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Background: Several contemporary risk stratification tools are now being used since the development of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in 1987. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the utility of commonly used co-morbidity indices in predicting surgical outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive review was performed to identify studies reporting an association between a pre-operative co-morbidity measurement and an outcome (30-day/in-hospital morbidity/mortality, 90-day morbidity/mortality, and severe complications). Meta-analysis was performed on the pooled data. Results: A total of 111 included studies were included with a total cohort size 25,011,834 patients. The studies reporting the 5-item Modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) demonstrated a statistical association with an increase in the odds of in-hospital/30-day mortality (OR:1.97,95%CI: 1.55–2.49, p < 0.01). The pooled CCI results demonstrated an increase in the odds for in-hospital/30-day mortality (OR:1.44,95%CI: 1.27–1.64, p < 0.01). Pooled results for co-morbidity indices utilizing a scale-based continuous predictor were significantly associated with an increase in the odds of in-hospital/30-day morbidity (OR:1.32, 95% CI: 1.20–1.46, p < 0.01). On pooled analysis, the categorical results showed a higher odd for in-hospital/30-day morbidity (OR:1.74,95% CI: 1.50–2.02, p < 0.01). The mFI-5 was significantly associated with severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) (OR:3.31,95% CI:1.13–9.67, p < 0.04). Pooled results for CCI showed a positive trend toward severe complications but were not significant. Conclusion: The contemporary frailty-based index, mFI-5, outperformed the CCI in predicting short-term mortality and severe complications post-surgically. Risk stratification instruments that include a measure of frailty may be more predictive of surgical outcomes compared to traditional indices like the CCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in high-volume centers has been posited to improve postoperative morbidity and mortality, consistent with the volume-outcomes hypothesis. We sought to evaluate the impact of hospital volume on 90-day PD outcomes at hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) centers within a regionalized system.Methods: A retrospective population-based observational cohort study was performed, using administrative records of patients undergoing PD between 2005 and 2013 in Ontario, Canada. Postoperative administrative codes were used to define complications. Patients' 90-day postoperative outcomes were compared between center-volume categories using chi-square tests and multivariable regression. Volume cutoffs were defined using minimal regional standards (20PD/year), with assessment of the impact of further volume increases.Results: Of 2660 patients, 2563 underwent PD at HPB centers. Of these, 38.9% underwent surgery at higher-volume centers (>40 PD/year), 36.9% at medium-volume centers (20-39 PD/year), and 24.1% at lower-volume centers (10-19 PD/year). Mortality (30- and 90-day) was lowest at higher-volume hospitals (1.5%, 2.7%, respectively) compared to medium-volume (3.9%, 6.3%) and lower-volume hospitals (2.9%, 5.2%) (p < 0.01). Patients treated at higher- and medium-volume centers had lower reoperation rates (10.3%, 10.7% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.0002) and less prolonged length of stay (23.2%, 22.0% vs. 31.6%, p < 0.0001) compared to lower-volume centers.Conclusion: Progressive increases in hospital volume correspond to improved 90-day outcomes following PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quantitative computed tomography (CT) assessment of visceral adiposity may be superior to body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of surgical morbidity. We sought to examine the association of CT measures of obesity and BMI with short-term postoperative outcomes in colon cancer patients.Methods: In this retrospective study, 110 patients treated with colectomy for stage I-III colon cancer were classified as obese or non-obese by preoperative CT-based measures of adiposity or BMI [obese: BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, visceral fat area (VFA) to subcutaneous fat area ratio (V/S) ≥0.4, and VFA > 100 cm2]. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were compared.Results: Obese patients, by V/S and VFA but not BMI, were more likely to be male and have preexisting hypertension and diabetes. The overall complication rate was 25.5%, and there were no mortalities. Obese patients by VFA (with a trend for V/S but not BMI) were more likely to develop postoperative complications as compared to patients classified as non-obese: VFA (30.5 vs.10.7%, p = 0.03), V/S (29.2 vs. 9.5%, p = 0.05), and BMI (32.4 vs. 21.9%, p = 0.23).Conclusions: Elevated visceral obesity quantified by CT is associated with the presence of key metabolic comorbidities and increased postoperative morbidity and may be superior to BMI for risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic anastomotic leak (leak) remains a persistent problem after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Recent reports indicate a mean occurrence of 10% with a range of 2%–28% of patients. However, valid comparisons for these studies cannot be made because the definition of leak is variable, and many patients deemed to have a leak are not sick. The aim of this study was to determine the meaning of the volume and amylase content of the effluent from surgical drains by comparing these values to actual clinical outcomes. From January 1996 to July 2002, 207 consecutive patients underwent PD. We considered a leak to be present if greater than 30 ml/day of drainage was observed from drains and if that drainage contained an amylase-rich fluid (greater than 5X serum) on or after postoperative day (POD) 5. Cases were then divided into three groups—no leak, chemical leak only (leak but asymptomatic), and a clinical leak group (leak that required therapeutic intervention, reoperation, readmission, or prolonged length of stay). Then the drainage volume and its amylase concentration for every postoperative day were compared between the three groups. There were no operative or hospital deaths, and the mean length of stay (LOS) was 11.2 ± 6.1 days. Prolonged LOS was set at greater than 17 days (one standard deviation beyond the mean LOS for all cases). Leak was observed in 14% of cases (n = 29) and the patients were subsequently divided into these groups: no leak (n = 178), chemical leak only (n = 12), and clinical leak (n = 17). Surprisingly, the daily drain amylase values did not differ between the chemical leak group and the clinical leak group. The daily volume of drainage on POD 5–8 for the clinical leak group was significantly greater than the volumes of the other two groups, so that a combination of greater than 200 ml/day of drainage on POD 5 with an amylase greater than 5X serum had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 84% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99% for a clinically relevant leak. We used broad criteria from drainage effluent to include as many potential leaks as possible. This broad definition of leak selected 14% of the PD patients as having a leak; within this group, all of the clinical complications of leak occurred. By increasing the volume criteria from greater than 30 ml per day to greater than 200 ml per day, the PPV was increased from 59% to 84% while keeping NPV at 99%. Drain data based on the volume and amylase criteria of this study may be useful for early detection of a leak that will have clinical impact. This study''s criteria for leak may be a good definition to design a clinical trial. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We describe what we believe to be the first reported case of intragastric erosion and migration to the jejenum of a laparoscopically inserted gastric band, 3 months after the original bariatric surgery was performed. This had caused ulceration and necrosis of the small bowel as the tension in the port tubing had caused the bowel to become concertinaed over it and resulted in a cheese-wire effect through the jejunal convolutions. As bariatric surgery becomes more common, patients with complications of their procedure may present to the general surgeon as an emergency. We recommend early intervention in patients with gastric erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]