6,126 hepatectomies in 2022: current trend of outcome in Italy.

PURPOSE: Whether hospital volume affects outcome of patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery, and whether the centralization of such procedures is justified remains to be investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of liver surgery in Italy in relationship of hospital volume. METHODS: This is a nationwide retrospective observational study conducted on data collected by the National Italian Registry "Piano Nazionale Esiti" (PNE) 2023 that included all liver procedures performed in 2022. Outcome measure were case volume and 30-day mortality. Hospitals were classified as very high-volume (H-Vol), intermediate-volume (I-Vol), low-volume (L-Vol) and very low-volume (VL-VoL). A review on centralization process and outcome measures was added. RESULTS: 6,126 liver resections for liver tumors were performed in 327 hospitals in 2022. The 30-day mortality was 2.2%. There were 14 H-Vol, 19 I-Vol, 31 L-Vol and 263 VL-Vol hospitals with 30-day mortality of 1.7%, 2.2%, 2.6% and 3.6% respectively (P < 0.001); 220 centers (83%) performed less than 10 resections, and 78 (29%) centers only 1 resection in 2022. By considering the geographical macro-areas, the median count of liver resection performed in northern Italy exceeded those in central and southern Italy (57% vs. 23% vs. 20%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: High-volume has been confirmed to be associated to better outcome after hepatobiliary surgical procedures. Further studies are required to detail the factors associated with mortality. The centralization process should be redesigned and oversight.

Correction to: Standard (8 weeks) vs long (12 weeks) timing to minimally-invasive surgery after NeoAdjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: a multicenter randomized controlled parallel group trial (TiMiSNAR).

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that the family name of the author, Ludovica Baldari, was misspelled.

Standard (8 weeks) vs long (12 weeks) timing to minimally-invasive surgery after NeoAdjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: a multicenter randomized controlled parallel group trial (TiMiSNAR).

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of surgery in relation to chemoradiation is still controversial. Retrospective analysis has demonstrated in the recent decades that the regression of adenocarcinoma can be slow and not complete until after several months. More recently, increasing pathologic Complete Response rates have been demonstrated to be correlated with longer time interval. The purpose of the trial is to demonstrate if delayed timing of surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy actually affects pathologic Complete Response and reflects on disease-free survival and overall survival rather than standard timing. METHODS: The trial is a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled, unblinded, parallel-group trial comparing standard and delayed surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for the curative treatment of rectal cancer. Three-hundred and forty patients will be randomized on an equal basis to either robotic-assisted/standard laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery after 8 weeks or robotic-assisted/standard laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery after 12 weeks. DISCUSSION: To date, it is well-know that pathologic Complete Response is associated with excellent prognosis and an overall survival of 90%. In the Lyon trial the rate of pCR or near pathologic Complete Response increased from 10.3 to 26% and in retrospective studies the increase rate was about 23-30%. These results may be explained on the relationship between radiation therapy and tumor regression: DNA damage occurs during irradiation, but cellular lysis occurs within the next weeks. Study results, whether confirmed that performing surgery after 12 weeks from neoadjuvant treatment is advantageous from a technical and oncological point of view, may change the current pathway of the treatment in those patient suffering from rectal cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT3465982.

Surgical management of post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries: referral patterns and factors influencing early and long-term outcome.

Cholecystectomy-related bile duct injuries (BDI) remain a cause of significant morbidity and debate concerning optimal management is ongoing. We reviewed our experience with surgical management of BDI to assess patterns of referral along with postoperative and long-term outcomes. During September 1996-August 2013, 35 patients were operated in our tertiary care center for a Bismuth-Strasberg grade >A BDI after a cholecystectomy performed elsewhere. Injury grade distribution was as follows: D, n = 3; E1, n = 4; E2, n = 15; E3, n = 5; E4, n = 5; E5, n = 3. Four patients (11.4%) had an associated vascular injury (arterial, n = 2; portal, n = 1; both, n = 1). Treatment was direct repair + Kehr drain placement (n = 1), hepaticojejunostomy (n = 28), hepaticojejunostomy + hepatic resection (n = 5), and liver transplantation (n = 1). There was one postoperative death (2.8%) due to hepatic failure after liver resection; severe (Dindo-Clavien grade ≥3b) complications were observed in 12 (34.3%) patients. Sepsis at referral (OR 17.33, p = 0.007) and laparotomy prior to definitive repair (OR 14, p = 0.04) were the factors associated with severe complications. Median follow-up was 81 (range 12-182) months; two patients were lost to follow-up. Treatment failure (defined as need for reoperation or interventional radiology procedure during follow-up) was observed in 7/32 (21.9%) patients. No association between baseline variables and treatment failure was observed. Post-cholecystectomy BDI represent a heterogeneous entity. The whole armamentarium of the hepatobiliary surgeon is required to achieve proper management. Patients referred with sepsis and requiring laparotomy prior to definitive repair are more prone to develop severe complications.