Abstract Aim Risk prediction models for mortality, severe postoperative complications, and postoperative pancreatic fistula in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were established using data from the National Clinical Database more than a decade ago, and the surgical outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy have improved over the years. The aim of this study is to update the risk prediction model for pancreaticoduodenectomy using National Clinical Database data. Methods Between 2019 and 2021, the data of 35 365 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and who were registered in the National Clinical Database were retrospectively analyzed. According to the registration year, the patients were divided into two cohorts: the development cohort (2019–2020; n = 23 654) and the validation cohort (2021; n = 11 711). Logistic regression analyses were performed to create risk models for surgical mortality, severe postoperative complications, and grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula. Results Overall, the rates of surgical mortality, severe postoperative complications, and grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula were 1.8%, 2.2%, and 1.3%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses revealed 28, 28, and 14 risk factors for surgical mortality, severe postoperative complications, and grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the risk model in the development cohort was 0.759 for surgical mortality, 0.712 for severe complications, and 0.699 for postoperative pancreatic fistula, comparable to the validation cohort. The calibration plots were favorable in both cohorts. Conclusion The updated risk model for pancreaticoduodenectomy will be useful to predict surgical mortality, severe postoperative complications, and grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula.
Abstract Background The COVID‐19 outbreak made conventional medical care impossible, forcing changes in both healthcare providers and patients. In Japan, COVID‐19 infection began spreading in earnest in 2020 and exploded in 2021. There was concern that the medical impact of COVID‐19 in 2021 would differ from that in 2020. We aimed to clarify the impact of COVID‐19 on mortality and anastomotic leakage in laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer and rectal cancer in Japan using the National Clinical Database (NCD). Methods We collected data from patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and laparoscopic low anterior resection (LLAR) from January 2018 to December 2021 from the NCD, a web‐based surgical registration system in Japan. The number of surgical cases, monthly incidence of mortality and morbidity (anastomotic leakage), standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and standardized morbidity‐leakage ratio (SMLR [ratio of observed patients to expected patients calculated using the risk calculator established in the NCD]) were evaluated. Results The numbers of LDG and LLAR cases continued to decline in the first year of the pandemic in 2020 and were as low in 2021 as in 2020. Although the numbers of robot‐assisted LDG and LLAR cases increased, the growth rate was lower than the rate of increase prior to the pandemic. Mortality and anastomotic leakage, two of the most important complications, as assessed by SMR and SMLR, did not worsen during the pandemic in comparison to the pre‐pandemic period. Conclusions Laparoscopic surgeries were performed safely in Japan and were not affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Objective: To investigate the oncological outcomes after transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer and risk factors for local recurrence (LR). Background: A high LR rate with a multifocal pattern early after TaTME has been reported in Norway and the Netherlands, causing controversy over the oncological safety of this technique. Methods: Twenty-six member institutions of the Japan Society of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery participated in this retrospective cohort study. A total of 706 patients with primary rectal cancer who underwent TaTME between January 2012 and December 2019 were included for analysis. The primary endpoint was the cumulative 3-year LR rate. Results: A total of 253 patients had clinical stage III disease (35.8%) and 91 (12.9%) had stage IV. Intersphincteric resection was performed in 318 patients (45.0%) and abdominoperineal resection in 193 (27.3%). There was 1 urethral injury (0.1%). A positive resection margin (R1) was seen in 42 patients (5.9%). Median follow-up was 3.42 years, and the 2- and 3-year cumulative LR rates were 4.95% (95% confidence interval: 3.50–6.75) and 6.82% (95% confidence interval: 5.08–8.89), respectively. A multifocal pattern was observed in 14 (25%) of 56 patients with LR. Tumor height from the anal verge, pathological T4 disease, pathological stage III/IV, positive perineural invasion, and R1 resection were significant risk factors for LR in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: In this selected cohort in which intersphincteric resection or abdominoperineal resection was performed in more than half of cases, oncological outcomes were acceptable during a median follow-up of more than 3 years.
Abstract Aim Appendicitis is divided into two categories: complicated appendicitis (CA) and uncomplicated appendicitis (UA). In pediatric patients with CA, the use of interval appendectomy (IA), which is non‐operative management followed by elective surgery, has decreased the number of postoperative complications. Before discussing the merit of IA for adult patients, we need to clarify whether the frequency and seriousness of the complication rate after emergency surgery is higher for CA than for UA. Methods This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who underwent appendectomy and who were registered in the National Clinical Database (NCD) from 2014 to 2016. Patients with CA who underwent emergency appendectomy comprised the CA group. Patients with UA comprised the UA group. Patients with chronic or recurrent appendicitis who underwent elective appendectomy comprised the elective appendectomy (EA) group. Primary outcomes were all morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality within 30 days after appendectomy. Results We included 109 256 patients in the study: 14 798 CA, 86 876 UA, and 7582 EA patients. Compared with the UA group, the rates of all morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality were significantly higher in the CA group. All morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality rates were significantly lower in the EA group than in the other two groups. Conclusions We confirmed that emergency surgery for CA places the patient at relatively higher risk. We also showed that the risk associated with EA is significantly lower than that for the other methods.
Abstract Background The cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines revised in 2015 recommend target chest compression rate (CCR) and chest compression depth (CCD) of 100–120 compressions per minute (cpm) and 5–6 cm, respectively. We hypothesized that the new guidelines are harder to comply with, even with proper feedback. Methods This prospective observational study using data collected from the participants of an Immediate Cardiac Life Support course included the evaluation of chest compressions using performance data from a feedback device after the completion of the course. Participants completed chest compressions for 1 min and were provided with feedback, after which they performed another cycle of CC. Primary outcome measures were CCR and CCD as well as the correct CCR percentage and CCD percentage for pre and post feedback. Results The study included a total of 88 participants. The median pre-CCR was 112.5 cpm (interquartile range [IQR] 108–116 cpm), and the median correct pre-CCR percentage was 96% (IQR 82.5–99.5%). After the feedback, there was a slight increase in the correct CCR percentage (99% [IQR 92.5–100%]). Conversely, the median pre-CCD was 5.4 cm (IQR 4.9–5.8 cm), and the median pre-correct CCD percentage was 66% (IQR 18.5–90%). The increase in the median post-correct CCD percentage to 72% (IQR 27–94%) observed after the feedback was not statistically significant ( P = 0.361). Conclusions Compliance with the new guidelines for chest compressions, especially those regarding the CCD, might be difficult. However, whether the changes in guidelines affect outcomes in actual clinical settings is uncertain and requires further investigation.
