Trend of minimally invasive and open surgery experience of general surgery residents: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general surgery case log in Thailand.

Purpose: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers patients several benefits, such as smaller incisions, and fast recovery times. General surgery residents should be trained in both open and MIS. We aimed to examine the trends of minimally invasive and open procedures performed by general surgery residents in Thailand. Methods: A retrospective review of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general surgery case logs from 2007 to 2018 was performed for common open and laparoscopic general surgery operations. The data were grouped by three time periods, which were 2007-2010, 2011-2014, and 2015-2018, and analyzed to explore changes in the operative trends. Results: For Thai residents, the mean number of laparoscopic operations per person per year increased from 5.97 to 9.36 (56.78% increase) and open increased from 20.02 to 27.16 (35.67% increase). There was a significant increase in the average number of minimally invasive procedures performed among cholecystectomy (5.83, 6.57, 8.10; p < 0.001) and inguinal hernia repair (0.33, 0.35, 0.66; p < 0.001). Compared to general surgery residents in the United States, Thai residents had more experience with open appendectomy, but significantly less experience with all other operations/procedures. Conclusion: The number of open and minimally invasive procedures performed or assisted by Thai general surgery residents has slowly increased, but generally lags behind residents in the United States. The Thai education program must be updated to improve residents' technical skills in open and laparoscopic surgery to remain competitive with their global partners.

Adaptation to Open-Book Online Examination During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 altered medical education systems worldwide as many medical schools quickly changed to online assessment systems. However, the feasibility of online assessment and how it compares to traditional examinations is unclear. METHODS: We compared 4th year medical students' online surgery clerkship assessment scores to the traditional written examinations. The percent of correct scores using online open-book examination was compared to the results of the traditional closed-book examination in the previous three rotations. Additional correlation between grade point average(GPA) and examination performance were reviewed. RESULTS: Compared with the traditional groups, medical students who took the online, open-book examination had a significantly higher mean score in both MCQ(85.21 vs. 77.36, 72.43, 83.00, p<0.001) and essay examinations (187.36 vs. 158.77, 152.17, 152.29, p<0.001), but a significantly lower mean score in short answer examination (60.09 vs. 66.79, 67.73, 64.82, p<0.001). The online open-book examination group had a significantly lower correlation between the essay score and their GPA than the previous traditional groups (z=2.81 p=0.005, z=2.23 p=0.026, z=2.19 p=0.029). CONCLUSION: Although an online, open-book examination was feasible during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study indicates that mean scores are significantly different which has important implications regarding grading and standard setting. More research is required to assess other effects of this new assessment on long-term knowledge retention and application.

A comparison of letrozole and anastrozole followed by letrozole in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: We previously studied the noninferiority of anastrozole (ANZ) versus ANZ followed by letrozole (A-LTZ) due to reimbursement policy. We found that patients with A-LTZ had better overall survival (OS) than did patients with ANZ alone. This study aimed to prove that patients with A-LTZ also had better OS than patients with letrozole (LTZ) alone. METHODS: All medical records of the breast cancer patients taking LTZ with or without ANZ between 2004 and 2013 were reviewed. All patients were divided into two groups: the LTZ group included patients treated with LTZ alone, and the A-LTZ group included patients treated with ANZ who were automatically changed to LTZ due to change of the reimbursement policy. RESULTS: From 359 cases, there were 179 cases in the LTZ group and 180 cases in the A-LTZ group. The mean age of patients in the LTZ group was 53.7 years and in the A-LTZ group was 54.2 years. The distribution of clinical stages among the LTZ group versus the A-LTZ group was 21 versus 4 (stage 1), 86 versus 116 (stage 2), 55 versus 46 (stage 3), and 17 versus 14 (stage 4), respectively. Among the LTZ patients, 63.7% took aromatase inhibitor monotherapy and 36.3% had a switching strategy, while in the A-LTZ group, 53.9% took AI monotherapy and 46.1% had a switching strategy. OS of the A-LTZ group was longer than that of the LTZ group. CONCLUSION: The patients in A-LTZ, taking ANZ followed by LTZ had better OS than those in LTZ, taking LTZ alone.

Effects of switching from anastrozole to letrozole, due to reimbursement policy, on the outcome of breast cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine therapy is one of the standard treatments for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer patients. Letrozole is the only aromatase inhibitor (AI) included in Thailand's essential drug list since the change of reimbursement policy in 2008, when patients had to change their AIs (other than letrozole) to letrozole. This study aimed to prove that the efficacy of anastrozole plus letrozole is not less than anastrozole alone. METHODS: All medical records of breast cancer patients taking anastrozole between 2004 and 2013 were reviewed. Some patients were initially treated with anastrozole and then changed to letrozole (A-LTZ group), whereas the other patients were continuously treated with anastrozole until completion of therapy (ANZ group). RESULTS: In a total of 180 (55.9%) out of the 322 cases, anastrozole was replaced with letrozole. The mean age of patients in the ANZ group was 54.9 years and that of those in the A-LTZ group was 54.2 years. Clinical stages (1-4) of the ANZ versus A-LTZ patients were four versus four, 76 versus 116, 46 versus 46, and 16 versus 14, respectively. ANZ patients took AI monotherapy (46.5%) and switching strategy (53.5%), while A-LTZ patients took AI monotherapy (53.9%) and switching strategy (46.1%). The overall survival (OS) of A-LTZ patients was longer than that of ANZ patients. Stage 2 and 4 patients in the A-LTZ group also had better OS than those in the ANZ group, but stage 3 patients had similar OS in both groups. CONCLUSION: Anastrozole can be replaced by letrozole any time during endocrine therapy. The patients taking anastrozole plus letrozole surprisingly seemed to have better OS than patients taking anastrozole alone.

Implementation of electronic logbook for trainees of general surgery in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: All trainees are required to keep a record of their surgical skill and experiences throughout the trainingperiod in a logbook format. Paper-based logbook has several limitations. Therefore, an electronic logbook was introduced to replace the paper-based logbook. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An electronic logbook program was developed in November 2005. This program was designed as web-based application based upon PHP scripts beneath Apache web server and MySQL database implementation. Only simpliJfied and essential data, such as hospital number diagnosis, surgical procedure, and pathological findings, etc. are recorded. The electronic logbook databases between Academic year 2006 and 2011 were analyzed. RESULTS: The annual recordedsurgical procedures gradually increasedfrom 41,214 procedures in 2006 to 66,643 procedures in 2011. Around one-third of all records were not verified by attending staffs, i.e. 27.59% (2006), 31.69% (2007), 18.06% (2008), 28.42% (2009), 30.18% (2010), and 31.41% (2011). On the Education year 2011, the three most common procedural groups included colon, rectum & anus group, appendix group, and vascular group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Advantages of the electronic logbook included more efficient data access, increased ability to monitor trainees and trainers, and analysis of procedural varieties among the training institutes.

Acute pancreatitis: assessment severity with Ranson score and CT evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis is a complex and challenging problem. The aim of the present study was to assess severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with Ranson score and CT scan. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2000 and December 2005, all patients who had each of the following criteria (1) first-time diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, (2) acute pancreatitis as the primary admitting diagnosis and (3) contrasted-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients that met the present study criteria were identified. Of these patients, 27 were defined as SAP by using Ranson criteria and/or CE-CT. Within SAP group, factors showing significance (p < 0.05) in the patients that had a Ranson score between > or = 3 and < 3 were age and biliary tract stone. CONCLUSION: The incidence of severe acute pancreatitis in Srinagarind Hospital was 27.5%. Biliary disease and alcohol abuse together accounted for 81:48% of severe acute pancreatitis patients.

Breast cancer: five-year survival in Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among Thai women after cancer of the cervix. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the overall five-year survival of breast cancer patients treated at Srinagarind hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1998 and December 2002, 382 patients with breast cancer who got definite treatment at Srinagarind hospital were included in the present study. Their medical records were reviewed including sex, age, stage at diagnosis, histological types, histological grades, treatment modality and survival. RESULTS: There were 380 female patients (99.5%) and 2 male patients (0.5%). The peak age group was 41-50 years (38.5%), mean age was 48.3 years old. The most common histological type was invasive ductal carcinoma (95.3%). Most patients received surgical treatment (91.9%) and chemotherapy (94.2%). The overall five-year survival rate was 63%. The overall five-year survival rate in stage I, II, III and IV were 100%, 85%, 39% and 9% respectively. CONCLUSION: The peak age of breast cancer was 41-50 years old. The overall five-year survival rate was 63%.

Perianal block for ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy, an easy technique for general surgeon.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoid surgery is mostly being performed as an inpatient procedure under general or regional anesthesia. However, there was a trend toward performing anorectal surgery in an ambulatory setting utilizing local anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: To propose an easy technique of perianal block for ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2004 and June 2007, 61 patients underwent hemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia. Lignocaine with adrenaline was injected into the perianal area with an easy technique. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients with a mean age of 41 years underwent ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy. The mean operative time was 21 minutes. Almost all patients preferred to go home, 5-200 km away from this hospital, taking 20 minutes to 4 hours on transportation. CONCLUSION: An easy technique of perianal block provides availability of performing ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy under general surgeons' hands.

Helical CT assessment on hilar cholangiocarcinoma: comparison value of arterial phase and portovenous phase correlation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between the findings of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in hepatic arterial phase and portal venous phase. Attention will focus on whether the arterial phase imaging shows more detail than portal phase imaging. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study design with retrospective data collection in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. CT scans of the upper abdomen of 34 patients with pathologically proven hilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2002 and 2004 were reviewed for: (1) characteristic of the tumor; (2) adenopathy, (3) arterial involvement, (4) venous involvement, and (5) degree of biliary involvement on both the hepatic arterial and portal venous phases. RESULTS: The correlation was high for characteristics of the tumor, the tumor enhancement pattern, and detection of adenopathy, degree of biliary involvement, and arterial involvement, but low for portal venous involvement which the portal venous phase detected better than the hepatic arterial phase. CONCLUSION: In hilar type cholangiocarcinoma, the portal venous phase yielded the best findings. Furthermore, it showed all findings that were seen in the hepatic arterial phase. According to the present study, the authors suggest doing a pre-contrast study then a portal venous phase imaging for evaluation and diagnosis of hilar type cholangiocarcinoma. There is no necessity to perform hepatic arterial phase in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C: effective, low-cost chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C (MMC) in terms ofresponse rate and overall survival in advanced colorectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1993 and December 2000, 121 from 559 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with chemotherapy. Bolus MMC (10 mg/m2) on first day, 5-FU (600 mg/m2/day) was given as a continuous infusion for 5 days, repeated every 4 weeks for 6 cycles. Toxicity and response were analyzed according to WHO criteria, and survival was analyzed according to Kaplan-Meier methodology. RESULTS: In the chemotherapy group (121 patients), 70 were males and 51 were females, the mean age was 52 years. The ratio of colon and rectal cancer was 0.57. Nearly all patients (88.89%) had tumors with moderate differentiation. Forty patients with liver metastasis showed an overall response rate of 45% (95% CI 35.4-54.6) with a CR in 3 (7.5%) and PR in 15 (37.5%). The median survival was 13.1 months. The regimen was well tolerated with 11.64% of patients experiencing WHO grade 3-4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: The present study has indicated a highly active, acceptable toxic, inexpensive regimen of old drugs to be used as an alternative to the more expensive combination including CPT-11 or oxaliplatin.

Prostatic abscesses: radiographic findings and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the medical images and therapeutic strategies in patients with prostatic abscesses. METHOD: From April 1999 to August 2002, 12 patients with prostatic abscesses at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand were reviewed The average age was 47 years (range 29 to 75). Diagnostic procedures included analysis of midstream urine, abscess fluid for pathogens and medical imaging with TRUS, CT and MRI. Therapeutic options were transrectal ultrasound-guided drainage or conservative medical treatment. RESULTS: Almost all patients had predisposing diseases. All patients showed hypo-echoic masses, plus internal septation in 5 cases. Most lesions were located at the central gland. Their sizes ranged from 0.5 to 2.75 cm (average 1.51 cm) in diameter. The main pathogen was B. pseudomallei. On TRUS imaging, patients with melioidosis had one or more hypo-echoic areas with internal septation, thickened wall and surrounding multiple small daughter abscesses. All abscesses resolved within 4 weeks, with no difference in the duration of treatment, despite different sizes or pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Transrectal ultrasonography is useful in the diagnosis of prostatic abscess as well as in the guidance for aspiration and the drainage of such abscesses. Our data showed sonographic patterns in prostatic abscess, especially with melioidosis.

Intramural duodenal hematoma: a case report and review of the literature.

One case of intramural duodenal hematoma following blunt abdominal injury is presented. The radiographic examinations included plain abdominal films, ultrasonography, upper gastrointestinal series, computerized tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was examined by gastroscopy and treated conservatively as an in-patient for 1 month. He was symptom free at the 3-month follow-up.

Descending colon obstruction caused by a parietocolic band: a case report.

A 54-year-old male who had no history of previous surgery presented with chronic intermittent constipation. A barium enema showed a 2-cm stenotic lesion at the junction between splenic flexure and descending colon. A colonoscopy revealed extra-luminal compression without mucosal lesion. Laparotomy revealed a parietocolic band compressing the proximal part of the descending colon. The band was lysed. The patient's symptom has improved since the procedure.