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As minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches to biliary tract cancers become more commonplace, understanding the adequacy of their oncologic performance is key.The National Cancer Database 2010-2016 was queried for patients who underwent hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) and T1b or more advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). Patients were grouped by approach: open (OA), laparoscopic (LA), and robotic (RA). Margin status, rate of lymph node (LN) dissection, and yield of LN dissection were evaluated.This cohort of 8612 patients, including 4034 patients with IHC (OA: 3281, LA: 675, RA: 78) and 4578 patients with GBC (OA: 1893, LA: 2588, RA: 97), MIS was used 40% of the time. R0 resection was achieved in 82% OA, 84% LA, and 91% RA, p = 0.004. Rate of LN dissection was 53% (OA: 60%, LA: 42%, RA: 51%, p 0.001). Among patients who underwent lymphadenectomy, 6 + LN were retrieved less commonly with a LA (OA: 27%, LA: 20%, and RA: 30%, p 0.001). High-volume MIS hepatectomy centers were more likely to perform a lymphadenectomy (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41) and a sampling of 6 + LN (OR: 1.18).Regardless of approach, lymphadenectomy is underperformed nationwide for biliary tract tumors, particularly with LA. As the use of MIS grows for the treatment of biliary tract cancers, scrutiny of oncologic outcomes is required.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The impact of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) on outcomes for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients given multimodality therapy (MMT) remains undefined. We sought to evaluate the association of PBT with survival after PDAC resection. METHODS Pancreatectomy patients (July 2011-December 2017) who received MMT were abstracted from a prospective database. Overall survival (OS) was compared by PBT within 30 days, 24 h (24HR-BT), or 24 h until 30 days (Postop-BT). RESULTS Most (76.6%) of 312 MMT patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy (NT). Eighty-nine patients (28.5%) received PBT; 58 (18.6%) 24HR-BT, and 31 (9.9%) Postop-BT. Compared with surgery-first, NT patients received more 24HR-BTs (22.2% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.003) and PBTs overall (32.6% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.004). Overall median OS was 45 months. The association of PBT with shorter median OS appeared limited to first 24-h transfusions (34 months 24HR-BT vs. 48 months Postop-BT vs. 53 months no-PBT, p = 0.009) and was dose-dependent, with a median OS of 52 months for 0 units 24HR-BT, 35 months for 1 unit, and 25 months for ≥2 units (p = 0.004). Independent predictors of OS included node-positivity (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.93, p

Recent studies defined a potentially important role of the microbiome in modulating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and responses to therapies. We hypothesized that antibiotic usage may predict outcomes in patients with PDAC. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of patients with resectable or metastatic PDAC seen at MD Anderson Cancer from 2003 to 2017. Demographic, chemotherapy regimen and antibiotic use, duration, type, and reason for indication were recorded. A total of 580 patients with PDAC were studied, 342 resected and 238 metastatic patients, selected retrospectively from our database. Antibiotic use, for longer than 48 hrs, was detected in 209 resected patients (61%) and 195 metastatic ones (62%). On resectable patients, we did not find differences in overall survival (OS) or progression‐free survival (PFS), based on antibiotic intake. However, in the metastatic cohort, antibiotic consumption was associated with a significantly longer OS (13.3 months vs. 9.0 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34–0.7, p = 0.0001) and PFS (4.4 months vs. 2 months, HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.34–0.68, p =, We have analyzed the effect of antibiotics’ intake on two cohorts of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, resectable, and metastatic. We have found that on the metastatic cohort, antibiotics use was significantly associated with better outcomes, particularly, on patients that received gemcitabine based‐chemotherapy as the first line.

Background The objective of this study was to assess current perceptions surrounding opioid prescribing in surgical oncology to inform perioperative quality improvement initiatives. Methods After the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) approval, a survey was distributed to its membership. Five sample procedures were used to assess provider perceptions and prescribing habits. Data were summarized and compared by self-reported demographics. Results One hundred and seventy-five participants completed the survey: 149 (85%) faculty, 24 (14%) trainees, and 2 (1%) advanced practice providers. Most participants (76%) practiced in academic programs and 21% practiced in non-US locations. Few differences were identified based on clinical role, academic rank, or practice years. Compared with non-US providers, US providers expected higher pain scores at discharge, recommended greater opioid prescriptions, and estimated more days of opioid use for almost every procedure. More non-US providers believed discharge opioids should not be distributed to patients who are opioid-free in their last 24 inpatient hours (80% vs 50%, P = .001). All providers ranked education as "very important" for reducing opioid prescriptions. Conclusions Compared with their international counterparts, US surgical oncology providers expected greater opioid needs and recommended higher prescription numbers. Educating providers on multimodal opioid-sparing bundles, accelerated weaning protocols, and standardized discharge prescribing habits could have a positive impact the US opioid epidemic.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide but with an approximate 5-year survival of greater than 50% in patients after surgical resection. Survival estimates have limited utility for patients who have survived several years after initial treatment. We analyzed how conditional survival (CS) after curative-intent surgery for HCC predicts survival estimates over time. METHODS: NCDB(2004–2014) was queried for patients undergoing definitive surgical resection for HCC. Cumulative overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and conditional survival (CS) at x years after diagnosis was calculated as CS(1) = OS ((X+5)) / OS ((X)). RESULTS: Final analysis encompassed 11,357 patients. Age, negative margin status, grade severity and radiation prior to surgery were statistically significant predictors of cumulative overall conditional survival (p≤0.0001). Overall unconditional 5-year survival was 65.7%, but CS estimates were higher. A patient who has already survived 3 years has an additional 2-year, or 5-year CS, estimate of 86.96%. CONCLUSION: Survival estimates following hepatic resection in HCC patients change according to survival time accrued since surgery. CS estimates are improved relative to unconditional OS. The impact of different variables influencing OS is likewise non-linear over the course of time after surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Venous patency rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with portal vein (PV) resection are not well established, and the oncologic impact of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to determine rates and predictors of PVT after PD with PV resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed on PDAC patients treated with preoperative therapy and PD with PV resection at a high-volume institution (2008-15). Primary outcomes were early and late PVT (≤ or >90 days of surgery). Secondary outcomes included major complications and OS. RESULTS Patients undergoing vein resection (N = 120) included 41.7% (N = 50) primary repair or patch venoplasty, 29.2% (N = 35) primary anastomosis, and 29.2% (N = 35) interposition graft. Thirty-four (28.3%) patients developed PVT (early 7.5% [N = 9]; late 20.8% [N = 25]). Late PVT was often detected concurrently with local recurrence (76.0%; N = 19). There was no association of PVT with vascular resection extent or complications (P > 0.05). On multivariable analysis, PVT was associated with worse OS (HR 2.2 [95% CI 1.34-3.5], P

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE To understand the influence of age and comorbidities, this study analyzed the incidence and risk factors for post-hepatectomy morbidity/mortality in patients with "borderline" (BL) operability, defined by the preoperative factors: age ≥75 years, dependent function, lung disease, ascites/varices, myocardial infarction, stroke, steroids, weight loss >10%, and/or sepsis. METHODS All elective hepatectomies were identified in the 2005-2013 ACS-NSQIP database. Predictors of 30-day morbidity/mortality in BL patients were analyzed. RESULTS A 3,574/15,920 (22.4%) patients met BL criteria. Despite non-BL and BL patients undergoing similar magnitude hepatectomies (P > 0.4), BL patients had higher severe complication (SC, 23.3% vs. 15.3%) and mortality rates (3.7% vs. 1.2%, P 3 (odds ratio, OR - 1.29), smoking (OR - 1.41), albumin 1 (OR - 2.21), operative time >240 min (OR - 1.58), additional colorectal procedure (OR - 1.78), and concurrent procedure (OR - 1.73, all P

The putative goal of surveillance is the early detection of recurrence while both the cancer and patient are still treatable. To be cost and clinically effective, surveillance requires a tailored approach based on stage, tumor biology, conditional survival, and available treatment options. Although surveillance is the major component of care for cancer patients after potentially curative treatment, current guidelines for surveillance lack the high-level data seen on the treatment side of the patient care continuum. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:329-335. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Long-term results of the ESPAC-3 trial suggest that while completing adjuvant therapy (AT) is necessary after resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), early initiation (within 8 weeks) may not be associated with improved overall survival (OS). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the OS impact of early versus late AT in a statewide analysis. Methods Patients with stages I–III PDAC in the Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) from 2004 to 2013, were evaluated. Those undergoing pancreatectomy were stratified into two groups (“early,”

Background We evaluated the role of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) during radical resection of locally advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods We retrospectively evaluated all patients with CRC treated with IORT at our institution from 2001 to 2010. IORT was delivered using high-dose-rate brachytherapy (median 12.5-Gy). We analyzed factors associated with postoperative morbidity, local control (LC), and overall survival (OS). Results One hundred patients were evaluated with 70% received IORT for recurrent tumors. R0 resection rate was 58%. Postoperative Grade ≥3 complications (33%) were independently associated with transfusions ≥3 units packed red blood cells (P = 0.016) and body mass index (BMI) ≥35 (P = 0.0499). Eighty-two patients underwent external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) before IORT. Five-year LC was 94%, for primary and 56%, for recurrent tumors, respectively (P = 0.007). Microscopic positive (R1) margins were not associated with LC (P = 0.316). BMI ≥30 (P = 0.048) and post-discharge complications (P = 0.041) were independent risk factors for worse LC. Median post-IORT OS was 67.7 (95% CI 51.1–84.3) months for all patients. Conclusion For patients with primary or recurrent locally advanced CRC, treatment with radical surgery and IORT achieved excellent LC outcomes irrespective of microscopic margin status. IORT may be indicated for tumors suspected to have close or positive microscopic margins. J. Surg. Oncol 2014; 109:652–658. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.