Engbergyildiz0334

Pancreatic surgery is performed in relatively few centres. There are validated quality benchmarks for pancreatic surgery, although it remains unclear how published benchmarks compare with each other. This study aimed to systematically review published literature to summarise metrics that define quality benchmarks for pancreatic surgery.

A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL was undertaken until June 2019. Articles that developed or validated published quality benchmarks for pancreatic surgery were included. Benchmarks were classified into three domains using the Donabedian framework, and their quality assessed using the AIRE Instrument.

Nineteen studies included 55 quality metrics, of which 8 developed new metrics, and 11 studies validated previously published metrics. The methodology of metric development was either expert opinion-driven or data-driven. All metrics demonstrated moderate quality scores. There was partial agreement in some metrics (e.g. < 10 h total operative duration), but lack of consensus for most others (e.g. lymph node yield ≥ 10, ≥ 12, ≥ 15, ≥ 16). No metrics related to patient reported outcomes.

Published quality benchmarks for pancreatic surgery predominantly arise from eight studies, with heterogeneity in how the metrics were developed. There was not consensus for all metrics. Metrics need to be reviewed as new data emerge, technologies develop and opinions change.

Published quality benchmarks for pancreatic surgery predominantly arise from eight studies, with heterogeneity in how the metrics were developed. There was not consensus for all metrics. Metrics need to be reviewed as new data emerge, technologies develop and opinions change.

Perioperative blood transfusions have been associated with increased morbidity and poorer oncologic outcomes for numerous surgical procedures. However, this issue is understudied among patients with gastroesophageal malignancies. The objective was to clarify the risk factors and impact of perioperative transfusions on quality of life and surgical and oncologic outcomes among patients undergoing gastric and esophageal cancer surgery.

Patients undergoing curative-intent resections for gastroesophageal cancers between 2010 and 2018 were included. Perioperative blood transfusion was defined as any transfusion within 24h pre-operatively, during surgery, or the primary post-operative hospitalization period. Patient and tumor characteristics, surgical and oncological outcomes, and quality of life were compared.

A total of 435 patients were included. Perioperative transfusions occurred in 184 (42%). Anemia, blood loss, female sex, open surgical approach, and operative time emerged as independent risk factors for transfusions. Factors found to be independently associated with overall survival were neoadjuvant therapy, tumor size and stage, major complications, and mortality. Transfusions did not independently impact overall survival, disease-free survival, or quality of life.

Perioperative transfusions did not impact oncologic outcomes or quality of life among patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for gastroesophageal cancers.

Perioperative transfusions did not impact oncologic outcomes or quality of life among patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for gastroesophageal cancers.The multitude of treatments available for tens of millions of US adults with moderate/severe chronic pain have limited efficacy. Long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) is a widely available option for controlling pain among patients with chronic pain refractory to other treatments. The recent recognition of LTOT inefficacy and complications has led to more frequent opioid tapering, which in turn has revealed its own set of complications. The occurrence of the same set of symptoms-worsening pain, declining function, and clinical instability-in contrasting contexts of LTOT ineffectiveness and opioid tapering has led to increasing recognition of the utility of complex persistent opioid dependence (CPOD), a clinically distinct but biologically similar state compared with opioid use disorder as an explanatory diagnosis/heuristic. Recent guidelines for LTOT tapering have incorporated buprenorphine treatment based on CPOD concepts as a recommended treatment for problems due to opioid tapering with limited supportive evidence. The increasing utilization of buprenorphine for both LTOT ineffectiveness and opioid tapering problems raises the urgent need for a review of the clinical definition, mechanisms, and treatment of CPOD and pertinent policies. In this manuscript, we discuss various issues related to CPOD that requires further clarification through research and policy development.Elevated levels of amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) recognized as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was reported in several human visual disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Breakdown of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is concomitant with vision loss in DR and AMD. We previously reported that HHcy alters BRB. Here, we tested the hypothesis that HHcy alters BRB via activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Human retinal endothelial cells subjected to high level of Hcy and mouse model of HHcy were used. We injected Hcy intravitreal and used a mouse model of HHcy that lacks cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS). RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence showed that retinal endothelial cells (RECs) express NMDAR at the gene and protein levels both in vitro and in vivo and this was increased by HHcy. We assessed BRB function and retinal morphology using fluorescein angiogram and optical coherence tomography (OCT) under HHcy with and without pharmacological inhibition of NMDAR by (MK801) or in mice lacking endothelial NMDAR (NMDARE-/- mouse). Additionally, retinal albumin leakage and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were assessed by western blotting analysis. Inhibition or elimination of NMDAR was able to improve the altered retinal hyperpermeability and morphology under HHcy as indicated by significant decrease in retinal albumin leakage and restoration of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Our findings underscore a potential role for endothelial NMDAR in mediating Hcy-induced breakdown of BRB and subsequently as a potential therapeutic target in retinal diseases associated with HHcy such as DR and AMD. KEY MESSAGES • Elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcy) are defined as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). learn more • HHcy is implicated in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. • HHcy alters BRB via activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.