Publications by authors named "Sheraz Markar"

Background: Oesophago-gastric cancer surgery negatively affects quality of life with a high postoperative symptom burden. Several conditions that may be diagnosed and treated after surgery are recognised. However, consensus regarding their definition and management is lacking.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the risks of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and treatment outcomes in patients with early esophago-gastric (EG) adenocarcinoma, focusing on the effectiveness of endoscopic resection (ER) versus radical surgery.
  • A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from 1,601 patients across 26 UK centers, revealing that the overall LNM rate was 13.5% and highlighting certain tumor characteristics that may indicate higher risks, although these factors did not predict LNM rates or survival outcomes significantly.
  • The findings suggest a need to reevaluate the predictive factors for LNM in early EG adenocarcinoma and emphasize the importance of further research to better identify patients suitable for either organ-preserving
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Introduction: The optimal therapeutic strategy for patients with cT4bM0 esophageal cancer is controversial and varies internationally. This study aimed to describe treatment and survival of patients with cT4bM0 esophageal cancer in the Netherlands.

Methods: Patients staged with cT4bM0 esophageal cancer who were registered in the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) were included.

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Objective: To clarify the impact of the preoperative time intervals on short-term postoperative and pathologic outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by esophagectomy.

Background: The impact of preoperative intervals on patients with esophageal cancer who received multimodality treatment remains unknown.

Methods: Patients (cT1-4aN0-3M0) treated with nCRT plus esophagectomy were included using the Dutch national DUCA database.

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Objective: To evaluate outcomes after primary surgery (PS) or neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery (NAT/S) in cT2 staged adenocarcinomas of the esophagus (EAC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), a multinational high-volume center study was undertaken.

Background: The optimal treatment approach with either NAT/S or PS for clinically staged cT2cN any or cT2N0 EAC and GEJ remains unknown due to the lack of randomized controlled trials.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained databases from 10 centers was performed.

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Online symptom checkers are increasingly popular health technologies that enable patients to input their symptoms to produce diagnoses and triage advice. However, there is concern regarding the performance and safety of symptom checkers in diagnosing and triaging patients with life-threatening conditions. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate and compare commercially available symptom checkers for performance in diagnosing and triaging myocardial infarctions (MI).

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This state-of-the-art review explores the intricacies of anastomotic leaks following oesophagectomy and gastrectomy, crucial surgeries for globally increasing esophageal and gastric cancers. Despite advancements, anastomotic leaks occur in up to 30 % and 10 % of oesophagectomy and gastrectomy cases, respectively, leading to prolonged hospital stays, substantial impact upon short- and long-term health-related quality of life and greater mortality. Recognising factors contributing to leaks, including patient characteristics and surgical techniques, are vital for preoperative risk stratification.

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Background: Radical esophagectomy, including thoracic duct resection (TDR), has been proposed to improve regional lymphadenectomy and possibly reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence. However, because of its impact on immunoregulation, some authors have expressed concerns about its possible detrimental effect on long-term survival. The purpose of this review was to assess the influence of TDR on long-term survival.

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Objective: To evaluate prognostic differences between minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and open esophagectomy (OE) in patients with surgery after a prolonged interval (>12 wk) following chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Background: Previously, we established that a prolonged interval after CRT before esophagectomy was associated with poorer long-term survival.

Methods: This was an international multicenter cohort study involving 17 tertiary centers, including patients who received CRT followed by surgery between 2010 and 2020.

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: Thoracic duct ligation (TDL) during esophagectomy has been proposed to reduce the risk of postoperative chylothorax. Because of its role in immunoregulation, some authors argued that it had an unfavorable TDL effect on survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of TDL on overall survival (OS).

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Objective: To establish the life expectancy burden of esophago-gastric cancer by analyzing years of life lost (YLL) for a Western patient population after treatment of early esophageal (EAC) or early gastric (GAC) adenocarcinoma.

Background: For patients with early EAC or GAC, the short-term prognosis after surgical resection is very good. Little data is available regarding long-term prognosis when compared to the general population.

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Introduction: The OligoMetastatic Esophagogastric Cancer (OMEC) project aims to provide clinical practice guidelines for the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of esophagogastric oligometastatic disease (OMD).

Methods: Guidelines were developed according to AGREE II and GRADE principles. Guidelines were based on a systematic review (OMEC-1), clinical case discussions (OMEC-2), and a Delphi consensus study (OMEC-3) by 49 European expert centers for esophagogastric cancer.

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Reasons for structural and outcome differences in esophageal cancer surgery in Western Europe remain unclear. This questionnaire study aimed to identify differences in the organization of esophageal cancer surgical care in Western Europe. A cross-sectional international questionnaire study was conducted among upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons from Western Europe.

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Background: Increasing surgeon age may influence patient outcomes after complex procedures due to gained experience but also decreased technical and cognitive abilities. This study aimed to clarify whether surgeon age influences patients' long-term survival after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Population-based cohort study including all patients who underwent open and curatively intended gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2015 in Sweden, with follow-up throughout 2020.

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Background: Many gastric cancer patients in Western countries are diagnosed as metastatic with a median overall survival of less than twelve months using standard chemotherapy. Innovative treatments, like targeted therapy or immunotherapy, have recently proved to ameliorate prognosis, but a general agreement on managing oligometastatic disease has yet to be achieved. An international multi-disciplinary workshop was held in Bertinoro, Italy, in November 2022 to verify whether achieving a consensus on at least some topics was possible.

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Objective: To determine the impact of operative approach [open (OE), hybrid minimally invasive (HMIE), and total minimally invasive (TMIE) esophagectomy] on operative and oncologic outcomes for patients treated with curative intent for esophageal and junctional cancer.

Background: The optimum oncologic surgical approach to esophageal and junctional cancer is unclear.

Methods: This secondary analysis of the European multicenter ENSURE study includes patients undergoing curative-intent esophagectomy for cancer between 2009 and 2015 across 20 high-volume centers.

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Background: Oesophageal cancer, in particular adenocarcinoma, has a strong male predominance. However, the impact of patient sex on operative and oncologic outcomes and recovery of health-related quality of life is poorly documented, and was the focus of this large multicentre cohort study.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent oncological oesophagectomy from 2009 to 2015 in the 20 European iNvestigation of SUrveillance after Resection for Esophageal cancer study group centres were assessed.

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Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the external validity of the MIRO randomized controlled trial findings in a similar nationwide setting "real life" population, especially the benefit of a hybrid approach in esophageal resection for pulmonary complication. The external validity of randomized controlled trial findings to the general population with the same condition remains problematic because of the inherent selection bias and rigid inclusion criteria.

Methods: This study was a cohort study from a National Health Database (Programme de Medicalisation des Systemes d'Informations) between 2010 and 2022.

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Oligometastatic oesophagogastric cancer was recently defined by consensus as the presence of no more than two metastases and an 18-week period of oncological stability during chemotherapy. The number of patients who fit this criterion and whether their oncological outcome differs from those with multi-metastatic disease is unknown. We analysed a database of 497 patients from 2017 to 2021 with metastatic oesophageal cancer.

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Article Synopsis
  • Minimally invasive total gastrectomy (MITG) is an important surgical approach for treating gastric cancer, but there is currently no consensus on the best techniques for key processes like lymphadenectomy and anastomosis creation.
  • An international panel of expert surgeons participated in a study using the Delphi method, which involved multiple rounds of voting to establish consensus on the technical steps of MITG, resulting in 41 key statements after three rounds.
  • The consensus findings, showing high internal consistency, aim to improve surgical quality and outcomes for patients undergoing MITG by providing standardized techniques based on expert agreement.
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Background: Untreated pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) results in substantial patient harm. Upper gastrointestinal surgery (bariatric metabolic surgery and oesophagogastric resection) affects the delicate physiology of pancreatic exocrine function and may result in PEI. The aim of this study was to assimilate the literature on incidence, diagnosis, and management of PEI after bariatric metabolic surgery and oesophagogastric resection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intraoperative video recordings enhance surgical documentation, but analyzing them usually demands expert knowledge and time.
  • A systematic review aims to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in analyzing surgical videos, detailing study characteristics and identifying research gaps.
  • The methodology includes systematic searches in databases since 2012, focusing on AI applications in surgical video analysis without requiring ethical approval.
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Objective: To examine the influence of the LOGICA RCT (randomized controlled trial) upon the practice and outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy within the Netherlands.

Background: Following RCTs the dissemination of complex interventions has been poorly studied. The LOGICA RCT included 10 Dutch centers and compared laparoscopic to open gastrectomy.

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