Surgical intervention combined with weight-bearing walking training promotes recovery in patients with chronic spinal cord injury:a randomized controlled study

For patients with chronic spinal cord injury,the co nventional treatment is rehabilitation and treatment of spinal cord injury complications such as urinary tract infection,pressure sores,osteoporosis,and deep vein thrombosis.Surgery is rarely perfo rmed on spinal co rd injury in the chronic phase,and few treatments have been proven effective in chronic spinal cord injury patients.Development of effective therapies fo r chronic spinal co rd injury patients is needed.We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial in patients with chronic complete thoracic spinal co rd injury to compare intensive rehabilitation(weight-bearing walking training)alone with surgical intervention plus intensive rehabilitation.This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT02663310).The goal of surgical intervention was spinal cord detethering,restoration of cerebrospinal fluid flow,and elimination of residual spinal cord compression.We found that surgical intervention plus weight-bearing walking training was associated with a higher incidence of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement,reduced spasticity,and more rapid bowel and bladder functional recovery than weight-bearing walking training alone.Overall,the surgical procedures and intensive rehabilitation were safe.American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement was more common in T7-T11 injuries than in T2-T6 injuries.Surgery combined with rehabilitation appears to have a role in treatment of chronic spinal cord injury patients.

Role of surgical intervention in managing gastrointestinal metastases from lung cancer

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of late-stage lung cancer patients with gastrointestinal(GI)-tract metastases,focusing on therapeutic options and outcomes.METHODS:Our institution(the National Taiwan University Hospital) diagnosed 8159 patients with lung cancer between 1987 and 2008,of which 21 developed symptomatic GI metastases.This study reviewed all of the patients' information,including survival data,pathological reports,and surgical notes.RESULTS:The most common histological type of lung cancer was adenocarcinoma,and 0.26% of patients with lung cancer developed GI metastases.The median duration from lung cancer diagnosis to GI metastases was three months(range,0-108 mo),and the average time from diagnosis of GI metastasis to death was 2.8 mo.Most patients with symptomatic gastric and/or duodenal metastases exhibited GI bleeding and were diagnosed by panendoscopy.In contrast,small bowel metastases typically presented as an acute abdomen and were not diagnosed until laparotomy.All patients with small bowel or colonic metastases underwent surgical intervention,and their perioperative mortality was 22%.Our data revealed a therapeutic effect in patients with solitary GI metastasis and a favorable palliative effect on survival when metastases were diagnosed preoperatively.In patients with multiple GI metastases,the presentation varied according to the locations of the metastases.CONCLUSION:Surgical treatment is worthwhile in a select group of patients with bowel perforation or obstruction.Physicians should be more alert to symptoms or signs indicating GI metastases.

Surgical intervention combined with weight-bearing walking training improves neurological recoveries in 320 patients with clinically complete spinal cord injury:a prospective self-controlled study

Although a large number of trials in the SCI field have been conducted,few proven gains have been realized for patients.In the present study,we determined the efficacy of a novel combination treatment involving surgical intervention and long-term weight-bearing walking training in spinal cord injury(SCI)subjects clinically diagnosed as complete or American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale(AIS)Class A(AIS-A).A total of 320 clinically complete SCI subjects(271 male and 49 female),aged 16–60 years,received early(≤7 days,n=201)or delayed(8–30 days,n=119)surgical interventions to reduce intraspinal or intramedullary pressure.Fifteen days post-surgery,all subjects received a weight-bearing walking training with the“Kunming Locomotion Training Program(KLTP)”for a duration of 6 months.The neurological deficit and recovery were assessed using the AIS scale and a 10-point Kunming Locomotor Scale(KLS).We found that surgical intervention significantly improved AIS scores measured at 15 days post-surgery as compared to the pre-surgery baseline scores.Significant improvement of AIS scores was detected at 3 and 6 months and the KLS further showed significant improvements between all pair-wise comparisons of time points of 15 days,3 or 6 months indicating continued improvement in walking scores during the 6-month period.In conclusion,combining surgical intervention within 1 month post-injury and weight-bearing locomotor training promoted continued and statistically significant neurological recoveries in subjects with clinically complete SCI,which generally shows little clinical recovery within the first year after injury and most are permanently disabled.This study was approved by the Science and Research Committee of Kunming General Hospital of PLA and Kunming Tongren Hospital,China and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(Identifier:NCT04034108)on July 26,2019.

Extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm: Two case reports of surgical intervention

We report two cases of extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm,and both of them underwent surgical intervention. The first case had a mild pain in right upper quadrant of the abdomen; the second had no obvious symptoms. Physical examination revealed nothing abnormal. Both of them were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging angiography (MRA). One of the aneurysms was located at the main portal vein, the other, at the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein, and these two places are exactly the most common locations of the extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm reported in the literature (30.7% each site). The first case underwent aneurysmorrhaphy and the second case, aneurysm resection with splenectomy. Both of them recovered soon after the operation, and the symptom of the first case was greatly alleviated. During the follow-up of half a year, no complication and adverse effect of surgical intervention was found and the color Doppler ultrasonography revealed no recurrence of the aneurysmal dilation. We suggest that surgical intervention can alleviate the symptom of the extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm and prevent its complications effectively and safely for low risk patients.

Immediate Surgical Intervention for Penile Fracture: a Case Report and Literature Review

PENILE fracture is a critical urological emergency, which is caused by the rupture of the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum following blunt trauma to the erect penis. Traumatic injuries of the penis often occur in the erected state.1 Due to the possible embarrassment, this condition has been under- reported. Typically, the patient reports a snap or cracking sound accompanied by sharp pain and rapid penile detu- mescence, followed by immediate development of swelling and angulation.2 The common causes include direct injuries, forceful masturbation, or vigorous sexual intercourse.3 Most injuries to the penis need immediate surgical treatment. Here we report a case of penile fracture caused by traumatic injury.

Associations between SARS-CoV-2 infections and thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Several unique clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the cause of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection,have been identified and characterized.One such feature,mostly among patients with severe COVID-19 infection,has become known as COVID-19-induced coagulopathy.Surgical patients with a history of or active COVID-19 infection bear a significantly higher risk for postoperative thrombotic complications.These patients may require surgical intervention to treat severe thrombotic complications.Few studies have been carried out to better characterize this association.The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on COVID-19 infections that led to thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention.We hypothesized that patients with recent or active COVID-19 infection would have high rates of thromboembolic complications both arterial and venous in origin.AIM To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on COVID-19 infections that led to thrombotic complications necessitating surgical intervention.METHODS The current systematic review implemented an algorithmic approach to review all the currently available English medical literature on surgical interventions necessitated by COVID-19 thrombotic complications using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and metaanalysis principles.A comprehensive search of the medical literature in the“PubMed”,“Scopus”,“Google Scholar”top 100 results,and archives of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was performed using the key words“COVID-19”AND“surgery”AND“thromboembolism”AND“complication”.The search string was generated and the records which were not specific about surgical interventions or thrombotic complications due to COVID-19 infection were excluded.Titles and abstracts were screened by two authors and full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and inclusion.Finally,results were further refined to focus on articles that focused on surgical interventions that were necessitated by COVID-19 thrombotic complications.RESULTS The database search resulted in the final inclusion of 22 retrospective studies,after application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria.Of the included studies,17 were single case reports,3 were case series and 2 were cross sectional cohort studies.All studies were retrospective in nature.Twelve of the reported studies were conducted in the United States of America,with the remaining studies originating from Italy,Turkey,Pakistan,France,Serbia,and Germany.All cases reported in our study were laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive.A total of 70 cases involving surgical intervention were isolated from the 22 studies included in this review.CONCLUSION There is paucity of data describing the relationship between COVID-19 infection and thrombotic complications necessitating the need for surgical intervention.Intestinal ischemia and acute limb ischemia are amongst the most common thrombotic events due to COVID-19 that required operative management.An overall postoperative mortality of 30%was found in those who underwent operative procedures for thrombotic complications,with most deaths occurring in those with bowel ischemia.Physicians should be aware that despite thromboprophylaxis,severe thrombotic complications can still occur in this patient population,however,surgical intervention results in relatively low mortality apart from cases of ischemic bowel resection.

Case Report: Intracardiac Mass, the Importance of Early Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention

Background: Cardiac masses are not rare findings;they can be primary or secondary. The differential diagnosis may need surgical intervention in most cases. Case summary: A 42-year female presented with complaints of dyspnea, palpitations, ventricular premature beats, attacks of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed a myocardial septal mass on both sides in the right and left ventricles. The decision to operate was taken and the masses were removed. It was proved by histopathologic examination to be metastatic from her skin melanoma. Clinically, arrhythmias subsided. Conclusion: The decision of surgery proved unavoidable. Early diagnosis by surgical intervention is important for effective treatment.

Outcome analysis of surgical interventions for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of 2 surgical interventions for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF).Methods Sixty-five patients with OVGF from March 2005 to March 2009 were included in this clinical study.They

Timing of individualized surgical intervention in Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with an increasing incidence worldwide.Comprehensive therapy for CD focuses on symptom control and healing the intestinal mucosa to improve the quality of life and prevent complications.Surgical intervention plays a vital role in comprehensive therapy.However,deciding the optimal timing for surgical intervention has long been a focus of controversy.This review provides insights into the timing of surgery for CD and guides clinicians in daily treatment.

Clinical experience of surgical intervention for severe acute pancreatitis

Background The controversy on the treatment strategy for severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） has never stopped for the past century.Even now surgical procedures play a decisive role in the treatment of SAP,especially in managing the related complications,but the rational indications,timing,and approaches of surgical intervention for SAP are still inconclusive.Methods Clinical data of 308 SAP patients recruited during January 2000-January 2013,including 96 conservatively treated cases plus 212 surgically intervened cases,were comparatively analyzed.Based on the initial surgical intervention time,the surgical intervention group was split into two：early intervention group （within 2 weeks） 103 cases,and late intervention group （after 2 weeks） 109 cases.Results In the conservative treatment group,the cure rate was 82.29% （79/96）,the death rate was 13.54% （13/96）,and 4 cases self-discharged,while in the surgical intervention group,the cure rate was 84.43% （179/212） and the death rate was 10.85% （23/212） with 10 cases self-discharged.The difference was of no statistical significance between these two groups （P 〉0.05）.In surgical intervention group,the death rate 15.53% （16/103） in the early surgical intervention group was higher than that of late surgical intervention group 6.42% （7/109）,and the difference was statistically significant （P 〈0.05）.Conclusions Both conservative treatment and surgical intervention play important roles in the treatment of SAP,and the indication,timing,and procedure should be strictly followed.Surgery earlier than 2 weeks after onset of the disease is not recommended in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis only when there are specific indications,such as multiple organ failure,which does not improve despite active treatment,and in those who develop abdominal compartment syndrome.

Correlative factor of death in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention

Background:Acute pancreatitis(AP)was a potentially fatal disease with a variation in severity.Infected pancreatic necrosis was a common complication in AP which needed surgical intervention.The present study was to study the correlative factors of death in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention.Methods:From January 2016 to October 2019,a total of 186 patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention in the First Medical Center,Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in this study.Of the 186 patients,22 who died in the hospital were defined as a mortality group and the others as a survival group.The clinical characteristic of the 2 groups was compared and the relative risk of mortality in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after the surgical intervention was studied.Results:Acute fluid collection,acute kidney injury,acute lung injury,acute liver injury,multiple organ dysfunction syndromes,abdominal bleeding,abdominal Acinetobacter baumannii infection,pulmonary infection,pulmonary A baumannii infection,positive blood culture,A baumannii of blood culture,severe acute pancreatitis according to Atlanta 2012,the use of continuous renal replacement therapy,mechanical ventilation and minimally invasive retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy was associated with death in hospital.Older age,longer acute kidney injury lasting time,longer acute lung injury lasting time,longer acute liver injury lasting time,and longer multiple organ dysfunction syndromes lasting time in predicting mortality in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention were(0.635[95%confidence interval(CI):0.512-0.758],P=.040),(0.877[95%CI:0.788-0.965],P=.000),(0.932[95%CI:0.897-0.968],P=.000),(0.822[95%CI:0.708-0.935],P=.000),and(0.943[95%CI:0.887-0.998],P=.000).Due to the small number of death cases,the results of the multivariate analyses were not available.Conclusion:In this single-center retrospective study of 186 cases of infected pancreas necrosis,the correlative factors of death are identified.The results warranted further strategies are needed especially focusing on elder patients to prevent blood infection and to protect the functions of vital organs.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF METASTATIC SPINAL TUMOR

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Pierre Robin sequence from orthodontic and surgical perspective

Pierre Robin sequence(PRS)is a triad of micrognathia,glossoptosis,and cleft palate that results in an obstruction of the airway on inspiration and impeding feeding.The tongue of infants with PRS fall back toward the posterior pharyngeal wall(glossoptosis)due to receding chin produced by mandibular micrognathia(small jaw)or retrognathia.This causes a serious condition with potentially severe,life-threatening airway obstruction.If untreated,this problem can lead to exhaustion,cardiac failure,and ultimately death,especially during the early months of life.Actually,in the majority of PRS infants,these symptoms can be managed by placing the infant in the prone position until adequate growth of the jaw occurs.If this type of treatment fails,the infant then should be considered for other conservative therapies or surgical interventions.This paper reviews surgical interventions such as tongue-lip adhesion,mandibular traction,mandibular distraction,tracheotomy and conservative orthodontic approaches,and presents a baby treated successfully with an orthodontic appliance.

Effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life in preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis

AIM:To evaluate the effect of lens surgery on health-related quality of life(HRQoL)of preschool children with congenital ectopia lentis(CEL).METHODS:A prospective self-controlled study was conducted in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center.Children aged from 5 to 7y whom were diagnosed with CEL and underwent phacoemulsification with scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and their parents were enrolled in this study.All of them completed the child and proxy(parental)PedsQL™4.0 before and after the surgery.Their preoperative scores were compared to their postoperative ones.Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender and preoperative bilateral presenting visual acuity of the children.RESULTS:Thirty-two children with CEL successfully underwent surgery without any complications,among whom 8 had monocular surgery and 24 had binocular surgery.Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were completed by 32 child-parent pairs.Surgical intervention could significantly improve the vision of affected children(P<0.001).The medians of physical,psychosocial and total health scores self-reported by the children were 68.75(62.50,81.25),65.00(60.00,80.00)and 67.39(60.87,78.26)preoperatively and were 93.75(87.50,100.00),90.00(83.33,96.67)and 89.13(85.32,95.65)postoperatively.The preoperative scores of the affected children were significantly lower in all scales than age-matched healthy children(P<0.001).All the postoperative scores were significantly higher than the preoperative scores in affected children and their parents(P<0.001).In the physical functioning evaluation,the preoperative score reported by parents of girls was higher than parents of boys(P=0.041),and the postoperative score of girls was higher than that of boys(P=0.036).CONCLUSION:CEL is associated with significantly worse quality of life in preschool children.Surgical intervention can significantly improve the HRQoL in affected children from both personal and family perspective.

Kill two birds with one stone:Hapatologist’s approach to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and heart failure

Heart failure(HF)is a major global public health concern,and one of the less commonly known risk factors for HF development is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),as they share a similar pathophysio-logical background.In this article,we evaluated a recently published review article by Arriola-Montenegro et al.This article briefly summarizes the common pathophysiology of HF and MASLD development and evaluates the available therapeutic options to treat both conditions.Clinical practice guidelines highlight the importance of initiating and titrating guideline-directed medication therapy(GDMT)for patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction.GDMT is comprised of the four pillars currently proposed in most clinical practice guidelines,namely angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs),angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs),angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors,beta-blockers,mineralocor-ticoid receptor antagonists,and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors(SGLT-2i).Given the similarity of pathophysiology and risk factors,recent studies for GDMT regarding ACEIs,ARBs,mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists,and SGLT-2i have shown beneficial effects on MASLD.Nonetheless,other medications for both conditions and novel therapies require more robust data and well-designed clinical studies to demonstrate their efficacies in both conditions.

Giant vascular malformations invading the skull:A case report

BACKGROUND Vascular malformations(VMs)arise as a result of errors in the process of angiogenesis and are usually present at birth,but may not become apparent until after birth.However,giant VMs of the head and face are uncommon,with few reported cases,and the prognosis for their surgical intervention is unclear.CASE SUMMARY A 12-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with findings of an enlarged right temporal scalp.After admission,computed tomography(CT)angiography of cerebral ateries showed a right occlusal gap and a right temporal artery venous malformation.Furthermore,cerebral angiography showed a right temporal lobe VM with multiple vessels supplying blood.The patient underwent surgery to remove the malformed vessels and the eroded skull.Two hours after the surgery,the patient's right pupil was dilated,and an urgent CT scan of the skull showed a right subdural haematoma under the incision,which was urgently removed by a second operation.After surgery,we gave continuous antibiotic anti-infection treatment,and the patient recovered well and was discharged two weeks later.CONCLUSION Surgical removal of giant haemangiomas is risky and adequate preoperative(including interventional embolisation)and intraoperative preparations should be made.

Clear cell sarcoma metastasizing to the pancreas

In this editorial based on a case report,we delve into a seldom-seen occurrence of clear cell sarcoma featuring pancreatic metastasis in a 47-year-old male patient.Recognized for its typical tendency to metastasize to the lungs,bones,and brain,clear cell sarcoma rarely extends its reach to the pancreas.Despite the initial absence of discernible abnormalities during the patient's physical examination,the manifestation of abdominal pain prompted further investigation.Subsequent abdominal computed tomography brought to light the presence of a pancreatic tumor,culminating in the definitive diagnosis of clear cell sarcoma with pancreatic metastasis.The successful management of this atypical presentation involved a series of surgical interventions,including distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy.This report not only sheds light on the infrequent manifestation of clear cell sarcoma within the pancreas but also underscores the pivotal role of vigilant postoperative follow-up in addressing this rare sarcoma.The emphasis on postoperative care serves as a crucial aspect of the broader narrative,acknowledging the need for ongoing monitoring and management to ensure a comprehensive and successful treatment trajectory for patients with this unique presentation of clear cell sarcoma.

Pelvic fractures in blunt trauma patients:A comparative study

BACKGROUND Pelvic fractures(PF)with concomitant injuries are on the rise due to an increase of high-energy trauma.Increase of the elderly population with age related comorbidities further complicates the management.Abdominal organ injuries are kindred with PF due to the proximity to pelvic bones.Presence of contrast blush(CB)on computed tomography in patients with PF is considered a sign of active bleeding,however,its clinical significance and association with outcomes is debatable.AIM To analyze polytrauma patients with PF with a focus on the geriatric population,co-injuries and the value of contrast blush.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 558 patients with PF admitted to level 1 trauma center(01/2017-01/2023).Analyzed variables included:Age,sex,mechanism of injury(MOI),injury severity score(ISS),Glasgow coma scale(GCS),abbreviated injury scale(AIS),co-injuries,transfusion requirements,pelvic angiography,embolization,laparotomy,orthopedic pelvic surgery,intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay,discharge disposition and mortality.The study compared geriatric and non-geriatric patients,patients with and without CB and abdominal co-injuries.Propensity score matching was implemented in comparison groups.RESULTS PF comprised 4%of all trauma admissions.89 patients had CB.286(52%)patients had concomitant injuries including 93(17%)patients with abdominal co-injuries.Geriatric patients compared to non-geriatric had more falls as MOI,lower ISS and AIS pelvis,higher GCS,less abdominal co-injuries,similar CB and angio-embolization rates,less orthopedic pelvic surgeries,shorter lengths of stay and higher mortality.After propensity matching,orthopedic pelvic surgery rates remained lower(8%vs 19%,P<0.001),hospital length of stay shorter,and mortality higher(13%vs 4%,P<0.001)in geriatric patients.Out of 89 patients with CB,45(51%)were embolized.After propensity matching,patients with CB compared to without CB had more pelvic angiography(71%vs 12%,P<0.001),higher embolization rates(64%vs 22%,P=0.02)and comparable mortality.CONCLUSION Half of the patients with PF had concomitant co-injuries,including abdominal co-injuries in 17%.Similarly injured geriatric patients had higher mortality.Half of the patients with CB required an embolization.

Clinical features and outcomes of patients with severe acute pancreatitis complicated with gangrenous cholecystitis

BACKGROUND: The effects of gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) and consequent surgical interventions on the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with severe acute pancreatitis are not clear. The present study was to characterize the clinical outcomes of patients with severe acute pancreatitis complicated with GC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 253 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute pancreatitis in intensive care unit. Among them, 68 were diagnosed as having severe acute pancreatitis; 10 out of the 68 patients had GC. We compared these 10 patients with GC and 58 patients without GC. The indices analyzed included sepsis/septic shock, pancreatic encephalopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. RESULTS: Specific CT images of GC in patients with severe acute pancreatitis included enlarged and high-tensioned gallbladder, wall thickening, lumenal emphysema, discontinuous and/or irregular enhancement of mucosa, and pericholecystic effusion. The rates of severe sepsis/septic shock (70.0% vs 24.1%, P【0.01), pancreatic encephalopathy (50.0% vs 17.2%, P【0.05), acute respiratory distress syndrome (90.0% vs 41.4%, P【0.01), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (70.0% vs 24.1%, P【0.01), acute renal failure (40.0% vs 27.6%, P【0.05), and death (40.0% vs 13.8%, P【0.05) were significantly higher in patients with GC than in those without GC.CONCLUSION: CT scans can help to identify early GC in patients with severe acute pancreatitis; early diagnosis and intervention for patients with GC can reduce morbidity and mortality.

Imatinib as preoperative therapy in Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic GISTs

Objective： Imatinib has dramatically altered the options for management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal turnouts. However, it has become clear that secondary resistance to the drug develops during long- term therapy. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively analyze safety and long-term outcomes in Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic GISTs treated with imatinib preoperatively. Methods： Between June 2003 and June 2011, 22 patients underwent surgery for recurrent or metastatic GISTs after preoperative treatment with imatinib. Results： Complete resection was accomplished in 8 of the 10 responsive disease （RD） patients （80%）, and in 3 of the 12 patients （25%） who had progression disease （PD）. The amount of blood loss during the operation in PD patients was higher than in RD patients. There was 1 hospital death in PD group related to surgery, while the other patients recovered with conservative therapy because complications were mild. The difference in median PFS between patients with RD and those with PD was significant （24.8 vs. 2.81 months, P〈0.001）. The difference in 2-year OS rate between patients with RE） and those with PD was not significant （100% vs. 87.5%, P〉0.05）. Conclusions： Our study indicates that surgical intervention can improve the PFS of Chinese patients with recurrent or metastatic GISTs responsive to imatinib, but does not prolong OS as well as in patients who develop imatinib resistance. Surgical resection following imatinib treatment is feasible and can be considered for patients with advanced GISTs responsive to imatinib.