Robotic cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: is there a benefit?

Background: Open cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a therapeutic option for the management of malignancies with peritoneal carcinomatosis and of peritoneal origin. Robotic surgery shows promise as a minimally invasive approach for select patients. We aimed to evaluate the differences in outcomes between robotic versus open CRS/HIPEC and hypothesized less morbidity and faster recovery in the robotic approach group.

More isn't always better: antibiotic duration after surgical decortication in pleural empyema.

Background: While ample high-level evidence supports the limited use of antibiotics post-source control in intraabdominal infections, there is a paucity of available data in guiding antibiotic duration for intrathoracic infections. This study aims to analyze patient outcomes among those who have undergone surgical decortication for parapneumonic pleural empyema, comparing cases managed with infectious disease (ID) specialists against those without, and to identify predictive factors influencing antibiotic duration post-source control. We hypothesized that antibiotic duration would vary depending on the involvement of ID specialists.

A Gravid Situation: General Surgery Faculty Support for Pregnant Surgical Residents.

Introduction: The perceptions of teaching faculty toward pregnant general surgery residents have been overlooked despite the daily interactions amongst these groups.

Methods: A 32-question survey designed to measure general surgery teaching faculty perceptions toward pregnant residents was distributed electronically from March 2022 to April 2022 to general surgery teaching faculty in the United States. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize responses and differences in perceptions, and qualitative analysis identified recurring themes from free-text responses.

Heterogeneity of weight loss and transcriptomic signatures in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly associated with cachexia and weight loss, which is driven by the tumour's effect on the body. Data are lacking on differences in these metrics based on PDAC anatomic location. We hypothesize that the primary tumour's anatomic region influences the prevalence and severity of unintentional weight loss.

Race and Ethnicity Impacts Overall Survival of Patients with Appendiceal Cancer Who Undergo Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Appendiceal cancer treatment may include cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). We investigated whether patient race/ethnicity influences outcomes and overall survival for patients with appendiceal cancer who undergo CRS/HIPEC. We queried the National Cancer Database for adult patients with appendiceal cancer treated with CRS/HIPEC from 2006 to 2018.

Translocation of Oral Microbiota into the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Microenvironment.

Oral dysbiosis has long been associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this work, we explore the relationship between the oral and tumor microbiomes of patients diagnosed with PDAC. Salivary and tumor microbiomes were analyzed using a variety of sequencing methods, resulting in a high prevalence and relative abundance of oral bacteria, particularly and , within tumor tissue.

In vivo models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with high mortality rate. Within the next decade, PDAC is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-associated death in the United States. Understanding the pathophysiology of PDAC tumorigenesis and metastases is crucial toward developing new therapeutics.

General Surgery Faculty Knowledge and Perceptions of Breast Pumping Amongst Postpartum Surgical Residents.

Background: There is a lack of data regarding the knowledge and perceptions teaching faculty possess about breast pumping among general surgery residents despite breast pumping becoming more common during training. This study aimed to examine faculty knowledge and perceptions of breast pumping amongst general surgery residents.

Methods: A 29-question survey measuring knowledge and perceptions about breast pumping was administered online to United States teaching faculty from March-April 2022.

Call to action: overcoming enrollment disparities in cancer clinical trials with modernized eligibility criteria.

Traditional clinical trial eligibility criteria restrict study populations, perpetuating enrollment disparities. We aimed to assess implementation of modernized eligibility criteria guidelines among pancreatic cancer (PC) clinical trials. Interventional PC trials in the United States since January 1, 2014, were identified via clinicaltrials.

From Mouth to Muscle: Exploring the Potential Relationship between the Oral Microbiome and Cancer-Related Cachexia.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial wasting syndrome associated with skeletal muscle and adipose tissue loss, as well as decreased appetite. It affects approximately half of all cancer patients and leads to a decrease in treatment efficacy, quality of life, and survival. The human microbiota has been implicated in the onset and propagation of cancer cachexia.

Support for cancer prevention public health policies: results from a nationally representative sample of residents in the United States.

Assessing public support of health policies designed to reduce cancer risk is important for policy implementation. This study aimed to identify support for cancer prevention policies and factors associated with support. Data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey.

Racial Disparities in Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: Does Aggressive Surgical Treatment Overcome Cancer Health Inequities?

Background: Advanced cancer states perpetuate health-related disparities. Peritoneal-based cancers are clinically advanced cancers that present a significant clinical dilemma. Peritoneal cancers are managed aggressively with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

A Review of the Clinical Implications of Cachexia, Sarcopenia, and BMI in Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Receiving Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is the dissemination of cancer throughout the peritoneal cavity. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the surgical treatment of choice in highly selected patients. The aim of this narrative review was to assess the impact of cachexia, sarcopenia, and body mass index (BMI) on patient outcomes for patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Review of Mechanisms and Treatment of Cancer-Induced Cardiac Cachexia.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial, paraneoplastic syndrome that impacts roughly half of all cancer patients. It can negatively impact patient quality of life and prognosis by causing physical impairment, reducing chemotherapy tolerance, and precluding them as surgical candidates. While there is substantial research on cancer-induced skeletal muscle cachexia, there are comparatively fewer studies and therapies regarding cardiac cachexia in the setting of malignancy.

Eligibility Criteria Perpetuate Disparities in Enrollment and Participation of Black Patients in Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials.

Purpose: Clinical trials determine safety and efficacy of cancer therapeutics and establish standards of care. Minority patient participation in cancer clinical trials is dismal. We aimed to determine the impact of eligibility criteria on disparities in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) clinical trial candidacy.

A narrative review of the health disparities associated with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the mesothelial lining of the pleura that has traditionally been associated with asbestos exposure in an industrial setting. Asbestos usage has fortunately been banned or phased out in most industrialized countries resulting in its decline in countries such as the United States. Despite this, MPM continues to place significant burden on its affected patients resulting in overall poor prognosis and survival.

Factors Driving Patient Perception of Quality Care After Primary Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Introduction: Differences in female and male patient perception of care and satisfaction following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were assessed via Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, demographic, and clinical data.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey responses at a private, academic, level-I trauma center was performed from January 2011 to December 2013. Inclusion criteria were primary THA and TKA patients who were 18 years or older and returned the survey.