Virtual reality for preoperative patient education: Impact on satisfaction, usability, and burnout from the perspective of new nurses

BACKGROUND Traditional paper-based preoperative patient education is a struggle for new nurses and requires extensive training.In this situation,virtual reality technology can help the new nurses.Despite its potential benefits,there are studies on patient satisfaction but there is limited information on the usability of virtual reality(VR)technology for new nurses in giving preoperative education to patients.AIM To investigate the impact on satisfaction,usability,and burnout of a system using VR technology in preoperative patient education.METHODS The study involved 20 nurses from the plastic surgery ward and 80 patients admitted between April and May 2019.Each nurse taught four patients:Two using traditional verbal education and two using virtual reality.The System Usability Scale,After-Scenario Questionnaire,and Maslach Burnout Inventory(MBI)were employed to evaluate the impact of these education methods.RESULTS The VR education groups showed a statistically higher satisfaction than the traditional verbal education groups.Among the three subscales of the MBI,emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment improved statistically significantly.VR was also better in terms of usability.CONCLUSION This study suggests VR enhances usability and reduces burnout in nurses,but further research is needed to assess its impact on depersonalization and objective measures like stress and heart rate.

Clinical significance of preoperative nutritional status in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy:A singlecenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND The population of elderly patients with gastric cancer is increasing,which is a major public health issue in China.Malnutrition is one of the greatest risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the preoperative nutritional status and its association with delayed discharge of elderly gastric cancer patients following radical gastrectomy.METHODS A total of 783 patients aged 65 years and older harboring gastric adenocarcinoma and following radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed from the prospectively collected database of Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between January 2018 and May 2020.RESULTS The overall rate of malnutrition was 31.8%.The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the malnourished group compared to the well-nourished group(P<0.001).Nutritional characteristics in the malnourished group,including body mass index,prognostic nutritional index(PNI),albumin,prealbumin,and hemoglobin,were all significantly lower than those in the well-nourished group.The percentage of patients who received postoperative total nutrient admixture was lower in the malnourished group compared to the wellnourished group(22.1%vs 33.5%,P=0.001).Age≥70 years(HR=1.216,95%CI:1.048-1.411),PNI<44.5(HR=1.792,95%CI:1.058-3.032),operation time≥160 minutes(HR=1.431,95%CI:1.237-1.656),and postoperative complications grade III or higher(HR=2.191,95%CI:1.604-2.991)were all recognized as independent risk factors associated with delayed discharge.CONCLUSION Malnutrition is relatively common in elderly patients undergoing gastrectomy.Low PNI is an independent risk factor associated with delay discharge.More strategies are needed to improve the clinical outcome of these patients.

Influence of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety of preschool-aged children undergoing surgery

BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.METHODS One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug(n=37),intervention(n=40),and control(n=39)groups.All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation.The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments.The control group received no intervention.The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children’s anxiety level on the day before surgery(T0),before leaving the preoperative preparation room(T1),when entering the operating room(T2),and at anesthesia induction(T3).Compliance during anesthesia induction(T3)was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist(ICC).Changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),and respiratory rate(RR)were also recorded at each time point.RESULTS The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2.At T3,both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores,both of which were lower than those in the control group.At T1 and T2,MAP,HR,and RR of the three groups increased.The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2.At T3,the MAP,HR,and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group.Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction(T3),both of which were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication,specifically midazolam,in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children.This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.

Combined preoperative albumin bilirubin score and hepatectomy percentage for evaluate the liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy

Surgical resection is a pivotal therapeutic approach for addressing hepatic space-occupying lesions,with liver volume restoration and hepatic functional recovery being crucial for assessing surgical prognosis.The preoperative albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score,encompassing serum albumin and bilirubin levels,can be determined via blood analysis,effectively mitigating human error and providing an accurate depiction of liver function.The hepatectomy ratio,which is the proportion of the liver volume removed to the total liver volume,is critical in preserving an adequate liver tissue volume to ensure postoperative hepatic functional compensation,minimize surgical complications,and reduce mortality rates.Incorporating the preoperative ALBI score and hepatectomy ratio aids surgeons in assessing the optimal timing and extent of partial hepatectomy.The introduction of preoperative albumin bilirubin score and hepatectomy percentage is beneficial for the surgeons to evaluate the timing and magnitude of partial liver resection.

Enhancing preoperative patient education through virtual reality:A leap forward in nursing practice

Integration of virtual reality(VR)technology into preoperative patient education has shown potential to improve nursing practice.The study by Kim et al examines the impact of VR on nurse satisfaction,usability,and burnout.A prospective study involving 20 nurses and 80 patients was conducted,comparing traditional paper-based education with VR-based education in the plastic surgery ward at Chungnam National University Hospital.Findings demonstrated that VR significantly enhanced satisfaction and usability among nurses,while also reducing emotional exhaustion,a critical factor in nurse burnout.Consistency in education quality was also improved,ensuring uniform patient care.These results underscore the importance of VR in reducing the stress of repetitive tasks,improving job satisfaction,and potentially enhancing nurse retention.Future research should explore the broader applications of VR in healthcare and address the logistical challenges of integrating this technology into routine clinical practice.The study by Kim et al highlights VR’s transformative potential in preoperative education for both patients and healthcare providers.

Hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumors:The importance of preoperative diagnosis

Accurate preoperative diagnosis is highly important for the treatment of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors(PEComas)because PEComas are mainly benign tumors and may not require surgical intervention.By analyzing the causes,properties and clinical manifestations of PEComas,we summarize the challenges and solutions in the diagnosis of PEComas.

Malnutrition Assessed Using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is Associated with Preoperative Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Japanese Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose: Few studies have evaluated the association between malnutrition and the risk of preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of preoperative DVT in Japanese patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the importance of malnutrition in the risk of preoperative DVT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 394 patients admitted for primary TKA at our institution between January 2019 and December 2023. All patients scheduled for TKA at our institution had serum D-dimer levels measured preoperatively. Lower-limb ultrasonography was examined to confirm the presence of DVT in patients with D-dimer levels ≥ 1.0 µg/mL or who were considered to be at high risk of DVT by the treating physician. Based on the results of lower-limb ultrasonography, all patients were divided into the non-DVT and DVT groups. The incidence of and risk factors for preoperative DVT were investigated, as well as the correlation of DVT with the patient’s nutritional parameters. We used two representative tools for nutritional assessment: the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Controlling Nutritional Status Score. Results: The mean age was 77.8 ± 6.9 years. Preoperative DVT was diagnosed in 57 of the 394 (14.5%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age and malnutrition status, assessed using the GNRI, were independent risk factors for preoperative DVT. Conclusion: A high incidence of preoperative DVT was observed in patients who underwent TKA. Malnutrition status, as assessed using the GNRI, increased the risk of preoperative DVT. Our findings suggest that clinicians should consider these factors when tailoring preventive strategies to mitigate DVT risk in patients undergoing TKA.

Tumour response following preoperative chemotherapy is affected by body mass index in patients with colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy globally and ranks second in cancer-related mortality,with the liver being the primary organ of metastasis.Preoperative chemotherapy is widely recommended for initially or potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases(CRLMs).Tumour pathological response serves as the most important and intuitive indicator for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy.However,the postoperative pathological results reveal that a considerable number of patients exhibit a poor response to preoperative chemotherapy.Body mass index(BMI)is one of the factors affecting the tumori-genesis and progression of colorectal cancer as well as prognosis after various antitumour therapies.Several studies have indicated that overweight and obese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer experience worse prognoses than those with normal weight,particularly when receiving first-line chemotherapy regimens in combination with bevacizumab.AIM To explore the predictive value of BMI regarding the pathologic response following preoperative chemotherapy for CRLMs.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed in 126 consecutive patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy following preoperative chemotherapy at four different hospitals from October 2019 to July 2023.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to analyse potential predictors of tumour pathological response.The Kaplan-Meier method with log rank test was used to compare progression-free survival(PFS)between patients with high and low BMI.BMI<24.0 kg/m^(2) was defined as low BMI,and tumour regression grade 1-2 was defined as complete tumour response.RESULTS Low BMI was observed in 74(58.7%)patients and complete tumour response was found in 27(21.4%)patients.The rate of complete tumour response was significantly higher in patients with low BMI(29.7%vs 9.6%,P=0.007).Multivariate analysis revealed that low BMI[odds ratio(OR)=4.56,95%confidence interval(CI):1.42-14.63,P=0.011],targeted therapy with bevacizumab(OR=3.02,95%CI:1.10-8.33,P=0.033),preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level<10 ng/mL(OR=3.84,95%CI:1.19-12.44,P=0.025)and severe sinusoidal dilatation(OR=0.17,95%CI:0.03-0.90,P=0.037)were independent predictive factors for complete tumour response.The low BMI group exhibited a significantly longer median PFS than the high BMI group(10.7 mo vs 4.7 mo,P=0.011).CONCLUSION In CRLM patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy,a low BMI may be associated with better tumour response and longer PFS.

Effects of fluid therapy combined with a preoperative glucose load regimen on postoperative recovery in patients with rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Patients with rectal cancer undergoing radical resection often have poor post-operative recovery due to preoperative fasting and water deprivation and the removal of diseased tissue,and have a high risk of complications.Therefore,it is of great significance to apply appropriate rehydration regimens to patients un-dergoing radical resection of rectal cancer during the perioperative period to improve the postoperative outcomes of patients.AIM To analyze the effects of goal-directed fluid therapy(GDFT)with a preoperative glucose load regimen on postoperative recovery and complications in patients undergoing radical resection for rectal cancer.METHODS Patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical resection(n=184)between January 2021 and December 2023 at our hospital were randomly divided into either a control group or an observation group(n=92 in each group).Both groups received a preoperative glucose load regimen,and routine fluid replacement and GDFT were additionally implements in the control and observation groups,res-pectively.The operative conditions,blood levels of lactic acid and inflammatory markers,postoperative recovery,cognitive status,hemodynamic indicators,brain oxygen metabolism,and complication rates were compared between the groups.RESULTS The colloidal fluid dosage,total infusion,and urine volume,as well as time to first exhaust,time to food intake,and postoperative length of hospital stay,were lower in the observation group(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of operation time,bleeding volume,crystalloid liquid consumption,time to tracheal extubation,complication rate,heart rate,or mean arterial pressure(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,in the ob-servation group the lactic acid level was lower immediately after the surgery(P<0.05);the Mini-Mental State Examination score was higher on postoperative day 3(P<0.05);the pulse pressure variability(PPV)was lower at 30 min after pneumoperitoneum(P<0.05),though the differences in the PPV of the two groups was not significant at the remaining time points(P>0.05);tumor necrosis factor-αand interleukin-6 levels were lower on postoperative day 3(P<0.05);and the left and right regional cerebral oxygen saturation was higher immediately after the surgery and 30 min after pneumoperitoneum(P<0.05).CONCLUSION GDFT combined with the preoperative glucose load regimen is a safe and effective treatment strategy for im-proving postoperative recovery and risk of complications in patients with rectal cancer undergoing radical re-section.

Three-dimensional printing for preoperative rehearsal and intraoperative navigation during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery with left colic artery preservation

BACKGROUND Prior studies have shown that preserving the left colic artery(LCA)during laparo-scopic radical resection for rectal cancer(RC)can reduce the occurrence of anasto-motic leakage(AL),without compromising oncological outcomes.However,anatomical variations in the branches of the inferior mesenteric artery(IMA)and LCA present significant surgical challenges.In this study,we present our novel three dimensional(3D)printed IMA model designed to facilitate preoperative rehearsal and intraoperative navigation to analyze its impact on surgical safety.AIM To investigate the effect of 3D IMA models on preserving the LCA during RC surgery.METHODS We retrospectively collected clinical dates from patients with RC who underwent laparoscopic radical resection from January 2022 to May 2024 at Fuyang People’s Hospital.Patients were divided into the 3D printing and control groups for sta-tistical analysis of perioperative characteristics.RESULTS The 3D printing observation group comprised of 72 patients,while the control group comprised 68 patients.The operation time(174.5±38.2 minutes vs 198.5±49.6 minutes,P=0.002),intraoperative blood loss(43.9±31.3 mL vs 58.2±30.8 mL,P=0.005),duration of hospitalization(13.1±3.1 days vs 15.9±5.6 days,P<0.001),postoperative recovery time(8.6±2.6 days vs 10.5±4.9 days,P=0.007),and the postoperative complication rate(P<0.05)were all significantly lower in the observation group.CONCLUSION Utilization of a 3D-printed IMA model in laparoscopic radical resection of RC can assist surgeons in understanding the LCA anatomy preoperatively,thereby reducing intraoperative bleeding and shortening operating time,demonstrating better clinical application potential.

Preoperative malnutrition in elderly gastric cancer patients and adverse postoperative outcomes of radical gastrectomy

Malnutrition is not only a prevalent condition among the elderly but also a common comorbidity in elderly people with gastric cancer(GC).Malnutrition is closely linked to high rates of postoperative complications and poor wound healing in elderly GC patients,which may lead to a higher incidence and mor-tality rate of GC.Malnutrition decreases the physical function of elderly GC patients after surgery,severely affecting their postoperative life quality and hindering subsequent treatments.This retrospective study was conducted by Zhao et al,focusing on the clinical baseline data,postoperative complications,and hospitalization times of elderly GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.Additionally,the underlying causes of poor outcomes for patients were discussed.This study may provide a solid basis for the clinical treatment of elderly GC patients in the future.Therefore,malnutrition can serve as a negative prognostic factor for curative surgery in GC patients.Addressing malnutrition and its adverse effects can benefit elderly GC patients from surgical treatment.

Association of preoperative antiviral treatment with incidences of post-hepatectomy liver failure in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)is a common consequence of radical partial hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIMS To investigate the relationship between preoperative antiviral therapy and PHLF,as well as assess the potential efficacy of hepatitis B virus(HBV)DNA level in predicting PHLF.METHODS A retrospective study was performed involving 1301 HCC patients with HBV who underwent radical hepatectomy.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis was used to assess the capacity of HBV DNA to predict PHLF and establish the optimal cutoff value for subsequent analyses.Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the independent risk factors of PHLF.The increase in the area under the ROC curve,categorical net reclassification improvement(NRI),and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were used to quantify the efficacy of HBV DNA level for predicting PHLF.The P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS Logistic regression analyses showed that preoperative antiviral therapy was independently associated with a reduced risk of PHLF(P<0.05).HBV DNA level with an optimal cutoff value of 269 IU/mL(P<0.001)was an independent risk factor of PHLF.All the reference models by adding the variable of HBV DNA level had an improvement in area under the curve,categorical NRI,and IDI,particularly for the fibrosis-4 model,with values of 0.729(95%CI:0.705-0.754),1.382(95%CI:1.341-1.423),and 0.112(95%CI:0.110-0.114),respectively.All the above findings were statistically significant.CONCLUSION In summary,preoperative antiviral treatment can reduce the incidence of PHLF,whereas an increased preoperative HBV DNA level has a correlative relationship with an increased susceptibility to PHLF.

Preoperative biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing major hepatectomy

AIM:To investigate the effect of preoperative biliary drainage(PBD)in jaundiced patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA)undergoing major liver resections.METHODS:An observational study was carried out by reviewing a prospectively maintained database of HCCA patients who underwent major liver resection for curative therapy from January 2002 to December 2012.Patients were divided into two groups based on whether PBD was performed:a drained group and an undrained group.Patient baseline characteristics,preoperative factors,perioperative and short-term postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.Risk factors for postoperative complications were also analyzed by logistic regression test with calculating OR and 95%CI.RESULTS:In total,78 jaundiced patients with HCCA underwent major liver resection:32 had PBD prior to operation while 46 did not have PBD.The two groups were comparable with respect to age,sex,body mass index and co-morbidities.Furthermore,there was no significant difference in the total bilirubin(TBIL)levels between the drained group and the undrained group at admission(294.2±135.7 vs 254.0±63.5,P=0.126).PBD significantly improved liver function,reducing not only the bilirubin levels but also other liver enzymes.The preoperative TBIL level was significantly lower in the drained group as compared to the undrained group(108.1±60.6 vs 265.7±69.1,P=0.000).The rate of overall postoperative complications(53.1%vs 58.7%,P=0.626),reoperation rate(6.3%vs 6.5%,P=1.000),postoperative hospital stay(16.5 vs 15.0,P=0.221)and mortality(9.4%vs 4.3%,P=0.673)were similar between the two groups.In addition,there was no significant difference in infectious complications(40.6%vs 23.9%,P=0.116)and noninfectious complications(31.3%vs 47.8%,P=0.143)between the two groups.Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that preoperative TBIL>170μmol/L(OR=13.690,95%CI:1.275-147.028,P=0.031),Bismuth-Corlette classification(OR=0.013,95%CI:0.001-0.166,P=0.001)and extended liver resection(OR=14.010,95%CI:1.130-173.646,P=0.040)were independent risk factors for postoperative complications.CONCLUSION:Overall postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after major liver resection are not improved by PBD in HCCA patients with jaundice.Preoperative TBIL>170μmol/L,Bismuth-Corlette classification and extended liver resection are independent risk factors linked to postoperative complications.

Preoperative evaluation of colorectal cancer using CT colonography, MRI, and PET/CT

Imaging studies are a major component in the evaluation of patients for the screening,staging and surveillance of colorectal cancer.This review presents commonly encountered findings in the diagnosis and staging of patients with colorectal cancer using computed tomography(CT)colonography,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and positron emission tomography(PET)/CT colonography.CT colonography provides important information for the preoperative assessment of T staging.Wall deformities are associated with muscular or subserosal invasion.Lymph node metastases from colorectal cancer often present with calcifications.CT is superior to detect calcified metastases.Three-dimensional CT to image the vascular anatomy facilitates laparoscopic surgery.T staging of rectal cancer by MRI is an established modality because MRI can diagnose rectal wall laminar structure.N staging in patients with colorectal cancer is still challenging using any imaging modality.MRI is more accurate than CT for the evaluation of liver metastases.PET/CT colonography isvaluable in the evaluation of extra-colonic and hepatic disease.PET/CT colonography is useful for obstructing colorectal cancers that cannot be traversed colonoscopically.PET/CT colonography is able to localize synchronous colon cancers proximal to the obstruction precisely.However,there is no definite evidence to support the routine clinical use of PET/CT colonography.

Ratio of metastatic lymph nodes is more important for rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy

AIM:To evaluate the predictive value of the lymph node(LN) ratio(LNR,number of metastatic LNs/ examined LNs) for recurrence in patients with rectal cancer and to compare its applicability according to preoperative chemoradiotherapy(PCRT).METHODS:From 2000 to 2009,967 patients with metastatic LNs after curative resection for locally advanced rectal cancer were identified.Patients were categorized according to PCRT(PCRT vs No PCRT).The cut-off LNR was determined based on the p N1 vs p N2 when the recommended number of LNs was harvested.The 5-year recurrence-free survival(RFS) rates using the Kaplan-Meier method were compared according to p/yp N stage and the LNR in each group.RESULTS:Among patients with the same p/yp N stage,the 5-year RFS rate differed according to the LNR.In addition,the 5-year RFS rate was significantly different between p N and LNR groups in patients with No PCRT.In PCRT group,however,only LNR was associated with prognosis.On multivariate analysis,both p N and LNR were significant independent prognostic factors for 5-year RFS in the No PCRT group.In the PCRT group,only LNR category was found to be associated with RFS(HR = 2.36,95%CI:1.31-3.84,and P = 0.001).CONCLUSION:The LNR is an important prognostic predictor of RFS in rectal cancer patients especially treated with PCRT.Current p N categories could not discriminate between prognostic groups of RFS after PCRT.

Predictive values of multidetector-row computed tomography combined with serum tumor biomarkers in preoperative lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer

Objective: Multidetector-row computed tomography(MDCT) and serum tumor biomarkers are commonly used to evaluate the preoperative lymph node metastasis and the clinical staging of gastric cancer(GC). This study intends to evaluate the clinical predictive value of MDCT and serum tumor biomarkers in lymph node metastasis of GC.Methods: The clinicopathologic data of 445 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic value of MDCT and serum tumor biomarkers in lymph node metastatic staging of GC before surgery.Results: With the multinomial logistic regression analysis, the independent relative factors of lymph node metastasis of GC were identified as tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, vessel invasion, vascular embolus, and soft tissue invasion. The optimal critical value of the short diameter of lymph nodes detected by MDCT scanning for evaluation of preoperative lymph node metastasis was 6.0 mm, with 75.7% as predictive accuracy of lymph node metastasis compared to the postoperative pathological results of GC patients. In addition, the critical value of the short diameter of lymph nodes combined with serum tumor biomarkers [including carbohydrate antigen(CA)-724 and CA-199] could show an enhancement of predictive sensitivity of lymph node metastasis(up to 89.3%) before surgery.Conclusions: MDCT combined with serum tumor biomarkers should be adopted to improve preoperative sensitivity and accuracy of lymph node metastasis for GC patients.

Reducing preoperative fasting time: A trend based on evidence

Preoperative fasting is mandatory before anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration.However,the prescribed 6-8 h of fasting is usually prolonged to 12-16 h for various reasons.Prolonged fasting triggers a metabolic response that precipitates gluconeogenesis and increases the organic response to trauma.Various randomized trials and meta-analyses have consistently shown that is safe to reduce the preoperative fasting time with a carbohydrate-rich drink up to 2 h before surgery.Benefits related to this shorter preoperative fasting include the reduction of postoperative gastrointestinal discomfort and insulin resistance.New formulas containing amino acids such as glutamine and other peptides are being studied and are promising candidates to be used to reduce preoperative fasting time.

Review of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the few cancers whose incidence has been continually increasing over recent years.Resection of HCC offers the only hope for cure.However,recurrences are common in patients who have undergone resection.In our opinion,the effectiveness with which transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) as a neoadjuvant therapy for resectable HCC prevents recurrence and prolongs survival has not been conclusively demonstrated.All published meta-analyses have consistently failed to demonstrate that preoperative TACE improves the prognosis of resectable HCC.We believe that these published articles have several limitations and have our own views about the results of meta-analyses.It is very important that the scientific community shed more light on the pathogenesis of HCC and relate this to choice of therapy.This review mainly concerns our understanding of preoperative TACE for resectable HCC and briefly addresses desirable directions for future studies.

Preoperative colonoscopy through the colonic stent in patients with colorectal cancer obstruction

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of a preoperative colonoscopy through a self-expendable metallic stent (SEMS) and to identify the factors that affect complete colonoscopy.

Tumor regression grades:Potential outcome predictor of locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma after preoperative radiotherapy

AIM:To analyze tumor regression grade(TRG)for prognosis of locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma(LARA)treated with preoperative radiotherapy.METHODS:One hundred and ninety patients with clinical stageⅡ/ⅢLARA were studied.All patients underwent radical surgery(between 2004 and 2010)after 30-Gy/10-fraction preoperative radiotherapy(preRT).All 190 patients received a short course of preRT and were reassessed for disease recurrence and survival;the slides of surgical specimens were reviewed and classified according to Mandard TRG.We compared patients with good response(Mandard TRG1 or TRG2)vs patients with bad/poor response(Mandard TRG3-5).Outcomes evaluated were 5-year overall survival(OS),5-year disease-free survival(DFS),and local,distant and mixed recurrence.Fisher’s exact test orχ2 test,logrank test and proportional hazards regression analysis were used to calculate the probability that Mandard TRG was associated with patient outcomes.RESULTS:One hundred and sixty-six of 190 patients(87.4%)were identified as Mandard bad responders(TRG3-5).High Mandard grade was correlated with tumor height(41.7%<6 cm vs 58.3%≥6 cm,P=0.050),yp T stage(75%yp T0-2 vs 25%yp T3-4,P=0.000),and yp N stage(75%yp N0 vs 25%yp N1,P=0.031).In univariate survival analysis,Mandard grade bad responders had significantly worse OS and DFSthan good responders(TRG1/2)(OS,83.1%vs 96.4%,P=0.000;DFS,72.3%vs 92.0%,P=0.002).In multivariate survival analysis,Mandard bad responders had significantly worse DFS than Mandard good responders(DFS 3.8 years(95%CI:1.2-12.2 years,P=0.026).CONCLUSION:Mandard grade good responders had a favorable prognosis.TRG may be a potential predictor for DFS in LARA after pre-RT.