS and open surgeries were performed (30 patients in either group). Perioperative parameters including operative duration, intraoperative estimated blood loss, fluoroscopy time, postoperative analgesic usage, ambulatory time, and complications were recorded. Visual analog scale (back and leg), Japanese Orthopaedics Association score, and Oswestry Disability Index were obtained. Finally, self-evaluation of surgical outcomes (modified MacNab criteria), interbody fusion rate (Bridwell grade 1), and prevalence of adjacent segment degeneration were assessed., Results: Intraoperative estimated blood loss and postoperative analgesia usage were reduced in the MIS group, and patients undergoing microendoscopy-assisted MIS-TLIF ambulated earlier than those receiving open TLIF postoperatively. Nevertheless, surgical duration and fluoroscopy time were prolonged in the MIS group. Complication incidences were similar in both groups. Visual analog scale (back and leg), Japanese Orthopaedics Association, and Oswestry Disability Index were improved at 1 month, 2 years, and 5 years postoperatively in both groups when compared with preoperative scores. Significant improvements in these scores were found in the MIS group at 1 month postoperatively, while at 2 years and 5 years postoperatively, both groups revealed comparable aforementioned scores. Excellent and perfect scale rating, interbody fusion rate, and adjacent segment degeneration prevalence between the groups were almost similar., Conclusions: Microendoscopy-assisted MIS-TLIF is comparable with open TLIF in terms of 5-year outcomes with additional benefits of reduced intraoperative iatrogenic injury, decreased initial pain, minimized activity restrictions, and accelerated ambulation recovery after surgery., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Percutaneous disc nucleoplasty (PDN) is a minimally invasive technique. A portion of the nucleus tissue is ablated using the Coblation technique. Re-surgery is an important factor for the clinical outcome. However, the rate of subsequent surgery after PDN is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of an additional open surgery after PDN in a retrospective of more than ten years., Patients and Methods: Retrospective observational study. Consecutive patients who underwent PDN between 2005 and 2006 were included. Patient's satisfaction was evaluated using MacNab's outcome criteria. The patient data (age and gender), the MRI findings (annular fissure or contained herniation) and the follow-up time was evaluated. A distinction was made between patients with only lumbago and patients with radiating pain. The focus of this study was to evaluate the necessity of an additional surgery at the same level. The period of time between the PDN and re-surgery was analyzed., Results: In total, 203 patients were included in this study. All patients were seen one month after PDN. The follow-up time was longer than five years in 41 patients (20.2%), and longer than 10 years in 16 patients (7.9%). The short-term success rate was 63.5%; however, 18.7% of all patients had to undergo an additional surgery at the index level. Half of these additional surgeries were performed during the first three months after PDN. If only a poor pain reduction was achieved, re-surgery was significantly more frequent compared to patients with substantial pain relief. An initial surgery at the L4-5 level was associated more often with an additional surgery compared to an initial surgery at the L5-S1 level., Conclusion: The present study is the first study to report the frequency of re-surgery after PDN. At first sight, the fact that 63.5% of patients are satisfied seems to be a good result. However, this short-term result was significantly worsened due to a re-surgery rate at the index level of 18.7%. Moreover, it is possible that nucleoplasty has adverse effects resulting from the puncture and progressive degeneration. Therefore, indications for nucleoplasty should be critically reconsidered., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The treatment options for patients with Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) and Chiari malformation type 1.5 (CM1.5) have not yet been standardized. In these malformations, the main factors include obstruction at the level of the foramen magnum and dural and ligamentous thickening. Here we present our outcomes of surgery and decompression using a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) technique., Methods: Sixty-one patients admitted to our clinics between 2009 and 2016 due to CM1 or CM1.5 and who had undergone MIS were investigated retrospectively. All patients were followed up for a mean period of 55 months, both clinically and radiologically, and the outcomes were recorded., Results: All 61 patients underwent foramen magnum decompression through a 1.5-cm mini-open incision, C1 laminectomy and C2 medial inner side tour, posterior atlanto-occipital membrane removal, external dural delamination, and widening of the internal dura with longitudinal incisions. Fifty-six patients (91.8%) were satisfied with the outcome, 4 patients (6.5%) remained the same, and 1 patient (1.6%) reported a poor outcome. Forty-five percent of the patients with syringomyelia demonstrated resolution within 2 years, and 92% demonstrated resolution in 5 years. Scoliosis was seen in 5 patients (8.1%). The rate of benefit from the surgical procedure was statistically significant (P = 0.0045), and no patient required additional surgery because of poor decompression., Conclusions: MIS is effective for uncomplicated cases of CM1 and CM1.5 due to its minimal connective and muscular tissue damage, short surgical duration, short recovery time, early mobilization, effective posterior foramen magnum widening, lack of liquor fistula development, and better clinical and radiologic improvement during long-term follow-up., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) has emerged as an alternative to other minimally invasive techniques. However, limited TECAB results are available to date. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the existing literature to give an objective estimate of the outcomes of TECAB using a meta-analytical approach., Methods: A comprehensive online review was performed in Ovid MEDLINE®, Ovid EMBASE and The Cochrane Library from 2000 to July 2017. Eligible studies included single arm TECAB studies as well as comparative studies (TECAB vs minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)). Pooled event rates and odds ratios (ORs) for operative mortality, perioperative myocardial infarction (MI), perioperative stroke, graft patency and repeat revascularization were estimated. Single arm and pairwise comparisons were performed., Results: Seventeen single arm TECAB articles (3721 patients, weighted mean follow-up 3.3years) were included. The pooled event rate was 0.80% (95%CI: 0.60-1.2%) for operative mortality, 2.28% (95%CI: 1.7-3%) for perioperative MI, 1.50% (95%CI: 1.1-2.0%) for perioperative stroke, 2.99% (95%CI: 1.6-5.4%) for repeat revascularization and 94.8% (95%CI: 89.3-97.5%) for early graft patency (weighted mean follow-up 10.1months). On pairwise meta-analysis 376 patients (263 TECAB and 113 MIDCAB) were included. No difference in operative mortality (OR=0.25, 95%CI: 0.02-2.83), perioperative MI (OR=3.09, 95%CI: 0.37-26.12) or perioperative stroke (OR=1.33, 95%CI: 0.17-10.26) was found between the two techniques., Conclusions: TECAB has an acceptably low operative risk and a good early patency rate. The incidence of perioperative MI requires further investigation. The dearth of data comparing TECAB to open approaches compels the need for future comparative trials., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical treatment of critical aortic coarctation (CoA) is difficult in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants ≤1500 g and preferably postponed until 3 kg with prostaglandins (PGE)., Objectives: To investigate the procedure and outcome of primary coronary stent implantation as bridging therapy to surgery in VLBW infants with CoA., Methods: Retrospective evaluation of primary CoA stenting in VLBW infants from 2010 to 2015., Results: Five VLBW infants with a median gestational age of 29 weeks (27-32) underwent primary CoA stenting. Indication was cardiac failure in 4 and severe hypertension in 1 patient. Age and weight at intervention were 14 days (range 12-16) and 1200 g (680-1380), respectively. Stent diameter ranged 3-5 mm. The femoral artery used for intervention was occluded in all infants without clinical compromise. Severe restenosis and aneurysm occurred in 1 VLBW infant and was successfully treated with covered coronary stents. Median age at surgical correction was 200 days (111-804) and weight 5500 g (4500-11,400). No reinterventions were required during a median postoperative follow-up of 2.8 years (0.1-5.0). Neurodevelopmental outcomes were normal and comparable between patients and siblings (4/5 gemelli)., Conclusions: Primary coronary stent implantation in VLBW infants with critical CoA is a feasible bridging therapy to surgery., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques have emerged as viable and safe alternatives for lumbar disc herniation, including percutaneous discectomy, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, and tubulardiscectomy (TD). We present here a systematic review and a multiple-treatment meta-analysis evaluating the operative outcomes and patient-reported outcomes of open/microdiscectomy (OD/MD) and all MIS approaches for lumbar disc herniation., Methods: The PICO approach and PRISMA (i.e., Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed to query existing online databases since their inception to 2016, which yielded 14 studies after we applied the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomized trials was used to assess the risk of bias in each study was used to assess the risk of bias in each study. Each outcome was assessed across all studies with the GRADE (i.e., Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) criteria., Results: There were 1707 patients analyzed, with 782 (45.81%) undergoing OD/MD, 491 (28.76%) undergoing TD, 199 (11.65%) undergoing percutaneous endoscopic discectomy, and 235 (13.76%) patients undergoing percutaneous discectomy. TD was found to be associated with significantly worse Oswestry Disability Index scores (mean difference 1.17, P = 0.03) whereas OD/MD was associated with worse Oswestry Disability Index scores compared with all other approaches (mean difference 2.61, P = 0.03), significantly longer duration of stay (mean difference 2.96, P = 0.04), and more blood loss (mean difference 30.53, P < 0.001). In terms of complications, TD was found to be associated with a greater rate of overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.49, P = 0.002), greater incidence of dural tears (OR 1.72 P = 0.04), and recurrent herniation (OR 2.09, P = 0.0007). Finally, OD/MD was associated with significantly lower incidence of revision surgery (OR 0.53, P = 0.0007)., Conclusions: Our meta-analysis revealed that tubular-discectomy and percutaneous-endoscopic-discectomy, the most commonly employed MIS techniques for discectomy, can be used as safe alternatives for open discectomy depending on the preference of the operating surgeon., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Clinical impact of the minimally invasive surgical mitral valve annuloplasty (MVA) of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) in systolic heart failure on top of the state-of-the-art standards of care remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare clinical outcomes of isolated MVA using the mini-invasive videothoracoscopic approach versus the state-of-the-art (CON=conservative) treatment in patients with chronic systolic heart failure and symptomatic FMR., Methods: The study population consisted of 379 patients (age 68.9±11.0years, 62.8% males) with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, symptomatic FMR and previous heart failure hospitalization. A total of 167 patients underwent undersized MVA and 212 patients were treated conservatively. A concomitant MAZE was performed in 53 (31.7%) patients., Results: In the MVA group, the periprocedural and the 30-day mortality were 1.2% and 4.8%, respectively. During the median follow-up of 7.1years (IQR 3.5-9.8years) a total of 74 (44.3%) and 138 (65.1%) died in the MVA and the CON group, respectively (p<0.001). The lowest mortality was observed in MVA combined with MAZE (22.6%; p<0.01). In Cox regression analysis, age, MVA with MAZE emerged as independent predictors of both all-cause mortality and rehospitalizations for heart failure (all p<0.05). MVA was associated with significantly greater symptomatic improvement and reduction of FMR than the conservative treatment (both p<0.001). Reverse LV remodeling was observed only in the MVA combined with MAZE group (p<0.01)., Conclusions: In patients with symptomatic FMR, minimally invasive MVA, in particular in combination with MAZE, confers an independent long-term survival benefit compared with the state-of-the-art treatment., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The advent of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the surgical management armamentarium and stereotactic radiosurgery in the domain of radiotherapy, has led to a major evolution in treatment of metastatic spine disease (MSD). We reviewed the recent literature to discuss evolution from open to MIS approaches in MSD and the concurrent evolution in radiotherapy. This will provide a sound base for further development and understanding of treatment paradigms in MSD. Literature review showed that evolution of surgery can be traced from inappropriate open surgery (i.e. laminectomy) to appropriate open (i.e. posterior instrumentation and decompression) and further to minimally invasive surgery. This transition was concurrent with the introduction of radiotherapy and its evolution in management of MSD. Evidence shows that presently, the best clinical outcomes are achieved by surgery with timely postoperative radiotherapy. To make surgery an appealing choice in MSD, surgical morbidity needs to be minimized when planning postoperative oncological treatment. MIS approaches have advantages such as early wound healing enabling early introduction of radiotherapy, reduced intraoperative blood loss and shortened hospital stay. Pain reduction and neurological improvement are comparable to open surgery. A multidisciplinary team approach including spinal surgeons, medical & radiation oncologists is mandatory, as the treatment options are constantly evolving. Advancement in radiotherapy with introduction of MIS can be a game-changer in MSD due to reduced peri-operative morbidity, allowing earlier postoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy. We also provide our treatment algorithm which relies on clinical presentation and radiological appearance of spinal cord compression, providing an overview of treatment strategy., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Proper diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain remains a clinical challenge. Dysfunction of the SIJ can produce pain in the lower back, buttocks, and extremities. Triangular titanium implants for minimally invasive surgical arthrodesis have been available for several years, with reputed high levels of success and patient satisfaction. This study reports on a novel hydroxyapatite-coated screw for surgical treatment of SIJ pain., Methods: Data were prospectively collected on 32 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive SIJ fusion with a novel hydroxyapatite-coated screw. Clinical assessments and radiographs were collected and evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively., Results: Mean (standard deviation) patient age was 55.2 ± 10.7 years, and 62.5% were female. More patients (53.1%) underwent left versus right SIJ treatment, mean operative time was 42.6 ± 20.4 minutes, and estimated blood loss did not exceed 50 mL. Overnight hospital stay was required for 84% of patients, and the remaining patients needed a 2-day stay (16%). Mean preoperative visual analog scale back and leg pain scores decreased significantly by 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.01). Mechanical stability was achieved in 93.3% (28/30) of patients, and all patients who were employed preoperatively returned to work within 3 months. Two patients who required revision surgery reported symptom improvement within 3 weeks and did not require subsequent surgery., Conclusions: Positive clinical outcomes are reported 1 year postoperatively after implantation of a novel implant to treat sacroiliac joint pain. Future clinical studies with larger samples are warranted to assess long-term patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: From Luessenhop's early clinical experience until the present day, experimental methods have been introduced to make progress in endovascular neurosurgery., Methods: A personal historical narrative, spanning the 1980s to 2010s, with a review of past opportunities, current problems, and future perspectives., Results: Although the technology has significantly improved, our clinical culture remains a barrier to methodologically sound and safe innovative care and progress., Conclusions: We must learn how to safely practice endovascular neurosurgery in the presence of uncertainty and verify patient outcomes in real time., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hand fractures are the second most common fracture of the upper extremity, and management of patients with these injuries is common for most hand surgery practices. In this article, we outline the principles of management of these injuries with a special focus on those that are common or complex. We also highlight recent innovations in the context of these injuries. From this cross-section of contemporary evidence on phalangeal and metacarpal fracture treatment, we have noted a trend toward minimally invasive surgery with immediate postoperative mobilization, the use of wide-awake anesthesia, as well as sustained investigation and innovation in the biomechanics and treatment of proximal interphalangeal joint fracture dislocations., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The management of complex tibial plateau fractures is ever evolving. The severity of the injury to the surrounding soft tissues influences the timing and the method of fixation. Minimal invasive techniques continue to dominate our philosophy of reduction and reconstruction whereas augmentation of depressed intra-articular fragments remains an accepted strategy to maintain reduction and prevent secondary collapse. Locking plates, conventional plates and fine wire fixators all have been used successfully with satisfactory outcomes. In this article we report on the latest advances made in the management of these complex injuries., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive (MI) pancreatic surgery appears to be gaining popularity, but its implementation throughout Europe and the opinions regarding its use in pancreatic cancer patients are unknown., Methods: A 30-question survey was sent between June and December 2014 to pancreatic surgeons of the European Pancreatic Club, European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and 5 European national pancreatic societies. Incomplete responses were excluded., Results: In total, 237 pancreatic surgeons responded. After excluding 34 incomplete responses, 203 responses from 27 European countries were included. 164 (81%) surgeons were employed at a university hospital, 184 (91%) performed advanced MI surgery and 148 (73%) performed MI distal pancreatectomy. MI pancreatoduodenectomy was performed by 42 (21%) surgeons, whereas 9 (4.4%) surgeons had performed more than 10 procedures. Robot-assisted MI pancreatic surgery was performed by 28 (14%) surgeons. 63 (31%) surgeons expected MI distal pancreatectomy for cancer to be inferior to open distal pancreatectomy concerning oncological outcomes. 151 (74%) surgeons expected to benefit from training in MI distal pancreatectomy and 149 (73%) were willing to participate in a randomized trial on this topic., Conclusions: MI distal pancreatectomy is a common procedure, although its use for cancer is still disputed. MI pancreatoduodenectomy is still an uncommon procedure. Specific training and a randomized trial regarding MI pancreatic cancer surgery are welcomed., (Copyright © 2015 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hybrid operating rooms have been used successfully in several surgical specialties, but no data have been published for orthopaedic trauma. We present our one-year orthopaedic trauma experience using a hybrid operating room, which incorporates 3D fluoroscopic imaging as well as navigation capabilities. Data were compiled for a series of 92 cases performed in an advanced hybrid operating room at the level one trauma center in Ulm, Germany. All patients who had surgery performed using this operating room during the first year were included. Setup time and surgical complications using hybrid operating room were recorded and analysed. The hybrid operating room resulted in no higher rate of complication than expected from the same cases in a conventional operating room. The hybrid room did however allow the surgeon to confidently place implants for orthopaedic trauma cases, and was most advantageous for spine and pelvis cases, both minimally invasive and conventional. Further, appropriate reduction and implant position was confirmed with 3D imaging prior to leaving the operating room and obviated the need for postoperative CT scan. Based on our one-year experience, the hybrid operating room is a useful and safe tool for orthopaedic trauma surgery., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objective: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) affects 1-3% of the entire population. The effectiveness of surgery and rehabilitation are of great significance. The goal of this study was to determine how different surgical methods (i.e., conventional and minimally invasive) influence balancing ability in response to sudden unidirectional perturbation during the first 12 weeks of the postoperative period., Materials and Methods: The balancing capacity after sudden unidirectional (horizontal) perturbation of 10 patients who had undergone TKA operations via the conventional method and 10 patients who had undergone TKA operations via the minimally invasive method were examined before and six and 12 weeks after TKA. Forty-five health age-matched participants composed the control group. The balancing capacities following unidirectional perturbation were characterised by the Lehr's damping ratio, which was calculated based on the results of the provocation tests that were performed with the patients standing on both the affected and non-affected limbs., Results: In both patient groups, the Lehr's damping ratios increased during the postoperative period. However, in both patient groups, the Lehr's damping ratios calculated from the results of all three of the testing methods decreased compared to values obtained from the controls even at 12 weeks postoperatively. Six and 12 weeks after TKA, the Lehr's damping ratios of the patients who underwent operations utilising the minimally invasive exposure method were significantly higher than the values obtained from the patients who underwent operations by conventional exposure., Discussion and Conclusions: In both patient groups, the balancing capacities continuously improved over the first 12 weeks of the postoperative period, but the dynamic balancing capacities while standing on both limbs, on the affected limb and on the non-affected limb significantly differed from those of the controls. The balancing capacities of the patients who underwent the minimally invasive exposure procedures improved more rapidly than did the capacities of the patients who underwent operations utilising the conventional exposure method. This reduced balancing capacity should be considered when developing dynamic balancing abilities and abandoning therapeutic aids, and the difference in dynamic balancing abilities between the two patient groups should also be considered., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the last 10-15 years, strategies and modalities of lung cancer treatment have changed dramatically. Meanwhile, the treatment objectives, the lung cancers themselves, have also changed, probably owing to early detection by computed tomography and aging of the population. In particular, the proportions of smaller lung cancers, lung adenocarcinomas with ground-glass opacity, and lung cancers in older patients are increasing. Along with these changes, surgeons have innovated and evaluated novel procedures for pulmonary resection. These include the application of minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic surgery, and sub-lobar resection, such as wedge resection and segmentectomy, for small peripheral lung cancers. Currently, VATS has gained wide acceptance and several institutions in Japan have started using robotic surgery for lung cancers. Two important clinical trials of sub-lobar resection for small peripheral lung cancers are now underway in Japan. In addition, surgery itself is of growing importance in lung cancer treatment. In particular, recent evidence supports the use of surgery in strictly selected patients with locally advanced disease, lung cancers with N2 lymph node metastases, small cell lung cancers, recurrent oligo-metastasis after pulmonary resection, or relapsed tumors after drug treatment. Surgical treatment also provides abundant tumor samples for molecular analysis, which can be used for drug selection in the adjuvant setting or after disease relapse. In the era of personalized treatment, surgery is still one of the most important treatment modalities to combat lung cancer., (Copyright © 2014 The Japanese Respiratory Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The practice of surgery has undergone tumultuous changes over the last 30 years. Disease management, trauma volume, operative techniques, supervision requirements, and allocation of work hours have all changed, resulting in a substantial impact on general surgical training. Changes need to occur in the structure, assessment, and mentorship of future residents to prepare them to enter the marketplace and practice safe medicine with confidence and authority.

Objective: To assess the impact of new technology on the management of pediatric urolithiasis by analyzing our local practice over the past 24 years, and determining the role of open surgery at the present time., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 768 children (783 procedures) who underwent surgical treatment for urolithiasis between June 1987 and October 2010. Data were analyzed with respect to patient characteristics and changing patterns of treatment with time. We compared the type of procedures performed between four time periods: the first was before ESWL, the second was after the introduction of ESWL, the third was after introduction of PCNL, and the fourth was our experienced period with a pediatric urologist., Results: The mean age of the children was 7.50 years (range 9 months-17 years). There were 495 renal, 228 ureteral, 21 bladder, 11 urethral stones, and the remaining 13 had stones in multiple locations. Of the 783 procedures performed, 75.9% were open surgery during the first period (1987-1992), 29.7% during the second period (1993-1998), 6.1% during the third period (1999-2004) and 0.2% during the fourth period (2005-2010). The number of children who underwent urinary stone treatment increased significantly (p = 0.001) and the age of the children at the time of surgery decreased (9.09-6.08 years) (p = 0.001) with time., Conclusion: The majority of stones in children can be managed using endourological procedures. Additionally, technological advances and improved surgical skills have greatly reduced the number of children requiring open surgery, which is mainly used for those with complex urinary calculi presenting with anatomic abnormalities. Minimally invasive techniques allow us to treat stones at an earlier age., (Copyright © 2012 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a recent technic of minimally invasive surgery that arouses a growing interest due to its potential benefits in terms of pain and cosmetic. However, in gynecology as well as in other surgical specialties, preliminary results seem to be controversial. Its feasibility and interest by comparison with conventional laparoscopy (CL) have not been confirmed by randomized multicenter studies., Objectives: Compare in gynecological surgery, feasibility and surgical outcomes (conversion rate and complications, postoperative pain, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, appearance and cost) between SILS and CL., Patients and Methods: For this, a review of the literature from a PUBMED and Medline databases was conducted. The clinical cases and series with fewer than 10 patients were excluded. Eligible data were compared and analyzed., Results: A total of 46 studies including five prospective randomized were studied in gynecology. Conversion rates and complications appear identical to those of the CL. The learning curve is also comparable. The technique is not standardized and some ergonomic problems are described. Operating time and duration of hospitalization seems to be comparable. The postoperative pain assessment found conflicting results. The cosmetic results are in favor of the single incision laparoscopy. Finally, the cost is higher., Conclusions: According to the literature, the single incision laparoscopy seems feasible and safe, with better cosmetic results. But the cost is increased and associated with no benefit in terms of pain, operating time and duration of hospitalization. Beyond cosmetics results, further randomized studies are needed to identify a possible benefit., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Before the development of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and significant comorbidities who were deemed inoperable were left with no therapeutic option but palliative care. Today, 11 years after Dr Alain Cribier's first transcatheter aortic valve implantation in 2002, more than 50,000 TAVRs have been performed worldwide, majority in Europe. Short-term results from the recently conducted Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) I trial and long-term results from the European/Canadian registry experiences show significant reduction in mortality compared with medical therapy alone (inoperable cohort B) and noninferiority of TAVR versus open aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients (operable high-risk cohort A). Technical advances and increasing operator experience will further decrease procedure-related complications and may make TAVR an alternative to open aortic valve replacement in even younger and low- to medium-risk patients with severe symptomatic calcific aortic valve stenosis., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In this paper we present a systematic literature overview and analysis of the first results and progress made with minimally-invasive surgery using RF energy in the treatment of AF. The minimally-invasive treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) tries to combine the success rate of surgical treatment with a less invasive approach to surgery. It has the additional potential advantage of ganglion plexus (GP) ablation and left atrial appendage exclusion. Furthermore, additional left atrial ablation lines (ALAL) can be created in non-paroxysmal AF patients., Methods: For the search query multiple databases were used. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied to select the publications to be screened. All remaining articles were critically appraised and only relevant and valid articles were included in our results., Results: Twenty-three studies were included. In 15 studies GPs around the pulmonary veins were ablated. In four studies ALAL were performed. Single procedure success rate was 69% (95% CI, range 58%-78%) without antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and 79% (95% CI, range 71%-85%) with AAD at one year follow-up. Mortality was 0.4%, and various complications were reported (3.2% surgical, 3.2% post-surgical, 2.6% cardiac, 2.1% pulmonary, 1.7% other)., Conclusions: Twenty-three studies of minimally-invasive surgery for AF have been reviewed with success rates between that of the standard maze procedure and catheter ablation. These first combined results show promise; however, minimally-invasive surgery is still evolving, for instance by the recent inclusion of electrophysiological endpoints. Furthermore, the type of ALAL and the additional value of GP ablation have to be elucidated., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

When used in medicine, endoscopy describes a procedure used to see inside various parts of the body, such as the interior surfaces of an organ, by inserting a tube through a natural or created orifice. The instrument may have a rigid (borescope) or flexible (fiberscope) tube; it provides an image for visual inspection, photography and video-endoscopy and enables acquisition of biopsy specimens, removal of lesions, and retrieval of foreign objects. It is imperative that young neurosurgeons and residents become familiar and comfortable with endoscopic techniques, and it is hoped that they can contribute to the evolution and development of these surgical methods., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)