Enhancing patient safety: a system-based analysis of morbidity and mortality conferences in managing postoperative bleeding following gastric and pancreatic cancer surgery.

Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) have evolved beyond their traditional educational role to become instrumental in enhancing patient safety. System-based MMCs offer a unique perspective on patient safety by dissecting systemic factors contributing to adverse events. This paper reviews the impact of MMC in managing postoperative bleeding after gastric and pancreatic cancer surgery, within the constraints of limited resources. The study conducted at the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat, Morocco, analysed 18 MMC of haemorrhage following gastric and pancreatic surgeries and allowed to identify two patterns of cumulative factors contributing to adverse events. The first one relates to organisational issues and the second to postoperative management. Fifteen recommendations of improvement emerged from MMC addressing elements of these patterns with an implementation rate of 53.3%.

From burden to relief: The economic and quality-of-life advantages of pseudo continent perineal colostomy in ultra-low rectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pseudo Continent Perineal Colostomy (PCPC) is an alternative technique to left iliac colostomy (LIC) after abdominoperineal resection for ultra low rectal cancer (ULRC). It allows placing the stoma in the perineum to preserve patients' body image. However, concerns about its impact on quality of life and management costs have limited its adoption. We aimed to compare the early outcomes and financial burden of PCPC and LIC in ULRC patients in Morocco, a low-middle-income country. METHODS: From January 2018 to December 2019, all patients who underwent abdomino-perineal resection (APR) with LIC or PCPC were prospectively enrolled. For each patient, baseline characteristics, and in hospital and 90 days morbidity with a focus on perineal complications were reported. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the validated EORTC-C30 and CR29 questionnaires. Financial burden to patients was reported using declarative out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) analysis. RESULTS: Among 49 patients who underwent APR, 33 received PCPC and 16 received definitive LIC. Similar rates of early perineal complications were observed between the two groups (p = 0.49). Readmission rate at POD90 was higher in the LIC-group due to perineal sepsis (p = 0.09). QOL analysis at 6 months revealed that patients with PCPC had a higher global health status (p = 0.006), a better physical functioning and reported fewer symptoms of flatulence and fecal incontinence (p = 0.001). Patients with a LIC reported more financial difficulties with higher median OOPC of stoma management up to €23 versus €0 per month for PCPC (p = 0.0024). PCPC was the only predictive factor of improved patient reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: PCPC is a cost-effective alternative to the standard definitive colostomy without alteration of the QOL or additional perineal complications during the first 6 months following the surgery. These findings may help convince surgeons to offer this option to patients refusing definitive LIC.

Open Source-Based 3-Dimensional Liver Modeling Serving Accessibility of Liver Surgery Virtual Planning.

This Surgical Innovation discusses 3-dimensional liver modeling serving accessibility of liver surgery virtual planning.

Audit of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer in Morocco: A report of the results of a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Background: Little data is available about colon laparoscopic surgery in low mid-income countries. The aim of this study was to audit the status and results of laparoscopic colon cancer surgery in Morocco. Patients and methods: This was a prospective study performed at 4 academic departments in Morocco between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2020. All adult patients who underwent elective right or left colonic resection for colon adenocarcinoma were included. The main outcomes were the rate of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and the comparison of its short-term outcomes with open surgery (OS). Results: Among 121 patients included, 52 (43%) underwent laparoscopic resection (0-49.3%). Five surgeons (29%) performed at least one laparoscopic resection. There were more left colectomies in the laparoscopic group (71.2% vs. 39.1%. p = 0.0004), and more extended resections (23.1% vs. 40.6%. p = 0.043) and T4 stage (19% vs. 37.5%. p = 0.037) in the open group. There were no differences in 90-days overall and serious complications. OS patients had significantly more harvested lymph nodes (14 vs. 18. P = 0.007) and higher median surgical margins (6 cm vs. 9 cm. P = 0.003) than LS patients. Conclusions: LS for colon cancer in Morocco is performed by few surgeons, who apply strict patient selection for laparoscopic cases. It was associated with lower quality resections compared to open surgery. There are still many challenges requiring more focus on training, certification, centralization and standardisation of care across the nation.

Beware of lethal Wernicke's encephalopathy after cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC for peritoneal pseudomyxoma: Case report of morbidity and mortality review.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) arising from the appendix is a rare entity. Complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the only established curative treatment, and is reputedly linked to high morbidity and mortality. We report, to our knowledge, the first case of delayed lethal Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) complicating CRS with HIPEC for an appendicular PMP. WE, caused by a thiamine deficiency, is characterized by ataxia, nystagmus and changes in consciousness. METHODS: A patient underwent complete CRS with HIPEC for a low grade mucinous appendicular tumor at the stage of PMP with a peritoneal index of 31, and was readmitted at POD 36 for persistent vomiting and vague neurological symptoms of mental confusion. The classic triad of WE appeared tardily. Although thiamine substitution was promptly applied, the patient died at POD53. CONCLUSION: WE is an uncommon and severe neurological disorder with a mortality rate up to 20 % and only 16 % of treated patients can fully recover. This diagnosis should always be anticipated in patients undergoing major surgery such as CRS- HIPEC. Efficient treatment should be quickly introduced in order to avoid a lethal outcome.

Evaluation of the implementation of a quality improvement program through morbidity and mortality reviews in a developing country.

Background: Morbidity and mortality reviews represent an opportunity to discuss adverse events and healthcare issues. Aim: Report the first experience of implementing a procedure of MMR, and assess its impact on quality improvement. Methods: From July 2019 to December 2019, members of the surgical and ICU departments designed and implemented a regular procedure of MMR. Cases of severe postoperative complications after curative resection for digestive cancer were selected to be presented by a surgical resident and discussed in an interdisciplinary conference following a standardized presentation based on an analysis tool adapted from the ALARM framework. Process was assessed by the number of MMRs held, number and type of recommendations issued and implemented. Results: Among 13 serious complications during the study period, 10 were discussed. The "Tasks" category was activated in 90% of the cases where lack or misuse of protocols was identified in 90% of the events discussed. Test results availability or accuracy were incarnated in 30% of cases. Poor communication was a contributing factor in 60% of the cases. Written medical records were defective in 40% of the cases. From 16 recommendations for improvement emitted, 87.5% (14/16) were translated into projects and successfully implemented. Conclusions: a standardized and regular procedure of morbidity and mortality reviews in a tertiary care facility in a developing country allowed a significant improvement in patient care through quality initiatives implementation. MMRs might be a strong tool for the improvement of surgical care particularly for low-mid income countries.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Cytoreductive Surgery in Ovarian Cancer: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

Background: The utility of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has been assessed in several randomised clinical trials and meta-analyses, and it is still a subject of controversy. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review of existing meta-analyses to summarise the outcomes of HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) association in ovarian cancer. Methods: We examined the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Prospero, Web of Science and Science Direct from inception to May 30, 2020, for meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. Analyses of overall survival, disease free survival and progression survival were performed separately for primary and recurrent ovarian cancers. Results: We identified 6 meta-analyses investigating the association of HIPEC with CRS in the management of ovarian cancer. Three year overall survival was significantly improved by the association of CRS and HIPEC for primary (HR: 0.66, 95%CI:0.56-0.78) and recurrent ovarian cancers (HR:0.50, 95%CI:0.38-0.64). This benefit was also demonstrated on disease-free survival for primary (HR: 0.54, 95%CI:0.48-0.61) and recurrent ovarian cancer (HR: 0.60, 95%CI:0.46-0.78). The pooled hazard ratios confirmed the advantage of HIPEC and CRS association with respect to CRS alone on progression free survival for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer respectively with HR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.43-0.58 and HR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.41-0.85. Conclusion: While waiting for the results of the current prospective studies, the present umbrella study suggests that HIPEC performed at the end of CRS may be a complementary effective asset for ovarian cancer patient management.

Current Opinion and Practice on Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Management: The North African Perspective.

Background: The status of peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM) management in North Africa is undetermined. The aim of this study was to assess and compare current practice and knowledge regarding PSM and examine satisfaction with available treatment options and need for alternative therapies in North Africa. Methods: This is a qualitative study involving specialists participating in PSM management in North Africa. The survey analyzed demographic characteristics and current knowledge and opinions regarding PSM management in different institutions. We also looked at goals and priorities, satisfaction with treatment modalities and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) usefulness according to specialty, country, years of experience, and activity sector. Results: One-hundred and three participants responded to the survey (response rate of 57%), including oncologists and surgeons. 59.2% of respondents had more than 10 years experience and 45.6% treated 20-50 PSM cases annually. Participants satisfaction with PSM treatment modalities was mild for gastric cancer (3/10 [IQR 2-3]) and moderate for colorectal (5/10 [IQR 3-5]), ovarian (5/10 [IQR 3-5]), and pseudomyxoma peritonei (5/10 [IQR 3-5]) type of malignancies. Good quality of life and symptom relief were rated as main priorities for treatment and the need for new treatment modalities was rated 9/10 [IQR 8-9]. The perceived usefulness of systemic chemotherapy in first intention was described as high by 42.7 and 39.8% of respondents for PSM of colorectal and gastric origins, while HIPEC was described as highly useful for ovarian (49.5%) and PMP (73.8) malignancies. Conclusions: The management of PSM in the North African region has distinct differences in knowledge, treatments availability and priorities. Disparities are also noted according to specialty, country, years of expertise, and activity sector. The creation of referral structures and PSM networks could be a step forward to standardized PSM management in the region.

Delivering colorectal cancer screening integrated with primary health care services in Morocco: Lessons learned from a demonstration project.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates are increasing rapidly in many low-income and middle-income countries. A demonstration project was implemented in Morocco in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and challenges of implementing CRC screening through routine primary care facilities. METHODS: The objective of the project was to screen 10,000 men and women aged 50 to 75 years through 10 primary health centers (PHCs) in 2 provinces. All eligible men and women attending the selected PHCs were offered the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Stool specimens brought to the PHCs were tested immediately by trained nurses. FIT-positive individuals were referred to the National Oncology Institute for colonoscopy. RESULTS: In total, 9763 eligible men and women were screened by FIT between June 2017 and May 2019; most (73.3%) were women. The test was positive in 460 participants (4.7%). Among the individuals who had positive FIT results, 62.6% underwent colonoscopy. The main reasons for noncompliance to colonoscopy were competing life priorities (15.4%), other health problems (13%), and fear of getting a cancer diagnosis (12.3%). As the number of referrals to colonoscopy increased, the waiting time for the procedure increased, resulting in a drop in compliance. The detection rates of advanced adenomas and CRC were 4.0 in 1000 and 0.5 in 1000 individuals screened, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An effective strategy to reach the target populations (especially men), a pragmatic assessment of the health system's capacity to deal with large numbers of referrals, and a formal cost-effectiveness analysis are essential before making any decision to introduce CRC screening in Morocco.

Mid-Term Audit of a National Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program Implementation in a Low Middle Income Country: The Moroccan Experience.

Implementing a multimodal management of peritoneal surface malignancies is a steep and complex process, especially as complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is the backbone and the major prognostic factor for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedures. The implementation of such a program is a challenging process, particularly in low-middle income (LMIC) countries where ressource restrictions may represent a major hurdle to HIPEC appliances acquisition. Herein is the first audit of the implementation of a national peritoneal malignancy program in a north African country. The audit process was performed according to the three implementation steps, namely initiation ("1":2005-2008), transition ("2":2009-2013) and consolidation ("3":2014-2017). We included all consecutive CRS without HIPEC performed with curative intent for ovarian, gastric, colorectal and pseudomyxoma peritonei type of malignancies with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance Status ≤ 2. Target outcomes for incomplete cytoreduction (ICRS), serious complications ≥ 3b according to the Clavien-Dindo scoring, and early oncologic failure (EOF; disease progression within 2 years of treatment) were compared between the three phases. Independent risk factors correlated to these three outcomes were calculated using a logistic regression model.198 CRS procedures were completed with 49, 60 and 89 cases performed in the three phases, respectively. Overall, patients were comparable except for ECOG and ASA scores which were more severe in the third phase. The comparison of ICRS, serious complications and EOF rates showed a significant reduction between the three phases with (34%, 18% and 4% p = <0.001), (30.6%, 20% and 11.2%, p = 0.019) and (38.8%, 23.3% and 12.4% p = 0.002) respectively. Undergoing CRS in phase 3 on the other hand was a predictive factor of better short term surgical and oncological outcomes and completeness of cytoreduction, while ECOG performance status and spleno-pancreatectomy were also predictive factors of serious complications.

Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Moroccan Arabic dialect version of the Wexner incontinence score in patients with low anterior resection syndrome after rectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bowel dysfunction symptoms such as stool clustering, urgency, incomplete voiding, and fecal incontinence are frequent after colorectal surgery and known as the low anterior resection syndrome. The Wexner score is the most widely used tool for fecal incontinence assessment. We aimed to translate and test the psychometric properties of the Moroccan Arabic dialect version of the Wexner questionnaire in patients with low anterior resection syndrome after rectal surgery. METHODS: The Wexner questionnaire was translated to Moroccan Arabic and administered to a group of 158 patients, among which a subgroup of 43 patients took the test for a second time to examine test-retest reliability. Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to determine internal consistency and correlation, and the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30 and the low anterior resection syndrome questionnaires were assessed for convergent validity. Discriminant validity was demonstrated through the Wexner score ability to detect differences based on the patients' different clinical and pathological characteristics. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients completed the Moroccan Arabic dialect version of the Wexner score, which showed an excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha score of 0.91. Test-retest reliability was established by a Bland-Altman plot with 95% limits of agreement. The score showed positive correlation to the low anterior resection syndrome score (r = 0.748; P < .001) and the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30 diarrhea symptom scale (r = 0.519; P < .001). A negative correlation was also demonstrated for each one of the 5 European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life C30 functional scales, namely physical functioning (r = -0.217 ; P = .006), role functioning (r = -0.267; P = .001), emotional functioning (r = -0.266; P = .001), cognitive functioning (r = -0.283; P < .001), and social functioning (r = -0,283; P < .001). The Wexner score differed between patients according to tumor location, chemoradiotherapy, type of mesorectal excision, and anastomosis. CONCLUSION: The Moroccan Arabic dialect version of the Wexner score shows good psychometric properties and can be used for fecal incontinence assessment, particularly in colorectal cancer patients.

Psychometric validation of the Moroccan version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in colorectal Cancer patients: cross-sectional study and systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is mainly impacted by colorectal cancer which justified the major importance addressed to the development and validation of assessment questionnaires. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Moroccan Arabic Dialectal version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Moroccan version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 on colorectal cancer patients from the National Oncology Institute of Rabat, in the period from February 2015 to June 2017. The QLQ-C30 was administered to 120 patients. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity as well as known-groups comparisons. RESULTS: In total, 120 patients with colorectal cancer were included in the study with 38 (32%) patients diagnosed with colon cancers. Eighty-two patients (68%) had rectal cancer, among which 29 (24%) patients with a stoma. The mean age of diagnosis was 54 years (+/- 13.3). The reliability and validity of the Arabic dialectal Moroccan version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 were satisfactory. [Cronbach's alpha (α =0.74)]. All items accomplished the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity except for question number 5, which did not complete the minimum required correlation with its own scale (physical functioning). Patients with rectal cancer presented with bad Global health status and quality of life (GHS/QOL), emotional functioning as well as higher fatigue symptoms compared to patients with colon cancer. The difference between patients with and without stoma was significant for diarrhea and financial difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: The Moroccan Arabic Dialectal version of the QLQ-C30 is a valid and reliable measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with colorectal cancer.

Predictive Factors for Impaired Mental Health among Medical Students during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Morocco.

The COVID-19 pandemic has great consequences on mental health. We aimed to assess medical students' psychological condition and influencing factors as a baseline evidence for interventions promoting their mental wellbeing. We conducted an online survey from April 8 to April 18, 2020 to examine the mental health of medical students by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, seven-item Insomnia Severity Index, and six-item Kessler psychological distress scale. Factors associated with mental health outcomes were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Five hundred forty-nine students completed the survey; 341 (62.3%), 410 (74.6%), 344 (62.6%), and 379 (69%) reported anxiety, depression, insomnia, and distress, respectively. Female students, living in high COVID-19 prevalence locations, more than 25 days confinement, psychiatric consult history, and being in a preclinical level of studies had higher median scores and severe symptom levels. Multivariable logistic regression showed female gender as a risk factor for severe symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 1.653; 95% CI: 1.020-2.679; P = 0.042), depression (OR: 2.167; 95% CI: 1.435-3.271; P < 0.001), insomnia (OR: 1.830; 95% CI: 1.176-2.847; P = 0.007), and distress (OR: 1.994; 95% CI: 1.338-2.972; P = 0.001); preclinical level of enrollment as a risk factor for depression (OR: 0.679; 95% CI: 0.521-0.885; P = 0.004), insomnia (OR: 0.720; 95% CI: 0.545-0.949; P = 0.02), and distress (OR: 0.650; 95% CI: 0.499-0.847; P = 0.001), whereas living in high COVID-19 prevalence locations was a risk factor for severe anxiety (OR: 1.628; 95% CI: 1.090-2.432; P = 0.017) and depression (OR: 1.438; 95% CI: 1.002-2.097; P = 0.05). Currently, medical students experience high levels of mental health symptoms, especially female students, those at a preclinical level and living in regions with a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases. Screening for mental health issues, psychological support, and long-term follow-up could alleviate the burden and protect future physicians.