Implementation of Prehabilitation for Major Abdominal Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery: a Simplified Seven-Day Protocol

Free Flap Enhanced Recovery Protocols in Head and Neck Surgery

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols facilitates a standardized patient care regimen with a goal of reducing the metabolic stress of surgery. Adapted to head and neck free flap reconstructive surgery in 2017, these protocols focused on several key domains such as perioperative nutritional optimization, multimodal pain control, and early mobilization. Studies have shown that in addition to ERAS implementation, the maintenance and improvement of ERAS protocol compliance rates improve perioperative outcomes such as hospital length of stay and decrease major postoperative complications.

The Impact of Surgical Prehabilitation on Postoperative Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Prehabilitation (preoperative rehabilitation) encompasses a range of patient health driven interventions with the potential to enhance surgical outcomes. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties, focusing on physical functionality and postoperative length of stay (LOS).

METHODS

Medline, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were queried using the search terms prehabilitation, surgery, and related synonyms. Included publications were original, English-language, full-text studies conducted in the US with a cohort of ≥5 patients undergoing prehabilitation. After title (n = 1817), abstract (n = 1059), and full-text (n = 411) screens, 26 articles met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Of 26 included articles, 30.8% (n = 8) assessed oncologic surgeries, 34.6% (n = 9) assessed orthopedic surgeries, 19.2% (n = 5) assessed general surgery procedures, and 15.4% (n = 4) assessed cardiac, colorectal, urologic, and transplant surgeries. Physical function was the most common assessed primary outcome, with 46.2% (n = 12) of studies measuring physical activity, functional status, range of motion, or muscle strength. The outcomes of six-meter walk test, sit-to-stand test, and LOS were reported in 26.9% (n = 7), 23.1% (n = 6), and 19.2% (n = 5) of studies, respectively. Three studies found a significant improvement in the six-meter walk test, and four studies demonstrated a significant improvement in sit-to-stand test after prehabilitation. LOS outcomes had varied results across studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Prehabilitation interventions have the potential to improve postoperative outcomes, including physical function and LOS in surgical patients. Further research is necessary to identify the most efficacious prehabilitation protocols and determine their optimal impact within diverse surgical subpopulations.

State of Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction: Current and Future Directions

Since its inception, microvascular free tissue transfer has broadened possibilities for oncologic ablation and restoration of form and function. Developments throughout recent decades have resulted in increasing flap success rates and complexity. Advances in technology and knowledge gained from past experiences will continue to improve surgical efficiency, flap success rates, and ultimately, patient outcomes.

Establishment and validation of a predictive nomogram for severe pleural effusion in liver cancer patients after hepatectomy

This study aims to develop and validate a predictive nomogram for severe postoperative pleural effusion (SPOPE) in patients undergoing hepatectomy for liver cancer. A total of 536 liver cancer patients who underwent hepatectomy at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery I of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, were enrolled in a retrospective observational study and comprised the training dataset. Lasso regression and logistic regression analyses were employed to construct a predictive nomogram. The nomogram was internally validated using Bootstrapping and externally validated with a dataset of 203 patients who underwent liver cancer resection at the Department of General Surgery III of the same hospital from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. We evaluated the nomogram using the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Variables such as drinking history, postoperative serum albumin, postoperative total bilirubin, right hepatectomy, diaphragm incision, and intraoperative blood loss were observed to be associated with SPOPE. These factors were integrated into our nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.736 (95% CI: 0.692-0.781) in the training set and 0.916 (95% CI: 0.872-0.961) in the validation set. The nomogram was then evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. The nomogram demonstrates good discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility.

Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of prehabilitation for frail patients into routine health care: a realist review

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence supporting the effectiveness of prehabilitation as a new preoperative care pathway to optimise perioperative outcomes, its implementation into routine health care is widely pending. Frail patients might particularly benefit from prehabilitation interventions, but facilitating and hindering factors need to be considered in the implementation process. Thus, our aim was to derive a programme theory on what prehabilitation programmes work for frail patients in what circumstances and why.

METHODS

Following Pawson's realist review approach, preliminary programme theories on facilitators and barriers were established. General and topic-specific databases were searched systematically for facilitators and barriers to the implementation of prehabilitation for frail patients. Articles were included if they dealt with multimodal prehabilitation programmes prior to surgery in a frail population and if they contained information on facilitators and barriers during the implementation process in the full text. Based on these articles, refined programme theories were generated.

RESULTS

From 2,609 unique titles, 34 were retained for the realist synthesis. Facilitating factors included the individualisation of prehabilitation programmes to meet the patients' needs and abilities, multimodality, adaption to the local setting and health care system, endorsement by an ambassador and sharing of responsibilities among a multidisciplinary team. Central barriers for frail patients were transportation, lack of social support, and inadequate, overwhelming information provision.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing prehabilitation as a new care pathway for frail patients requires organisational readiness and adaptability to the local setting. On an individual level, a clear understanding of responsibilities and of the intervention's goal among patients and providers are necessary. Added attention must be paid to the individualisation to fit the needs and restrictions of frail patients. This makes prehabilitation a resource-intense, but promising intervention for frail surgery patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42022335282).

Factors that affect quality of life for older people with head and neck cancer: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Quality of life is a critical aspect in the management of older head and neck cancer patients. It needs to be considered alongside survival benefit, treatment burden, and longer-term outcomes. The purpose was to undertake a systematic review of empirical peer-reviewed studies with a primary focus on factors impacting quality of life for older head and neck cancer patients.

METHODS

A systematic review, searching 5 electronic databases (PsychoINFO, MEDLINE, CINHAL, Embase, and Scopus) using PRISMA methodology was conducted. Data was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and a narrative synthesis performed.

RESULTS

Only 10 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two main themes emerged: 1) Impact of head and neck cancer on quality of life domains and 2) quality of life in treatment decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

In an era of progressive personalised care, there is an evident need for more qualitative and quantitative studies focusing on quality of life for older head and neck cancer patients. However, older head and neck cancer patients experience notable differences, especially with poorer physical functioning and greater eating and drinking challenges. Quality of life impacts older patients decision-making, treatment planning and intensifies post-treatment support.

Assessing Risk of Severe Complications after Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Comparison of Frailty, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Comorbidity Scores

Objective  This study aimed to improve age-independent risk stratification for patients undergoing endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal (TNTS) approach to pituitary mass resection by investigating the associations between frailty, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and comorbidity scores with severe complications following TNTS. Design  This study is a retrospective review. Setting  This review was conducted utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. Participants  A total of 680 cases of TNTS identified from 2010 to 2013 were included in this study. Main Outcome Measures  The modified frailty index (mFI) was calculated to quantify frailty. ASA and Charlson's comorbidity index (CCI) scores were obtained as physiologic status and comorbidity-based prognostic markers. Severe complications were separated into intensive care unit (ICU)-level complications, defined by Clavien-Dindo grade IV (CDIV) criteria, and mortality. Results  Overall, 24 CDIV complications (3.5%) and 6 deaths (0.9%) were recorded. Scores for mFI ( p  = 0.01, R ²  = 0.97) and ASA ( p  = 0.04., R ²  = 0.87) were significantly correlated with CDIV complications. ASA scores were significantly correlated with mortality ( p  = 0.03, R ²  = 0.87), as well as independently associated with CDIV complication by multivariable regression models (odds ratio [OR] = 2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-6.83, p  < 0.01), while mFI was not. CCI was not significantly associated with CDIV complications or mortality. A multivariable regression model incorporating ASA had a lower Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC; 188.55) than a model incorporating mFI (195.99). Conclusion  Frailty and physiologic status, as measured by mFI and ASA scores respectively, both correlate with ICU-level complications after TNTS. ASA scores demonstrate greater clinical utility than mFI scores; however, as they are more easily generated, uniquely correlated with mortality and independently associated with ICU-level complication risk on multivariable regression analysis.

Nutritional prehabilitation in head and neck cancer: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Prehabilitation affords an opportunity to support the management of malnutrition that is strongly associated with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the components of nutritional prehabilitation interventions and their effects on nutritional and health outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was completed within Medline (including PubMed), CINHAL, Cochrane database, EMBASE, PRoQUEST, clinical trials registries, and grey literature to identify studies involving a nutritional intervention pre-treatment in head and neck cancer patients receiving any form of curative therapy. Nutritional intervention was defined as a specified period pre-treatment and outcome measures had to include assessment of nutritional status or body composition. Quality of included studies was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias 2.

RESULTS

From 557 identified studies, two met the inclusion criteria. Due to the low number of studies, a meta-analysis was not indicated. Both studies conducted a nutritional intervention using an "enriched formula" in malnourished patients prior to surgery. Neither study reported the intervention was effective for reducing weight loss, physical function, surgical complications, or length of stay versus the comparison.

CONCLUSION

There is limited nutritional prehabilitation research within head and neck cancer. An "enriched formula" provided in the prehabilitation period appears no more advantageous than routine standard nutritional formula in mitigating against the weight loss experienced in malnourished head and neck patient. Due to the malnutrition risks on diagnosis and the negative impact of poor nutritional status on clinical and functional outcomes, robust nutritional prehabilitation research is required to inform clinical practice.

30-day Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) after elective bariatric surgery: the development and validation of the Bari-MACE clinical predictive tool

BACKGROUND

Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) after bariatric surgery are poorly understood yet are thought to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of short-term, 30-day MACE and to develop a pragmatic clinical predictive MACE scoring tool.

SETTING

This retrospective study was conducted using all the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP)-accredited center data from 2015 to 2019.

METHODS

Primary Roux-en-Y and sleeve gastrectomy procedures were included, and prior revisional surgeries and emergency surgeries were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to examine the risk factors associated with 30-day MACE. Using forward regression, a Bari-MACE clinical prediction model was generated.

RESULTS

A total of 750,498 patients were included in our analysis of which 959 (.1%) experienced a MACE. MACE patients were older (54.0 ± 11.5 yr versus 44.4 ± 12.0 yr, P < .0001), and comprised a higher proportion of males (36.3% versus 20.4%, P < .0001) and patients of White racial status (74.0% versus 71.6%, P < .0001). The MACE cohort also had a higher body mass index (46.6 ± 9.7 kg/m² versus 45.2 ± 7.8 kg/m², P < .0001), higher rates of sleep apnea (56.8% versus 38.2%, P < .0001), and a higher proportion of insulin-dependent diabetes (26.1% versus 8.4%, P < .0001) than non-MACE patients. Derivation of our clinical predictive Bari-MACE scoring model revealed 12 variables associated with development of MACE with a specificity of 97.8% using a 55-point threshold.

CONCLUSION

Thirty-day major adverse cardiac events after elective bariatric surgery are rare, occurring in approximately .1% of all patients, but are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Using the MBSAQIP, we developed a Bari-MACE clinical predictive tool to risk-stratify patients with the aim to better guide perioperative care and foster improved surgical outcomes.