Surgical resection plays pivotal role in the treatment of gastric cancer. Adequate preoperative evaluation, precise intraoperative maneuver and delicate postoperative management lay the foundation for successful gastrectomy. The aim of preoperative evaluation is to stage tumor and identify potential risk factors (including preoperative factors like age, ASA status, body mass index, comorbidity, hypoalbuminemia, and intraoperative factors like blood loss and combined resection) which could lead to postoperative complication. With the management of prehabilitation, adequate medical decision could be made and patient's fast recovery could be ensured. With the rapid adoption of ERAS concept, there is increasing attention to prehabilitation which focus on optimization of cardio-pulmonary capacity and muscular-skeletal capacity. Despite of the efficacy of prehabilitation demonstrated by randomized controlled trials, consensus has yet to be reached on the following items: specific intervention, optimal measurement, candidate population and optimal timing for intervention. Balancing the efficiency and safety, preoperative evaluation could be put into clinical practice smoothly.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications* ; Preoperative Care/adverse effects* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Gastrectomy/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors

Although new immunosuppressive agents have greatly improved the post-transplantation survival, their adverse effects remain a major challenge. Appropriate assessment and monitoring the immune status in post-transplantation patients is therefore essential. This article summarizes the monitoring indicators and reviews recent advances in this field.
Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Monitoring, Immunologic ; Organ Transplantation ; Postoperative Care

BACKGROUNDThe conventional venous access for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) is the subclavian vein, which is often accompanied by high complication rate. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of optimized axillary vein technique.

METHODSA total of 247 patients undergoing CIED implantation were included and assigned to the axillary vein group or the subclavian vein group randomly. Success rate of puncture and complications in the perioperative period and follow-ups were recorded.

RESULTSThe overall success rate (95.7% vs. 96.0%) and one-time success rate (68.4% vs. 66.1%) of punctures were similar between the two groups. In the subclavian vein group, pneumothorax occurred in three patients. The subclavian gaps of three patients were too tight to allow operation of the electrode lead. In contrast, there were no puncture-associated complications in the axillary vein group. In the patient follow-ups, two patients in the subclavian vein group had subclavian crush syndrome and both of them received lead replacement. The incidence of complications during the perioperative period and follow-ups of the axillary vein group and the subclavian vein group was 1.6% (2/125) and 8.2% (10/122), respectively (χ2 = 5.813, P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONOptimized axillary vein technique may be superior to the conventional subclavian vein technique for CIED lead placement.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONwww.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02358551; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02358551?term=NCT02358551& rank=1.

Aged ; Axillary Vein ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; adverse effects ; Electrodes, Implanted ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Perioperative Care ; Pneumothorax ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Subclavian Vein

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Postoperative early feeding has many advantages, and current guidelines recommend the early diet or enteral feeding after gastrointestinal surgery. However, there are controversies in emergency situation. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of early enteral feeding in patients underwent emergency gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the patients underwent emergency GI surgery by single surgeon from March 2008 to December 2010, retrospectively. The early feeding was defined when feeding was started within 72 hours after operation. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were enrolled. Men were 31, with mean 60.6 (+/-18.5) years old age. Thirty-three patients were treated in the intensive-care unit after operation. The most common cause of operation was bowel perforation, and followed by intestinal obstruction. Segmental resection with primary anastomosis of small bowel is the most common operation. Thirty-two of them started the diet within 48 hours postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients had post-operative complications. Wound complications were the most common, and followed by the abdominal pain, and ileus. Wound complications were developed in 18 patients, and the post-feeding abdominal pain was in 7 patients. Anastomotic leakage and intraabdominal abscess were developed in 2 patients, and 1 patient required reoperation to treat the anastomotic disruption. One patient developed pneumonia and sepsis, and resolved under conservative treatment. There was no mortality in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early enteral feeding may be safe in cases of emergency GI surgery. However, it may require further studies to confirm the safety and feasibility of the early feeding in emergency situations.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Adult ; Aged ; *Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Enteral Nutrition/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Sepsis/etiology

OBJECTIVETo critically evaluate the currently available randomized clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients, hence, to provide sufficient evidences for the widespread use of acupuncture in cancer treatment.

METHODSTwo independent reviewers extracted data from all of the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients. Seven databases were searched from their respective inception to December 2010. All eligible trials identified were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Jadad scale, and data from the articles were validated and extracted.

RESULTSIn total, 33 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The effects of acupuncture on different cancer-related aspects were shown, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced side effects (13/33, 39.4%), cancer pain (6/33, 18.2%), post-operative urinary retention (4/33, 12.1%), quality of life (2/33, 6.1%), vasomotor syndrome (2/33, 6.1%), post-operative gastrointestinal dysfunction (2/33, 6.1%), prevention of prolonged postoperative ileus (2/33, 6.1%), joint symptoms (1/33, 3.0%), and immunomodulation (1/33, 3.0%).

CONCLUSIONSThe result of our systematic review suggested that the effectiveness of acupuncture in palliative care for cancer patients is promising, especially in reducing chemotherapy or radiotherapyinduced side effects and cancer pain. Acupuncture may be an appropriate adjunctive treatment for palliative care.

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Palliative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and safety of enteral nutrition in preoperative bowel preparation for rectal cancer patients undergoing radical operation.

METHODSSixty rectal cancer patients undergoing selective low anterior resection were randomized into the trial group(n=30) and the control group(n=30). Patients in the trial group received clean liquid integral protein diet for 3 days before operation without mechanical bowel preparation. Patients in the control group received traditional diet and mechanical bowel preparation. The intraoperative and postoperative clinical data, the quality of bowel preparation, postoperative complications, and nutritional parameters were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups before operation. The operative time, blood loss, quality of bowel preparation as well as postoperative hospital stay were not significantly different(all P>0.05). While the time to first flatus [(2.53±0.91) d vs. (3.03±0.68) d] and semi-liquid diet intake[(3.95±0.83) d vs. (4.52±1.14) d] were significantly shorter in the trial group as compared with the control group(all P<0.05). There were no death and no significant difference in postoperative complications [16.7%(5/30) vs. 20.0%(6/30), P>0.05]. The levels of postoperative total protein, albumin, and prealbumin decreased significantly. Meanwhile, the levels of postoperative albumin[(36.2±2.5) g/L vs. (33.5±2.6) g/L, P<0.01] and prealbumin [(325.4±28.2) mg/L vs. (302.5±34.2) mg/L, P<0.01] in the trial group were significantly higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative enteral nutrition can replace the mechanical bowel preparation with better efficacy, and improve the postoperative nutritional status without increasing surgical risk in rectal cancer patients undergoing radical operation.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Preoperative Care ; methods ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery

PURPOSETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of locking calcaneal plate in treating calcaneal fracture (Sanders II-III) in elderly patients.

METHODSFrom October 2012 to December 2013, 23 elderly patients suffering from calcaneal fracture (Sanders II-III) were treated and followed up. There were 15 males and 8 females with the mean age of 68.5 years (range: 65-79 years). According to Sander's classification, 16 cases (16 feet) were type II fractures and 7 cases (7 feet) were type III fractures. Anteroposterior, lateral and axial views of X-ray were taken to detect the calcaneum. CT scan was done to assess the amount of comminution and articular depression. Radiological assessment was performed using Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle. Functional outcome was assessed using the Maryland foot score.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 13.7 months on average (10-20 months). The mean time of bone union was 3.2 months (3-4 months). The mean time of complete weight bearing was 3.2 months (3.1-4.0 months). The soft tissue necrosis was found in 1 case. The mean Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle were 25.31° and 117.5°respectively. The overall excellent to good rate was 82.6%.

CONCLUSIONOpen reduction and internal fixation with locking calcaneal plate can obtain good functional outcome for Sanders II-III calcaneal fractures in elderly patients.

Aged ; Bone Plates ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Surgical Wound ; therapy

Laryngeal edema developed in 10.1% of studied patients with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery. The 181 patients were divided into two groups; those with laryngeal edema (group 1) and those without laryngeal edema (group 2). The mean ages in group 1 and 2 were 10 and 22.9 months. Group 1 patients were younger on average than those of group 2 (p< 0.05). The differences in the cardiopulmonary bypass time and anesthesia time between the two groups were not statistically significant. The duration of intubations and ventilatory support before and after the onset of laryngeal edema and the period of the ICU stay were longer in group 1 than in group 2 (p< 0.05). A predictor of postextubation laryngeal edema was not found in our patients from above mentioned parameters. We conclude that the higher incidence of laryngeal edema may be due to young age (most were under 1 year of age), and duration of intubation and ventilatory support.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Heart Defects, Congenital/*surgery ; Human ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intubation, Intratracheal/*adverse effects ; Laryngeal Edema/epidemiology/*etiology ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of nasogastric decompression tube after gastric cancer operation on the postoperative recovery.

METHODSA total of 174 patients with gastric cancer were prospectively enrolled from December 2009 to March 2011 and randomly divided into non-nasogastric tube control group(n=88) and nasogastric tube group(n=86). Postoperative symptoms, complications, recovery time, and quality of life during hospital stay were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe incidences of nausea(14.8% vs. 47.7%, P<0.01), sore throat(6.8% vs. 38.4%, P<0.01), bucking and foreign body sensation(3.4% vs. 20.9%, P<0.01), expectoration obstruction(36.4% vs. 55.8%, P<0.05) were significantly lower in nasogastric tube group than those in the control group. The intervals to ambulation and flatus were(1.46±0.58) d and(3.11±0.77) d in the non-nasogastric tube group, significantly shorter those in nasogastric tube group[(1.68±0.61) d and(3.75±1.03) d]. There was no anastomotic leak or bowel obstruction. The difference in bleeding was not statistically significant[3.4%(3/88) vs. 5.8%(5/86), P>0.05] between the two groups. The quality of life differed between the two groups(mean score, 3.36 vs. 2.78, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEarly removal of nasogastric decompression tube is safe and reasonable and can improve the quality of life during hospital stay.

Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of the complications after breast augmentation with polyacrylamide hydrogel injection.

METHODSMRI was performed in 16 patients who had breast augmentation with polyacrylamide hydrogel injection. The results of magnetic resonance imaging were compared with the clinical symptoms.

RESULTSMRI examinations of the 16 patients showed that (1) 4 breasts in 2 patients were comparatively natural; (2) a large lacteal cyst was detected in one patients in lactation; (3) breast asymmetry occurred in 3 patients (6 sides); (4) in 10 patients (20 sides), the injected gel was in irregular form. The results of MRI were in accord with the clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONMRI is of great diagnostic value for the complications after breast augmentation with polyacrylamide hydrogel injection.

Acrylic Resins ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Breast ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammaplasty ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity