Search

Patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) of colorectal cancer have a very poor outcome. Intraperitoneal delivery of chemotherapy is the preferred route for PM treatment. The main limitation of the treatment options is the short residence time of the cytostatic, with subsequent short exposure of the cancer cells. To address this, a supramolecular hydrogel has been developed that allows both local and slow release of its encapsulated drug, mitomycin C (MMC) or cholesterol-conjugated MMC (cMMC), respectively. This experimental study investigates if drug delivery using this hydrogel improves the therapeutic efficacy against PM. PM was induced in WAG/Rij rats (n = 72) by intraperitoneally injecting syngeneic colon carcinoma cells (CC531) expressing luciferase. After seven days, animals received a single intraperitoneal injection with saline (n = 8), unloaded hydrogel (n = 12), free MMC (n = 13), free cMMC (n = 13), MMC-loaded hydrogel (n = 13), or cMMC-loaded hydrogel (n = 13). Primary outcome was overall survival with a maximum follow-up of 120 days. Intraperitoneal tumor development was non-invasive monitored via bioluminescence imaging. Sixty-one rats successfully underwent all study procedures and were included to assess therapeutic efficacy. After 120 days, the overall survival in the MMC-loaded hydrogel and free MMC group was 78% and 38%, respectively. A trend toward significance was found when comparing the survival curves of the MMC-loaded hydrogel and free MMC (p = 0.087). No survival benefit was found for the cMMC-loaded hydrogel compared to free cMMC. Treating PM with our MMC-loaded hydrogel, exhibiting prolonged MMC exposure, seems effective in improving survival compared to treatment with free MMC.

BACKGROUND: Several pivotal studies and international guidelines on the perioperative management of rectal cancer have been published. However, little is known about the current state of perioperative management of rectal cancer patients in clinical practice worldwide.METHODS: An online survey including 13 questions focusing on key topics related to the perioperative management of patients with rectal cancer was conducted among colorectal surgeons registered within the database of the Research Institute Against Digestive Cancer (IRCAD).RESULTS: A total of 535 respondents from 89 countries participated in the survey. Most surgeons worked in the European region (40.9%). Two hundred and fifty-four respondents (47.5%) performed less than 25% of surgical procedures laparoscopically. The most commonly used definition of the upper limit of the rectum was a fixed distance from the anal verge (23.4%). Magnetic resonance imaging was used to define the upper limit of the rectum by 258 respondents (48.2%). During total mesorectal excision (TME), 301 respondents (56.3%) used a high-tie technique. The most commonly constructed anastomosis was an end-to-end anastomosis (68.2%) with the majority of surgeons performing a leak test intraoperatively (88.9%). A total of 355 respondents (66.4%) constructed a diverting ostomy, and the majority of these surgeons constructed an enterostomy (82%). A total of 208 respondents (39.3%) closed a stoma within 8 weeks. Lastly, 135 respondents (25.2%) introduced a solid diet on postoperative day 1.CONCLUSION: There is considerable heterogeneity in the perioperative management of rectal cancer patients worldwide with several discrepancies between current international practice and recommendations from international guidelines. To achieve worldwide standardization in rectal cancer care, further research is needed to elucidate the cause of this heterogeneity and find ways of improved implementation of best practice recommendations.

Management of refractory gastroparesis is challenging after diet, prokinetics, and long-term nutritional support have failed. In this review, the efficacy and safety of surgical interventions (sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery) are evaluated systematically in patients with refractory gastroparesis. The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant studies published up to June 2021. Outcome of interest was symptom improvement and gastric emptying. Nineteen studies with 222 refractory gastroparesis patients (147 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 39 sleeve gastrectomy, and 36 subtotal gastrectomy) were included. All studies reported symptom improvement postoperatively, particularly vomiting and nausea. Gastric emptying improved postoperatively in 45% up to 67% for sleeve gastrectomy and 87% for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The findings of our systematic review suggest that sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery improve symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with refractory gastroparesis. Surgery may be effective as treatment for a small group of patients when all other therapies have failed.

In recent years, fluorescence imaging-relying both on parathyroid gland autofluorescence under near-infrared light and angiography using the fluorescent dye indocyanine green-has been used to reduce risk of iatrogenic parathyroid injury during thyroid and parathyroid resections, but no published guidelines exist regarding its use. In this study, orchestrated by the International Society for Fluorescence Guided Surgery, areas of consensus and nonconsensus were examined among international experts to facilitate future drafting of such guidelines.A 2-round, online Delphi survey was conducted of 10 international experts in fluorescence imaging use during endocrine surgery, asking them to vote on 75 statements divided into 5 modules: 1 = patient preparation and contraindications to fluorescence imaging (n = 11 statements); 2 = technical logistics (n = 16); 3 = indications (n = 21); 4 = potential advantages and disadvantages of fluorescence imaging (n = 20); and 5 = training and research (n = 7). Several methodological steps were taken to minimize voter bias.Overall, parathyroid autofluorescence was considered better than indocyanine green angiography for localizing parathyroid glands, whereas indocyanine green angiography was deemed superior assessing parathyroid perfusion. Additional surgical scenarios where indocyanine green angiography was thought to facilitate surgery are (1) when1 parathyroid gland requires resection; (2) during redo surgeries, (3) facilitating parathyroid autoimplantation; and (4) for the predissection visualization of abnormal glands. Both parathyroid autofluorescence and indocyanine green angiography can be used during the same procedure and employing the same imaging equipment. However, further research is needed to optimize the dose and timing of indocyanine green administration.Though further research remains necessary, using fluorescence imaging appears to have uses during thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

For peritoneal metastases (PM), there are few curative treatment options, and they are only available for a select patient group. Recently, new therapies have been developed to deliver intraperitoneal chemotherapy for a prolonged period, suitable for a larger patient group. These drug delivery systems (DDSs) seem promising in the experimental setting. Many types of DDSs have been explored in a variety of animal models, using different cytostatics. This review aimed to provide an overview of animal studies using DDSs containing cytostatics for the treatment of gastro-intestinal PM and identify the most promising therapeutic combinations. The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) guidelines. The 35 studies included revealed similar results: using a cytostatic-loaded DDS to treat PM resulted in a higher median survival time (MST) and a lower intraperitoneal tumor load compared to no treatment or treatment with a ‘free’ cytostatic or an unloaded DDS. In 65% of the studies, the MST was significantly longer and in 24% the tumor load was significantly lower in the animals treated with cytostatic-loaded DDS. The large variety of experimental setups made it impossible to identify the most promising DDS-cytostatic combination. In most studies, the risk of bias was unclear due to poor reporting. Future studies should focus more on improving the clinical relevance of the experiments, standardizing the experimental study setup, and improving their methodological quality and reporting.

Local intraperitoneal drug administration is considered a challenging drug delivery route. The therapeutic efficiency is low, mainly due to rapid clearance of drugs. To increase the intraperitoneal retention time of specific drugs, a pH-sensitive supramolecular hydrogel that can act as a drug delivery vehicle is developed. To establish the optimal formulation of the hydrogel and to study its feasibility, safety, and tissue compatibility, in vitro, postmortem, and in vivo experiments are performed. In vitro tests reveal that a hydrogelator formulation with pH >= 9 results in a constant viscosity of 0.1 Pa center dot s. After administration postmortem, the hydrogel covers the parietal and visceral peritoneum with a thin, soft layer. In the subsequent in vivo experiments, 14 healthy rats are subjected to intraperitoneal injection with the hydrogel. Fourteen and 28 days after implantation, the animals are euthanized. Intraperitoneal exposure to the hydrogel is not resulted in significant weight loss or discomfort. Moreover, no macroscopic adverse effects or signs of organ damage are detected. In several intra-abdominal tissues, vacuolated macrophages are found indicating a physiological degradation of the synthetic hydrogel. This study demonstrates that the supramolecular hydrogel is safe for intraperitoneal application and that the hydrogel shows good tissue compatibility in rats.

Purpose Research papers involving animal studies often display poor reporting standards, leading to lower study reproducibility. We aim to determine the difference in reporting animal studies regarding abdominal wall hernia repair with mesh placement, before and after the publication of ARRIVE-2010 (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines. Furthermore, we aim to present the most up-to-date reporting quality using the updated ARRIVE-2020 as criteria. Methods All animal studies concerning hernia repair with meshes were systematically searched. Articles published in the 5 years leading up to the ARRIVE-2010 (pre-ARRIVE) and articles within the last 5 years until the updated ARRIVE 2.0 (post-ARRIVE) were compared for overall species and specific species separately. Articles published last year were evaluated for presenting fully reported (sub)items. Results The number of fully reported (sub)items per article was on average significantly higher for pre-ARRIVE than post-ARRIVE for overall species (mean (SD) = 14.0 (2.8) vs. 12.6 (2.5), P < 0.001). The same applies to rabbit (mean (SD) = 14.8 (2.6) vs. 12.6 (2.6), P = 0.001) and pig studies (mean (SD) = 14.5 (2.7) vs. 11.6 (2.6), P = 0.004), with no significance in rat studies (mean (SD) = 13.6 (2.9) vs. 12.9 (2.3), P = 0.076). Significance was found in several (sub)items between pre-ARRIVE and post-ARRIVE (n = 7, 3, 8, and 3 for overall species, rat, rabbit, and pig studies, respectively). Conclusion General reporting quality of animal experiments has been improved markedly by ARRIVE guidelines. However, more improvements are required considering the arrival of ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines.

Objective:To assess prevalence of hernia recurrence, surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, serious complications, and mortality after retro-rectus repair.Summary Background Data:Ventral abdominal wall hernia is a common problem, tied to increasing frailty and obesity of patients undergoing surgery. For noncomplex ventral hernia, retro-rectus (Rives-Stoppa) repair is considered the gold standard treatment. Level-1 evidence confirming this presumed superiority is lacking.Methods:Five databases were searched for studies reporting on retro-rectus repair. Single-armed and comparative randomized and non-randomized studies were included. Outcomes were pooled with mixed-effects, inverse variance or random-effects models.Results:Ninety-three studies representing 12,440 patients undergoing retro-rectus repair were included. Pooled hernia recurrence was estimated at 3.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2%-4.2%, n = 11,049] after minimally 12months and 4.1%, (95%CI: 2.9%-5.5%, n = 3830) after minimally 24-months. Incidences of SSI and seroma were estimated at respectively 5.2% (95%CI: 4.2%-6.4%, n = 4891) and 5.5% (95%CI: 4.4%-6.8%, n = 3650). Retro-rectus repair was associated with lower recurrence rates compared to onlay repair [odds ratios (OR): 0.27, 95%CI: 0.15-0.51, P < 0.001] and equal recurrence rates compared to intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair (OR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.75-1.12, P = 0.400). Retro-rectus repair was associated with more SSI than IPOM repair (OR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.03 -3.14, P = 0.038). Minimally invasive retro-rectus repair displayed low rates of recurrence (1.3%, 95%CI: 0.7%-2.3%, n = 849) and SSI (1.5%, 95%CI: 0.8%-2.8%, n = 982), albeit based on non-randomized studies.Conclusions:Retro-rectus (Rives-Stoppa) repair results in excellent outcomes, superior or similar to other techniques for all outcomes except SSI. The latter rarely occurred, yet less frequently after IPOM repair, which is usually performed by laparoscopy.

Contains fulltext : 294203.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: The risk of reoperations after abdominal and pelvic surgery is multifactorial and difficult to predict. The risk of reoperation is frequently underestimated by surgeons as most reoperations are not related to the initial procedure and diagnosis. During reoperation, adhesiolysis is often required, and patients have an increased risk of complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based prediction model based on the risk of reoperation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted including all patients undergoing an initial abdominal or pelvic operation between 1 June 2009 and 30 June 2011 in Scotland. Nomograms based on multivariable prediction models were constructed for the 2-year and 5-year overall risk of reoperation and risk of reoperation in the same surgical area. Internal cross-validation was applied to evaluate reliability. RESULTS: Of the 72 270 patients with an initial abdominal or pelvic surgery, 10 467 (14.5%) underwent reoperation within 5 years postoperatively. Mesh placement, colorectal surgery, diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, previous radiotherapy, younger age, open surgical approach, malignancy, and female sex increased the risk of reoperation in all the prediction models. Intra-abdominal infection was also a risk factor for the risk of reoperation overall. The accuracy of the prediction model of risk of reoperation overall and risk for the same area was good for both parameters ( c -statistic=0.72 and 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for abdominal reoperation were identified and prediction models displayed as nomograms were constructed to predict the risk of reoperation in the individual patient. The prediction models were robust in internal cross-validation.

Simple Summary Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) have a poor prognosis. Currently, research has been ongoing to develop new treatment options for CRC patients with PM. DNA/RNA alterations identification in the primary tumor might help identify patients who are at high risk for developing PM postoperatively. These patients could benefit from preventive or early treatment. The aim of this systematic review is to create an overview of studies which analyzed genomic DNA and RNA expression alteration correlated to PM with the goal of identifying potentially predictive biomarkers. We included 32 studies investigating primary colorectal tumors of 18,906 patients. Only BRAF mutations were reported as significantly associated with PM in 10 of 17 studies. As no specific biomarkers in the primary tumors of CRC patients could have been identified, further research with comprehensive genomic profiling is still desirable. Background: As colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) have a poor prognosis, new treatment options are currently being investigated for CRC patients. Specific biomarkers in the primary tumor could serve as a prediction tool to estimate the risk of distant metastatic spread. This would help identify patients eligible for early treatment. Aim: To give an overview of previously studied DNA and RNA alterations in the primary tumor correlated to colorectal PM and investigate which gene mutations should be further studied. Methods: A systematic review of all published studies reporting genomic analyses on the primary tissue of CRC tumors in relation to PM was undertaken according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: Overall, 32 studies with 18,906 patients were included. BRAF mutations were analyzed in 17 articles, of which 10 found a significant association with PM. For all other reported genes, no association with PM was found. Two analyses with broader cancer panels did not reveal any new biomarkers. Conclusion: An association of specific biomarkers in the primary tumors of CRC patients with metastatic spread into peritoneum could not be proven. The role of BRAF mutations should be further investigated. In addition, studies searching for potential novel biomarkers are still required.

Purpose Complex ventral hernia repair (CVHR) encompasses patient optimization, primary fascial closure (PFC), mesh reinforcement and component separation technique (CST), if needed. High rates of complications after CST are still reported. Prehabilitation by managing pre-operative modifiable risk factors, like abdominal wall compliance, possibly reduces these rates. Compliance can be modified by intramuscular injection of Botulinum in the lateral abdominal wall muscles (LAWM). Paralysis leads to elongation of these muscles, which may facilitate PFC and/or prevent CST. Evidence to use Botulinum in hernia patients is scarce and fragmented. An update of evidence for the effect of Botulinum is presented. Methods A multi-database search was conducted for Botulinum studies in ventral hernia patients. A systematic review was performed to describe its primary effect on compliance (LAWM elongation) and secondary effects like PFC +/- CST rate, complications and recurrence. Results 14 studies were included (377 patients) with a HDW of median 12 (10-15) cm. A typical intervention consisted of 200-300 U Botulinum in 3 points per hemi-abdomen under US guidance, > 2 weeks pre-operatively and evaluated by CT just before the operation. The primary effect was a median LAWM elongation of 4.0 cm per side without complications of the injection (four studies, 107 patients). The median PFC rate was 100%, CST rate 38%, wound-related complications 19%, medical complications 18% and recurrence 0% (14 studies). Conclusion Botulinum safely elongates the abdominal wall muscles, but the level of evidence available remains low. Any patient in whom PFC is expected to be difficult, could be a candidate for prehabilitation with Botulinum.

Purpose More interest in the treatment of rectus diastasis has been evoked lately. Following the postpartum females from a great distance, the middle-aged males living with obesity are the second most common group of rectus diastasis patients. Although gender differences are considered frequently in regard to cosmetic appearance and symptoms, it is less obvious in classifications and subsequent treatment strategies. Is a unisex approach of rectus diastasis still applicable? The lack of a firm answer warrants this review of the current literature. Methods An explorative free-text multi-database bibliographic search (Pubmed/CENTRAL/EMBASE/PEDro/Scholar) was performed with the focus on the rectus diastasis in males. Anticipating the limited references, the design was a non-systematic review. All studies, regardless of study type, language or time period, describing etiology, symptoms, classification and/or treatment options were eligible for inclusion. From the articles retrieved out of this search, additional references were identified by a manual search among the cited references. Results The multi-database search resulted in a total of 7633 records. Based on the title and abstract 95 records were full text assessed for eligibility. Eleven studies were identified as relevant, six by cross-reference and another four by hand-search were added to provide an insight in gender-specific aspects in rectus diastase. Hereditary causes are differences in collagen-like composition of types and concomitant abdominal aneurysm as well as gender differences in the linea alba architecture. Acquired etiology is distributed into both absolute pressure by visceral obesity and relative pressure caused by weight lifting or improper exercises. Furthermore, the impact of muscle thickness and age are considered as influencers of biomechanics. Gender differences can also play a role in symptoms of body image and core stability. It is known that there are anatomical differences between male and female persons; more transverse fibers are found in infra-umbilical region in women. In classifications the awareness of male rectus diastasis is limited, treatment outcome studies are scarce on males. Conclusion An overview of male-specific aspects of rectus diastasis is provided, underlining that key aspects surrounding rectus diastasis in males differ from females. Although males are the minority of rectus diastasis patients, we recommend that the male rectus diastasis as a concept should be specifically acknowledged in classifications systems and study outcome reporting to evaluate this subgroup more accurately in the future.

IMPORTANCE There has been a growing interest in the use of electronic noses (e-noses) in detecting volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath for the diagnosis of cancer. However, no systematic evaluation has been performed of the overall diagnostic accuracy and methodologic challenges of using e-noses for cancer detection in exhaled breath.OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of the diagnostic accuracy and methodologic challenges of using e-noses for the detection of cancer.DATA SOURCES An electronic search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases (January 1, 2000, to July 1, 2021).STUDY SELECTION Inclusion criteria were the following: (1) use of e-nose technology, (2) detection of cancer, and (3) analysis of exhaled breath. Exclusion criteria were (1) studies published before 2000; (2) studies not performed in humans; (3) studies not performed in adults; (4) studies that only analyzed biofluids; and (5) studies that exclusively used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze exhaled breath samples.DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS PRISMA guidelines were used for the identification, screening, eligibility, and selection process. Quality assessment was performed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Generalized mixed-effects bivariate meta-analysis was performed.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Main outcomes were sensitivity, specificity, and mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS This review identified 52 articles with a total of 3677 patients with cancer. All studies were feasibility studies. The sensitivity of e-noses ranged from 48.3% to 95.8% and the specificity from 10.0% to 100.0%. Pooled analysis resulted in a mean (SE) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 94% (95% CI, 92%-96%), a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI, 88%-92%), and a specificity of 87% (95% CI, 81%-92%). Considerable heterogeneity existed among the studies because of differences in the selection of patients, endogenous and exogenous factors, and collection of exhaled breath.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this review indicate that e-noses have a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of cancer in exhaled breath. However, most studies were feasibility studies with small sample sizes, a lack of standardization, and a high risk of bias. The lack of standardization and reproducibility of e-nose research should be addressed in future research.

Intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography has gained popularity and acceptance in many surgical fields for the real-time assessment of tissue perfusion. Although vasopressors have the potential to preclude an accurate assessment of tissue perfusion, there is a lack of literature with regards to its effect on ICG fluorescence angiography. An experimental porcine model was used to expose the small bowel for quantitative tissue perfusion assessment. Three increasing doses of norepinephrine infusion (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 µg/kg/min) were administered intravenously over a 25-min interval. Time-to-peak fluorescence intensity (TTP) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included absolute fluorescence intensity and local capillary lactate (LCL) levels. Five large pigs (mean weight: 40.3 ± 4.24 kg) were included. There was no significant difference in mean TTP (in seconds) at baseline (4.23) as compared to the second (3.90), third (4.41), fourth (4.60), and fifth ICG assessment (5.99). As a result of ICG accumulation, the mean and the maximum absolute fluorescence intensity were significantly different as compared to the baseline assessment. There was no significant difference in LCL levels (in mmol/L) at baseline (0.74) as compared to the second (0.82), third (0.64), fourth (0.60), and fifth assessment (0.62). Increasing doses of norepinephrine infusion have no significant influence on bowel perfusion using ICG fluorescence angiography.

Highlights • Lipids change overtime in normal fascial healing in the early post-surgery period. • Specific lipid species are correlated with the changes of inflammation cells and fibroblasts. • Lipid species in the present study are considered as predictive markers for the formation of incisional hernia., Background Failure of fascial healing in the abdominal wall can result in incisional hernia, which is one of the most common complications after laparotomy. Understanding the molecular healing process of abdominal fascia may provide lipid markers of incisional hernia or therapeutic targets that allow prevention or treatment of incisional hernias. Purpose This study aims to investigate temporal and in situ changes of lipids during the normal healing process of abdominal fascia in the first postoperative week. Methods Open hemicolectomy was performed in a total of 35 Wistar rats. The midline fascia was closed identically for all rats using a single continuous suturing technique. These animals were sacrificed with equal numbers (n = 5) at each of 7-time points (6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 h. The local and temporal changes of lipids were examined with mass spectrometry imaging and correlated to histologically scored changes during healing using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results Two phosphatidylcholine lipid species (PC O-38:5 and PC 38:4) and one phosphatidylethanolamine lipid (PE O-16:1_20:4) were found to significantly correlate with temporal changes of inflammation. A phosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0) and a monosialodihexosylganglioside (GM3 34:1;2) were found to correlate with fibroblast cell growth. Conclusion Glycerophospholipids and gangliosides are strongly involved in the normal healing process of abdominal fascia and their locally fluctuating concentrations are considered as potential lipid markers and therapeutic targets of fascial healing.

Background In 80% to 90% of the patients intra-abdominal adhesions occur after abdominal surgery, which can cause small-bowel obstruction, chronic abdominal pain, female infertility and difficulty during reoperation. A novel crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel is evaluated regarding its anti-adhesive capacities in an ischemic button model in rats. Method 51 adult, male Wistar rats from a registered breeder, received eight ischemic buttons each and were treated with hyaluronic acid gel (HA, HyaRegen©), hyaluronic acid carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC, Seprafilm©) or no anti-adhesive barrier. After 14 days, the animals were sacrificed and adhesions were scored macroscopically. The number of buttons and organs involved in adhesions were recorded. Per animal, one button with adhesions and one without adhesions was explanted for qPCR analysis. Mann-Whitney U, Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analysis. A p-value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results Macroscopic evaluation of adhesion formation did not differ between the groups. The number of organs involved in adhesions in the HA gel group was significantly lower compared to HA-CMC (p = .041) and the control group (p = .012). A significantly, 1.36-fold higher clec10a (p = 0.25), 1.80-fold higher cd163 (p = 0.003) and 5.14-fold higher mmp1 expression (p = 0.028) was found in ischemic buttons with adhesions compared to buttons without adhesions. Conclusion HA gel application reduces the number of organs involved in adhesions in an ischemic button model, but no overall reduction in adhesion formation was encountered. Macrophage subtype 2 polarization and high mmp1 expression are associated with adhesion formation. Further investigation is needed in the exact pathophysiologic process of adhesion formation and the role of macrophage polarization.

Peristomal skin complications due to appliance leakage occur frequently in all types of ostomies with great emotional, social, and financial impact for patients. PURPOSE: This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the safety and use of a new, reusable, nonadherent, elastic device. METHOD: A convenience sample of nonhospitalized patients with ileostomies and colostomies was recruited through the Dutch ostomy patient association. Participant inclusion criteria stipulated the presence of ileostomy or colostomy, a body mass index between 18 and 30, and presence of an ostomy for at least 1 month. Patients with existing prolapse or necrosis of the ostomy, inability to give consent, or concurrent usage of other aids to prevent leakage or skin problems were excluded. Participants were fitted with and asked to wear the appliance continuously for 4 weeks and report experiences in a structured diary. Patient charts were reviewed for baseline demographic characteristics that included age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification, and body mass index (BMI). Study nurses performed structured weekly interviews and inspections of the ostomies and peristomal skin. The primary outcome measure was occurrence of serious adverse events such as ostomy necrosis or perforation. Secondary outcome measures were patient reported incidents of leakage and satisfaction during wear and changing of the appliance. Peristomal skin complications also were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze results. In addition, subgroup analysis of patients with a parastomal hernia was performed because of the potential benefits of the device design in these cases. RESULTS: Participants included 23 patients (16 with colostomies, 7 with ileostomies); 13 participants (57%) were female). Mean age and BMI were 64 years and 28.3, respectively. Six (6) patients had a parastomal hernia. Due to shifting or discomfort while wearing the appliance, 16 participants discontinued use before the end of the study and were excluded from analysis from the point they left the study. Mean duration of participation was 12.8 days. No adverse events occurred. Mean number of incidents of leakage/ week decreased from 3.5 +/- 4.9 at start of the study to 1.8 +/- 1.3 at week 4. The mean number of pouches used/week decreased from 10.5 +/- 5.4 to 8 +/- 2.6. Peristomal skin reactions were present in 15 patients (65.2%) at start of the study and decreased to 1 patient (14.3%) at the end of the study. Patient satisfaction did not change over the course of the study. Patients with parastomal hernias had similar results. CONCLUSION: No serious adverse events were reported and leakage and skin irritation were found to improve, but participant dropout rate was high and average usage time was only 12.8 days, which limits interpretation of the results. The data suggest that the appliance may offer an (intermittent) alternative to existing ostomy materials for patients experiencing troublesome leakages, peristomal skin problems, or parastomal hernias, but further research is needed to explore these outcomes.

Background and Aims To assess safety of the Exilis™ gastric electrical stimulation (GES) system and to investigate whether the settings can be adjusted for comfortable chronic use in subjects with morbid obesity. Gastric emptying and motility and meal intake were evaluated. Method In a multicenter, phase 1, open prospective cohort study, 20 morbidly obese subjects (17 female, mean BMI of 40.8 ± 0.7 kg/m2) were implanted with the Exilis™ system. Amplitude of the Exilis™ system was individually set during titration visits. Subjects underwent two blinded baseline test days (GES ON vs. OFF), after which long-term, monthly follow-up continued for up to 52 weeks. Results The procedure was safe, and electrical stimulation was well tolerated and comfortable in all subjects. No significant differences in gastric emptying halftime (203 ± 16 vs. 212 ± 14 min, p > 0.05), food intake (713 ± 68 vs. 799 ± 69 kcal, p > 0.05), insulin AUC (2448 ± 347 vs. 2186 ± 204, p > 0.05), and glucose AUC (41 ± 2 vs.41 ± 2, p > 0.05) were found between GES ON and OFF. At week 4, 13, and 26, a significant (p Conclusion Gastric electrical stimulation with the Exilis™ system can be considered as safe. No significant effect on food intake, gastric emptying, or gastric motility was observed. The reduction in weight loss with Exilis™ GES was significant but short lasting. Further electrophysiological research is needed to gain more insight in optimal stimulation parameters and lead localization.

Background: Adhesions are the most common driver of long-term morbidity after abdominal surgery. Although laparoscopy can reduce adhesion formation, the effect of minimally invasive surgery on long-term adhesion-related morbidity remains unknown. We aimed to assess the impact of laparoscopy on adhesion-related readmissions in a population-based cohort. Methods: We did a retrospective cohort study of patients of any age who had abdominal or pelvic surgery done using laparoscopic or open approaches between June 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011, using validated population data from the Scottish National Health Service. All patients who had surgery were followed up until Dec 31, 2017. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of hospital readmissions directly related to adhesions in the laparoscopic and open surgery cohorts at 5 years. Readmissions were categorised as directly related to adhesions, possibly related to adhesions, and readmissions for an operation that was potentially complicated by adhesions. We did subgroup analyses of readmissions by anatomical site of surgery and used Kaplan-Meier analyses to assess differences in survival across subgroups. We used multivariable Cox-regression analysis to determine whether surgical approach was an independent and significant risk factor for adhesion-related readmissions. Findings: Between June 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011, 72 270 patients had an index abdominal or pelvic surgery, of whom 21 519 (29·8%) had laparoscopic index surgery and 50 751 (70·2%) had open surgery. Of the 72 270 patients who had surgery, 2527 patients (3·5%) were readmitted within 5 years of surgery for disorders directly related to adhesions, 12 687 (17·6%) for disorders possibly related to adhesions, and 9436 (13·1%) for operations potentially complicated by adhesions. Of the 21 519 patients who had laparoscopic surgery, 359 (1·7% [95% CI 1·5–1·9]) were readmitted for disorders directly related to adhesions compared with 2168 (4·3% [4·1–4·5]) of 50 751 patients in the open surgery cohort (p

Ischemia at the site of an intestinal anastomosis is one of the most important risk factors for anastomotic leakage (AL). Consequently, adequate intestinal microperfusion is essential for optimal tissue oxygenation and anastomotic healing. As visual inspection of tissue viability does not guarantee an adequate objective evaluation of intestinal microperfusion, surgeons are in dire need of supportive tools to decrease anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery.In this feasibility study, laparoscopic laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was used to evaluate intestinal microperfusion in an experimental ischemic bowel loop model. Both large and small ischemic loops were created from the small intestine of a pig; each loop was divided into 5 regions of interest (ROI) with varying levels of ischemia. Speckle contrast and local capillary lactate (LCL) was measured in all ROIs.Both real-time visualization of intestinal microperfusion and induced perfusion deficits was achieved in all bowel loops. As a result, the emergence of regions of intestinal ischemia could be predicted directly after iatrogenic perfusion limitation, whereas without LSCI signs of decreased intestinal viability could only be seen after 30 minutes. Additionally, a significant relation was found between LCL and LSCI.In conclusion, LSCI can achieve real-time intraoperative visualization of intestinal microperfusion deficits, allowing for accurate prediction of long-term postoperative ischemic complications. With this revealing capacity, LSCI could potentially facilitate surgical decision-making when constructing intestinal anastomoses in order to mitigate ischemia-related complications such as AL.

Background Ischemia at the site of an intestinal anastomosis is one of the most important risk factors for anastomotic leakage (AL). Consequently, adequate intestinal microperfusion is essential for optimal tissue oxygenation and anastomotic healing. As visual inspection of tissue viability does not guarantee an adequate objective evaluation of intestinal microperfusion, surgeons are in dire need of supportive tools to decrease anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery. Methods In this feasibility study, laparoscopic laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was used to evaluate intestinal microperfusion in an experimental ischemic bowel loop model. Both large and small ischemic loops were created from the small intestine of a pig; each loop was divided into 5 regions of interest (ROI) with varying levels of ischemia. Speckle contrast and local capillary lactate (LCL) was measured in all ROIs. Results Both real-time visualization of intestinal microperfusion and induced perfusion deficits was achieved in all bowel loops. As a result, the emergence of regions of intestinal ischemia could be predicted directly after iatrogenic perfusion limitation, whereas without LSCI signs of decreased intestinal viability could only be seen after 30 minutes. Additionally, a significant relation was found between LCL and LSCI. Conclusion In conclusion, LSCI can achieve real-time intraoperative visualization of intestinal microperfusion deficits, allowing for accurate prediction of long-term postoperative ischemic complications. With this revealing capacity, LSCI could potentially facilitate surgical decision-making when constructing intestinal anastomoses in order to mitigate ischemia-related complications such as AL.

Tissue regeneration evolves toward the biofabrication of sophisticated 3D scaffolds. However, the success of these will be contingent to their capability to integrate within the host. The control of the mechanical or topographical properties of the implant appears as an ideal method to modulate the immune response. However, the interplay between these properties is yet not clear. Dual-porosity scaffolds with varying mechanical and topographical features are created, and their immunomodulatory properties in rat alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo in a rat subcutaneous model are evaluated. Scaffolds are fabricated via additive manufacturing and thermally induced phase separation methods from two copolymers with virtually identical chemistries, but different stiffness. The introduction of porosity enables the modulation of macrophages toward anti-inflammatory phenotypes, with secretion of IL-10 and TGF-beta. Soft scaffolds (40 kPa) scaffolds of comparable porosities supporting a pro-healing phenotype, which appears to be related to the surface spread area of cells. In vivo, stiff scaffolds integrate, while softer scaffolds appear encapsulated after three weeks of implantation, resulting in chronic inflammation after six weeks. The results demonstrate the importance of evaluating the interplay between topography and stiffness of candidate scaffolds. This work was supported by the ERC starting grant "Cell Hybridge" under the Horizon2020 framework program (Grant No. 637308). S.C.E. acknowledges the supported by the Marie-Slodowska-Curie Action "PRIUSTE" under the H2020 framework program [845488]. J.F.M. acknowledges the support from the projects CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020), financed from the Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES. The authors are grateful to Andrea Calore for helping with microCT analysis and to Marloes Peters and David Koper for support during the animal experiments.

Background Infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes corona virus disease (COVID-19). The most standard diagnostic method is reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on a nasopharyngeal and/or an oropharyngeal swab. The high occurrence of false-negative results due to the non-presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the oropharyngeal environment renders this sampling method not ideal. Therefore, a new sampling device is desirable. This proof-of-principle study investigated the possibility to train machine-learning classifiers with an electronic nose (Aeonose) to differentiate between COVID-19-positive and negative persons based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis. Methods Between April and June 2020, participants were invited for breath analysis when a swab for RT-PCR was collected. If the RT-PCR resulted negative, the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies was checked to confirm the negative result. All participants breathed through the Aeonose for five minutes. This device contains metal-oxide sensors that change in conductivity upon reaction with VOCs in exhaled breath. These conductivity changes are input data for machine learning and used for pattern recognition. The result is a value between − 1 and + 1, indicating the infection probability. Results 219 participants were included, 57 of which COVID-19 positive. A sensitivity of 0.86 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.92 were found. Adding clinical variables to machine-learning classifier via multivariate logistic regression analysis, the NPV improved to 0.96. Conclusions The Aeonose can distinguish COVID-19 positive from negative participants based on VOC patterns in exhaled breath with a high NPV. The Aeonose might be a promising, non-invasive, and low-cost triage tool for excluding SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients elected for surgery.

Question What is the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in a university hospital patient population?Findings In this cohort study of 200 Dutch patients, the risk of persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy was 15% in patients who were referred to university hospital centers.Meaning The study results suggest that the high rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism warrants efforts to reduce this complication rate, and the use of uniform evidence-based treatment guidelines could enable comparison of interventions.IMPORTANCE Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common complications after total or completion thyroidectomy. The reported incidence rate of hypoparathyroidism in the literature is highly variable. Data that provide a better understanding of the magnitude of this postoperative complication are warranted and can provide a stepping stone for further collaborations that aim to reduce complication rates and establish uniform treatment protocols.OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in patients who were referred to university hospital centers and assess the association of different definitions with the incidence of hypoparathyroidism.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted throughout 2016 in 7 Dutch university hospital centers included 200 patients who were undergoing a total or completion thyroidectomy. Data analysis was conducted in January 2021.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We report on the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism, defined as the need for active vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation longer than 1 year after surgery.RESULTS A total of 200 patients (143 women [71.5%]; mean [IQR] age, 49.0 [37.0-62.0] years) were included and 30 patients (15.0%) developed persistent hypoparathyroidism. The incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism varied between 14.5% (calcium and active vitamin D 1 year postsurgery) to 28.5% (calcium and/or active vitamin D 6 months postsurgery) depending on the definition used.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, the risk of persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy was 15% in patients who were referred to university hospital centers. The high rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism warrants efforts to reduce this complication rate. There is discrepancy in the definition and treatment of persistent hypoparathyroidism, and use of uniform evidence-based treatment guidelines enables comparison of interventions.This cohort study examines the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in Dutch patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment negatively affects anthropometric measures, which in turn can result, either directly or indirectly, in fatigue and a lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Since anthropometric measures are modifiable, we examined which of these are associated with HRQoL, fatigue, and disability in long-term CRC survivors. In this cross-sectional study, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, handgrip strength (HGS) and mid-upper arm muscle area of 155 stage I-III CRC survivors at 2–10 years after treatment were assessed during home visits (response rate 42%). HRQoL was measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30, fatigue by the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS), and disability by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS-II). Associations between anthropometric measures and HRQoL, fatigue and disability were analyzed by confounder-adjusted linear regression. Mean time since CRC diagnosis was 5.7 years (SD = 1.8), and mean age was 70.1 years (SD = 8.9). After adjustment for patient and treatment characteristics, only HGS was independently associated with HRQoL. Each increase in participants’ HGS of 5 kg was significantly associated with an increase of 2.3 points (95% CI = 0.3, 4.3) in global quality of life, 2.9 points (95% CI = 0.9, 5.0) in physical functioning, 3.3 points (95% CI = 1.3, 5.3) in social functioning, and a decrease of 5.9 points (95% CI = -8.7, -3.0) in fatigue symptoms and 2.5 points (95% CI = -4.1, -0.9) in disability. We conclude that HGS, as a measure of physical functioning in CRC survivors, was independently associated with HRQoL, fatigue and disability. Future prospective research should focus underlying and causal factors in the association between HGS and HRQoL after CRC treatment and on possible interventions to promote HRQoL outcomes through improving physical functioning.

Background: Intra-abdominal adhesions affect up to 93% of the patients after abdominal surgery, causing small-bowel obstruction, infertility, chronic abdominal pain, and iatrogenic bowel injury at reoperation. The efficacy of five new polymer antiadhesive barriers to avoid adhesion formation is evaluated in an ischemic button model in rats.Materials and methods: Five new, biodegradable polyurethane and copolyester-based, anti-adhesive barriers (A1, A2, A3, B1, and B2) were evaluated in separate experimental groups and compared with two control groups (hyaluronate carboxymethylcellulose barrier and no antiadhesive barrier) in an ischemic button model (n = 11 per group operated). After 14 d, the quantity and quality of the adhesions were scored macroscopically. The Kruskal-Wallis with ManneWhitney U post hoc and the Fisher's exact tests were used for data analysis. The Bonferroni correction method was applied, and a P-value Results: Two animals died during surgery and follow-up. A significant reduction of adhesions to ischemic buttons was found in the A2 group (median, 3.5; interquartile range, 2.25) compared with no adhesive barrier (median, 8.0; interquartile range, 2.0) (P = 0.001). The remaining groups did not differ significantly regarding adhesion quantity or quality. Adverse events were observed in the A2, A3, and B2 groups.Conclusions: The A2 antiadhesive barrier reduced the adhesion formation significantly compared with no anti-adhesive barrier, but applicability is questionable because of extensive adverse events observed due to implantation of the anti-adhesive barrier. The Nair score appears not to be sensitive enough to detect differences in adhesion formation in this model. Future research should focus on anti-adhesive barriers that are self-adhering. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Introduction Acute abdominal complaints are a frequent cause for consultation in the emergency department, with a large differential diagnosis. One cause is arcuate line herniation, but this entity is little known and rarely considered during initial analysis. The incidence of arcuate line herniation in this population is unknown. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed. All patients who presented to the emergency department for surgical consultation during an 18-month period with abdominal complaints in who no diagnosis was found after analysis, and who had computed tomography imaging of the abdomen were included. CT scans were reviewed with a focus on abdominal wall pathology and correlated with clinical features. Results Eight hundred and ten patients presented with abdominal complaints, 415 of these had CT scans available for review and were included in the study. In 47 patients (11.3%), an arcuate line anomaly was found, and in 14 patients (3.4%), a frank arcuate line herniation (grades 2 or 3) was found. Retrospective correlation with clinical complaints was found in 50% of these patients. Patients with arcuate line hernia had a significantly higher BMI, and diabetes mellitus and aortic aneurysm were more prevalent in these patients. Conclusion Arcuate line herniation has a higher incidence than previously thought in patients with acute abdominal complaints and should be considered when evaluating these patients.

Objective: The objective of this trial was to identify a superior method for umbilical and epigastric hernia repair in terms of complications. Complications such as an extended operation duration, additional use of painkillers, reoperation, infection, seroma, extended wound care, extended hospitalization, and early recurrencewere reported according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system.Summary Background Data: Over the years mesh repair is proven the gold standard for umbilical and epigastric hernias. The question remains, which mesh should be used?Methods: In this randomized controlled, multicenter trial, all patients >= 18 years with a single, symptomatic, and primary small umbilical or epigastric hernia qualified for inclusion. Flat preperitoneal polypropylene mesh repair was compared with patch repair (PROCEED Ventral Patch) (PVP).Results: A total of 352 patients were randomized; 348 patients received the intervention (n = 177 PVP vs n = 171 mesh). One out of 4 suffered from any kind of complication within 2 years postoperative (27.6%). A significant difference in complications was seen, in favor of polypropylene mesh repair (P = 0.044, 22.1% mesh vs 32.5% PVP). Reoperation was performed in 19 PVP operated patients (10.7%) versus 7 patients with polypropylene mesh repair (4.0%, P = 0.021).No significant differences were seen in recurrences (n = 13, 8.4% PVP vs n = 6, 4.1% mesh, P = 0.127).Conclusions: In small epigastric and small umbilical hernia repair a flat polypropylene mesh repair was associated with a lower complication rate than PVP repair. No differences in recurrence rates were seen. Combining all complications, the preperitoneal positioned flat polypropylene mesh performed better.

Background: In a first step toward standardization, the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes investigators introduced consensus criteria defining the clinical outcomes after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism. Within this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the use of these consensus criteria in daily clinical practice in 16 centers in Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States.Methods: Patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism between 2010 and 2016 were included. Patients with missing data regarding preoperative or postoperative blood pressure or their defined daily dose were excluded. According to the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes criteria, patients were classified as complete, partial, or absent clinical success.Results: A total of 380 patients were eligible for analysis. Complete, partial, and absent clinical success was achieved in 30%, 48%, and 22%, respectively. Evaluation of the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes criteria showed that in 11% and 47% of patients with partial and absent clinical success, this classification was incorrect or debatable (16% of the total cohort). This concept of a "debatable classification of success" was due mainly to the cutoff of >= 20 mmHg used to indicate a clinically relevant change in systolic blood pressure and the use of percentages instead of absolute values to indicate a change in defined daily dose.Conclusion: Although introduction of the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes consensus criteria induced substantial advancement in the standardization of postoperative outcomes, our study suggests that there is room for improvement in the concept for success given the observed limitations when the criteria were tested within our international cohort. In line, determining clinical success remains challenging, especially in patients with opposing change in blood pressure and defined daily dose. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background Success rates of up to 80% have been reported for the SNM screening period in the treatment of fecal incontinence (FI). Some patients who have an unsuccessful index implantation are successfully treated with SNM after a lead revision. There is a lack of studies comparing the outcomes of successful index implantations and successful lead revision. Therefore, the results of index implantations were compared with lead revisions in a single-center cohort.Methods Patients treated with SNM for FI between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a successful index implantation were compared with patients who underwent lead revision after SNM screening. Primary outcome was a decrease in episodes of fecal incontinence of >= 50% documented by a 3-week bowel habit diary.Results Two hundred sixty-one patients (232 index group, 29 revision group) were eligible for SNM. Two hundred thirty-one patients (208 index group, 23 revision group) received permanent SNM. Follow-up was 68.8 months for the index group and 62.2 months for the revision group. The number of episodes of FI decreased from 20.6 (SD 19.3) to 3.4 (SD 4.2) in the index group and from 12.6 (SD 5.8) to 2.0 (SD 2.3) in the revision group. This effect was maintained up to 5 and 2 years in the index and revision group, respectively. Adverse events such as loss of efficacy which required surgical intervention did not differ between the two groups.Conclusion Lead revision during the test phase is a valid option in patients with FI treated by SNM who suffer from loss of efficacy of the index electrode.