Role of vitamin D supplementation in modifying outcomes after surgery: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence to suggest vitamin D plays a role in immune and vascular function; hence, it may be of biological and clinical relevance for patients undergoing major surgery. With a greater number of randomised studies being conducted evaluating the impact of vitamin D supplementation on surgical patients, it is an opportune time to conduct further analysis of the impact of vitamin D on surgical outcomes. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Trials Register were interrogated up to December 2023 to identify randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in surgery. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. A narrative synthesis was conducted for all studies. The primary outcome assessed was overall postoperative survival. RESULTS: We screened 4883 unique studies, assessed 236 full-text articles and included 14 articles in the qualitative synthesis, comprising 1982 patients. The included studies were highly heterogeneous with respect to patient conditions, ranging from open heart surgery to cancer operations to orthopaedic conditions, and also with respect to the timing and equivalent daily dose of vitamin D supplementation (range: 0.5-7500 mcg; 20-300 000 IU). No studies reported significant differences in overall survival or postoperative mortality with vitamin D supplementation. There was also no clear evidence of benefit with respect to overall or intensive care unit length of stay. DISCUSSION: Numerous studies have reported the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in different surgical settings without any consistency. However, this systematic review found no clear evidence of benefit, which warrants the supposition that a single biological effect of vitamin D supplementation does not exist. The observed improvement in outcomes in low vitamin D groups has not been convincingly proven beyond chance findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021232067.

Telemedicine in Vascular Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in seismic changes to healthcare service delivery. The use of telemedicine was widely adopted during the pandemic, although its value in the safe care of vascular patients is unknown. METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken to identify studies that described outcomes or patient/clinician views of telemedicine (telephone or video) services in vascular surgery during or after the pandemic. Two reviewers independently searched medical databases, selected studies, extracted data, and undertook a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. Most studies reported increased telemedicine use during the pandemic. Most patients (80.6%-100%) were satisfied with telephone or video consultation. More than 90% of the patients felt that telemedicine was a good substitute during the pandemic to avoid travelling and reduce transmission risk. Three studies showed patients had a strong preference for continuing telemedicine consultations postpandemic. Two studies evaluating patients with arterial ulceration and venous diseases reported no significant difference in clinical outcome between patients reviewed face-to-face and those seen remotely. One study showed clinicians preferred face-to-face consultations. No study conducted cost analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and clinicians viewed telemedicine favorably as an alternative to face-to-face clinics during the pandemic and included studies did not identify any safety concerns. Its role postpandemic is not clearly defined, although these data suggest a significant proportion of patients would appreciate, and be suitable for, such consultations in the future.

Examination of a CRP first approach for the detection of postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: A pragmatic study.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether a C-reactive protein (CRP) first approach would improve the detection rate of postoperative complications by CT.CRP is a useful biomarker to identify major complications following surgery for colorectal cancer.Patients with histologically confirmed colorectal cancer, who underwent elective surgery between 2008 and 2015 at a single centre were included. Exceeding the established CRP threshold of 150 mg/L on postoperative day (POD) 4 was recorded. Results of CT performed between postoperative days 4 and 14 were recorded.Four hundred ninety-five patients were included. The majority were male (58%), over 65 (68%), with node-negative disease (66%) and underwent open surgery (70%). Those patients who underwent a CT scan (n = 93), versus those who did not (n = 402), were more likely to have a postoperative complication (84% vs 35%, P < 0.001), infective complication (67% vs 21%, P < 0.001), and anastomotic leak (17% vs 2%, P < 0.001). In patients who did not undergo a CT scan (n = 402) exceeding the CRP threshold (n = 117) on POD 4 was associated with a higher rate of postoperative complication (50% vs 29%, P < 0.001), infective complications (36% vs 15%, P < 0.001), and anastomotic leak (4% vs 0.5%, P = 0.009). In patients who did undergo a CT scan (n = 93) exceeding the CRP threshold (n = 53) on POD 4 was associated with earlier CT (median POD 6 vs 8, P = 0.001) but not postoperative complications.A CRP first approach resulted in earlier and improved detection of complications by CT following surgery for colorectal cancer.

The relationship between systemic inflammation and stoma formation following anterior resection for rectal cancer: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that temporary defunctioning stoma formation in patients undergoing anterior resection reduces the risk of anastomotic leakage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between stoma formation, the postoperative systemic inflammatory response and complications following anterior resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: Data was recorded prospectively for patients who underwent anterior resection for histologically proven rectal cancer, from 2008 to 2015 at a single centre, n = 167. Patients had routine preoperative and postoperative blood sampling including serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Postoperative complications including anastomotic leakage were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 167 patients, the majority were male (61%) and over 65 years old (56%) with node negative disease (60%). 36 patients (22%) underwent preoperative neoadjuvant treatment. 100 patients (60%) had a stoma formed at the time of surgery. Stoma formation was significantly associated with male sex (69% vs. 50%, p = 0.017), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (30% vs 9%, p = 0.001) and open surgery (71% vs. 55%, p = 0.040). Of those 100 patients who had a stoma formed, 80 had it reversed. Permanent stoma was significantly associated with increasing age (p = 0.011), exceeding the established CRP threshold of 150 mg/L on postoperative day 4 (67% vs 37%, p = 0.039), higher incidence of postoperative complications (76% vs 47%, p = 0.035), anastomotic leakage (24% vs 2%, p = 0.003) and higher Clavien Dindo score (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between stoma formation during anterior resection and the postoperative systemic inflammatory response. However, in these patients both the postoperative systemic inflammatory response and complications were associated with permanent stoma.