Indocyanine green:The guide to safer and more effective surgery

In this editorial we comment on the article by Kalayarasan and co-workers published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.The authors present an interesting review on the use of indocyanine green fluo-rescence in different aspects of abdominal surgery.They also highlight future perspectives of the use of indocyanine green in mini-invasive surgery.Indo-cyanine green,used for fluorescence imaging,has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is safe for use in humans.It can be administered in-travenously or intra-arterially.Since its advent,there have been several advance-ments in the applications of indocyanine green,especially in the surgical field,such as intraoperative mapping and biopsy of sentinel lymph node,measurement of hepatic function prior to resection,in neurosurgical cases to detect vascular anomalies,in cardiovascular cases for patency and assessment of vascular ab-normalities,in predicting healing following amputations,in helping visualization of hepatobiliary anatomy and blood vessels,in reconstructive surgery,to assess flap viability and for the evaluation of tissue perfusion following major trauma and burns.For these reasons,the intraoperative use of indocyanine green has become common in a variety of surgical specialties and transplant surgery.Co-lorectal surgery has just lately begun to adopt this technique,particularly for perfusion visualization to prevent anastomotic leakage.The regular use of in-docyanine green coupled with fluorescence angiography has recently been pro-posed as a feasible tool to help improve patient outcomes.Using the best available data,it has been shown that routine use of indocyanine green in colorectal surgery reduces the rates of anastomotic leak.The use of indocyanine green is proven to be safe,feasible,and effective in both elective and emergency scenarios.However,additional robust evidence from larger-scale,high-quality studies is essential before incorporating indocyanine green guided surgery into standard practice.

New direction for surgery:Super minimally invasive surgery

The top goal of modern medicine is treating disease without destroying organ structures and making patients as healthy as they were before their sickness.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)has dominated the surgical realm because of its lesser invasiveness.However,changes in anatomical structures of the body and reconstruction of internal organs or different organs are common after traditional surgery or MIS,decreasing the quality of life of patients post-operation.Thus,I propose a new treatment mode,super MIS(SMIS),which is defined as“curing a disease or lesion which used to be treated by MIS while preserving the integrity of the organs”.In this study,I describe the origin,definition,operative channels,advantages,and future perspectives of SMIS.

Transurethral prostate surgery in prostate cancer patients: A population-based comparative analysis of complication and mortality rates

Objective:Prostate cancer(PCa)patients might experience lower urinary tract symptoms as those diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).Some of them might be treated for their lower urinary tract symptoms instead of PCa.We aimed to test the effect of PCa versus BPH on surgical outcomes after transurethral prostate surgery,namely complication and mortality rates.Methods:Within the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database(2011-2016),we identified patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate,photoselective vaporization,or laser enucleation.Patients were stratified according to postoperative diagnosis(PCa vs.BPH).Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the predictors of perioperative morbidity and mortality.A formal test of interaction between diagnosis and surgical technique used was performed.Results:Overall,34542 patients were included.Of all,2008(5.8%)had a diagnosis of PCa.The multivariable logistic regression model failed to show statistically significant higher rates of postoperative complications in PCa patients(odds ratio:0.9,95%confidence interval:0.7-1.1;p=0.252).Moreover,similar rates of perioperative mortality(p=0.255),major acute cardiovascular events(p=0.581),transfusions(p=0.933),and length of stay of more than or equal to 30 days(p=0.174)were found.Additionally,all tests failed to show an interaction between post-operative diagnosis and surgical technique used.Conclusion:Patients diagnosed with PCa do not experience higher perioperative morbidity or mortality after transurethral prostate surgery when compared to their BPH counterparts.Moreover,the diagnosis seems to not influence surgical technique outcomes.

Managerial perspectives of scaling up robotic-assisted surgery in healthcare systems:A systematic literature review

Objectives Robotic-assisted surgery(RAS)is a minimally invasive technique practiced in multiple specialties.Standard training is essential for the acquisition of RAS skills.The cost of RAS is considered to be high,which makes it a burden for institutes and unaffordable for patients.This systematic literature review(SLR)focused on the various RAS training methods applied in different surgical specialties,as well as the cost elements of RAS,and was to summarize the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling up RAS.Methods An SLR was carried out based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.The PubMed,EBSCO,and Scopus databases were searched for reports from January 2018 through January 2024.Full-text reviews and research articles in the English language from Asia-Pacific countries were included.Articles that outlined training and costs associated with RAS were chosen.Results The most common training system is the da Vinci system.The simulation technique,which includes dry-lab,wet-lab,and virtual reality training,was found to be a common and important practice.The cost of RAS encompasses the installation and maintenance costs of the robotic system,the operation theatre rent,personnel cost,surgical instrument and material cost,and other miscellaneous charges.The synthesis of SLR revealed the challenges and opportunities regarding RAS training and cost.Conclusions The results of this SLR will help stakeholders such as decision-makers,influencers,and end users of RAS to understand the significance of training and cost in scaling up RAS from a managerial perspective.For any healthcare innovation to reach a vast population,cost-effectiveness and standard training are crucial.

Does enhanced recovery after surgery programs improve clinical outcomes in liver cancer surgery?

Enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)programs have been widely applied in liver surgery since the publication of the first ERAS guidelines in 2016 and the new recommendations in 2022.Liver surgery is usually performed in oncological patients(liver metastasis,hepatocellular carcinoma,cholangiocarcinoma,etc.),but the real impact of liver surgery ERAS programs in oncological outcomes is not clearly defined.Theoretical advantages of ERAS programs are:ERAS decreases postoperative complication rates and has been demonstrated a clear relationship between complications and oncological outcomes;a better and faster posto-perative recovery should let oncologic teams begin chemotherapeutic regimens on time;prehabilitation and nutrition actions before surgery should also improve the performance status of the patients receiving chemotherapy.So,ERAS could be another way to improve our oncological results.We will discuss the literature about liver surgery ERAS focusing on its oncological implications and future investigations projects.

Safety and feasibility of enhanced recovery after surgery-based management model for ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures

BACKGROUND There is still some room for optimizing ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures,and the preoperative and postoperative management quality for pediatric patients needs to be improved.AIM To discuss the safety and feasibility of the enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)-based management model for ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures.METHODS We selected 320 pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery from June 2023 to January 2024 at The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.Of these,220 received ERAS-based management(research group)and 100 received routine management(control group).General information,postoperative ambulation activities,surgical outcomes(operation time,postoperative gastro-intestinal ventilation time,and hospital stay),postoperative pain visual analogue scale,postoperative complications(incision infection,abdominal distension,fever,nausea,and vomiting),and family satisfaction were compared.RESULTS The general information of the research group(sex,age,disease type,single parent,family history,etc.)was comparable to that of the control group(P>0.05),but the rate of postoperative(2 h,4 h,and 6 h after surgery)ambulation activities was statistically higher(P<0.01),and operation time,postoperative gastrointestinal ventilation time,and hospital stay were markedly shorter(P<0.05).The research group had lower visual analogue scale scores(P<0.01)at 12 h and 24 h after surgery and a lower incidence of total postoperative complications than the control group(P=0.001).The research group had higher family satisfaction than the control group(P=0.007).CONCLUSION The ERAS-based management model was safe and feasible in ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures and worthy of clinical promotion.

Exploring the landscape of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery: Progress, challenges, and future directions

Minimally invasive surgery(MI)has become the standard of care for many surgical procedures aimed at reducing the burden on patients.However,its adoption in pancreatic surgery(PS)has been limited by the pancreas’s unique location and the complexity of the dissection and reconstruction phases.These factors continue to contribute to PS having one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates in general surgery.Despite a rough start,MIPS has gained widespread acceptance in clinical practice recently.Robust evidence supports MI distal pancreatectomy safety,even in oncological cases,indicating its potential superiority over open surgery.However,definitive evidence of MI pancre-aticoduodenectomy(MIPD)feasibility and safety,particularly for malignant lesions,is still lacking.Nonetheless,reports from high-volume centers are emer-ging,suggesting outcomes comparable to those of the open approach.The robotic PS increasing adoption,facilitated by the wider availability of robotic platforms,may further facilitate the transition to MIPD by overcoming the technical con-straints associated with laparoscopy and accelerating the learning curve.Alth-ough the MIPS implementation process cannot be stopped in this evolving world,ensuring patient safety through strict outcome monitoring is critical.Investing in younger surgeons with structured and recognized training programs can promote safe expansion.

Trend of robot-assisted surgery system in gastrointestinal and liver surgery: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND Robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery has been an important development direction in the field of surgery in recent years and it is also one of the fastest developing and most concerning fields in surgical operations.AIM To illustrate the major areas of research and forward-looking directions over the past twenty-six years.METHODS Using the Web of Science Core Collection database,a comprehensive review of scholarly articles pertaining to robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery was researched out between 2000 and 2023.We used Citespace(Version 6.2.4)and Bibliometrix package(Version 4.3.0)to visualize the analysis of all publications including country,institutional affiliations,authors,and keywords.RESULTS In total,346 articles were retrieved.Surgical Endoscopy had with the largest number of publications and was cited in this field.The United States was a core research country in this field.Yonsei University was the most productive institution.The current focus of this field is on rectal surgery,long-term prognosis,perioperative management,previous surgical experience,and the learning curve.CONCLUSION The scientific interest in robot-assisted gastrointestinal and liver surgery has experienced a significant rise since 1997.This study provides new perspectives and ideas for future research in this field.

Impact of fast-track surgery on perioperative care in patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery

BACKGROUND Fast-track surgery(FTS)is a modern nursing approach that has gained popularity in the perioperative phase of surgery.AIM To investigate the impact of FTS on perioperative care for hepatobiliary surgery.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 98 patients who underwent hepato-biliary surgery and were admitted to our hospital from August 2021 to October 2023.They were divided into an observation group and a control group with 49 patients in each group according to different nursing directions.The control group was treated with standard nursing and the observation group was treated with FTS concept nursing.The length of hospital stay,visual analog scale(VAS)score,wound complications,nursing satisfaction,self-rating scale(SAS)score,and SF-36 quality of life(QoL)score were compared between the two groups before and after care.RESULTS The duration of hospitalization,hospitalization cost,operation time,first im-plantation time,exhaust time,and first defecation time were shorter than the observation group(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group showed a sig-nificant difference between the VAS and SAS scores on days 1,3,and 7(P<0.05).The complication rate in the observation group was 4.05%was significantly lower than the 18.36%in the control group,and the comparison groups were statistically significant(χ2=5.018,P=0.025).The observation group had a significantly higher level of nurse satisfaction(94.92%)than the control group(79.59%;χ2=6.078,P=0.014).Both groups showed higher QoL scores after nursing care,with higher scores in the observation group than in the control group(P=0.032).CONCLUSION FTS in patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery can effectively improve negative mood,QoL,and nursing sa-tisfaction;reduce wound complications;and accelerate patient rehabilitation.

Comparative study on the efficacy of transoral robotic surgery and non-robotic surgery for tongue base tumors

Objective:To compare the efficacy of transoral robotic surgery(TORS)and non-robotic surgery(NRS)in the treatment of tongue base tumors.Methods:A total of 45 patients with tongue base tumors treated in our hospital were selected,and they were divided into the TORS group and NRS group according to different surgical methods.The surgical indicators and postoperative complications of patients in the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:Compared with the NRS group,the operative time,bleeding volume and length of hospital stay were less in the TORS group,and the postoperative recurrence rate was less in the TORS group than that in the NRS group.The incidence rate of dysphagia and restricted mouth opening in the TORS group was lower than that in the NRS group within 30 d after surgery,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:TORS has better minimally invasive advantages in the treatment of tongue base tumors,including less intraoperative bleeding,smaller trauma,shorter length of hospital stay and faster recovery.

Bariatric surgery and diabetes:Current challenges and perspectives

Diabetes mellitus(DM)and obesity have become public issues of global concern.Bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity combined with type 2 DM has been shown to be a safe and effective approach;however,there are limited studies that have systematically addressed the challenges of surgical treatment of obesity combined with DM.In this review,we summarize and answer the most pressing questions in the field of surgical treatment of obesity-associated DM.I believe that our insights will be of great help to clinicians in their daily practice.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in the perioperative period in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To investigate the potential enhancement of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)in postoperative recovery in elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 85 elderly NSCLC patients who underwent ERAS(the ERAS group)and 327 elderly NSCLC patients who received routine care(the control group)after VATS at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between May 2015 and April 2017.After propensity score matching of baseline data,we analysed the postoperative stay,total hospital expenses,postoperative 48-h pain score,and postoperative complication rate for the 2 groups of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.RESULTS After propensity score matching,ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay(6.96±4.16 vs 8.48±4.18 d,P=0.001)and total hospital expenses(48875.27±18437.5 vs 55497.64±21168.63 CNY,P=0.014)and improved the satisfaction score(79.8±7.55 vs 77.35±7.72,P=0.029)relative to those for routine care.No significant between-group difference was observed in postoperative 48-h pain score(4.68±1.69 vs 5.28±2.1,P=0.090)or postoperative complication rate(21.2%vs 27.1%,P=0.371).Subgroup analysis showed that ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and increased the satisfaction score of patients who underwent lobectomy but not of patients who underwent sublobar resection.CONCLUSION ERAS effectively reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and improved the satisfaction score in the perioperative period for elderly NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy but not for patients who underwent sublobar resection.

Performance in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery: Does it reflect global rating scales in the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills in porcine laparoscopic surgery?

Objective:To correlate the utility of the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery(FLS)manual skills program with the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills(OSATS)global rating scale in evaluating operative performance.Methods:The Asian Urological Surgery Training and Educational Group(AUSTEG)Laparoscopic Upper Tract Surgery Course implemented and validated the FLS program for its usage in laparoscopic surgical training.Delegates’basic laparoscopic skills were assessed using three different training models(peg transfer,precision cutting,and intra-corporeal suturing).They also performed live porcine laparoscopic surgery at the same workshop.Live surgery skills were assessed by blinded faculty using the OSATS rating scale.Results:From March 2016 to March 2019,a total of 81 certified urologists participated in the course,with a median of 5 years of post-residency experience.Although differences in task time did not reach statistical significance,those with more surgical experience were visibly faster at completing the peg transfer and intra-corporeal suturing FLS tasks.However,they took longer to complete the precision cutting task than participants with less experience.Overall OSATS scores correlated weakly with all three FLS tasks(peg transfer time:r=0.331,r^(2)=0.110;precision cutting time:r=0.240,r^(2)=0.058;suturing with intracorporeal knot time:r=0.451,r^(2)=0.203).Conclusion:FLS task parameters did not correlate strongly with OSATS globing rating scale performance.Although FLS task models demonstrated strong validity,it is important to assimilate the inconsistencies when benchmarking technical proficiency against real-life operative competence,as evaluated by FLS and OSATS,respectively.

Initial Experience of NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Surgery in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Optical imaging in the second near-infrared(NIR-II;900-1880 nm)window is currently a popular research topic in the field of biomedical imaging.This study aimed to explore the application value of NIR-II fluorescence imaging in foot and ankle surgeries.A lab-established NIR-II fluorescence surgical navigation system was developed and used to navigate foot and ankle surgeries which enabled obtaining more high-spatial-frequency information and a higher signal-to-background ratio(SBR)in NIR-II fluorescence images compared to NIR-I fluorescence images;our result demonstrates that NIR-II imaging could provide higher-contrast and larger-depth images to surgeons.Three types of clinical application scenarios(diabetic foot,calcaneal fracture,and lower extremity trauma)were included in this study.Using the NIR-II fluorescence imaging technique,we observed the ischemic region in the diabetic foot before morphological alterations,accurately determined the boundary of the ischemic region in the surgical incision,and fully assessed the blood supply condition of the flap.NIR-II fluorescence imaging can help surgeons precisely judge surgical margins,detect ischemic lesions early,and dynamically trace the perfusion process.We believe that portable and reliable NIR-II fluorescence imaging equipment and additional functional fluorescent probes can play crucial roles in precision surgery.

Pattern of colorectal surgery and long-term survival:10-year experience from a single center

BACKGROUND The incidence of colorectal cancer(CRC)has increased in recent decades,and ranks fourth among males and third among females in China.Surgical resection remains the most important treatment modality for curative intent in CRC.Several studies found that surgeon volumes and specialization appeared to be associated with improved overall survival(OS).Moreover,numerous reports have suggested that specialization and minimally invasive surgery have gained increased popularity in CRC surgery.However,few studies have specifically examined the role and long-term survival of all stage CRC in a real-world study.AIM To evaluate the effect of surgeon specialization on survival changes and minimally invasive surgery utilization in a real world study.METHODS A retrospective analysis on the association between surgeon specialization and OS between 2008 and 2013 in Zhongshan Hospital CRC database was performed.Standard demographic,clinicopathologic,surgical and follow-up data were obtained from the CRC database.Surgeon specialty was categorized as colorectal surgeon(CS)and general surgeon(GS).CRC patients who underwent primary surgical resection were enrolled.RESULTS A total of 5141 CRC patients who underwent primary surgical resection between 2008 and 2013 were evaluated,1748(34.0%)of these by CS.The percentage of minimally invasive procedures in the CS group showed an increasing trend.There was no benefit associated with surgeon specialization for stage I,II and IV patients.Surgeon specialization exhibited a significant association with OS solely among stage III patients,with 5-year OS rates of 76%and 67%for the CS and GSgroups,respectively(P<0.01).Further analyses found that surgeon specialization was significantly associated with survival only in stage III rectal patients,and the 5-year OS rate in the CS group and GS group was 80%and 67%,respectively(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Surgeon specialization is associated with improved OS after primary surgery in stage III rectal patients.An appropriate surgical technique,perioperative program and adjuvant therapy may contribute to survival benefit in these patients.

Current clinical trials on gastric cancer surgery in China

Gastric cancer(GC)is the leading diagnosed malignancy worldwide,especially in China.Radical surgery is the cornerstone of GC treatment.We reviewed previous clinical trials and aimed to provide an update on the factors related to the surgical treatment of GC.The number of registered clinical trials in the field of GC surgery is rapidly increasing.With the development and popularization of endoscopic,laparoscopic,and robotic techniques,GC surgery has gradually entered a new era of precise minimally invasive surgery.Postoperative quality of life has become a major issue in addition to surgical oncological safety.Although great progress has been made in clinical research on GC in China,there are still deficiencies.Many studies enrolled large numbers of patients,but the research data were not of high quality.The characteristics of GC in China include a high incidence,large population,and large proportion of patients with advanced GC,which provides sufficient reason for studying this disease.There is still a need for well-designed,large,randomized clinical trials to improve our knowledge of the surgical treatment of GC.

Parallel pathways:A chronicle of evolution in rectal and breast cancer surgery

In this editorial,we have analyzed the historical evolution of rectal and breast cancer surgery,focusing on the progressive reduction of demolitive approaches and the increasing use of more conservative strategies,accompanied by a growing emphasis on perioperative treatments aimed at enhancing surgical outcomes.All of these changes have been made possible due to an increased awareness and understanding of oncological diseases and improved perioperative treatments.

Enhanced recovery after surgery:Progress in adapted pathways for implementation in standard and emerging surgical settings

The concept of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)has been practiced for decades and has been implemented in numerous surgical specialties.ERAS is a global surgical quality improvement initiative,and it is an element in the field of perioperative care.ERAS had shown significant clinical outcomes,patientreported satisfaction,and improvements in medical service cost.ERAS has been developed for specific surgical procedures,but with the fast progress of newly introduced surgical procedures,the original ERAS have been developed and modified.Recently appearing Topics and future research trends encompass ERAS protocols for other types of surgery and the enhancement of perioperative status,including but not limited to pediatric surgery,laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgery,bariatric surgery,thoracic surgery,and renal transplantation.The elements and pathways of ERAS have been developed with the introduction of up-to-date methodologies in the pre-operative,operative,and post-operative pathways.ERAS costs are higher than traditional care,but the patient’s clinical outcome and satisfaction are higher.ERAS is in progress in the fields of anesthetic tasks,pediatric surgery,and organ transplantation.Although ERAS has shown significant clinical outcomes,there are needs to modify the protocol for specific cases,hospital facilities,resources,and nurses training on elements of ERAS.Several challenges and limitations exist in the implementation of ERAS that deserve consideration,it includes:Frailty,maximizing nutrition,prehabilitation,treating preoperative anemia,and enhancing ERAS adoption globally are all included.

Quality of life and functional capacity in patients after cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis are prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide,leading to morbidity and mortality.Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG)and surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)have therapeutic benefits,including improved postoperative quality of life(QoL)and enhanced patient functional capacity which are key indicators of cardiac surgery outcome.In this article,we review the latest studies of QoL outcomes and functional capacity in patients who underwent cardiac surgery.Many standardized instruments are used to evaluate QoL and functional conditions.Preoperative health status,age,length of intensive care unit stay,operative risk,type of procedure,and other pre-,intra-,and postoperative factors affect postoperative QoL.Elderly patients experience impaired physical status soon after cardiac surgery,but it improves in the following period.CABG and SAVR are associated with increases of physical and mental health and functional capacity in the immediate postoperative and the long long-term.Cardiac rehabilitation improves patient functional capacity,QoL,and frailty following cardiac surgery.

Don’t forget emergency surgery! Lessons to learn from elective indocyanine green-guided gastrointestinal interventions

Fluorescence-based imaging has found application in several fields of elective surgery,but there is still a lack of evidence in the literature about its use in the emergency setting.Clinical trials have consistently shown that indocyanine green(ICG)-guided surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of postoperative complic-ations,length of in-hospital stay and total healthcare costs in the elective setting.It is well-known that emergency surgery has a higher complication rate than its elective counterpart,therefore an impelling need for research studies to explore,validate and develop this issue has been highlighted.The present editorial aims to provide a critical overview of currently available applications and pitfalls of ICG fluorescence in abdominal emergencies.Furthermore,we evidenced how the experience of ICG-fluorescence in elective surgery might be of great help in implementing its use in acute situations.In the first paragraph we analyzed the tips and tricks of ICG-guided cancer surgery that might be exploited in acute cases.We then deepened the two most described topics in ICG-guided emergency surgery:Acute cholecystitis and intestinal ischemia,focusing on both the advantages and limitations of green-fluorescence application in these two fields.In emergency situations,ICG fluorescence demonstrates a promising role in preventing undue intestinal resections or their entity,facilitating the detection of intestinal ischemic zones,identifying biliary tree anatomy,reducing post-operative complications,and mitigating high mortality rates.The need to improve its application still exists,therefore we strongly believe that the elective and routinary use of the dye is the best way to acquire the necessary skills for emer-gency procedures.