Impact of Neoadjuvant Treatment on Body Composition in Patients with Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NT) followed by radical surgery is the standard treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC). The incidence of sarcopenia in upper gastrointestinal tract malignancies is very high, and it may be increased after NT. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of NT on body composition. A retrospective study of patients with locally advanced GC undergoing gastrectomy who had received NT in a tertiary hospital between 2012 and 2019 was conducted. CT measured the skeletal muscle index, total psoas area, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue before and after NT. Of the 180 gastrectomies for GC, 61 patients received NT. During NT, changes in body composition were observed with a decrease in the skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI -2.5%; p < 0.001), and these changes were significantly greater in men (SMMI -10.55%). Before surgery, patients who received NT presented 15% more sarcopenia than those without NT (p = 0.048). In conclusion, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer who receive NT have significant changes in body composition during chemotherapy. These changes, which are at the expense of a loss of muscle mass, lead to an increased incidence of pre-surgical sarcopenia.

Intestinal Helminths Infections as Infrequent Cause of Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Study in a University Hospital over 20 Years.

INTRODUCTION: All organs of any organism can be affected by helminths. They can be seen in a broad spectrum, from simple infestations to extensive, life-threatening involvement. Symptomatology is usually of chronic latent course. However, sometimes the presentation is acute and requires urgent surgical intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational prospective recruitment study of patients undergoing emergency surgery for helminth infection from January 2000 to December 2019 at a university hospital. Sociodemographic and analytical variables, variables related to the clinical process, and the diagnostic test were analysed. Variables related to the surgical procedure and postoperative complications were also analysed. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients required emergency surgery for their helminth infection, which represented 0.26% of emergency abdominal surgeries. The mean age was 34.91 ± 21.5 years, with a predominance of men (69.4%). Most patients presented with pain in the right iliac fossa (69.4%), followed by symptoms compatible with intestinal obstruction (19.4%). The most frequent surgical interventions were appendectomy (38.9%) followed bowel resection (33.3%) and ileocecal resection (11.1%). Enterobious vermicularis and Anisakis simplex both together accounted for 75% of the sample. Statistically significant differences were identified in age (p < 0.001), diagnostic test performed (p = 0.032), intraoperative clinical diagnosis (p = 0.005) and surgical treatment received (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The frequency of emergency surgeries for intestinal helminth parasitism is decreasing. However, the majority of these are E. vermicularis and Anisakis simplex, which have distinctly different clinical presentations. Identification and recognition by physicians continue to be necessary for further postoperative management and possible complications.

Impact of CT-measured sarcopenic obesity on postoperative outcomes following colon cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of sarcopenic obesity on anastomotic leak following elective colon resection for non-metastatic colon cancer. Secondary outcomes included overall morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay. METHODS: This retrospective observational study, conducted at a colorectal surgery referral centre, spanned from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2020. A total of 544 consecutive patients who underwent elective colon resection were included in the analysis, excluding patients with rectal cancer, urgent surgery, absence of anastomosis, lack of imaging, multivisceral resections and synchronic tumours. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were observed in 177 (32.3%) patients, with 51 (9.31%) classified as severe (Clavien-Dindo > II). Sarcopenic obesity was identified in 9.39% of the sample and emerged as an independent predictor of increased overall morbidity [OR 2.15 (1.14-3.69); p = 0.016] and 30-day mortality [OR 5.07 (1.22-20.93); p = 0.03] and was significantly associated with the development of anastomotic leak [OR 2.95 (1.41-6.18); p = 0.007]. Furthermore, it increased the risk of reoperation and was linked to a prolonged length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: CT-measured sarcopenic obesity demonstrates a discernible correlation with an elevated risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality in the context of colon cancer surgery.

Impact of Sarcopenic Obesity on Long-Term Cancer Outcomes and Postoperative Complications After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sarcopenia in gastric cancer (GC), although varying among the reported studies, is around 60%. In the last few years, it has been recognised that sarcopenia can also occur not only in patients with weight loss and low body weight, but also in patients with normal or increased body mass index. Therefore, the term sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a new definition that further expands the implications of altered body composition. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SO on the perioperative morbidity and the survival of GC patients undergoing gastrectomy by evaluating body composition on CT images. METHODS: Preoperative CT scans were obtained from all patients with a diagnosis of GC undergoing gastrectomy with curative intent between January 2012 and December 2019. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) cross-sectional area at the level of the transverse processes of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were measured. Sarcopenia and obesity were defined according to sex-specific cut-off points. RESULTS: After analysing 190 patients, the prevalence of SO was 21.1% (40 patients) and sarcopenia was 14.7% (28 patients). Multivariate analysis showed that corporal composition was an independent factor of overall survival (p = 0.049). Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with postoperative complications. SO was identified as a risk factor for serious Clavien-Dindo complications > IIIb/IV [OR 2.82 (1.1-7.1); p = 0.028]. CONCLUSION: SO was a risk factor for severe postoperative complications as well as worse long-term oncological after a gastrectomy for GC.

C-reactive protein postoperative values to predict clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: despite significant medical and technological advances, the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after distal pancreatectomy (DP) is reported to be between 3-45 %. The main objective of this study was to analyze the early post-surgical risk factors for developing POPF after DP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a retrospective observational study was performed on a prospective basis of patients undergoing DP in a tertiary hospital from January 2011 to December 2021. Sociodemographic, preoperative analytical, tumor-related and postoperative complications variables were analyzed. RESULTS: of the 52 patients analyzed, 71.8 % of the sample had postoperative drains amylase elevation. However, 25.7 % of the total had grade-B and/or grade-C POPF. Univariate logistic regression with the variables studied showed the following as risk factors for B-C or clinically relevant POPF: amylase values in drainage at the 5th postoperative day (POD) (p = 0.097; 1.01 [1-1.01]), preoperative BMI (p = 0.015; 1.27 [1.04-1.55]) and C-reactive protein (CRP) value at the 3rd POD (p = 0.034; 1.01 [1.01-1.02]). The ROC curve of CRP value at the 3rd POD showed an area under the curve of 0.764 (95 % CI: 0.6-0.93) and the best cut-off point was 190 mg/l (sensitivity 89 % and specificity 67 %). CONCLUSIONS: CRP value at the 3rd POD is a predictive factor for POPF after DP. Early detection of patients at risk of POPF based on these characteristics could have an impact on their postoperative management.

C-reactive protein postoperative values to predict clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy

Introduction: despite significant medical and technological advances, the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after distal pancreatectomy (DP) is reported to be between 3-45 %. The main objective of this study was to analyze the early post-surgical risk factors for developing POPF after DP. Material and methods: a retrospective observational study was performed on a prospective basis of patients undergoing DP in a tertiary hospital from January 2011 to December 2021. Sociodemographic, preoperative analytical, tumor-related and postoperative complications variables were analyzed. Results: of the 52 patients analyzed, 71.8 % of the sample had postoperative drains amylase elevation. However, 25.7 % of the total had grade-B and/or grade-C POPF. Univariate logistic regression with the variables studied showed the following as risk factors for B-C or clinically relevant POPF: amylase values in drainage at the 5th postoperative day (POD) (p = 0.097; 1.01 [1-1.01]), preoperative BMI (p = 0.015; 1.27 [1.04-1.55]) and C-reactive protein (CRP) value at the 3rd POD (p = 0.034; 1.01 [1.01-1.02]). The ROC curve of CRP value at the 3rd POD showed an area under the curve of 0.764 (95 % CI: 0.6-0.93) and the best cut-off point was 190 mg/l (sensitivity 89 % and specificity 67 %). Conclusions: CRP value at the 3rd POD is a predictive factor for POPF after DP. Early detection of patients at risk of POPF based on these characteristics could have an impact on their postoperative management (AU)

Baja incidencia y alta mortalidad por COVID-19 en Cirugía General durante la primera ola de la pandemia / Low incidence and high COVID-19 mortality in a General Surgery during the first wave of the pandemia

Resumen Introducción y objetivo: La infección por coronavirus (COVID-19) en pacientes intervenidos es causa de importante mortalidad posoperatoria, aunque su incidencia es variable. El objetivo primario fue evaluar la incidencia de COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos en nuestro Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva, durante el máximo impacto de la pandemia en España. El objetivo secundario fue evaluar la mortalidad perioperatoria y determinar los factores de riesgo para la infección por COVID-19. Materiales y Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes consecutivos sometidos a Cirugía General y Digestiva con ingreso superior a 24 h, del 1 de febrero de 2020 al 30 de abril de 2020 en un hospital terciario de Madrid, España. Resultados: Se analizaron 441 pacientes: 423 sin COVID-19 y 18 con COVID-19. Las características preoperatorias y operatorias fueron similares para ambos grupos, salvo por el grado ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists). La incidencia de COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos fue del 4,1%. La mortalidad posoperatoria fue elevada, del 22,2% en pacientes con COVID-19, frente a un 2,8% en pacientes no COVID-19 (p: 0,003). Los factores de riesgo para la infección por COVID-19 en los pacientes intervenidos fueron una estancia hospitalaria prolongada (OR: 1,035 [95% CI: 1,007-1,065]) y la reintervención quirúrgica (OR: 5,025 [95% CI: 1,650-15,311]). Conclusión: Las intervenciones durante la pandemia de COVID-19 causaron una baja tasa de infección con elevada mortalidad posoperatoria. La intervención quirúrgica debe valorarse frente al riesgo adicional para el paciente en contextos de alta transmisión.

The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in intervened patients seems to cause large postoperative mortality, although its incidence varies among centres. Primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 on the patients intervened in our General and Digestive Surgery Department, during the maximum impact of the pandemia in Spain. Secondary outcomes were evaluating perioperative mortality, and determining the risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Materials and Method: Retrospective single centre study of consecutive patients undergoing general and gastrointestinal surgical procedures with more than 24 hours of inhospital stay, from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 in a tertiary referral centre in Madrid, Spain. Results: A total of 441 patients were analysed: 423 were non-COVID-19 patients while 18 of them had COVID-19. Preoperative and operative characteristics were similar for both groups, unless for the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade. The incidence of COVID-19 in our intervened patients was 4.1%. Postoperative mortality was high among surgical patients with COVID-19, with a mortality rate of 22.2% compared to a 2.8% in non COVID-19 patients. The risk factors for COVID-19 infection were a prolonged postoperative stay (OR: 1.035 [95% CI: 1.007-1.065]) and the need of a reintervention (OR: 5.025 [95% CI: 1.650-15.311]). Conclusion: Surgical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemia resulted in a low infection rate but a high postoperative COVID-19 mortality. The decision to intervene must be carefully balanced against the additional risk for patients in a high transmission setting.

Influence of positive margins on tumour recurrence and overall survival after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of positive surgical margins after curative gastrectomy ranges from 1% to 20%. It has been suggested that positive surgical margin is an adverse prognosis factor, with a higher local recurrence and worse overall survival (OS). However, the management of these patients remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 267 patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent between January 2010 and December 2018 in our centre were enrolled in this study. Post-operative histological analysis revealed positive resection margins in 18 patients (8%). Clinicopathological features and outcome of patients undergoing gastrectomy with negative and positive margins were compared. RESULTS: Patients with positive margins were associated with higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, T stage, N stage, median number of positive nodes, diffuse Lauren type, whole stomach involved and poorly differentiated tumours. Local recurrence was described in 50% of cases with positive margins. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the TNM stage was the only independent prognostic factor associated with recurrence. OS for positive margins at 1, 3 and 5 years was 75%, 57% and 26%, respectively. The median survival in patients with positive margins was 38.33 versus 81.17 months for R0 patients (p = 0.027). Multivariate analysis showed that age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.041, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.07, sex (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.22-3.30) and TNM stage (p < 0.001) were independent factors of OS. CONCLUSION: Positive resection margin was an indication of advanced and more aggressive disease rather than an independent prognosis factor for OS or recurrence in gastric cancer.

Influencia del COVID-19, el estado de alarma y el confinamiento en la epidemiología y gravedad de la apendicitis aguda / Influence of the COVID-19 state of alarm and lockdown on the epidemiology and severity of acute appendicitis

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Evaluación del sistema de vigilancia de anomalías congénitas en el municipio II Frente, primer trismestre del 2001 / Evaluation of the congenital anomalies surveillance system in II frente municipality, first trimester, 2001

Las anomalías congénitas ocupan el quinto lugar como causa de muerte potencial antes de los 65 años y contribuyen considerablemente a la discapacidad. Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 168 pacientes (42 embarazadas y 126 con riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional) de 8 consultorios médicos del municipio II Frente de la provincia de Santiago de Cuba durante el primer trimestre del 2001, con el fin de evaluar la aplicación del sistema de vigilancia de anomalías congénitas en la zona escogida y para lo cual se revisaron las historias clínicas correspondientes y se encuestó al personal médico de dichos consultorios. Los resultados obtenidos revelaron que más de un tercio de las pacientes con riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional no habían sido objeto de acciones para modificar esa condición, así como también que la mitad de la serie presentaba riesgo genético, que hubo dificultades en cuanto a la indicación de la alfafetoproteína en algunos casos y a la realización del ultrasonido diagnóstico en otros. Casi las dos cuartas partes del equipo de salud desconocían aspectos esenciales del programa(AU)

La Enfermera del plan médico de la familia en el control del paciente diabético / The participation of the nurse of the family physician program in the control of diabetic patient

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal en 11 pacientes diabéticos pertenecientes a 2 consultorios del Policlínico Docente "Eduardo Mesa Llull" del municipio II Frente, en el período comprendido desde enero hasta diciembre de 1999, con el fin de evaluar la labor de la enfermera del plan médico de la familia en el control de estos enfermos. Se seleccionaron variables de interés como: edad, cumplimiento de los pilares del diabético, así como la incorporación a la escuela creada para ellos. Se aplica método porcentual. La prevalencia en ambos consultorios oscila entre 0,6 y 0,8 (por ciento) en el grupo etario de 46 a 55 años. La mayor parte de ellos estaban incorporados a la escuela, con un cumplimiento del tratamiento higiénico y dietético adecuado. Predominó la diabetes tipo II no insulinodependiente(AU)

A descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study of 11 diabetic patients attended by two medical offices of "Eduardo Mesa Llull" Teaching Polyclinics in II Frente municipality was carried out from January to December,1999. Its objective was to evaluate the work of the nurse of the family physician program in the control of diabetics. Variables of interest were chosen such as: age, fulfillment of the fundamental points of diabetic treatment as well as incorporation of these patients to a school created for them. The percentage method is applied. The prevalence in both medical offices ranged 0.6 to 0.8 in 46-55 year age group. The majority of these patients were incorporated to the school, with an adequate fulfillment of hygienic and dietetic treatments. Non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes(AU)

La Enfermera del plan médico de la familia en el control del paciente diabético / The participation of the nurse of the family physician program in the control of diabetic patient

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal en 11 pacientes diabéticos pertenecientes a 2 consultorios del Policlínico Docente "Eduardo Mesa Llull" del municipio II Frente, en el período comprendido desde enero hasta diciembre de 1999, con el fin de evaluar la labor de la enfermera del plan médico de la familia en el control de estos enfermos. Se seleccionaron variables de interés como: edad, cumplimiento de los pilares del diabético, así como la incorporación a la escuela creada para ellos. Se aplica método porcentual. La prevalencia en ambos consultorios oscila entre 0,6 y 0,8 (por ciento) en el grupo etario de 46 a 55 años. La mayor parte de ellos estaban incorporados a la escuela, con un cumplimiento del tratamiento higiénico y dietético adecuado. Predominó la diabetes tipo II no insulinodependiente(AU)