Artificial intelligence in colorectal multidisciplinary team meetings. What are the medicolegal implications?

AIM: To give an insight into areas for future development and suggestions in the complexities of incorporation of AI into human colorectal cancer (CRC) care while bringing into focus the importance of clinicians' roles in patient care. METHODS: Existing literature around AI use in CRC care is reviewed and potential regulatory issues and medicolegal implications around its implementation in CRC multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are identified. RESULTS: Challenges with patient privacy and confidentiality, patient consent, inequity and bias, patient autonomy, as well as AI system transparency and the liability and accountability issues arising from complications that arise from AI-aided clinical decisions are important focusses associated with the use of AI in CRC MDTs. CONCLUSION: Consideration of various medicolegal aspects of the use of AI in CRC MDTs is warranted to ensure its safe and smooth incorporation into CRC MDTs. AI function as a clinical decision support system and does not replace professional expertise.

Multi-layered repair of high-flow CSF fistulae following endoscopic skull base surgery without nasal packing or lumbar drains: technical refinements to optimise outcome.

AIMS: Post-operative CSF leak remains a significant problem following endoscopic skull base surgery, particularly when there is a high-flow intra-operative CSF leak. Most skull base repair techniques are accompanied by the insertion of a lumbar drain and/or the use of nasal packing which have significant shortcomings. Our aim was to review the results of a large series of endoscopic skull base cases where a high-flow intra-operative CSF leak rate was encountered and repaired to assess if modifications in technique could reduce the post-operative CSF leak rate. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of skull base cases performed by a single surgeon over a 10-year period was performed. Data regarding patient demographics, underlying pathology, skull base repair techniques and post-operative complications were analysed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two cases with high-flow intra-operative CSF leak were included in the study. The most common pathologies were craniopharyngiomas (55/142, 39%), pituitary adenomas (34/142, 24%) and meningiomas (24/142, 17%). The CSF leak rate was 7/36 (19%) when a non-standardised skull base repair technique was used. However, with the adoption of a standardised, multi-layer repair technique, the post-operative CSF leak rate decreased significantly (4/106, 4% vs. 7/36, 19%, p = 0.006). This improvement in the rate of post-operative CSF leak was achieved without nasal packing or lumbar drains. CONCLUSION: With iterative modifications to a multi-layered closure technique for high-flow intra-operative CSF leaks, it is possible to obtain a very low rate of post-operative CSF leak, without lumbar drains or nasal packing.

A single centre retrospective analysis of short- and medium-term outcomes using the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device and identification of the device-to-aneurysm volume ratio as a potential predictor of aneurysm occlusion status.

BACKGROUND: The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is a potential treatment option in patients with wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). We analysed our WEB device outcomes (occlusion rates and complications) and studied factors that may predict aneurysm occlusion status at short- and medium-term follow-up. METHODS: 74 patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms underwent treatment with the WEB device over a 5-year period. Simple hypothesis tests assessed differences between treated ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Univariable binary logistic regression was used to assess the effect of age, gender, and aneurysm location on the likelihood of adequate occlusion at six months. Aneurysm dimentions including device-to-aneurysm volume (DAV) ratios were compared between adequately and inadequately occluded aneurysms. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of the procedure was 58.2 years (SD 12.2; range 34-88) and the male to female ratio was 1:2.7. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) was the most commonly treated aneurysm. There was no significant difference in occlusion rates between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. The six- and 18-month angiographic follow-up data was available for 61 and 32 patients respectively with adequate occlusion rates of 78.7% (48/61) and 78.1% (25/32). Procedure-related complications occurred in 6 patients (8.1%). Baseline DAV ratio was found to be significantly higher in aneurysms that were adequately occluded at both short- (p-value 0.015) and medium-term (p-value 0.047) follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: WEB devices are a safe and effective endovascular treatment option for WNBAs. WEB device selection incorporating the peri-procedural DAV ratio may help improve the accuracy of device sizing thereby improving the successful occlusion rate.

Intracranial hypotension due to ventral thoracic dural tear secondary to osteophyte complex: resolution after transdural thoracic microdiscectomy with dural repair. Illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hypotension (IH) manifests with orthostatic headaches secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypovolemia. Common iatrogenic etiologies include lumbar punctures and spinal surgery. Although much rarer, structural defects such as osteophytes and herniated calcified discs can violate dural integrity, resulting in CSF leak. OBSERVATIONS: The authors reported the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with progressively worsening orthostatic headaches. During an extensive examination, magnetic resonance imaging of her thoracic spine revealed a cervicothoracic ventral epidural collection of CSF, prompting a dynamic computed tomography myelogram, which not only helped to confirm severe cerebral hypotension but also suggested underlying pathology of a dorsally projecting disc osteophyte complex at T2-3. Conservative and medical management failed to alleviate symptoms, and a permanent surgical cure was eventually sought. The patient underwent a transdural thoracic discectomy with dural repair, which resulted in resolution of her symptoms. LESSONS: Clear guidelines regarding the management strategy of IH secondary to disc osteophyte complexes are yet to be established. A thorough literature review noted only 24 reported cases between 1998 and 2019, in which 13 patients received surgery. There is a 46% symptom resolution rate with conservative management, lower than that for iatrogenic etiologies. For patients in whom conservative management failed, surgical intervention proved effective in resolving symptoms, with a success rate of 92.3%.

Sirenomelia (mermaid syndrome): a rare congenital disorder.

Sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is an extremely rare congenital disorder involving the lower spine and lower limbs. We present a case of a grand multiparous with poorly controlled gestational diabetes who delivered a live baby weighing 2.43 kg at 38 weeks' gestation. The baby was noted to have significant respiratory distress, and resuscitation was promptly commenced. Severe congenital abnormalities indicative of sirenomelia were obvious and after availability of antenatal records which indicated an extremely poor prognosis, resuscitative efforts were aborted. The baby was handed over to the mother for comfort care and died 18 min postdelivery.