Alexandros Chrysos

Background: Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) is an established procedure for the resection of celiac-trunk-infiltrating carcinomas of the pancreatic corpus or cauda. In contrast, total pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (TP-CAR) remains a controversial procedure, which is sporadically mentioned in the literature. This study aimed to compare perioperative and survival outcomes following TP-CAR with those of the established DP-CAR operation. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2023, 17 patients underwent DP-CAR and 8 patients TP-CAR in our institution. Pre-, intra-, postoperative, histopathological and survival data were compared between the two groups. Results: The TP-CAR cohort was associated with higher rates of major complications (DP-CAR: 2[12%] vs. TP-CAR: 4[50%], p = 0.037) and stomach ischemia (DP-CAR: 1[5.9%] vs. TP-CAR: 3[37.5%], p = 0.044). Length of stay in the intensive care unit was longer for the TP-CAR group (DP-CAR:1[1–1] vs. TP-CAR:18[8–27] days, p < 0.001). One patient in our study died postoperatively, belonging to the DP-CAR group. Median overall survival (DP-CAR:21[95% CI:16–26] vs. TP-CAR 14[95% CI:11.4–16.6] months, p = 0.355) and disease-free survival (DP-CAR: 12[95% CI:9.2–14.8] vs. TP-CAR: 10.5[5.4–15.6] months, p = 0.659) were higher in the DP-CAR group, without statistically significant difference in the log-rank test. Conclusions: Compared to DP-CAR, TP-CAR was associated with higher morbidity and longer stay in the intensive care unit, while mortality remained low in this cohort. Given the limited sample size and the absence of significant survival differences, TP-CAR may be considered in highly selected patients with good performance status and adequate tumour regression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

This study aimed to observe the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on acute general surgery in the first German “hotspot” regions of Heinsberg and Aachen, during the first months of the pandemic. The incidence and severity of acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis and mechanical bowel obstruction, were compared between March and May 2020 and a control period (same months of the previous three years). Pre-, intra- and postoperative data was compared between three regional hospitals of Heinsberg and the closest maximum care, university hospital. A total of 592 operated patients were included, 141 belonging to the pandemic cohort and 451 to the historic cohort. The pandemic group showed higher rates of clinical peritonitis (38% vs. 27%, p = 0.015), higher rates of mean white blood cell count (13.2±4.4 /nl vs. 12.3±4.7 /nl, p = 0.044) and mean C-reactive protein (60.3±81.1 mg/l vs. 44.4±72.6 mg/l, p = 0.015) preoperatively. Specifically in patients with acute appendicitis, there were less patients with catarrhal appendicitis (23% vs. 35%, p = 0.021) and a tendency towards more advanced histological findings in the pandemic cohort. In the university hospital, a 42% reduction in acute operated cases was observed at the onset of the pandemic (n = 30 in 2020 vs. n = 52 in 2019), whereas in the peripheral hospitals of Heinsberg there was only a 10% reduction (n = 111 in 2020 vs. n = 123 in 2019). The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in our region was accompanied by advanced preoperative and intraoperative findings in patients undergoing emergency general surgery. A greater reduction in acute operated surgical cases was observed at the university hospital, in contrast to the smaller hospitals of Heinsberg, suggesting a possible shift of emergency patients, requiring immediate operation, from maximum care hospital to the periphery.

Background. Postoperative hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications after total thyroidectomy. Parathormone (PTH) and calcium levels, measured several hours after surgery, have been suggested as valuable markers for detecting patients at risk for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. We aimed to determine if early post-surgery PTH and calcium levels can be used for the early identification of patients at risk for symptomatic hypocalcemia. Methods. PTH and calcium were measured before surgery and at 10 min and 4 h post-thyroidectomy, in 77 patients. Performance characteristics of PTH and calcium levels and their post/pre-surgery ratios were calculated. Results. Four-hour calcium was a sensitive (93.75%) but not specific (67.61%) indicator of patients at risk for symptomatic hypocalcemia. The 4-h/pre-surgery PTH ratio was the most accurate (90.81%) and the most specific (94.37%) test to identify patients at risk. Serum calcium at 4-h, 4-h/pre-surgery PTH ratio, and PTH at 10 min post-surgery had the higher diagnostic odds ratios (50.86, 32.85, and 29.04, respectively). The 4-h/pre-surgery PTH ratio also had the highest (0.694) Youden’s J statistic. Conclusions. Low serum calcium levels 4 h after thyroidectomy and the 4-h/pre-surgery PTH ratio could be valuable additions to everyday clinical practice in post-thyroidectomy patients.