The British journal of surgery
-
Although perioperative platelet count has been associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality, its impact on liver regeneration has not been examined directly. This study sought to determine the impact of platelet count on liver regeneration after major liver resection using cross-sectional imaging volumetric assessment. ⋯ After major liver resection, a low postoperative platelet count was associated with inhibited liver regeneration, as well as worse short- and long-term outcomes. Immediate postoperative platelet count may be an early indicator to identify patients at increased risk of worse outcomes.
-
Working time restrictions and public expectation have stimulated competence-based assessment in surgery. Nevertheless, certification of completion of training, and board accreditation across the developed world, still rely on experiential models based on indicative numbers as markers of operative competence. This study assessed the correlation between trainer assessment of competence and completion of indicative numbers. ⋯ A minimum number of index procedures did not reflect competence in a significant proportion of trainees. A more reliable tool is required for certification.
-
Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can be used to monitor the immune response, and are important in predicting treatment responses and outcomes for various types of cancer. Recently, specific TIL subsets have been reported to be clinically useful in predicting treatment responses. The CD8+/FOXP3+ TIL ratio (CFR) may be a more sensitive indicator for monitoring immune function. This study investigated the clinical significance and value of CFR as a biomarker to predict treatment responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. ⋯ The CFR may be a useful biomarker to predict treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy in aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as TNBC and HER2BC.
-
Preoperative morphology influences thoracic aortic aneurysm sac expansion after endovascular repair.
The fate of the aneurysm sac after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains poorly defined. The aim of this study was to characterize the incidence of aneurysm sac expansion after TEVAR, and to determine the effect of aneurysm morphology on postoperative sac behaviour. ⋯ Sac expansion was common in this cohort of patients undergoing TEVAR for thoracic aortic aneurysm. Aneurysm sac expansion was significantly influenced by adverse morphological features in the aortic stent-graft sealing zones.