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British Journal of Anaesthesia Jul 2024Heterogeneity of reported outcomes can impact the certainty of evidence for prehabilitation. The objective of this scoping review was to systematically map outcomes and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Heterogeneity of reported outcomes can impact the certainty of evidence for prehabilitation. The objective of this scoping review was to systematically map outcomes and assessment tools used in trials of surgical prehabilitation.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane were searched in February 2023. Randomised controlled trials of unimodal or multimodal prehabilitation interventions (nutrition, exercise, psychological support) lasting at least 7 days in adults undergoing elective surgery were included. Reported outcomes were classified according to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research framework.
RESULTS
We included 76 trials, mostly focused on abdominal or orthopaedic surgeries. A total of 50 different outcomes were identified, measured using 184 outcome assessment tools. Observer-reported outcomes were collected in 86% of trials (n=65), with hospital length of stay being most common. Performance outcomes were reported in 80% of trials (n=61), most commonly as exercise capacity assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Clinician-reported outcomes were included in 78% (n=59) of trials and most frequently included postoperative complications with Clavien-Dindo classification. Patient-reported outcomes were reported in 76% (n=58) of trials, with health-related quality of life using the 36- or 12-Item Short Form Survey being most prevalent. Biomarker outcomes were reported in 16% of trials (n=12) most commonly using inflammatory markers assessed with C-reactive protein.
CONCLUSIONS
There is substantial heterogeneity in the reporting of outcomes and assessment tools across surgical prehabilitation trials. Identification of meaningful outcomes, and agreement on appropriate assessment tools, could inform the development of a prehabilitation core outcomes set to harmonise outcome reporting and facilitate meta-analyses.
Topics: Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Preoperative Exercise; Postoperative Complications; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Preoperative Care; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 38570300
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.01.046 -
Brain Sciences Mar 2024(1) Background: Gangliogliomas are rare tumors accounting for about 0.4% of all central nervous system tumors. They are usually located in the temporal lobes of children... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: Gangliogliomas are rare tumors accounting for about 0.4% of all central nervous system tumors. They are usually located in the temporal lobes of children and young adults, though such tumors in the infratentorial region and adult-age patients rarely reported. (2) Methods: A systematic review on ganglioglioma with infratentorial location in the adult population was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 275 articles were found, and 23 were included. Demographic data, the location and histology of the lesion, pre-operative neurological status, the type of surgery, recurrence, radiotherapy/chemotherapy adjuvant treatments, neurological outcomes and follow-up information were collected. We also presented an illustrative case. (3) Results: A total of 27 patients were included. In 51%, the location was the cerebellum; in 40%, it was the fourth ventricle; in 11%, it was brainstem; and in 4%, it was the cerebellopontine angle. STR was performed in 44%, GTR in 26% and biopsy in 15% of the cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy was found in 22% of cases. Disease recurrence occurred in 15% of patients between 1 and 12 months after surgery with a diagnosis of high-grade ganglioglioma, while in six cases, no disease recurrence was documented. (4) Conclusions: Infratentorial glioneuronal tumors are rare findings in the adult population. Histopathological characterization does not seem to fully reflect their true behavior. Future studies are warranted for better characterizing histopathological findings and treatment.
PubMed: 38539674
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14030286 -
South African Medical Journal =... Feb 2024Low- and middle-income countries have a critical shortage of specialist anaesthetists. Most patients arriving for surgery are of low perioperative risk. Without...
BACKGROUND
Low- and middle-income countries have a critical shortage of specialist anaesthetists. Most patients arriving for surgery are of low perioperative risk. Without immediate access to preoperative specialist care, an appropriate interim strategy may be to ensure that only high-risk patients are seen preoperatively by a specialist. Matching human resources to the burden of disease with a nurse-administered pre-operative screening tool to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from specialist review prior to the day of surgery may be an effective strategy.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a nurse-administered preoperative anaesthesia screening tool to identify patients who would most likely benefit from a specialist review before the day of surgery, and those patients who could safely be seen by the anaesthetist on the day of surgery. This would ensure adequate time for optimisation of high-risk patients preoperatively and limit avoidable day-of-surgery cancellations.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted to identify preoperative screening questions for use in a three-round Delphi consensus process. A panel of 16 experienced full-time clinical anaesthetists representing all university-affiliated anaesthesia departments in South Africa participated to define a nurses' screening tool for preoperative assessment.
RESULTS
Ninety-eight studies were identified, which generated 79 questions. An additional 14 items identified by the facilitators were added to create a list of 93 questions for the first round. The final screening tool consisted of 81 questions, of which 37 were deemed critical to identify patients who should be seen by a specialist prior to the day of surgery.
CONCLUSION
A structured nurse-administered preoperative screening tool is proposed to identify high-risk patients who are likely to benefit from a timely preoperative specialist anaesthetist review to avoid cancellation on the day of surgery.
Topics: Humans; Delphi Technique; Nurse's Role; South Africa; Preoperative Care; Anesthesia
PubMed: 38525581
DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1306 -
Annals of Surgical Oncology Jun 2024It is unknown whether the identification of additional tumors in the breast using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) results in a lower risk of in-breast... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
It is unknown whether the identification of additional tumors in the breast using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI) results in a lower risk of in-breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS).
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies were performed. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
RESULTS
From 768 citations, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. The 20 studies consisted of 14 retrospective reviews, 3 matched cohorts, and 3 randomized controlled trials. Whereas 2 studies reported a statistically significant lower rate of IBTR with pMRI, 18 studies showed no difference, and no studies reported a higher rate. Of the 18 studies showing no significant difference, 12 demonstrated a trend toward a lower IBTR rate in the pMRI group. The criteria for meta-analysis were met by 16 studies. A meta-analysis of 11 studies that reported hazard ratios (HR) for IBTR showed a trend toward a lower rate of IBTR for patients who received preoperative MRI (hazard ratio (HR), 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-1.05). A meta-analysis of five studies that reported event rates and had similar follow-up duration for both groups demonstrated a lower relative risk (RR) of IBTR (RR, 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.81).
CONCLUSIONS
Although some evidence supports the hypothesis that identification of additional tumors in the breast using pMRI results in lower rates of IBTR after BCS, the main meta-analysis in this study did not confirm this hypothesis.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Mastectomy, Segmental; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Preoperative Care; Prognosis
PubMed: 38520578
DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-14746-z -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Feb 2024The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged global infrastructure. Healthcare systems were forced to reallocate resources toward the frontlines. In this... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged global infrastructure. Healthcare systems were forced to reallocate resources toward the frontlines. In this systematic review, we analyze the impact of resource reallocation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of esophageal cancer (EC) patients.
METHODS
PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for articles investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EC patients. Of the 1,722 manuscripts initially screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Heterogeneity of data and outcomes reporting prohibited aggregate analysis. Reduced detection of EC and considerable variability in disease stage at presentation were noted during the COVID-19 pandemic. EC patients experienced delays in diagnostic and preoperative staging investigations but surgical resection was not associated with greater short-term morbidity or mortality. Modeling the impact of pandemic-related delays in EC care predicts significant reductions in survival with associated economic losses in the coming years.
CONCLUSIONS
Amidst resource scarcity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the multidisciplinary management of patients with EC was affected at multiple stages in the care pathway. Although the complete ramifications of reductions in EC diagnosis and delays in care remain unclear, EC surgery was able to safely continue as a result of collaboration between centers, strict adherence to COVID-19 protective measures, and reallocation of healthcare resources towards the same. Ultimately, when healthcare systems are pushed to the brink, the downstream consequences of resource reallocation require judicious analysis to optimize overall patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38505032
DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1232 -
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery Mar 2024Growing evidence demonstrates minimal impact of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) on reducing postoperative complications following elective colectomy. This study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Growing evidence demonstrates minimal impact of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) on reducing postoperative complications following elective colectomy. This study investigated the necessity of MBP prior to elective colonic resection.
METHOD
A systematic literature review was conducted across PubMed, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies comparing the effects of MBP with no preparation before elective colectomy, up until May 26, 2023. Surgical-related outcomes were compiled and subsequently analyzed. The primary outcomes included the incidence of anastomosis leakage (AL) and surgical site infection (SSI), analyzed using Review Manager Software (v 5.3).
RESULTS
The analysis included 14 studies, comprising seven RCTs with 5146 participants. Demographic information was consistent across groups. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of AL ((P = 0.43, OR = 1.16, 95% CI (0.80, 1.68), I = 0%) or SSI (P = 0.47, OR = 1.20, 95% CI (0.73, 1.96), I = 0%), nor were there significant differences in other outcomes. Subgroup analysis on oral antibiotic use showed no significant changes in results. However, in cases of right colectomy, the group without preparation showed a significantly lower incidence of SSI (P = 0.01, OR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.31, 0.86), I = 1%). No significant differences were found in other subgroup analyses.
CONCLUSION
The current evidence robustly indicates that MBP before elective colectomy does not confer significant benefits in reducing postoperative complications. Therefore, it is justified to forego MBP prior to elective colectomy, irrespective of tumor location.
Topics: Humans; Cathartics; Preoperative Care; Surgical Wound Infection; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Colectomy; Anastomotic Leak; Elective Surgical Procedures; Colon; Antibiotic Prophylaxis
PubMed: 38504007
DOI: 10.1007/s00423-024-03286-z -
Cureus Feb 2024Smartphone applications play a crucial role in contemporary healthcare by aiming to enhance patient care through technology. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have... (Review)
Review
Smartphone applications play a crucial role in contemporary healthcare by aiming to enhance patient care through technology. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have proven to have transformative potential in enhancing patients' outcomes in candidates undergoing orthopedic and spinal surgery. In the context of the pervasive use of smartphones and the exponential growth of mHealth apps, totaling over 99,000 in 2021, the applications had a significant impact on lifestyle management, supporting initiatives like smoking cessation with motivational reminders and progress tracking. Patient compliance is significantly enhanced, reducing surgery cancellations and improving outcomes through effective adherence to pre-operative treatments and instructions. Physiotherapy receives a substantial boost as mHealth facilitates video-guided exercises, potentially improving compliance and treatment outcomes. Data collection takes on innovative dimensions, with mHealth apps capturing post-operative metrics like physical activity, offering valuable insights into patient recovery trends. Remote care is streamlined through features like photo uploads and direct messaging, proving especially beneficial in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these merits, challenges emerge, including issues related to technological literacy, potential discrimination due to paywalls, and concerns about patient data confidentiality. Overcoming these challenges requires standardized approaches, legislative measures, and ongoing research to refine and optimize mHealth applications for diverse healthcare settings.
PubMed: 38496189
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54254 -
Clinical Endocrinology May 2024Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor from parafollicular cells that produce calcitonin (Ct). Despite several existing guidelines for the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor from parafollicular cells that produce calcitonin (Ct). Despite several existing guidelines for the surgical management of sporadic MTC (sMTC), optimal initial surgical management of the thyroid, the central and the lateral neck remains a matter of debate.
METHODS
A systematic review in PubMed and Scopus for current guidelines addressing the surgical management of sMTC and its referenced citations was conducted as per the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Two-hundred and one articles were identified, of which 7 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, guidelines vary significantly in their recommendations for the surgical management of sMTC. Only one guideline recommended partial thyroidectomy for limited disease, but the possibility to avoid completion thyroidectomy in selected cases is acknowledged in 42% (3/7) of the remaining guidelines. The majority of guidelines (71.4%; 5/7) recommended prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) for all patients while the remaining two guidelines recommended CND based on Ct level and tumor size. The role of prophylactic lateral neck dissection based on preoperative Ct levels was recommended by 42% (3/7) of guidelines. Overall, these guidelines are based on low-quality evidence, mostly single-center retrospective series, some of which are over 20 years old.
CONCLUSION
Current surgical management guidelines of sMTC should be revised, and ought to be based on updated data challenging current recommendations, which are based on historic, low-quality evidence. Partial thyroidectomy may become a viable option for small, limited tumors. Prospective, multi-center studies may be useful to conclude whether prophylactic ND is necessary in all sMTC patients.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Retrospective Studies; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 38472743
DOI: 10.1111/cen.15041 -
Cancer Medicine Feb 2024Undertaking physical activity, pre- and post-operatively, can benefit recovery time and improve post-surgical outcomes. One cohort of patients that have reported these... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Undertaking physical activity, pre- and post-operatively, can benefit recovery time and improve post-surgical outcomes. One cohort of patients that have reported these benefits are those undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Yet, what remains unclear is the level to which physical activity interventions are implemented into standard surgical care for patients with breast cancer.
AIMS
This systematic review aimed to examine existing qualitative evidence focusing on pre- and post-operative physical activity interventions to better understand the benefits and shortcomings of physical activity within the surgical journey.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was undertaken in November 2022, across five databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. Qualitative studies involving people with breast cancer who had undertaken a physical activity intervention, either pre- and/or post-operatively, were included for analysis. The review was registered on PROSPERO: CRD42022372466 and performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative study checklist was used to assess study quality.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies were included, comprising the perspectives of 418 people receiving surgery for breast cancer. One study implemented preoperative physical activity interventions; the remaining studies focused on post-operative interventions. A narrative systematic review was undertaken due to heterogeneity in reported results. Four themes were developed by thematic analysis, centring on: (1) factors promoting engagement with physical activity interventions; (2) factors preventing engagement with physical activity interventions; (3) the impact of pre- and post-operative interventions on physical and psychological health; and (4) participant recommendations for pre- and post-operative interventions.
CONCLUSION
Pre- and post-operative physical activity interventions were well-accepted. Patients recognised factors which promoted or prevented engagement with interventions, as well as pre- and post-operative physical and psychological benefits that arose as a result. Evidence based co-design studies may further inform successful implementation of prescribed physical activity into standard care for surgical breast cancer patients.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Exercise; Mental Health; Postoperative Care; Preoperative Care
PubMed: 38457236
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7063 -
BMC Urology Mar 2024The forgotten ureteral stents (FUS) is one of the late complications of stent placement. This systematic review summarized different aspects of FUS and focused on the...
BACKGROUND
The forgotten ureteral stents (FUS) is one of the late complications of stent placement. This systematic review summarized different aspects of FUS and focused on the problems and solutions related to FUS.
METHODS
This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. PubMed® and Embase® were searched from inception until October 1st, 2022. Eligible studies were those defining FUS as a stent unintentionally left in situ longer than at least 2 months.
RESULTS
Total 147 studies with 1292 patients were finally included. The mean indwelling time of FUS was 33.5 months (range from 3 months to 32 years). The most common initial cause for stent placement was adjunct treatment to urolithiasis (79.2%). The major forgetting reasons were patient-related (83.9%), which included poor compliance, lapse in memory, and misconceptions about the necessity of timely removal. Primary presenting complaints were flank pain (37.3%), lower urinary tract symptoms (33.3%), and hematuria (22.8%). Encrustation (80.8%) and urinary tract infections (40.2%) were the most common complications detected in patients with FUS. Computed tomography evolving as a preferred imaging test (76.1%) was indispensable for evaluating encrustation, migration, fracture and other complicated situations in patients with FUS. Besides, evaluation of kidney function and infection status was also of great importance. Multiple and multimodal procedures (59.0%) were often necessitated to achieve the stent-free status, and were mostly endoscopic procedures. Cystoscope was most commonly used (64.8%). Retrograde ureteroscopy (43.4%) and antegrade stent removal (31.6%) were often used when dealing with more complicated situations. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (30.4%) was often used as adjunctive to other endoscopic procedures, but it sometimes failed. The decision regarding the choice of treatment is based on the volume and site of encrustation, the direction of migration, the site of fracture, kidney function and other urinary comorbidities.
CONCLUSIONS
FUS not only pose hazard to patients' health, but also impose a huge economic burden on medical care. Thorough preoperative evaluation is fundamental to developing the treatment strategy. The management of FUS should be individualized using different treatment modalities with their advantages to minimize patients' morbidities. Prevention is better than cure. Strengthening health education and setting a tracking program are of great importance to the prevention of FUS.
Topics: Humans; Cystoscopes; Fractures, Bone; Hematuria; Lithotripsy; Ureteroscopy; Urolithiasis; Foreign Bodies; Stents
PubMed: 38443863
DOI: 10.1186/s12894-024-01440-9