Publications by authors named "Beat Muller"
Background: The impact of radiotherapy on the oncologic outcome of retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on disease-specific survival (DSS) in a cohort of patients with RPLSs.
Methods: In this population-based, retrospective cohort study, patients with localized RPLSs who underwent surgical therapy were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-17 cancer registry program.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) presents a global health challenge characterized by cardiometabolic risk factors like central obesity, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and high fasting glucose levels. Despite lifestyle interventions and medications, the increasing prevalence of MetS calls for effective treatments. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has emerged as a promising intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the different phases of the learning curve for robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) in international expert centers.
Summary Background Data: RDP is an emerging minimally invasive approach; however, only limited, mostly single center data are available on its safe implementation, including the learning curve.
Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing elective RDP from 16 expert centers across three continents were included to assess the learning curve.
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluates the effectiveness of Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) for treating esophageal cancer at various centers globally, aiming to pinpoint areas for enhancement in surgical outcomes.
- Over three time periods (2016-2023), data from 28 centers was analyzed, revealing improvements in textbook outcome rates, lymph node yields, and decreased hospital stays, particularly with McKeown procedures.
- The results showed varying success rates in surgical outcomes and complications, with a noteworthy decrease in anastomotic leakage rates and hospital stays over time, highlighting advancements in surgical techniques.
Introduction: Preoperative diagnostic protocols vary worldwide, some prioritizing safety while others question routine procedures. Building on prior research, this study explores the impact of diverse preoperative findings on bariatric management and procedure selection.
Methods: In a retrospective analysis of prospective data of over 1000 bariatric surgery patients from January 2017 to December 2022 undergoing primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were analyzed.
Introduction: Standardization has the potential to serve as a measure to mitigate complication rates. The objective was to assess the impact of standardization by implementing a colorectal bundle (CB), which comprises nine elements, on the complication rates in left-sided colorectal resections.
Patients And Methods: This prospective, multicentre, observational, cohort trial was conducted in Switzerland at nine participating hospitals.
Article Synopsis
- - The study compared the effectiveness of positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) versus CT alone for staging colorectal cancer (CRC) in nodal involvement and distant metastasis before treatment.
- - Results indicated that PET/CT had higher sensitivity in detecting both lymph node involvement (66.7% vs. 55.2%) and distant metastases (82.5% vs. 53.6%) compared to CT alone.
- - The findings suggest that PET/CT is a more accurate staging tool for CRC, making it valuable for treatment planning and potentially improving patient outcomes.
The global nitrogen (N) cycle has been strongly altered by anthropogenic activities, including increased input of bioavailable N into aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater sediments are hotspots with regards to the turnover and elimination of fixed N, yet the environmental controls on the microbial pathways involved in benthic N removal are not fully understood. Here, we analyze the abundance and expression of microbial genes involved in N transformations using metagenomics and -transcriptomics across sediments of 12 Swiss lakes that differ in sedimentation rates and trophic regimes.
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- The study focuses on improving follow-up care for patients with testicular cancer to detect relapses early by analyzing different imaging methods used for relapse detection in a large cohort of patients (1175 enrolled) from the Swiss Austrian German Testicular Cancer Cohort Study.
- Key findings included that 76% of analyzed patients had stage I disease, with a high 5-year relapse-free survival rate of 90.1%. Cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen was found to be the most effective method for detecting relapses, especially abdominal CT scans.
- The researchers proposed updated follow-up schedules emphasizing abdominal imaging while reducing reliance on chest X-rays, aiming to guide clinicians in future patient management strategies.
Interprofessional collaboration in outpatient palliative care is critical to ensuring good quality of care in the home care sector. We investigated facilitators and barriers (FaBs) of interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals who participated in a 6-month pilot of a newly implemented specialised mobile palliative care service (SMPCS) in rural Lucerne. This study used a mixed-methods approach to collect (i) qualitative data on FaBs as perceived by nurses and primary care physicians (PCPs), and (ii) quantitative data across the entire interprofessional collaboration using a validated questionnaire expanded with 10 specific questions about the pilot.
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- - The article highlights the avoidance of discussions about death and dying in patient care, particularly for those with terminal illnesses.
- - It examines the reasons for this fear and emphasizes the importance of addressing death-related topics to strengthen relationships with patients and in personal interactions.
- - The authors advocate for incorporating conversations about impermanence into medical and nursing education as essential for professional development.
Article Synopsis
- - The pilot study aims to create machine learning models that can predict BMI changes for up to 5 years after bariatric surgery, improving preoperative obesity treatment and patient care.
- - Conducted from January 2012 to December 2021 in Switzerland, the study involved analyzing data from over 1,100 patients who underwent obesity surgeries, focusing on those with complete pre and postoperative information.
- - The results show reliable BMI predictions with low root mean square error values, highlighting the study's effectiveness in forecasting weight outcomes and the development of a web-based calculator for healthcare professionals.
Article Synopsis
- Various anastomotic and reconstruction techniques were assessed in patients undergoing minimally invasive total (miTG) and distal gastrectomy (miDG) to understand their impact on postoperative complications.
- A study involving over 4,200 patients found that miTG had significantly higher rates of complications like anastomotic leakage and overall morbidity compared to miDG.
- The findings suggest that miDG is preferable for patients needing surgery, while linear stapled techniques should be favored in miTG to minimize risks.*
Introduction: Oncologic esophagectomy is a two-cavity procedure with considerable morbidity and mortality. Complex anatomy and the proximity to major vessels constitute a risk for massive intraoperative hemorrhage. Currently, there is no conclusive consensus on the ideal anesthesiologic countermeasure in case of such immense blood loss.
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- The goal of the study was to look at how quickly doctors learn to do minimal invasive liver surgery (MILS) and to suggest a common way to report this learning.
- The research included 60 articles and over 12,000 patients, breaking down the learning process into three stages: competency, proficiency, and mastery.
- They found that doctors need about 34 procedures to reach competency, 50 for proficiency, and 58 to achieve mastery, with different factors improving at different rates.
Objectives: Palliative patients generally prefer to be cared for and die at home. Overly aggressive treatments place additional strain on already burdened patients and healthcare services, contributing to decreased quality of life and increased healthcare costs. This study characterises palliative inpatients, quantifies in-hospital mortality and potentially avoidable hospitalisations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The global organ shortage is the biggest obstacle to expand urgently needed liver transplantation activities. In addition to donation after brain death (DBD), donation after primary circulatory death (DCD) has also been introduced in many European countries to increase the number of donated organs.
Objective: This article summarizes the legal and ethical aspects of DCD, the practical donation process of DCD, the clinical results of DCD liver transplantation with a special focus on organ assessment before a planned DCD liver transplantation.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess indications for and report outcomes of pancreatic surgery in pediatric patients.
Background: Indications for pancreatic surgery in children are rare and data on surgical outcomes after pediatric pancreatic surgery are scarce.
Methods: All children who underwent pancreatic surgery at a tertiary hospital specializing in pancreatic surgery between 2003 and 2022 were identified from a prospectively maintained database.
Assessment of resectability of pancreatic cancer using novel immersive high-performance virtual reality rendering of abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg
September 2024
Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) allows for an immersive and interactive analysis of imaging data such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study is to assess the comprehensibility of VR anatomy and its value in assessing resectability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Methods: This study assesses exposure to VR anatomy and evaluates the potential role of VR in assessing resectability of PDAC.
Purpose: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have shown beneficial outcomes in the last 20 years. Nevertheless, simultaneously implemented technical improvements such as minimally invasive access or modified anesthesia care may play a crucial role in optimizing patient outcome. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ERAS implementation in a highly specialized colorectal center.
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- The study investigates the link between low levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) after total thyroidectomy and the risk of hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) post-surgery.
- Data from 607 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from 2010 to 2022 were analyzed, showing that 32.5% had decreased iPTH levels, with 20.4% developing hypocalcemia on the first day after surgery.
- Results indicate that a significant drop in iPTH, especially levels below 10 pg/ml, correlates with a higher likelihood of postoperative hypocalcemia, suggesting iPTH measurement can help predict this complication.
Background: ChatGPT-4 is the latest release of a novel artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot able to answer freely formulated and complex questions. In the near future, ChatGPT could become the new standard for health care professionals and patients to access medical information. However, little is known about the quality of medical information provided by the AI.
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