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Background: Less than 25% of gastric cancers (GC) are discovered early, leading to limited treatment options and poor outcomes (27.8% mortality, 3.7% 5-year survival). Screening programs have improved cure rates, yet post-diagnosis treatment guidelines remain unclear (systemic chemotherapy versus surgery). The optimal type of palliative surgery (palliative gastrectomy (PG), surgical bypass (SB), endoscopic stenting (ES)) for long-term outcomes is also debated. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases along with Google Scholar with the search terms "gastric cancer" and "palliative surgery" for studies post-1985. From the initial 1018 articles, multiple screenings narrowed it to 92 articles meeting criteria such as "metastatic, stage IV GC", and intervention (surgery or chemotherapy). Data regarding survival and other long-term outcomes were recorded. Results: Overall, there was significant variation between studies but there were similarities of the conclusions reached. ES provided quick symptom relief, while PG showed improved overall survival (OS) only with adjuvant chemotherapy in a selective population. PG had higher mortality rates compared to SB, with ES having a reported 0% mortality, but OS improved with chemotherapy across both SB and PG. Conclusions: Less frail patients may experience an improvement in OS with palliative resection under limited circumstances. However, operative intervention without systemic chemotherapy is unlikely to demonstrate a survival benefit. Further research is needed to explore any correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroperitoneal tumors are uncommon and may reach a large size prior to causing symptoms or being noticed by the patient or physician. A middle-aged female consulted us for care during her "terminal" illness. She had already undergone four previous retroperitoneal resection surgical procedures. She presented with a large recurrent protruding mass from the right side of the abdomen and related a history of a previous cholecystectomy, right nephrectomy, right colectomy, and repeated resection of a recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma. She thus came to us for consultation and terminal care in order to be away from her friends during treatment for this terminal condition. After our consultation, she elected to have repeated surgical excisions of the tumor. The surgical excisions yielded a giant recurrent tumor mass, which overflowed and covered all margins of the 21-inch-wide surgical scrub basin. Over the next eleven years, she had multiple surgical resection procedures involving both the right and left retroperitoneum (a splenectomy, a left colectomy, and a colostomy). Recovery from each of these resection procedures (the final combined resection weight was 120 pounds) was without complications. However, the tumor finally encased the pancreas and the left kidney. If the tumor encasement were to be palliated and resected, she would require hemodialysis. At this time, the patient elected to have no further resection surgeries, no dialysis, nor any palliative chemoradiation treatment. Over a period of sixteen years from her first resection and twelve years from our first resection, the patient had continued to work at her medical administrative and leadership position and led a functional life after our consultation, except for her surgical period. The patient was not cured but benefited from repeated palliative surgeries, prolonging her life and improving her job performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroperitoneal tumors are uncommon and may reach a large size prior to causing symptoms or being noticed by the patient or physician. A middle-aged female consulted us for care during her “terminal” illness. She had already undergone four previous retroperitoneal resection surgical procedures. She presented with a large recurrent protruding mass from the right side of the abdomen and related a history of a previous cholecystectomy, right nephrectomy, right colectomy, and repeated resection of a recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma. She thus came to us for consultation and terminal care in order to be away from her friends during treatment for this terminal condition. After our consultation, she elected to have repeated surgical excisions of the tumor. The surgical excisions yielded a giant recurrent tumor mass, which overflowed and covered all margins of the 21-inch-wide surgical scrub basin. Over the next eleven years, she had multiple surgical resection procedures involving both the right and left retroperitoneum (a splenectomy, a left colectomy, and a colostomy). Recovery from each of these resection procedures (the final combined resection weight was 120 pounds) was without complications. However, the tumor finally encased the pancreas and the left kidney. If the tumor encasement were to be palliated and resected, she would require hemodialysis. At this time, the patient elected to have no further resection surgeries, no dialysis, nor any palliative chemoradiation treatment. Over a period of sixteen years from her first resection and twelve years from our first resection, the patient had continued to work at her medical administrative and leadership position and led a functional life after our consultation, except for her surgical period. The patient was not cured but benefited from repeated palliative surgeries, prolonging her life and improving her job performance.

Background: Given the limited studies addressing the issue about the effect of different surgical modalities for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) as the first malignancy manifestation, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to evaluate the surgical outcome of MSCC as the first malignancy manifestation. Methods: A total of 128 patients who were suspected of having metastatic spinal cord compression and underwent surgery from 2008 to 2021 were enrolled in the study. All patients were categorized into either ‘debulking group’ or ‘palliative group’. Results: The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), Frankel scale, and Karnofsky scores. All the outcomes were analyzed with a data cutoff of December 31, 2021. There was a significant difference between groups in progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.0094). However, there was no significant difference between groups in the overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0746). Age of onset, gender, duration of symptoms, and location of spinal metastasis, initial Frankel, initial Tomita scores, and initial Karnofsky performance scale showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, debulking surgery was shown to provide better neurological recoveries and could be considered first in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression as the first malignancy manifestation.

Introduction: Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a common complication in advanced stage upper gastrointestinal malignancies. The symptoms of severe nausea and protracted vomiting can lead to a decline in quality of life and cachexia. Symptoms of GOO can be effectively managed with either operative or nonoperative palliative interventions. In our article, we aim to compare laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy (GJ) to endoscopic stenting as palliative interventions for GOO. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the charts of patients who underwent palliative procedure for gastric outlet obstruction. Group I included patients who underwent endoscopic stenting, and group II patients underwent Laparoscopic GJ. The groups' demographics (age, gender), length of procedure, length of stay, days to oral intake, overall survival, complications rate, and 30-day mortality rates were compared. Results: Overall, 38 patients were included in the study. Nineteen patients underwent endoscopic stenting and 19 underwent laparoscopic GJ. Comparing the groups, no significant differences were noted. Surgical time was significantly longer than the endoscopic procedures (83 minutes versus 25 minutes, P =.001). No significant differences were noted in days of oral intake initiation, overall survival and 30-day mortality rates. Five patients in the stenting group had complications (26.3%) versus none in the surgical group (P =.046). No postoperative complications were noted. Conclusion: Laparoscopic GJ is a safe and feasible treatment for GOO, demonstrating early resumption of oral intake. The relative short hospital stay, combined with an encouraging postoperative complications profile and low reintervention rate, should be kept in mind especially among patients with longer life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the limited studies addressing the issue about the effect of different surgical modalities for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) as the first malignancy manifestation, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to evaluate the surgical outcome of MSCC as the first malignancy manifestation. A total of 128 patients who were suspected of having metastatic spinal cord compression and underwent surgery from 2008 to 2021 were enrolled in the study. All patients were categorized into either 'debulking group' or 'palliative group'. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), Frankel scale, and Karnofsky scores. All the outcomes were analyzed with a data cutoff of December 31, 2021. There was a significant difference between groups in progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.0094). However, there was no significant difference between groups in the overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0746). Age of onset, gender, duration of symptoms, and location of spinal metastasis, initial Frankel, initial Tomita scores, and initial Karnofsky performance scale showed no significant differences between groups. In conclusion, debulking surgery was shown to provide better neurological recoveries and could be considered first in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression as the first malignancy manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have focused on palliative surgery in patients with advanced gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) or gastric cancer. We sought to evaluate clinical observational outcomes following palliative surgery in this population. Patients and Methods: Patients with GEJ or gastric cancer who underwent palliative surgery (1/2010–11/2022) were identified. The primary outcomes were symptom improvement, ability to tolerate an oral diet, discharge to home, 30 "good days" without hospitalization, and receipt of systemic treatment. Postoperative outcomes and survival were secondarily evaluated. Results: Among 93 patients, the median age was 59 (IQR 47–68) years, and the median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) was 1 (range 0–3). The most frequent indication for palliative surgery was primary tumor obstruction [75 (81%) patients]. The most common procedures were feeding tube placement in 60 (65%) and intestinal bypass in 15 (16%) patients. A total of 75 (81%) patients experienced symptom improvement. Of these, 19 (25%) developed recurrent and 49 (65%) developed new symptoms. ECOG-PS was significantly associated with symptom-free time. Among those who underwent a bypass, resection, or ostomy creation for malignant obstruction, 16 (80%) tolerated an oral diet. Postoperatively, 87 (94%) were discharged home, 72 (77%) had 30 good days, and 64 (69%) received systemic treatment. Postoperative complications occurred in 35 (38%) patients, and 7 (8%) died within 30 days. The median survival time was 7.7 (95% CI 6.4–10.40) months. Conclusions: Patients with incurable GEJ or gastric cancer can benefit from palliative surgery. Prognosis and performance status should inform goals-of-care discussions and patient selection for surgical palliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Pathologic fractures of the extremities due to carcinoma metastases require individual and patient prognosis-related stabilization procedures. Quick remobilization of the patient to restore the quality of life is of high importance, especially in the case of subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures. In our retrospective cohort study, we evaluated intraoperative blood loss, length of operation, complication rate, and regain of lower extremity function in plate compound osteosynthesis (PCO) versus intramedullary nailing (IM) for subtrochanteric and diaphyseal pathologic fractures of the femur. Methods: Between January 2010 and July 2021, we retrospectively reviewed 49 patients who were treated at our institution for pathologic fractures of the subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femurs for group differences in terms of blood loss, length of operation, implant survival, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. Results: We included 49 stabilization procedures of the lower extremity due to pathologic fractures of the proximal or diaphyseal femur, with a mean follow-up of 17.7 months. IM (n = 29) had a significantly shorter operation time than PCO (n = 20) (112.4 ± 9.4 and 163.3 ± 15.96 min, respectively). We did not detect any significant differences in terms of blood loss, complication rate, implant survival, or MSTS score. Conclusion: Based on our data, pathologic subtrochanteric and diaphyseal fractures of the femur can be stabilized with IM, which has a shorter operation time than PCO, but the complication rate, implant survival, and blood loss remain unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionTimely palliative care and surgical interventions improve symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and reduce medical cost for seriously ill adults at end of life (EOL). However, there is still poor delivery and underutilization of these palliative services. We hypothesize that the sub-optimal delivery is due to limited understanding among healthcare providers.MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among primary and tertiary healthcare providers. The survey assessed challenges faced, palliative education, confidence in managing palliative patients, and knowledge on palliative surgery. Overall palliative care awareness and knowledge was assessed using a 6-point score. Likelihood of considering various palliative interventions at EOL was also determined using a threshold score (higher score = higher threshold).ResultsThere were 145 healthcare providers who completed the survey (81.9% response rate); majority reported significant challenges in providing various aspects of palliative care: 57% (n = 82) in the provision of emotional support. Sixty-nine percent (n = 97) in managing social issues, and 71% (n = 103) in managing family expectations. Most expressed inadequate palliative care training in both under-graduate and post-graduate training and lack confidence in managing EOL issues. Up to 57% had misconceptions regarding potential benefits, morbidity and mortality after palliative surgery. In general, most providers had high thresholds for Intensive Care Unit admissions and palliative surgery, and were more likely to recommend endoscopic or interventional radiology procedures at EOL.ConclusionHealthcare providers in Singapore have poor knowledge and misconceptions about palliative care and surgery. Improving awareness and education among those caring for seriously ill adults is essential.

AimPulmonary artery banding serves as an important palliative procedure used for the management of several congenital heart lesions. This study aims to describe a 20-year experience of pulmonary artery banding at a tertiary care center in a developing country.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent pulmonary artery banding over a 20-year period between January 2000 and July 2020 in a tertiary care center in a developing country. Data regarding demographics, indications, diagnosis, echocardiographic findings, postoperative complications, hospital stay, and outcomes were recorded.ResultsA total of 143 patients underwent pulmonary artery banding between 2000 and 2020, with a decrease from approximately 15 surgeries per year in 2012 to 1–2 surgeries a year in 2020. At the time of banding, the median age of patients was approximately 90 days [interquartile range, IQR, 30–150 days]. Four patients (2.8%) died during the band placement. No significant association was observed between baseline characteristics or type of heart defect at presentation and postoperative morbidity and mortality.ConclusionPulmonary artery banding remains useful in a subset of congenital heart lesions and as a surgical palliation, with relatively low mortality, allowing postponement of total correction to a higher weight. This technique continues to be valuable in developing countries or for heart surgical programs with limited resources.

Abstract Background Pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot can require palliative surgery in the neonatal period due to severe hypoxia; however, limitations of established techniques include high failure rate and need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Herein, right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter is described. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter at our institution between September 2018 and March 2022 was completed. During the procedure, a Foley balloon catheter was used to occlude the blood from the right ventricular inflow tract. Results Eight patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum underwent an off-pump right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. One patient with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect, and two patients with tetralogy of Fallot underwent an on-pump right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart. The procedures were successful in all patients. Patent ductus arteriosus ligation without modified Blalock-Taussig shunt placement was performed in three patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and two patients with tetralogy of Fallot, ductus arteriosus was left open in four patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. All patients remained clinically well without serious complications. Conclusions Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter for pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot is a feasible alternative to catheter-based interventions or traditional surgical treatment, especially in patients with muscular infundibular stenosis or hypoplastic pulmonary annulus. Further studies with more cases are needed to verify feasibility and superiority of this approach.

Abstract Background Metastatic bone lesions in the extremities can cause severe pain and pathological fractures, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life. Timely intervention and effective management of long bone metastases can positively influence patient outcomes, including survival rates and subsequent treatment options. Objective The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and associated complications of two surgical reconstruction techniques and propose a more effective limb reconstruction approach for long bone metastases. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 28 patients with complete clinical data who underwent a surgical procedure for long bone metastases of the extremities in our department between January 2017 and June 2022. The patients were divided into two groups based on their surgical methods. In group 1, the affected bones were curetted and filled with cement, then secured with plates or intramedullary nails. In group 2, the affected bone segments were completely removed and replaced with custom intercalary prostheses. Various factors, including general patient information, surgical details, surgical effectiveness, and common complications, were compared and analyzed. Results There were no significant differences in general patient information between the two groups, including age, gender, surgical site, and primary tumor type. The operative times were 115.37 min for group 1 and 108.90 min for group 2, respectively (p > 0.05). However, intraoperative blood loss differed significantly between the groups, with 769 ml in group 1 and 521 ml in group 2 (p 0.05). Postoperative complications included two cases of internal fixation failure and three cases of tumor recurrence in group 1, resulting in a 33% incidence rate, while group 2 experienced a 15% incidence rate with two cases of internal fixation failure. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that both surgical techniques are effective for the treatment of long bone metastases of the extremities. However, the custom intercalary prostheses technique in group 2 showed a lower incidence of complications and less intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, it may be a more effective limb reconstruction approach for long bone metastases. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Abstract Background REGATTA trial failed to demonstrate the survival benefit of reduction gastrectomy in patients with advanced gastric cancer with a single non‐curable factor. However, a significant interaction was found between the treatment effect and tumor location in the subset analysis. Additionally, the treatment effect appeared to be different between Japan and Korea. This supplementary analysis aimed to elucidate the effect of reduction surgery based on tumor location and country. Methods Multivariable Cox regression analyses in each subgroup were performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HRadj), including the following variables as explanatory variables: country, age, sex, incurable factor, cT, cN, primary tumor, performance status, histological type, and macroscopic type. Results Patients (95 in Japan and 80 in Korea) were randomized to chemotherapy alone (86 patients) or gastrectomy plus chemotherapy (89 patients). The subgroup analysis according to the country revealed a worse overall survival in gastrectomy plus chemotherapy arm in Japan (hazard ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.85–2.05), but not in Korea (hazard ratio: 0.85.95% confidence interval: 0.52–1.40). Overall survival was better in distal gastrectomy plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.42–1.13), and worse in total gastrectomy plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.93–1.94), which was more remarkable in Korea than in Japan. Conclusions Primary chemotherapy is a standard of care for advanced gastric cancer; however, the survival benefits from reduction by distal gastrectomy remained controversial.

Background The family management style directly affects the prognosis of children with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) after palliative surgery. But it is still unsatisfactory for these children in China. Research on family management of these children based on the Family Management Style Framework in foreign countries has achieved certain achievements while domestic research is still in its infancy. Objective To explore the family management style and its factors in children with CCHD after palliative surgery. Methods This study is a cross-sectional study. From May to September 2021, a total of 245 children after palliative surgery for CCHD and their families were selected from Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 1, 2016 to August 31, 2021 by convenient sampling. The following questionnaires were used for collecting information from the major caregiver of the children (father or mother) : the Chinese version of the Family Management Measure (FaMM-C), the Chinese version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD-C), the Chinese version of the Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF-C), and the socioeconomic status index. The children's height and body weight were measured to assess the prevalence of malnutrition, and their cardiac functions were also evaluated. The family management style of the children's families was classified by clustering the score of each dimension of FaMM-C using clustering analysis. Multinomial Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with different types of family management style. Results Four types of family management style were identified: the normal-perspective and collaborative〔28.6% (70/245) 〕, the chaotic and strenuous〔11.0% (27/245) 〕, the confident and concerning〔21.6% (53/245) 〕and the laissez faire〔38.8% (95/245) 〕. When the normal-perspective and collaborative group compared to the other three groups: the higher the score of the PSI-SF-C, the more inclined the family management was to the normal-perspective and collaborative style (P

Objective We aim to report the outcomes and feasibility of endoscopic spine surgery used to treat symptomatic spinal metastases patients. This is the most extensive series of spinal metastases patients who underwent endoscopic spine surgery. Methods A worldwide collaborative network group of endoscopic spine surgeons, named ‘ESSSORG,’ was established. Patients diagnosed with spinal metastases who underwent endoscopic spine surgery from 2012 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. All related patient data and clinical outcomes were gathered and analyzed before the surgery and the follow-time period of 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results A total of 29 patients from South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and India, were included. The mean age was 59.59 years, and 11 of them were female. The total number of decompressed levels was 40. The technique was relatively equal (15 uniportal; 14 biportal). The average length of admission was 4.41 days. Of all patients with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale of D or lower before surgery, 62.06% reported having at least one recovery grade after the surgery. Almost all clinical outcomes parameters statistically significantly improved and maintained from 2 weeks to 6 months after the surgery. Few surgical-related complications (4 cases) were reported. Conclusion Endoscopic spine surgery is a valid option for treating spinal metastases patients as it could yield comparable results to other minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. As the aim is to improve the quality of life, this procedure is valuable and holds value in palliative oncologic spine surgery.

Background: Metastatic bone lesions in the extremities can cause severe pain and pathological fractures, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Timely intervention and effective management of long bone metastases can positively influence patient outcomes, including survival rates and subsequent treatment options. Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and associated complications of two surgical reconstruction techniques and propose a more effective limb reconstruction approach for long bone metastases. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 28 patients with complete clinical data who underwent a surgical procedure for long bone metastases of the extremities in our department between January 2017 and June 2022. The patients were divided into two groups based on their surgical methods. In group 1, the affected bones were curetted and filled with cement, then secured with plates or intramedullary nails. In group 2, the affected bone segments were completely removed and replaced with custom intercalary prostheses. Various factors, including general patient information, surgical details, surgical effectiveness, and common complications, were compared and analyzed. Results: There were no significant differences in general patient information between the two groups, including age, gender, surgical site, and primary tumor type. The operative times were 115.37 min for group 1 and 108.90 min for group 2, respectively (p > 0.05). However, intraoperative blood loss differed significantly between the groups, with 769 ml in group 1 and 521 ml in group 2 (p < 0.05). The postoperative MSTS scores were 91% for group 1 and 92% for group 2 (p > 0.05). Postoperative complications included two cases of internal fixation failure and three cases of tumor recurrence in group 1, resulting in a 33% incidence rate, while group 2 experienced a 15% incidence rate with two cases of internal fixation failure. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that both surgical techniques are effective for the treatment of long bone metastases of the extremities. However, the custom intercalary prostheses technique in group 2 showed a lower incidence of complications and less intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, it may be a more effective limb reconstruction approach for long bone metastases. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot can require palliative surgery in the neonatal period due to severe hypoxia; however, limitations of established techniques include high failure rate and need for cardiopulmonary bypass. Herein, right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter is described. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter at our institution between September 2018 and March 2022 was completed. During the procedure, a Foley balloon catheter was used to occlude the blood from the right ventricular inflow tract. Results: Eight patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum underwent an off-pump right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. One patient with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect, and two patients with tetralogy of Fallot underwent an on-pump right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart. The procedures were successful in all patients. Patent ductus arteriosus ligation without modified Blalock-Taussig shunt placement was performed in three patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and two patients with tetralogy of Fallot, ductus arteriosus was left open in four patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. All patients remained clinically well without serious complications. Conclusions: Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction on a beating heart using a Foley balloon catheter for pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot is a feasible alternative to catheter-based interventions or traditional surgical treatment, especially in patients with muscular infundibular stenosis or hypoplastic pulmonary annulus. Further studies with more cases are needed to verify feasibility and superiority of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A retrospective study, based on a prospectively built database, presents the results of long-term follow-up care of pediatric vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) patients in terms of seizure outcome, surgical aspects, the potential impact of maturation, and medication changes. Methods: From a prospectively built database, 16 VNS patients (median age 12.0 years, range 6.0 to 16.0 years; median seizure duration 6.5 years, range 2.0 to 15.5 years) followed for at least 10 years were graded as non-responder – NR (seizure frequency reduction < 50%), responder – R (reduction ≥ 50% and < 80%), and 80% responder – 80R (reduction ≥ 80%). Data about surgical aspects (battery replacement, system complications), seizure dynamics, and medication changes were taken from the database. Results: The early percentages of good results (80R + R) were 43.8% (year 1), 50.0% (year 2), and 43.8% (year 3). These percentages remained stable between years 10 and 12 (50% year 10; 46.7% year 11; 50% year 12) and increased in years 16 (60%) and 17 (75%). Depleted batteries were replaced in ten patients, six of whom were either R or 80R. In the four NR, the indication for replacement was improved quality of life. Three patients had VNS explanted or switched off—one had repeated asystolia and two were NR. The effect of hormonal changes in menarche on seizure was not proven. During the study, antiseizure medication was changed in all patients. Conclusions: The study proved the efficacy and safety of VNS in pediatric patients over an exceptionally long follow-up period. The demand for battery replacements indicates a positive treatment effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether patients with advanced cancer prefer surgeons to use the best case/worst case (BC/WC) communication framework over the traditional risk/benefit (R/B) framework in the context of palliative surgical scenarios. Background: Identifying the patient's preferred communication frameworks may improve satisfaction and outcome measures during difficult clinical decision-making. Methods: In a video-vignette--based randomized, double-blinded study from November 2020 to May 2021, patients with advanced cancer viewed 2 videos depicting a physician-patient encounter in a palliative surgical scenario, in which the surgeon uses either the BC/WC or the R/B framework to discuss treatment options. The primary outcome was the patients' preferred video surgeon. Results: One hundred fifty-five patients were approached to participate; 66 were randomized and 58 completed the study (mean age 55.8 ± 13.8 years, 60.3% males). 22 patients (37.9%, 95% CI: 25.4%--50.4%) preferred the surgeon using the BC/WC framework, 21 (36.2%, 95% CI: 23.8%--48.6%) preferred the surgeon using the R/B framework, and 15 (25.9%, 95% CI: 14.6%--37.2%) indicated no preference. High trust in the medical profession was inversely associated with a preference for the surgeon using BC/WC framework (odds ratio: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70--0.98, P = 0.03). The BC/WC framework rated higher for perceived surgeon's listening (4.6 ± 0.7 vs 4.3 ±0.9, P = 0.03) and confidence in the surgeon's trustworthiness (4.3 ± 0.8 vs 4.0 ± 0.9, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Surgeon use of the BC/WC communication framework was not universally preferred but was as acceptable to patients as the traditional R/B framework and rated higher in certain aspects of communication. A preference for a surgeon using BC/WC was associated with lower trust in the medical profession. Surgeons should consider the BC/WC framework to individualize their approach to challenging clinical discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is common among patients with trisomy 18 (T18), but cardiac surgery has been rarely indicated for T18 patients due to their short life span. Although the therapeutic effects of aggressive interventions were recently demonstrated for T18 patients, the subjects and factors examined varied, resulting in inconsistent findings. Therefore, the effects of cardiac surgery for T18 remain unclear. We herein investigated the outcomes of cardiac palliative surgery for CHD with increased pulmonary blood flow in T18 patients. 27 patients were examined: 13 (48.1%) underwent cardiac palliative surgery and 14 (51.9%) did not. Median survival times in the no‐surgery and surgery groups were 223.0 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 46–361 days) and 723.0 days (95% CI: 360–1447 days), respectively. The number of patients with pulmonary hypertension significantly differed between the two groups (5 of 14 in the no‐surgery group and 0 in the surgery group). Five of 14 patients in the no‐surgery group and 10 of 13 in the surgery group were discharged to home care (odds ratio: 10.8 [95% CI: 1.07–110.0]). Therefore, cardiac palliative surgery may be used to treat CHD with increased pulmonary blood flow in T18 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. A retrospective comparative study. Objective. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with postoperative unfavorable ambulatory status following surgery for metastatic spinal tumors using a nationwide in-hospital database. Summary of Background Data. Surgical treatment for metastatic spinal tumors can improve the ambulatory status and quality of life. However, some patients fail to regain the ability to walk, thereby resulting in poor quality of life. No large-scale study has previously evaluated factors associated with postoperative poor ambulatory status in this clinical context. Materials and Methods. The Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from 2018 to 2019 was used to extract data from patients who underwent surgical procedures for spinal metastasis. Postoperative unfavorable ambulatory status was defined as (1) nonambulatory at discharge or (2) a decreased mobility score of the Barthel Index between admission and discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with postoperative unfavorable ambulatory status while adjusting for confounders. Results. This study analyzed 1786 eligible patients. Of whom, 1061 (59%) patients were ambulatory on admission and 1249 (70%) on discharge. Postoperative unfavorable ambulatory status was observed in 597 (33%) patients, with a significantly lower rate of discharge to home (41%/81%, P<0.001) and a longer postoperative hospital stay (46.2 days/31.4 days, P<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis revealed male sex [odds ratio (OR): 1.43, P=0.002], laminectomy without fusion (OR: 1.55, P=0.034), Charlson Comorbidity Index of ≥7 (OR: 1.37, P=0.014), and preoperative nonambulatory status (OR: 6.61, P<0.001) as factors associated with postoperative unfavorable ambulatory status. Conclusions. Our large-scale database analysis revealed that 33% of patients experienced unfavorable ambulatory status following spinal metastasis surgery. Laminectomy without fusion and preoperative nonambulatory status were among several factors influencing the prospect of unfavorable ambulatory status following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: REGATTA trial failed to demonstrate the survival benefit of reduction gastrectomy in patients with advanced gastric cancer with a single non‐curable factor. However, a significant interaction was found between the treatment effect and tumor location in the subset analysis. Additionally, the treatment effect appeared to be different between Japan and Korea. This supplementary analysis aimed to elucidate the effect of reduction surgery based on tumor location and country. Methods: Multivariable Cox regression analyses in each subgroup were performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HRadj), including the following variables as explanatory variables: country, age, sex, incurable factor, cT, cN, primary tumor, performance status, histological type, and macroscopic type. Results: Patients (95 in Japan and 80 in Korea) were randomized to chemotherapy alone (86 patients) or gastrectomy plus chemotherapy (89 patients). The subgroup analysis according to the country revealed a worse overall survival in gastrectomy plus chemotherapy arm in Japan (hazard ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.85–2.05), but not in Korea (hazard ratio: 0.85.95% confidence interval: 0.52–1.40). Overall survival was better in distal gastrectomy plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.42–1.13), and worse in total gastrectomy plus chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.93–1.94), which was more remarkable in Korea than in Japan. Conclusions: Primary chemotherapy is a standard of care for advanced gastric cancer; however, the survival benefits from reduction by distal gastrectomy remained controversial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the feasibility of integrating palliative care consultation into the routine management of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Additionally, we sought to describe patient-reported outcomes from the palliative care and vascular literature in patients with CLTI receiving a palliative care consultation at our institution. This was a single-institution, prospective, observational study that aimed to assess feasibility of incorporating palliative care consultation into the management of patients admitted to our tertiary academic medical center with CLTI by looking at utilization of palliative care before and after implementation of a protocol-based palliative care referral system. A survey comprised of patient-reported outcomes from the palliative care literature was administered to patients before and after palliative consultation. Length of stay and mortality were compared between our study cohort and a historic cohort of patients admitted with CLTI. Over a 14-month enrollment period, 44% of patients (n = 39) with CLTI (rest pain, 36%; tissue loss, 64%) admitted to the vascular service received palliative care consultation, compared with 5% of patients (n = 4) who would have met criteria over the preceding 14 months before our protocol was instituted. The mean age was 69 years, 23% were female, 92% were white, and 49% were able to ambulate independently. Revascularization included bypass (46%), peripheral vascular intervention (23%), and femoral endarterectomy (21%). Additional procedures included minor amputation or wound debridement (26%) and major amputation (15%). No patients received medical management alone. After receiving palliative care consultation, patients reported experiencing less emotional distress than before consultation (P =.03). They also reported being less bothered by uncertainty regarding what to expect from the course of their illness (P =.002). Fewer patients reported being unsure of the purpose of their medical care after palliative care consultation (8%) vs before (18%), although this was not statistically significant (P =.10). Median length of stay was longer in the study group compared with the historic cohort (8 vs 7 days; P =.02). There was no difference in 30-day mortality (3% vs 8%; P =.42) between the study group and the historic cohort (n = 77). Integrating inpatient palliative care consultation into the routine management of patients with CLTI is feasible and may improve emotional domains of health-related quality of life. This study laid the foundation for future studies on longer term outcomes of patients with CLTI undergoing palliative care consultation as well as the benefit of outpatient palliative care consultation in patients with CLTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) are generally treated with systemic chemotherapy. When PM has disappeared because of chemotherapy, radical gastrectomy (so-called conversion surgery) is usually performed. We have previously reported the efficacy of conversion surgery, but there are no reports examining the efficacy of palliative gastrectomy for patients with residual PM after chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of palliative surgery for gastric cancer patients with PM who still have residual peritoneal dissemination after chemotherapy. Methods: Twenty-five gastric cancer patients with PM confirmed by laparoscopy and who had received chemotherapy but who still had residual PM were included in this study. Among the 25 patients, palliative surgery was performed in 20 patients (PS group) and chemotherapy was continued in 5 patients (CTx group), and their therapeutic outcomes were compared. Results: In the PS group, total and distal gastrectomies were performed. Clavien–Dindo grade I postoperative complications occurred in two patients (10%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Postoperative chemotherapy was performed all cases. In the PS group, the median survival time (MST) reached 22.5 months, with 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates of 95% and 45%, respectively, whereas in the CTx group, the MST was 15.8 months, and the 1- and 2-year OS rates were 60% and 0%, respectively. The PS group had significantly longer OS than the CTx group (P=0.044). Conclusions: Palliative surgery is safe and may prolong survival in gastric cancer patients with residual PM after chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases is rising. This study was performed to clarify the characteristics and surgical outcomes of spinal metastases in advanced-age patients. We prospectively analyzed 216 patients with spinal metastases from 2015 to 2020 and divided them into three age groups: <70 years (n = 119), 70–79 years (n = 73), and ≥80 years (n = 24). Although there were no significant intergroup differences in preoperative characteristics and surgery-related factors except for age, patients aged ≥80 years tended to have a worse performance status (PS), Barthel index, and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) before and after surgery than the other two groups. Although the median PS, mean Barthel index and mean EQ-5D greatly improved postoperatively in each group, the median PS and mean Barthel index at 6 months and the mean EQ-5D at 1 month postoperatively were significantly poorer in the ≥80-year group than the 70–79-year group. The rates of postoperative complications and re-deterioration of the EQ-5D were significantly higher in the oldest group than in the other two groups. Although surgery for spinal metastases improved the PS, Barthel index, and EQ-5D regardless of age, clinicians should be aware of the poorer outcomes and higher complication rates in advanced-age patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical treatment of spinal metastases has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with sarcopenia based on low skeletal muscle mass. We assessed physical performance using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale and the Barthel Index on the 30th day after palliative surgery for spinal metastases and investigated the effectiveness of surgery according to sarcopenia assessed by skeletal muscle mass. We retrospectively analyzed 78 consecutive patients with thoracic and lumbar spinal metastases who underwent palliative surgery. The value of the area of the psoas major muscle at the L3 level normalized by the vertebral area was divided into first, middle, and third tertiles. Clinical variables were compared by tertile. Variables affecting the 30-day good performance status were investigated with univariate and multivariate analyses. The 30-day morbidity rates were 50%, 38.5%, and 15.4% by tertile. The 30-day mortality rate was 2%; all were in the first tertile. Good preoperative performance status scores were seen in 15.4% of first and 50% of third tertile patients. Postoperatively, the performance status improved in all groups, with 30.8%, 65.4%, and 92.3% by tertile. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a good preoperative performance status (OR: 15.50, 95% CI: 1.610–149.00, P < 0.05) and the value of the area of the psoas major muscle at the L3 level normalized by the vertebral area not in the first tertile (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06–0.82, P < 0.05) were significant predictors of a good postoperative 30-day performance status. A good preoperative performance status and exclusion from the first tertile were clinical factors predicting a good postoperative 30-day performance status. In patients with large psoas muscle mass (third tertile), a good 30-day performance status can be expected after surgery, suggesting that surgery in this population should be pursued aggressively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Palliative care is an approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses or old age, to manage their pain, distress, and other symptoms, improving their quality of life, and providing psychological support. This study was designed to identify the care practices planned by nurses for the health issues of palliative surgical patients. Material and methods. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. The data was collected from digital records of the two state hospitals in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey between January 2019 and January 2020. The research was completed with a total of 391 data of patients undergoing palliative surgery. Frequency and percentage distributions were used in descriptive statistics. Results. The frequency of symptoms observed in patients were determined as cough and sputum (81.8%), dehydration (73.9%), dyspnea (71.9%), fatigue (49.9%), loss of appetite-weight (49.9%), insomnia (44%), pain (37.6%), nausea (29.2%), and constipation (23.8%). The planned nursing diagnoses for these symptoms were identified as risk for falls, imbalanced nutrition, risk for impaired skin integrity, risk for infection, risk for aspiration, deficient knowledge, risk for impaired respiratory function, constipation, ineffective airway clearance, pain, risk for deficient fluid volume, sleep deprivation, impaired gas exchange respectively. Conclusion. This study highlights the insufficient planning of nursing care for the symptoms of palliative surgical patients receiving palliative care in our country. Therefore, it is recommended that palliative care nurses be supported with in-service training on appropriate care planning topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative endoscopic stent placement may be considered in patients with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction. Stent migration is a potential complication, particularly for those placed at a surgical anastomosis or across a stricture caused by extra-alimentary tract factors. We report a patient with left renal pelvis cancer and gastrojejunostomy obstruction who underwent endoscopic stent placement and laparoscopic stent fixation. Case presentation: A 60-year-old male with peritoneal dissemination of a left renal pelvis cancer was admitted for treatment of upper gastrointestinal obstruction. A laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy had been previously performed for cancer invasion of the duodenum. Imaging showed gastroduodenal dilation and impaired passage of contrast medium through the efferent loop of the gastrojejunostomy. Gastrojejunostomy anastomosis site obstruction due to dissemination of left renal pelvis cancer was diagnosed. Conservative treatment failed and endoscopic stent placement with laparoscopic stent fixation was performed. After surgery, the patient was able to tolerate oral intake and he was discharged without complications. The patient gained weight and was able to resume chemotherapy, indicating the procedure was effective. Conclusions: Endoscopic stent placement with laparoscopic stent fixation for malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction appears effective in patients with a high risk of stent migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a very rare case of pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect with staged definitive repair more than 40 years after palliative surgery. The patient, a 43-year-old male, had undergone a Waterston operation at the age of one and had been untreated since then. Two years ago, he underwent an urgent surgery for impending rupture of a huge pulmonary artery aneurysm. Then, after evaluation of cardiac and pulmonary functions, a definitive repair was performed concomitantly with aortic root replacement for the dilated aortic root. He was discharged uneventfully and received ambulatory care 5 years after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of palliative surgery in the management of acute complications in patients with disseminated malignancy remains controversial given the complexity of assessing acute surgical risk and long-term oncologic outcome. With the emergence of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, there appears to be an increasing role for historically palliative procedures as a bridge to systemic immunotherapy. This is especially evident in advanced microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer where malignant obstruction and fistula formation are more common and where immunotherapy with checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1/PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4) has a high response rate with potential for favorable oncologic outcomes. We present a series of three patients with MSI-H metastatic colorectal cancer complicated by malignant bowel obstruction and fistula formation, who having progressed on standard chemotherapy, underwent palliative intervention as a bridge to immune checkpoint blockade with durable and clinically meaningful anti-cancer responses. These cases highlight the need to re-evaluate the role of historically palliative operations in the setting of disease progression for immunotherapy-responsive tumors.

An 11-year-old spayed female Toy Poodle presented with acute tetraparesis. A small subcutaneous mass was found in the right trunk region, and the magnetic resonance revealed a compressive spinal cord lesion due to an irregular bone proliferation at the third cervical vertebra. After surgical resection of the vertebral lesion, the neurological symptoms improved, and the patient could walk on her own. The excised vertebral and subcutaneous masses were diagnosed as a mammary adenocarcinoma on the histopathological examination, with Ki-67 and HER-2 immunohistochemistry staining. This case report highlights the importance of defining the primary tumours of metastatic vertebral tumours and the necessity of palliative surgery to improve the patient's quality of life.

Abstract Background Non-resectability is common in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) due to local invasion or distant metastases. Then, biliary or gastroenteric bypasses or both are often established despite associated morbidity and mortality. The current study explores outcomes after palliative bypass surgery in patients with non-resectable PDAC. Methods From the prospectively maintained German StuDoQ|Pancreas registry, all patients with histopathologically confirmed PDAC who underwent non-resective pancreatic surgery between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively identified, and the influence of the surgical procedure on morbidity and mortality was analyzed. Results Of 389 included patients, 127 (32.6%) underwent explorative surgery only, and a biliary, gastroenteric or double bypass was established in 92 (23.7%), 65 (16.7%) and 105 (27.0%). After exploration only, patients had a significantly shorter stay in the intensive care unit (mean 0.5 days [SD 1.7] vs. 1.9 [3.6], 2.0 [2.8] or 2.1 [2.8]; P

Palliative surgery is performed to improve the quality of life of patients with spinal metastases. However, it is sometimes difficult to achieve the expected results because the patient's condition, and risk factors related to poor outcomes have not been well elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes and investigate the risk factors for poor outcomes after palliative surgery for spinal metastasis. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 117 consecutive patients who underwent palliative surgery for spinal metastases. Neurological and ambulatory statuses were evaluated pre- and post-operatively. Poor outcomes were defined as no improvement or deterioration in functional status or early mortality, and the related risk factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed neurological improvement in 48% and ambulatory improvement in 70% of the patients with preoperative impairment, whereas 18% of the patients showed poor outcomes. In the multivariate analysis, low hemoglobin levels and low revised Tokuhashi scores were identified as risk factors for poor outcomes. The present results suggest that anemia and low revised Tokuhashi scores are related not only to life expectancy but also to functional recovery after surgery. Treatment options should be carefully selected for the patients with these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evolution of surgical palliative care and the formation of the Surgical Palliative Care Society (SPCS). It also include the rich history of integrating palliative medicine principles into surgical care, the development of SPC as a subspecialty, and the establishment of the SPCS to advance mentorship, education, research, quality improvement and advocacy in surgical palliative care.

Surgical palliative care, palliative care interventions, and palliative surgery all reference a blend of these 2 sub-specialty fields. Despite prior published definitions, use of these phrases both clinically and in the literature is varied and can lead to confusion and misunderstanding. Herein, we proposed the adoption of standardized nomenclature to guide the consistent use of these phrases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has revolutionized treatment strategies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and has improved survival rates. The number of patients with bone metastases from RCC requiring surgery will increase as survival rates improve. However, there is insufficient evidence to standardize the treatment of bone metastases after the introduction of targeted therapy for metastatic RCC. We aimed to determine the outcomes of palliative surgical treatment of bone metastases in the extremities of patients with metastatic RCC. We retrospectively reviewed 26 lesions from 17 patients who underwent surgery for extremity and acetabular bone metastases and were treated with targeted therapies for advanced RCC between 2008 and 2020. The median follow-up duration was 19 months (range, 4–76). We assessed the patients' activities of daily living, quality of life, and pain and analyzed their postoperative values relative to preoperative values. Postoperative overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and the factors affecting them were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The 5-year OS and LPFS rates were 39.5% and 65.6%, respectively. The factors affecting OS were sex, Katagiri score, visceral metastases, and preoperative targeted therapy, while the factors affecting LPFS were pathologic fractures and surgical technique. In this study, the postoperative outcomes of palliative surgery for bone metastases from metastatic RCC were good. We suggest that systemic treatment should be prioritized over local control for advanced bone metastasis in RCC and surgery before pathological fracture should be performed for local control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Deciding palliative treatment for gastric bleeding from incurable gastric cancer (IGC) is worrying considering different patient situations and the lack of comprehensive assessment of palliative treatment. We evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors after palliative treatment for gastric bleeding from IGC. Methods: We enrolled 48 consecutive patients with gastric bleeding from IGC who underwent palliative surgery (PS) or palliative radiotherapy (PRT). Results: Of the 48 patients, 23 underwent PS and 25 received PRT. More patients who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status (ECOG-PS) ≥ 2 or who received chemotherapy underwent PRT than underwent PS. Severe complications were observed in 2 (8.6%) patients after PS. After PRT, 22 patients achieved hemostasis (88%), but rebleeding was found in 10 (40%). Chemotherapy was introduced after palliative treatment for 21 (91.3%) patients in the PS group and 17 (68%) patients in the PRT group. The median survival time (MST) of patients with and without chemotherapy after PS was 12.5 and 3.1 months, respectively (p ≤ 0.001), while the MST of patients with and without chemotherapy after PRT was 6.5 and 1.6 months (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses identified ECOG-PS, tumor size, and chemotherapy after palliative treatment as independent risk factors. Conclusions: Palliative treatment strategies for gastric bleeding should be determined with consideration of the general condition, previous chemotherapy, and chemotherapy after palliative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palliative surgery is often performed in the treatment of congenital heart disease. Two representative palliative procedures are the systemic pulmonary shunt and pulmonary artery banding. Dramatic changes in cerebral hemodynamics may occur in these operations due to changes in the pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio and systemic oxygenation. However, there seem to be almost no studies evaluating them. Accordingly, we evaluated cerebral perfusion by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and cerebral oxygenation by near infrared spectroscopy during these procedures. In the post hoc analysis of a previous prospective observational study, cerebral blood flow velocities of the middle cerebral artery measured by transcranial Doppler were compared between the start and end of surgery as were the pulsatility index and resistance index. The cerebral oxygenation values were also compared between the start and end of surgery. Twenty-two infants with systemic pulmonary shunt and 20 infants with pulmonary artery banding were evaluated. There were no significant differences of the flow velocities between the start and end of surgery in either procedure. The pulsatility index significantly increased after pulmonary artery banding, which may compete with the increase in cerebral perfusion due to the increase in systemic blood flow. The cerebral oxygenation decreased in both procedures, possibly due to an increase in body temperature. Arterial oxygen saturation was almost the same before and after both procedures. Contrary to our expectation, the changes in cerebral hemodynamics in the palliative operations were small if the management of physiological indices such as arterial oxygen saturation was properly performed during the procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]