Laparoscopic training workshop to assess medical students' skill acquisition and interest in surgical careers.

BACKGROUND: With its minimally invasive approach, laparoscopic surgery has transformed the medical landscape. As the demand for these procedures escalates, there is a pressing need for adept surgeons trained in laparoscopic techniques. However, current training often falls short of catering to medical school education. This study evaluates the impact of a custom-designed laparoscopic training workshop on medical students' surgical skills and career aspirations. METHODS: This prospective experimental study was conducted at the E-Da hospital in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Medical students from Taiwanese medical schools undergoing Clerk 5, Clerk 6, and Postgraduate Year 1 and 2 were invited to participate. Medical students (n = 44) underwent an endoscopic skill training workshop consisting of lectures, box training, and live tissue training. The trainees performed multiple tasks before and after training using our objective evaluation system. The primary outcome was assessed before and after training through a questionnaire assessing the influence of training on students' interest in surgery as a career. The secondary outcome measured improvement in skill acquisition, comparing the task completion time pre- and post-workshop. For the primary outcome, descriptive statistics were used to summarize the questionnaire responses, and paired t-tests were performed to determine significant changes in interest levels post-workshop. For the secondary outcome, paired t-tests were used to compare the time recorded pre- and post-training. RESULTS: Post-training, participants exhibited significant proficiency gains, with task completion times reducing notably: 97 s (p = 0.0015) for Precision Beads Placement, 88.5 s (p < 0.0001) for Beads Transfer Exercise, 95 s (p < 0.0001) for Precision Balloon Cutting, and 137.8 s (p < 0.0001) for Intracorporeal Suture. The primary outcome showcased an increased mean score from 8.15 pre-workshop to 9.3 post-workshop, indicating a bolstered interest in surgery as a career. Additionally, post-training sentiment analysis underscored a predominant inclination toward surgery among 88% of participants. CONCLUSION: The custom-designed laparoscopic workshop significantly improved technical skills and positively influenced students' career aspirations toward surgery. Such hands-on training workshops can play a crucial role in medical education, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills and potentially shaping the future of budding medical professionals.

Outcomes of Robot-Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer in Adults ≥ 75 Years Old: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted surgery has been increasingly adopted in colorectal cancer resection. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare the inpatient outcomes of robot-assisted versus conventional laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection in patients ≥ 75 years. DESIGN: A retrospective, population-based study. SETTINGS: This study analyzed data from the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2005 to 2018. PATIENTS: Colorectal cancer patients ≥ 75 years old and underwent robot-assisted or conventional laparoscopic resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complication, prolonged length of stay, and total hospital costs were assessed. RESULTS: Data from 14,108 patients were analyzed. After adjustment, any postoperative complications (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99, p = 0.030) and prolonged length of stay (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.91, p = 0.001) were significantly less in the robotic than the laparoscopic group. In addition, robotic surgery was associated with significantly higher total hospital costs ($26.06 USD greater cost; 95% CI: 21.35-30.77 USD, p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The analysis was limited by its retrospective and observational nature, potential coding errors, and the lack of intraoperative factors such as operative time, laboratory measures, and information on surgeons' experience. CONCLUSIONS: In United States, patients with colorectal cancer ≥ 75 years who were undergoing tumor resections, compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery is associated with better inpatient outcomes in terms of complication rate and risk of prolonged length of stay, especially among patients with colon cancer. However, robotic surgery is associated with higher total hospital costs.

Potential beneficial effects of long-term aspirin use on the prevalence of colorectal cancer: a population-based study of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

PURPOSE: Whether long-term aspirin usage is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk needs more evidence. The study evaluated the association between long-term aspirin use and prevalence of CRC in a large, nationally representative database. METHODS: Hospitalized patients aged ≥ 50 years during 2018 were identified in the United States (US) National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients without complete information of age, sex, race, income, and insurance status were excluded, as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or malignancies other than CRC. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the characteristics between patients with and without long-term aspirin use. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the relationship between long-term aspirin use and the presence of CRC. CRC and aspirin use were identified through the administrative International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. RESULTS: Data from 3,490,226 patients were included, in which 688,018 (19.7%) had a record of long-term aspirin use. After 1:1 PSM, there remained 1,376,006 patients, representing 6,880,029 individuals in the US after weighting. After adjusting for confounders, long-term aspirin use was significantly associated with lower CRC odds (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62, 0.67). This association was not changed when stratified by age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: From a national inpatient dataset, US adults ≥ 50 years on long-term aspirin are less likely to have CRC, regardless of age, sex, race, BMI, and smoking status.

Outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in morbidly obese patients: A propensity score-matched analysis of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Morbid obesity is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes after robotic versus conventional laparoscopic CRC resection in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective study extracted data from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample during 2005-2018. Adults ≥ 20 years old, with morbid obesity and CRC, and undergoing robotic or laparoscopic resections were identified. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to minimize the confounding. Univariate and multivariable regression was conducted to evaluate the associations between outcomes and study variables. RESULTS: After PSM, 1296 patients remained. The risks of any postoperative complication (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 1.22), prolonged length of stay (LOS) (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.01), death (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.11, 3.10), or pneumonia (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.73, 1.77) were not significantly different between the two procedures after adjustment. Robotic surgery was significantly associated with greater hospital cost (aBeta = 26.26, 95% CI: 16.08, 36.45) than laparoscopic surgery. Stratified analyses revealed that, in patients with tumor located at the colon, robotic surgery was associated with lower risk of prolonged LOS (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with morbid obesity, risks of postoperative complication, death, or pneumonia are not significantly different between robotic and laparoscopic CRC resection. Among patients with tumor located at the colon, robotic surgery is associated with lower risk of prolonged LOS. These findings fill the knowledge gap and provide useful information for clinicians on risk stratification and treatment choice.

Association between metabolic syndrome and colorectal cancer incidence and all-cause mortality: a hospital-based observational study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a worldwide pandemic and complex disorder associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to identify the influence of number of MetS components on CRC incidence and mortality, using a national, longitudinal dataset of hospital care in Taiwan. METHODS: Patient data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2008 were extracted. Individuals with at least one inpatient diagnosis or 2 outpatient visits with any MetS component found within one year were identified and included. Subjects died within 12 months after the presence of MetS components or had any prior cancer were excluded. The study cohort were then divided into two groups: subjects who had more (i.e., 3 to 4) MetS components and those who had fewer (i.e., 1 to 2) MetS components. An 2:1 propensity score (PS) matching were performed to balance the baseline characteristics between the groups. Cox regression analyses were conducted to compare the CRC incidence and all-cause mortality at follow-up between subjects with more MetS components versus fewer components. RESULTS: After matching, a total of 119,843 subjects (78,274 with 1-2 and 41,569 with 3-4 MetS components) were analyzed. After adjusting for confounders, subjects with 3-4 MetS components had a significantly higher risk of CRC [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-1.43, p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (aHR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.17, p < 0.001) than those with only 1-2 MetS components. In stratified analyses, the greatest increased risk of CRC incidence that 3-4 MetS components posed as compared to 1-2 MetS components was seen in subjects without CHD history (aHR, 1.41, 95% CI, 1.23-1.62, p < 0.001). In addition, 3-4 MetS components (vs. 1-2) led to greater all-cause mortality among the subjects < 65y, both genders, with or without CHD, subjects without CKD hisotry, both aspirin users and non-users, users of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and users of statin. CONCLUSION: Compared with 1-2 components, subjects with 3-4 MetS components are at greater risk of CRC and death at follow-up. This study also demonstrates the risks for CRC and all-cause mortality in certain subgroups of individuals with 3-4 MetS components compared to 1-2 components. These findings may help clinicians on the CRC risk stratification according to individuals' characteristics, as well as to optimize the strategy of MetS surveillance and control in order to prevent CRC.

Risk factors of delayed hemorrhage after LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy.

BACKGROUND: As one of the most popular methods for treating hemorrhoidal diseases, hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure devices has been proven to have less postoperative pain and has gained in popularity among surgeons. However, our previous study found higher incidence of delayed post-hemorrhoidectomy bleeding (DPHB) in patients who underwent LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy compared to those who underwent the traditional Ferguson's method. This follow-up study aimed to reveal the relationship between DPHB and the surgeon's experience. METHODS: This retrospective study included 437 consecutive patients with symptomatic grade II to IV hemorrhoids who received hemorrhoidectomy by LigaSure devices from March 2009 to December 2017. Twenty-two patients who experienced DPHB were analyzed to identify risk factors. Cumulative incidence of DPHB were calculated and visualized to assess the improvement of DPHB rate by time. RESULTS: All operations were performed by a single surgeon. The most common postoperative complication was constipation, followed by urinary retention. DPHB developed in 22 patients (5%). Multivariate analysis showed that the male sex was an independent risk factor for DPHB in patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure devices. The cumulative incidence was initially higher (about 10%) in the earlier cases and stabilized at around 5% with more cases. The change in cumulative incidence indicated a lower complication rate as the surgeon's experience increased. CONCLUSION: Male sex is an independent risk factor for DHBP. The risk of DPHB is higher in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure in a surgeon's earlier cases, and decreases to a rate similar to that for the traditional hemorrhoidectomy once the surgeon becomes more familiar with the procedure and postoperative care.

An Observational Study of Trifluridine/Tipiracil-Containing Regimen Versus Regorafenib-Containing Regimen in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: There are no randomized control trials comparing the efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil and regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Herein, we conducted an observational study to compare the oncologic outcomes of trifluridine/tipiracil-containing regimen (TAS-102) and regorafenib-containing regimen (REG) in patients with mCRC. Material and method: Patients who were diagnosed to have mCRC in 2015 to 2021 and treated with TAS-102-containing regimen or REG-containing regimen were recruited. Monotherapy or combination therapy were all allowed in this study. Oncologic outcomes were presented with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results: A total of 125 patients were enrolled into our study, accounting for 50 patients with TAS-102 and 75 patients with REG. Of these patients, 64% were treated with TAS-102 or REG monotherapy, while the remaining were treated with TAS-102 combination or REG combination. In general, the median PFS and OS were 3.7 versus 2.0 months (P = 0.006) and 9.2 versus 6.8 months (P = 0.048) in TAS-102 and REG, respectively. The ORR and DCR were 44% versus 20% (P < 0.001) and 72% versus 43% (P < 0.001) in TAS-102 and REG, respectively. As for treatment strategies, the survival were significantly longer in combination than in monotherapy, no matter in TAS-102 or REG group. Multivariate analysis showed TAS-102 and combination therapy were independent predictor associated with better survival. Conclusions: Our results suggested that TAS-102 had better oncologic outcomes than REG in patients with mCRC, especially in combination. Further prospective trials are warranted to confirm our results.

The impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients: a retrospective database study.

PURPOSE: Obesity is an independent risk factor for worse outcomes in various surgical settings. Whether obesity is a prognostic factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) is inconclusive. This study aimed to determine the impact of obesity on short-term postoperative outcomes in CRC patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Data of a total of 23,898 CRC patients aged ≥ 20 years and undergoing laparoscopic resection were extracted from the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database and analyzed. The study endpoints were in-hospital mortality, any postoperative complications, infection/sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary embolisms (PE), and extended hospital stay. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between patients' obesity status (morbid obese: BMI > = 40 kg/m2; obese: BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2) and the study outcomes. RESULTS: In 23,898 CRC patients undergoing laparoscopic resection, the prevalence of obesity prevalence was 11.8%. After adjustment, the results revealed that morbid obesity was significantly associated with increased risk for in-hospital mortality (aOR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.11-3.83), AKI (aOR = 1.78, 95%CI = 1.34-2.36), DVT/PE (aOR = 2.88, 95%CI = 1.70-4.88), and extended LOS (aOR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.02-1.43), while non-morbid obesity was significantly associated with more DVT/PE (aOR = 2.12, 95%CI = 1.32-3.41) as compared with non-obesity. CONCLUSION: In patients with CRC undergoing laparoscopic surgery, morbid obesity is strongly associated with worse postoperative outcomes, including increased in-hospital mortality, postoperative AKI and DVT/PE, and extended LOS. The findings of the present study highlight the importance of obesity status in risk stratification for laparoscopic CRC surgery.

Impact on inadequate lymph node harvest on survival in T4N0 colorectal cancer: A would-be medical center experience in Taiwan.

Insufficient lymph node harvest (< 12) may lead to incorrect classification of stage I and II disease. Many studies have indicated a poor prognosis with inadequate lymph node harvest in stages I to III, but few studies have demonstrated the relationship between low lymph node harvest and T4 disease. This study aimed to identify the influence of insufficient number of lymph nodes harvested on survival in T4N0 colorectal cancer. We enrolled patients with T4N0 colorectal cancer who underwent radical resection between 2010 and 2016. A total of 155 patients were divided into 2 groups; 142 patients had ≥ 12 harvested lymph nodes, and the other 13 had < 12 lymph nodes. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years. The primary outcome was the impact of the number of lymph nodes harvested on disease-free survival and overall survival, which were investigated using Kaplan-Meier survival techniques. There were no significant differences in recurrence rate, emergent or elective surgery, laparoscopic or open surgery, or chemotherapy between the 2 groups. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed no statistical differences in 5-year disease-free survival (P = .886) and 5-year overall survival (P = .832) between the groups. There were no significant differences in disease-free survival and overall survival between patients with adequate (≥ 12) and inadequate (< 12) lymph node harvest in T4N0 colorectal cancers.

Path Analysis of the Impact of Obesity on Postoperative Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is adversely affecting perioperative outcomes; however, long-term outcomes do not appear to be affected by excess body weight (the obesity paradox). The purpose of this study is to examine the association between obesity and surgical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using data from the United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS). METHODS: Patients ≥20 years old diagnosed with CRC who received surgery were identified in the 2004-2014 NIS database. Patients who were obese (ICD-9-CM code: 278.0) were matched with controls (non-obese) in a 1:4 ratio for age, sex, and severity of CRC (metastasis vs. no metastasis). Linear regression and path analysis were used to compare outcomes between obese and non-obese patients. A total of 107,067 patients (53,376 males, 53,691 females) were included in the analysis, and 7.86% were obese. RESULTS: The rates of postoperative infection, shock, bleeding, wound disruption, and digestive system complications were significantly different between the obese and non-obese groups. The obesity group had increased incidence of postoperative infection by 1.9% (∂P/∂X = 0.019), shock by 0.25% (∂P/∂X = 0.0025), postoperative bleeding by 0.5% (∂P/∂X = 0.005), wound disruption by 0.6% (∂P/∂X = 0.006), and digestive system complications by 1.35% (∂P/∂X = 0.0135). Path analysis showed that obesity group had higher in-hospital mortality through mentioned above five complications by 66.65 × 10-5%, length of hospital stay by 0.32 days, and total hospital charges by 2384 US dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity increases the risk of postoperative complications in patients with CRC undergoing surgery. It also increased in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and total hospital charges. Therefore, patients with obesity might require a higher level of preoperative interventions and complications monitoring to improve outcomes.

Differential short-term outcomes of laparoscopic resection in colon and rectal cancer patients aged 80 and older: an analysis of Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND: Approximately, 22.6% of colorectal cancer surgeries were performed on patients aged 80 or over. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of laparoscopic resection and its short-term surgical outcomes in patients who were aged 80 and older and diagnosed with colon cancer or rectal cancer in parallel. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based study, colon and rectal cancer patients ≥ 80 years undergoing laparoscopic resection or open resection were identified from the United States National Inpatient Sample (2005-2014). Primary outcomes were postoperative complication and in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the short-term effectiveness of laparoscopic and open resection. RESULTS: In this study, 40,451 colon cancer patients and 1117 rectal cancer patients were included. Multivariate analysis revealed that laparoscopic resection was significantly associated with lower risks for developing postoperative complications (aOR = 0.67; 95%, CI 0.64-0.71) and in-hospital mortality (aOR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.32-0.43) compared to open resection in colon cancer patients. For rectal cancer patients, multivariate analysis indicated that laparoscopic resection was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing postoperative complications (aOR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.32-0.52) but was not associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Compared to open resection, laparoscopic resection has better or similar short-term surgical outcomes in colon and rectal cancer patients ≥ 80 years.

The Impact of Comorbid Diabetes on Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes in Stage I/II Colon Cancer Patients Undergoing Open Colectomy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of comorbid diabetes on short-term postoperative outcomes in patients with stage I/II colon cancer after open colectomy. METHODS: The data were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample database (2005-2010). Short-term surgical outcomes included in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 49,064 stage I/II colon cancer patients undergoing open surgery were included, with a mean age of 70.35 years. Of them, 21.94% had comorbid diabetes. Multivariable analyses revealed that comorbid diabetes was significantly associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality and postoperative complications. Compared to patients without diabetes, patients with uncomplicated diabetes had lower percentages of in-hospital mortality and postoperative complications, but patients with complicated diabetes had a higher percentage of postoperative complications. In addition, patients with diabetes only, but not patients with diabetes and hypertension only, had a lower percentage of in-hospital mortality than patients without any comorbidity. CONCLUSION: The present results suggested the protective effects of uncomplicated diabetes on short-term surgical outcomes in stage I/II colon cancer patients after open colectomy. Further studies are warranted to confirm these unexpected findings and investigate the possible underlying mechanisms.