There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

Patients undergoing colorectal cancer resections are at risk for delayed recovery. Prehabilitation aims to enhance functional capacity preoperatively for better toleration of surgery and to facilitate recovery. The authors previously demonstrated the limited impact of a prehabilitation program using exercise alone. They propose an expanded trimodal prehabilitation program that adds nutritional counseling, protein supplementation, and anxiety reduction to a moderate exercise program. This study aimed to estimate the impact of this trimodal program on the recovery of functional capacity compared with standard surgical care. Consecutive patients were enrolled in this pre- and postintervention study over a 23-month period. The postoperative recovery for 42 consecutive patients enrolled in the prehabilitation program was compared with that of 45 patients assessed before the intervention began. The primary outcome was functional walking capacity (6-min walk test [6MWT]). The secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity (CHAMPS questionnaire) and health-related quality of life (SF-36). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range [IQR]) and were analyzed using Chi-square and Student’s t test. All p values lower than 0.05 were considered significant. The prehabilitation and control groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class. There was no difference in walking capacity at the first assessment (6MWT distance, 422 ± 87 vs 402 ± 57 m; p = 0.21). During the prehabilitation period lasting a median of 33 days (range, 21–46 days), functional walking capacity improved by 40 ± 40 m (p < 0.01). The postoperative complication rates and the hospital length of stay were similar. The patients in the prehabilitation program had better postoperative walking capacity at both 4 weeks (mean difference, 51.5 ± 93 m; p = 0.01) and 8 weeks (mean difference, 84.5 ± 83 m; p < 0.01). At 8 weeks, 81 % of the prehabilitated patients were recovered compared with 40 % of the control group (p < 0.01). The prehabilitation group also reported higher levels of physical activity before and after surgery. In this pilot study, a 1-month trimodal prehabilitation program improved postoperative functional recovery. A randomized trial is ongoing (NCT01356264).

/pdf/impact-of-a-trimodal-prehabilitation-program-on-functional-2zckaemnqz.pdf

Impact of a trimodal prehabilitation program on functional recovery after colorectal cancer surgery: a pilot study

Importance More than 300 000 surgeries are performed annually in the United States for pelvic organ prolapse. Sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) and uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) are commonly performed transvaginal surgeries to correct apical prolapse. Little is known about their comparative efficacy and safety, and it is unknown whether perioperative behavioral therapy with pelvic floor muscle training (BPMT) improves outcomes of prolapse surgery. Objective To compare outcomes between (1) SSLF and ULS and (2) perioperative BPMT and usual care in women undergoing surgery for vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Design, Setting, and Participants Multicenter, 2 × 2 factorial, randomized trial of 374 women undergoing surgery to treat both apical vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence was conducted between 2008 and 2013 at 9 US medical centers. Two-year follow-up rate was 84.5%. Interventions The surgical intervention was transvaginal surgery including midurethral sling with randomization to SSLF (n = 186) or ULS (n = 188); the behavioral intervention was randomization to receive perioperative BPMT (n = 186) or usual care (n = 188). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome for the surgical intervention (surgical success) was defined as (1) no apical descent greater than one-third into vaginal canaloranterior or posterior vaginal wall beyond the hymen (anatomic success), (2) no bothersome vaginal bulge symptoms, and (3) no re-treatment for prolapse at 2 years. For the behavioral intervention, primary outcome at 6 months was urinary symptom scores (Urinary Distress Inventory; range 0-300, higher scores worse), and primary outcomes at 2 years were prolapse symptom scores (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory; range 0-300, higher scores worse) and anatomic success. Results At 2 years, surgical group was not significantly associated with surgical success rates (ULS, 64.5% [100/155] vs SSLF, 63.1% [94/149]; unadjusted difference, 1.4%; 95% CI, −9.4% to 12.2%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.7) or serious adverse event rates (ULS, 16.5% [31/188] vs SSLF, 16.7% [31/186]; unadjusted difference, −0.2%; 95% CI, −7.7% to 7.4%; adjusted OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.6). Perioperative BPMT was not associated with greater improvements in urinary scores at 6 months (adjusted treatment difference, −6.7; 95% CI, −19.7 to 6.2), prolapse scores at 24 months (adjusted treatment difference, −8.0; 95% CI, −22.1 to 6.1), or anatomic success at 24 months. Conclusions and Relevance Two years after vaginal surgery for prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, neither ULS nor SSLF was significantly superior to the other for anatomic, functional, or adverse event outcomes. Perioperative BPMT did not improve urinary symptoms at 6 months or prolapse outcomes at 2 years. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00597935

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/1840237/joi140018.pdf

Comparison of 2 transvaginal surgical approaches and perioperative behavioral therapy for apical vaginal prolapse: The OPTIMAL randomized trial

https://www.europeanurology.com/article/S0302-2838(11)00053-4/pdf/Pentafecta%3A+A+New+Concept+for+Reporting+Outcomes+of+Robot-Assisted+Laparoscopic+Radical+Prostatectomy

Pentafecta: A New Concept for Reporting Outcomes of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

IMPORTANCE Perforated colonic diverticulitis usually requires surgical resection, which is associated with significant morbidity. Cohort studies have suggested that laparoscopic lavage may treat perforated diverticulitis with less morbidity than resection procedures. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes from laparoscopic lavage with those for colon resection for perforated diverticulitis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Multicenter, randomized clinical superiority trial recruiting participants from 21 centers in Sweden and Norway from February 2010 to June 2014. The last patient follow-up was in December 2014 and final review and verification of the medical records was assessed in March 2015. Patients with suspected perforated diverticulitis, a clinical indication for emergency surgery, and free air on an abdominal computed tomography scan were eligible. Of 509 patients screened, 415 were eligible and 199 were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS Patients were assigned to undergo laparoscopic peritoneal lavage (n = 101) or colon resection (n = 98) based on a computer-generated, center-stratified block randomization. All patients with fecal peritonitis (15 patients in the laparoscopic peritoneal lavage group vs 13 in the colon resection group) underwent colon resection. Patients with a pathology requiring treatment beyond that necessary for perforated diverticulitis (12 in the laparoscopic lavage group vs 13 in the colon resection group) were also excluded from the protocol operations and treated as required for the pathology encountered. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo score greater thanIlla) within 90 days. Secondary outcomes included other postoperative complications, reoperations, length of operating time, length of postoperative hospital stay, and quality of life. RESULTS The primary outcome was observed in 31 of 101 patients (30.7%) in the laparoscopic lavage group and 25 of 96 patients (26.0%) in the colon resection group (difference, 4.7% [95% CI, -7.9% to 17.0%]; P = .53). Mortality at 90 days did not significantly differ between the laparoscopic lavage group (14 patients [13.9%]) and the colon resection group (11 patients [11.5%]; difference, 2.4% [95% CI, -7.2% to 11.9%]; P = .67). The reoperation rate was significantly higher in the laparoscopic lavage group (15 of 74 patients [20.3%]) than in the colon resection group (4 of 70 patients [5.7%]; difference, 14.6% [95% CI, 3.5% to 25.6%]; P = .01) for patients who did not have fecal peritonitis. The length of operating time was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic lavage group; whereas, length of postoperative hospital stay and quality of life did not differ significantly between groups. Four sigmoid carcinomas were missed with laparoscopic lavage. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among patients with likely perforated diverticulitis and undergoing emergency surgery, the use of laparoscopic lavage vs primary resection did not reduce severe postoperative complications and led to worse outcomes in secondary end points. These findings do not support laparoscopic lavage for treatment of perforated diverticulitis.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2449185/joi150114.pdf

Laparoscopic Lavage vs Primary Resection for Acute Perforated Diverticulitis: The SCANDIV Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION The aim of the work was to evaluate the implementation of Clavien - Dindo classification of surgical complications into a routine clinical praxis and to evaluate the results achieved at the university department of surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospectively collected data of patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Surgery of the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove between January 2010 and September 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Incidence, spectrum and severity of postoperative complications were evaluated according to individual surgical specializations. RESULTS 9039 patients were operated and enrolled into the database during the time period from January 2010 to October 2012. A surgical complication was recorded in 1248 (12.9%) patiens, grade I. in 284 (3.4%) cases, grade II. in 384 (4.3%) cases, grade III in 370 (4.1%) cases, grade IV. in 67 (0.7%) patients. Death,i.e. grade V., occurred in 143 (1.43%) patients. CONCLUSION Clavien - Dindo classification of surgical complications was successfully implemented into a routine clinical praxis at the department of surgery, University Hospital Hradec Kralove. Wider use of this classification system would improve conditions for evaluation and comparison of results between different surgical approaches, surgeons or departments.

[Classification of surgical complications: analysis of the group of consecutive patients].

Background and methods Intraoperative enteroscopy is an invasive technique for small bowel investigation. It enables us to investigate the entire small intestine and to treat pathological findings by endoscopic or surgical means at the same time. The investigation is invasive and that is why the proper indication is mandatory. Results Forty-one intraoperative enteroscopies were performed at our center within a 10-year period. The procedure was diagnostic in 37/41 patients (90.2%); in 3 patients no pathology was found, and in 1 patient we found only previously diagnosed celiac disease. The investigation was therapeutic in 35/41 (85.4%) patients; 2 patients with small bowel ulcers did not require any intraoperative therapy. The pathological findings were arteriovenous malformations (found in 12 patients), small bowel NSAID-induced or Crohn's ulcers (8 patients)--ulcerations and arteriovenous malformations were simultaneously found in three patients; carcinoid of the small intestine (5 patients); Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (5 patients); bleeding polyps (2 gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 1 paraganglioma, and 1 lipoma--in 4 patients); Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (2 patients); multiple cavernous hemangiomas in blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (1 patient); Henoch-Schonlein purpura (1 patient); aortoenteral fistula (1 patient); and retrograde intussusception of Meckel's diverticulum (1 patient). In five patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, 6-22 hamartomas (median of 18 per session) were removed by means of endoscopic polypectomy during intraoperative enteroscopy. There were no major procedure-related complications in our series. Conclusions Intraoperative enteroscopy is accepted as the ultimate diagnostic procedure for complete investigation of the small bowel. Despite the introduction of double-balloon enteroscopy into clinical practice, intraoperative enteroscopy will be reserved for those cases where double-balloon enteroscopy cannot be performed or fails to investigate the entire small intestine, especially to prevent excessive bowel resection.

Intraoperative enteroscopy: ten years' experience at a single tertiary center.

Horseshoe kidney complicates aortic aneurysm surgery in 1 of 200 cases. A patient with asymptomatic juxtarenal aortic aneurysm associated with a horseshoe kidney was successfully treated by stent graft placement. The kidney was supplied by 4 renal arteries. The proximal uncovered part of the stent graft was anchored across the origin of 1 renal artery. Another renal artery, arising from the aneurysmal sac, was occluded by the covered part of the stent graft. A kidney infarction developed postoperatively, which did not affect renal function or blood pressure. The patient was discharged from the hospital in good condition. Follow-up computed tomography and angiography confirmed a satisfactory result of the endovascular treatment.Arch Surg. 1997;132:316-317

https://jamanetwork.com/HttpHandlers/ArticlePdfHandler.ashx?journal=SURG&articleId=596778&pdfFileName=archsurg_132_3_021.pdf

Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm Associated With a Horseshoe Kidney: Transfemoral Endoluminal Repair

Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm Associated With a Horseshoe Kidney

Aortic dissection is primarily localized in the thoracic aorta. Dissection of the abdominal aorta is exceedingly rare, especially in the absence of a blunt abdominal trauma. Two cases of a primarily infrarenal aortic dissection were diagnosed by US, CT and angiography. The patients were treated by stent graft placement. The stent grafts were introduced via a femoral arteriotomy through the introducer sheath and were placed so that they occluded entry and reentry of aortic dissection. The stent graft placement caused total obliteration of a false channel of the dissection immediately after endoprosthesis deployment. The patients were followed-up by CT and angiography at 16 and 3 months after surgery without complication.

Bohumil Jon

Papers

[Classification of surgical complications: analysis of the group of consecutive patients].

Intraoperative enteroscopy: ten years' experience at a single tertiary center.

Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm Associated With a Horseshoe Kidney: Transfemoral Endoluminal Repair

Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm Associated With a Horseshoe Kidney

Dissection of the infrarenal aorta treated by stent graft placement.