Inadequate prediction of postoperative complications in breast cancer surgery: An evaluation of the ACS Surgical Risk Calculator.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeon (ACS) Surgical Risk Calculator is an online tool that helps surgeons estimate the risk of postoperative complications for numerous surgical procedures across several surgical specialties. METHODS: We evaluated the predictive performance of the calculator in 385 cancer patients undergoing breast surgery. Calculator-predicted complication rates were compared with observed complication rates; calculator performance was evaluated using calibration and discrimination analyses. RESULTS: The mean calculator-predicted rates for any complication (4.1%) and serious complication (3.2%) were significantly lower than the observed rates (11.2% and 5.2%, respectively). The area under the curve was 0.617 for any complication and 0.682 for serious complications. p Values for the Hosmer-Lemeshow test were significant (<.05) for both outcomes. Brier scores were 0.102 for any complication and 0.048 for serious complication. CONCLUSIONS: The ACS risk calculator is not an ideal tool for predicting individual risk of complications following breast surgery in a Mexican cohort. The most valuable use of the calculator may reside in its role as an aid for patient-led surgery planning. The possibility of introducing breast surgery-specific data could improve the performance of the calculator. Furthermore, a disease-specific calculator could provide more accurate predictions and include complications more frequently found in breast cancer surgery.

Real-World Outcomes Among Older Mexican Women with Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with breast cancer treated in high-income countries often present with early-stage disease, leading to a lack of information on the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in this population. We analyzed the real-world outcomes of older women with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at a single institution in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 2,216 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Regarding achievement of pathologic complete response (defined as no invasive residual tumor in the breast and lymph nodes), 243 patients aged ≥65 years were compared with 1,973 patients aged <65 years. Disease-free survival and overall survival were compared between groups according to pathologic complete response and subtype, defined by hormone receptor and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) status. RESULTS: Older women were less likely to have a pathologic complete response than their younger counterparts (26.3 vs. 35.3%, p < .001). When response rates by subtype were analyzed, this difference was significant only for women with triple-negative tumors. Achieving less than a pathologic complete response was associated with a greater chance of recurrence, but age was not an independent factor for recurrence for any subtype. Reaching a pathologic complete response was significantly associated with improved survival among older women with breast cancer, with the exception of those with hormone receptor-positive, HER2- disease. CONCLUSION: Although older women have fewer pathological complete responses, their outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are comparable to those of younger patients. This is particularly relevant for the treatment of older adults with breast cancer in developing countries, who present in advanced stages and more often need neoadjuvant therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The majority of older patients with breast cancer in high-income countries present with early-stage disease, leading to a lack of information regarding the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in real-world settings. This article reports the outcomes of older Mexican women with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with their younger counterparts. Although older women (particularly those with triple-negative tumors) were less likely to have a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment, age was not an independent factor for recurrence. Achieving a pathologic complete response was associated with improved survival, regardless of age.

Recurrent pancreatic pseudocyst diagnosed 9 years after initial surgical drainage.

CONTEXT: A pancreatic pseudocyst is defined as a collection of pancreatic juice enclosed by a wall of fibrous or granulation tissue which is not lined by epithelium. Acute pseudocysts occur in acute pancreatitis but can be found after an acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatic pseudocysts are typically found in chronic pancreatitis but may develop after an occurrence of acute pancreatitis as well. Most acute fluid collections and pseudocysts will show spontaneous resolution while the remaining may persist with or without symptoms, or progress to produce complications. Treatment is indicated for persistent, symptomatic pseudocysts and, in the case of complications. There is no clear consensus regarding the optimal clinical or radiologic follow-up after treatment. Detection of late recurrence is not common, and the possibility of a cystic neoplasm must be ruled out. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 67-year-old female patient who was referred to our institution as the result of a pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient had presented a pancreatic pseudocyst 9 years earlier which had been surgically treated by a cystogastrostomy. No additional acute pancreatic episodes occurred. The diagnostic and treatment approach of this unusual late recurrent pancreatic pseudocyst is herein described. CONCLUSION: The unusual late presentation of a recurrent pancreatic pseudocyst requires clinical, laboratory and radiological evaluation. In the present case, the clinical background, amylase fluid levels and tomographic findings were highly suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst.

Gallstone ileus: One-stage surgery in a patient with intermittent obstruction.

Gallstone ileus, an uncommon complication of cholelithiasis, is described as a mechanical intestinal obstruction due to impaction of one or more large gallstones within the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation is variable, depending on the site of obstruction, manifested as acute, intermittent or chronic episodes. A 51-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with 3 events of intestinal obstruction during the previous 7 d. At admission, there were clinical signs of intestinal obstruction; abdominal film demonstrated dilated bowel loops, air-fluid levels and a vague image of a stone in the inferior left quadrant. Once stabilized, a laparotomy was performed. Surgical findings were distention of the jejunum and ileum proximal to a palpable stone in the ileum as well as gallstones and a cholecystoduodenal fistula in the gallbladder. An enterolithotomy, repair of the cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystectomy were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. There is no uniform surgical procedure for this disease. When the patient is too ill or when biliary surgery is not advisable, an enterolithotomy is the best option. The one-stage procedure should be the offered to adequately stabilized patients when local and general conditions, such as good cardiorespiratory and metabolic reserve permit a more prolonged surgical procedure.