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Introduction: There has been increased interest in assessing the surgeon learning curve for new skill acquisition. While there is no consensus around the best methodology, one of the most frequently used learning curve assessments in the surgical literature is the cumulative sum curve (CUSUM) of operative time. To demonstrate the limitations of this methodology, we assessed the CUSUM of console time across cohorts of surgeons with differing case acquisition rates while varying the total number of cases used to calculate the CUSUM. Methods: We compared the CUSUM curves of the average console times of surgeons who completed their first 20 robotic-assisted (RAS) cases in 13, 26, 39, and 52 weeks, respectively, for their first 50 and 100 cases, respectively. This analysis was performed for prostatectomy (1094 surgeons), malignant hysterectomy (737 surgeons), and inguinal hernia (1486 surgeons). Results: In all procedures, the CUSUM curve of the cohort of surgeons who completed their first 20 procedures in 13 weeks demonstrated a lower slope than cohorts of surgeons with slower case acquisition rates. The case number at which the peak of the CUSUM curve occurs uniformly increases when the total number of cases used in generation of the CUSUM chart changes from 50 to 100 cases. Conclusion: The CUSUM analyses of these three procedures suggests that surgeons with fast initial case acquisition rates have less variability in their operative times over the course of their learning curve. The peak of the CUSUM curve, which is often used in surgical learning curve literature to denote "proficiency" is predictably influenced by the total number of procedures evaluated, suggesting that defining the peak as the point at which a surgeon has overcome the learning curve is subject to routine bias. The CUSUM peak, by itself, is an insufficient measure of "conquering the learning curve." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conversion rates during minimally invasive surgery are generally examined in the limited scope of a particular procedure. However, for a hospital or payor, the cumulative impact of conversions during commonly performed procedures could have a much larger negative effect than what is appreciated by individual surgeons. The aim of this study is to assess open conversion rates during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) across common procedures using laparoscopic/thoracoscopic (LAP/VATS) and robotic-assisted (RAS) approaches. Study design: Retrospective cohort study using the Premier Database on patients who underwent common operations (hysterectomy, lobectomy, right colectomy, benign sigmoidectomy, low anterior resection, inguinal and ventral hernia repair, and partial nephrectomy) between January 2013 and September 2015. ICD-9 and CPT codes were used to define procedures, modality, and conversion. Propensity scores were calculated using patient, hospital, and surgeon characteristics. Propensity-score matched analysis was used to compare conversions between LAP/VATS and RAS for each procedure. Results: A total of 278,520 patients had MIS approaches of the ten operations. Conversion occurred in 5% of patients and was associated with a 1.77 day incremental increase in length of stay and $3441 incremental increase in cost. RAS was associated with a 58.5% lower rate of conversion to open surgery compared to LAP/VATS. Conclusion: At a health system or payer level, conversion to open is detrimental not just for the patient and surgeon but also puts a significant strain on hospital resources. Use of RAS was associated with less than half of the conversion rate observed for LAP/VATS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The use of robotic-assisted surgery (RS) has rapidly increased, but public perceptions about RS are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to gain insight into public perceptions about RS, hospitals that have robots, and surgeons that use them.Methods: A Web-based survey was distributed worldwide. Surveys were collected from July to September 2014, and those with 50% or greater completion were used for analysis.Results: There were 789 surveys, and 747 (95%) were used for analysis. The mean age of respondents was 38.5 years. Most (94%) were from the USA. Over half (53%) had a background in health care, and 13% were physicians. The majority of respondents (86%) had previously heard of RS, but almost 25% indicated that RS was like open, laser, or scarless surgery. Over 20% of respondents indicated that the robot had some degree of autonomy during surgery. Most respondents (72%) indicated that RS was safer, faster, and less painful or offered better results, but when asked if they would choose to have RS, 55% would prefer to have conventional minimally invasive surgery. Hospitals with a robot were thought to be better hospitals by 53% of the respondents. Fewer physicians perceived advantages to RS (30% physicians vs 78% non-physicians p < 0.001), and fewer physicians would prefer RS if they needed surgery (30 vs 49% p = 0.001). One-half of respondents would prefer remote RS by a renowned expert they had never met over having RS by a local non-expert surgeon.Conclusions: Most respondents perceived benefits to RS, but still preferred conventional minimally invasive surgery if necessary. Misperceptions about the robot indicate a need for patient education prior to RS. Interest by 50% of respondents in remote surgery might allow expert surgeons to do complex procedures without necessitating regionalization of care. Issues identified in this survey merit further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Correction to: Surgical Endoscopy https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-022-09073-5 This article was updated to correct the author affiliations for Alexander de Groot and Robert Cerfolio. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Three variants of Achalasia have been described using high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM). While manometrically distinct, their clinical significance has yet to be established. Our objective was to compare the outcome after myotomy in patients with these Achalasia subtypes. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with Achalasia who had HRM and who underwent Heller myotomy or Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Symptoms and esophageal clearance by timed barium study were compared before and after treatment. Results: We identified 49 patients, 21 males and 28 females, with a median age of 52 years. The primary symptom in all patients was dysphagia, with a median duration of 4 years (range 4 months-50 years). By HRM, ten patients (20 %) were classified as Type I, 30 (61 %) as Type II, and 9 (18 %) as Type III. At a median follow-up of 16 months after myotomy (range 1-63 months), the median Eckardt score was zero and was similar across subtypes. Relief of dysphagia was also similar across subtypes (80 % of Type I, 93 % of Type II and 89 % of Type III). On pre-treatment timed barium study, no patient had complete emptying at 1 or 5 min. After myotomy, complete emptying occurred within 1 min in 50 % (20/40) and within 5 min in 60 % (24/40) and was similar across groups. Conclusion: Myotomy for Achalasia results in excellent symptomatic outcome and improvement in esophageal clearance. There was no difference among the described HRM Achalasia variants. This calls into question the clinical utility of Achalasia sub-classification and affirms the benefit of myotomy for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair is associated with an objective recurrence rate exceeding 50 % at 5 years. Minimizing tension is a critical factor in preventing hernia recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of crural relaxing incisions in patients undergoing PEH repair. Methods: Records were reviewed to identify patients who received a relaxing incision during laparoscopic PEH repair. The patients were followed by chest X-ray and videoesophagram at 3 months and then annually. Results: From November 2010 to March 2013, 58 patients underwent PEH repair, and 15 patients received a relaxing incision to accomplish crural closure. The median age of the patients was 72 years (range 58–84 years). The relaxing incision was right-sided in 13 patients, left-sided in one patient, and bilateral in one patient. All the procedures were completed laparoscopically and included a fundoplication. Collis gastroplasty for a short esophagus was performed for 40 % of the patients. No major complications occurred. During a median follow-up period of 4 months, one patient had an asymptomatic mildly elevated left hemidiaphragm, and one patient had a trivial recurrent hernia, as shown on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Conclusion: Crural tension likely contributes to the high recurrence rate noted with laparoscopic PEH repair. Relaxing incisions are safe and allow crural approximation. Advanced laparoscopic surgeons should be aware of this option when faced with a large hiatus in a patient with PEH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease can be associated with extraesophageal symptoms (hoarseness, cough, asthma, and globus). However, these symptoms may have a multifactorial etiology. Proximal pH monitoring has been proposed as a means of identifying patients where reflux is the cause of the extraesophageal symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine whether proximal esophageal or pharyngeal pH monitoring better identified patients with extraesophageal symptoms that improved after antireflux surgery. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients who had esophageal and pharyngeal pH monitoring before an antireflux operation. A composite score was used to define an abnormal result with each test. A successful outcome was defined as improvement or resolution of extraesophageal symptoms. Results: There were 20 patients identified. Antireflux surgery led to a successful outcome in 14 patients (70 %). Restech better identified patients with extraesophageal symptoms who had a successful outcome with antireflux surgery (12 of 14 [86 %] based on abnormal Restech versus 5 of 10 [50 %] based on abnormal proximal probe, p = 0.06). Comparing only the 15 patients who had both proximal esophageal and pharyngeal pH monitoring, Restech again better identified those who had a successful outcome with antireflux surgery (9 of 10 [90 %] based on abnormal Restech versus 5 of 10 [50 %] based on abnormal proximal probe, p = 0.05). The positive and negative predictive values for symptomatic improvement after a fundoplication were better for an abnormal Restech score than for an abnormal proximal esophageal score (80 vs. 71 % and 60 vs. 38 %, respectively). In two patients with a successful outcome, Restech was the only positive test. Conclusions: In patients with extraesophageal reflux symptoms, proximal esophageal pH monitoring failed to identify half of the patients who had a successful outcome after antireflux surgery. In contrast, an abnormal Restech pH test was present in 90 % of patients with a successful outcome. Further, a negative Restech study more reliably indicated the absence of reflux-induced extraesophageal symptoms. Our results indicate that Restech pharyngeal pH monitoring should be utilized in the evaluation of patients with extraesophageal symptoms that may be associated with reflux disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Bravo capsule allows monitoring of esophageal acid exposure over a two-day period. Experience has shown that 24-32% of patients will have abnormal esophageal acid exposure detected on only one of the 2 days monitored. This variation has been explained by the effect of endoscopy and sedation. The aim of this study was to assess the day-to-day discrepancy following transnasal placement of the Bravo capsule without endoscopy or sedation and to determine factors related to this variability. Methods: Bravo pH monitoring was performed by transnasal placement of the capsule in 310 patients. Patients were divided into groups based on the composite pH score: both days normal, both days abnormal and only one of the 2 days abnormal. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) characteristics were compared between groups. Results: Of the 310 patients evaluated, 60 (19%) showed a discrepancy between the 2 days. A total of 127 patients had a normal pH score on both days and 123 had an abnormal pH score on both days. Of the 60 patients with a discrepancy, 27 were abnormal the first day and 33 (55%) were abnormal the second day. Patients with abnormal esophageal acid exposure on both days had higher degrees of esophageal acid exposure and were more likely to have a defective LES compared to those with an abnormal score on only one day (35 vs. 83%, p = 0.027). Conclusion: Patients with a discrepancy between days of Bravo pH monitoring have lower esophageal acid exposure. Variability between the 2 days represents early deterioration of the gastroesophageal barrier and indicates less advanced reflux disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rodent model of gastroduodenal–esophageal reflux can result in replacement of squamous esophageal mucosa with intestinal-type columnar mucosa and carcinoma. The validity of this model is debated, as it is unproven whether this mucosa is intestinal metaplasia due to reflux or represents migration of adjacent jejunal mucosa above the anastomosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the esophageal intestinal-type mucosa in these animals by measuring expression of trefoil factor genes (TFF-1, -2, -3) and comparing it with adjacent jejunum in order to determine its etiology. Twenty-five rats underwent esophagojejunostomy at the ligament of Treitz to induce reflux of gastric and duodenal contents. The animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks ( n = 14) and 30 weeks ( n = 11). After sacrifice, the distal esophagus, jejunum, and colon were obtained. RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TFF-1, -2, and -3 was measured with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Linear discriminant analysis classified samples based on gene expression. Esophageal intestinal-type mucosa was present at sacrifice in 18 animals. Compared to jejunum, the expression of TFF-1 and TFF-2 mRNA in the intestinal mucosa of the distal esophagus was increased ( p = 0.0007 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Expression of TFF-3 was also increased in esophageal intestinal mucosa compared with jejunum ( p = 0.0002), but there was significant overlap in expression between these tissues for this gene. Linear discriminant analysis misclassified esophageal intestinal-type mucosa as jejunum in only one case. In no cases was jejunum misclassified as esophageal intestinal-type mucosa. The gene expression profile of esophageal intestinal-type mucosa following surgically induced reflux in a rodent model indicates that this represents intestinal metaplasia, not proximal migration of jejunum. This validates this model for studying the pathogenesis of Barrett’s esophagus. Use of this model has potential for assessment of the impact of various therapies on the natural history of reflux disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]