Risk factors for surgical-site infections after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a study in China

Comparison of surgical efficacy between direct anterior approach and posterolateral approach in the treatment of sarcopenia with femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a prevalent injury among the elderly, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has markedly enhanced the quality of life for many patients; however, the benefits of the direct anterior approach (DAA), which has gained popularity in recent years, remain a subject of debate. Sarcopenia frequently occurs in patients with FNF and is linked to adverse surgical outcomes. This study aims to compare the effects of the DAA and the posterolateral approach (PLA) on the efficacy of TJA surgery in patients with FNF who also present with sarcopenia.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with FNF who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using either DAA or PLA from December 2019 to December 2022. A total of 141 individuals were included, comprising 52 in the DAA group and 89 in the PLA group. The cross-sectional area (cm²) of the musculature at the pedicle level of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) was measured using chest computed tomography (CT). The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated by dividing the cross-sectional area of the muscle at the T12 pedicle level by the square of the individual's height. Sarcopenia was diagnosed when both grip strength and SMI values fell below the diagnostic cutoff. The study compared various factors, including age, gender, SMI, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, operation time, incision length, blood loss, blood transfusion, hemoglobin drop, albumin drop, postoperative time to ambulation, length of hospitalization, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Harris score at one and six months post-surgery, complications, revision rate, one-year survival rate following surgery, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding gender, age, SMI, BMI, ASA, operation time, blood transfusion, VAS score six months post-surgery, revision rate, satisfaction, and survival rate (P > 0.05). The incision length, blood loss, hemoglobin drop, albumin drop, hospitalization duration, VAS score, and complication rate one month after the operation in the DAA group were all significantly lower than those in the PLA group (P < 0.001). Additionally, the Harris scores at one month and six days post-operation were superior in the DAA group compared to the PLA group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the incidence of complications in the DAA group was lower than that in the PLA group (P = 0.041). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that age was an independent risk factor for patients' mortality risk (95% CI: 1.064-1.479, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

DAA results in reduced surgical trauma, alleviates postoperative pain, decreases the incidence of complications, enhances the recovery of patients' mobility functions, shortens hospital stays, and is particularly suitable for FNF patients with sarcopenia.

Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It is associated with adverse outcomes after several orthopaedic procedures. However, its role in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is not fully explored. Therefore, we wanted to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to answer the following questions: (1) What is the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing TJA?; (2) What factors are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing TJA?; What is the impact of sarcopenia on medical outcomes following TJA?; and (4) What is the impact of sarcopenia on surgical outcomes following TJA?

METHODS

Electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched. The data were pooled using the random-effects model and graphically represented by a forest plot. We included a total of 13 studies, evaluating 399,097 patients.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia was 20.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.6 to 28.8%; P < .00001; I2 = 94.7%) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and 5.2% (95% CI 0.1 to 69.7%; P = .128; I2 = 99.6%) in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Meta-regression found no links between age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, obesity, arthroplasty type, and sarcopenia prevalence in TJA. Sarcopenia increased risk of blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] 4.68 [95% CI 3.51 to 6.25]; P < .00001), pneumonia (OR 1.94 [95% CI 1.14 to 3.30]; P = .01), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.31 to 2.05]; P < .001), prosthetic fracture (OR 2.12 [95% CI 1.51 to 2.98]; P < .0001), prosthetic dislocation (OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.62 to 2.44]; P < .00001), and mechanical loosening (OR 1.78 [95% CI 1.43 to 2.22]; P < .00001) in TKA. Sarcopenic patients were at an increased risk of UTI (OR 1.79 [95% CI 1.32 to 2.43]; P = .0002) and prosthetic loosening (OR 1.97 [95% CI 1.10 to 3.53]; P = .02) post-THA.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline sarcopenia was prevalent in patients undergoing TJA. It was associated with an increased risk of UTI and prosthetic loosening following TKA and THA. Increased risk of blood transfusion, pneumonia, prosthetic fractures, and mechanical loosening following TKA.

Factors influencing surgical site infections and health economic evaluation in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical resection for colorectal cancer

AIMS

To investigate the incidence and factors influencing surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical resection for colorectal cancer and assess their health and economic impact on the patients and hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective case-controlled study comprised patients who underwent robot-assisted radical resection for colorectal cancer at a tertiary hospital in China. Information about baseline characteristics, perioperative details, postoperative SSI incidence, hospitalization costs, and follow-up was collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for SSI. Propensity score matching was used to evaluate the health and economic impacts of SSI on the patients and the hospital.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of colorectal SSI in 546 patients undergoing robot-assisted radical resection for colorectal cancer was 11.72% (64/546). Intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, preoperative absolute lymphocyte count, preoperative and postoperative serum albumin levels, tumor location, gender, history of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, surgical wound classification, and preoperative hypoalbuminemia levels were associated with SSI. Rectal cancer, male gender, and class 3 or 4 surgical wounds were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative SSI. SSI prolonged the hospital stay by 6.60 days, increased the patient's direct costs by 31,669.88 CNY, increased the economic burden by 3,262.38 CNY, and caused an indirect economic loss of 50,546.79 CNY for the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing robot-assisted radical resection for colorectal cancer are at a high risk for SSI. SSI can prolong postoperative hospital stays and increase the economic burden for patients and hospitals.

Development and validation of a clinical diagnostic model for surgical site infection after surgery in patients with gastric cancer

Background

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common and serious complication following gastric cancer surgery, often linked to patient age, surgery duration, and the surgical approach taken. Accurate prediction and personalized mitigation of SSI risk are crucial for improving surgical outcomes. While prior studies have focused on SSI rates after open and laparoscopic gastric cancer surgeries, it is important to also consider robot-assisted procedures. This study aims to develop a predictive model for SSI after radical gastric cancer surgery, validate it through external testing, and provide a reliable tool for clinical use.

Methods

Data from 763 postoperative gastric cancer patients were analyzed, with 601 in the training set from Gansu Provincial People's Hospital and 162 in the validation set from The First Hospital of Lanzhou University. All available variables were considered as potential predictors, and factors influencing SSI post-surgery were identified using logistic regression. A nomogram model was then created for precise SSI risk prediction.

Results

Among the 763 gastric cancer patients, 10.9% experienced postoperative SSI. Significant differences were noted in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system classification, preoperative albumin levels, surgical approach, and reconstruction techniques between groups. Age, surgery duration, surgical approach, total gastrectomy, and tumor diameter were identified as significant predictors of SSI. The nomogram model showed high predictive accuracy, with concordance index (C-index) values of 0.834 in the training set and 0.798 in the validation set. Calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA) further validated the model's performance.

Conclusions

This study identified five key predictors of postoperative SSI in gastric cancer and developed a nomogram model to enhance SSI prediction. These findings have important implications for preventing SSI in gastric cancer surgeries.

The effect of TCM triple rehabilitation and ear acupoint bean pressing on laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer

To explore the clinical value of the triple pre-rehabilitation nursing model in laparoscopic radical surgery for gastric cancer. Eighty-two gastric cancer patients admitted to a certain hospital from May 2020 to May 2023 are included in this study. Patients were divided into control group (CG) and treatment group according to different nursing methods. Comparisons were made by comparing perioperative indicators, immune indicators, sleep quality, nutritional indicators, and anxiety before and after patient care, as well as whether or not to utilize the acupoint patch combined with ear acupoint bean pressing burial in Chinese medicine care. Under the conditions of the triple pre-rehabilitation nursing model, the observation group (OG) patients had their first exhaust time, first bed activity time, first bowel movement time, and hospitalization time of 62.15 ± 5.93, 18.67 ± 7.55, 2.05 ± 0.58, and 7.21 ± 1.05, respectively. The postoperative values of ALB in the CG and OG were 31.59 ± 7.65 and 36.08 ± 8.27, respectively, while the postoperative values of prealbumin were 0.19 ± 0.05 and 0.27 ± 0.09, respectively. The sleep quality of the CG before nursing was 22.57 ± 3.66, and after nursing was 14.36 ± 3.72. The satisfaction rate of the OG was 56.10%, while that of the CG was 46.34%. Patients can better adapt to the treatment process, reduce anxiety, and improve the treatment effect and quality of life after the triple pre-rehabilitation nursing care model and acupoint paste combined with ear acupoint bean pressing burrowing in traditional Chinese medicine nursing.

Predictors for different types of surgical site infection in patients with gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Various factors contribute to different types of surgical site infections (SSI) in gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery, and the risk factors remain uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to clarify the relationship between various factors and SSI, resolving existing controversies. Thirty-four eligible articles with 66 066 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Significant risk factors for SSI included age ≥65 years, male gender, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, diabetes, hypertension, advanced TNM stage ≥III, pathologic T stage ≥T3, pathologic N stage ≥N1, ASA ≥3, open surgery, blood transfusion, extensive resection, combined resection, splenectomy, D2 or more lymph node dissection, and operative time ≥240 min. Operative time showed a nonlinear relationship with SSI risk. Subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in the effects of risk factors among different infection types. These findings inform the development of targeted preventive measures to reduce SSI rates.

The incidence of surgical site infections in China

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common type of healthcare-associated infection. We performed a literature review to demonstrate the incidence of SSIs in mainland China based on studies since 2010. We included 231 eligible studies with ≥30 postoperative patients, comprising 14 providing overall SSI data regardless of surgical sites and 217 reporting SSIs for a specific site. We found that the overall SSI incidence was 2.91% (median; interquartile range: 1.05%, 4.57%) or 3.18% (pooled; 95% confidence interval: 1.85%, 4.51%) and the SSI incidence varied remarkably according to the surgical site between the lowest (median, 1.00%; pooled, 1.69%) in thyroid surgeries and the highest (median, 14.89%; pooled, 12.54%) in colorectal procedures. We uncovered that Enterobacterales and staphylococci were the most common types of micro-organisms associated with SSIs after various abdominal surgeries and cardiac or neurological procedures, respectively. We identified two, nine, and five studies addressing the impact of SSIs on mortality, the length of stay (LOS) in hospital, and additional healthcare-related economic burden, respectively, all of which demonstrated increased mortality, prolonged LOS, and elevated medical costs associated with SSIs among affected patients. Our findings illustrate that SSIs remain a relatively common, serious threat to patient safety in China, requiring more action. To tackle SSIs, we propose to establish a nationwide network for SSI surveillance using unified criteria with the aid of informatic techniques and to tailor and implement countermeasures based on local data and observation. We highlight that the impact of SSIs in China warrants further study.

Subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal depth are risk factors for surgical site infection after gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications after gastric cancer (GC) surgery. The occurrence of SSI can lead to a prolonged postoperative hospital stay and increased medical expenses, and it can also affect postoperative rehabilitation and the quality of life of patients. Subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and abdominal depth (AD) can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.

AIM

To explore the potential relationship between SFT or AD and SSI in patients undergoing elective radical resection of GC.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and pre- and intraoperative information of 355 patients who had undergone elective radical resection of GC were retrospectively collected from hospital electronic medical records. Univariate analysis was performed to screen out the significant parameters, which were subsequently analyzed using binary logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of SSI was 11.27% (40/355). Multivariate analyses revealed that SFT [odds ratio (OR) = 1.150; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.090–1.214; P < 0.001], AD (OR = 1.024; 95%CI: 1.009–1.040; P = 0.002), laparoscopic-assisted surgery (OR = 0.286; 95%CI: 0.030–0.797; P = 0.017), and operation time (OR = 1.008; 95%CI: 1.001–1.015; P = 0.030) were independently associated with the incidence of SSI after elective radical resection of GC. In addition, the product of SFT and AD was a better potential predictor of SSI in these patients than either SFT or AD alone.

CONCLUSION

SFT and AD are independent risk factors and can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.

Relationship of preoperative Th1/Th2 ratio, TNF-α, and ALB with pulmonary infection in elderly patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer and predictive efficacy of a nomogram based on these factors

BACKGROUND

The immune system and the inflammatory response play an important role in the development of lung infections in the elderly population after radical gastric cancer surgery. Helper T cell 1 (Th1)/helper T cell 2 (Th2) phenotype reflects the dynamic immune homeostasis. Preoperative Th1/Th2 ratio and inflammatory response-related factors may have predictive value for postoperative lung infection.

AIM

To investigate the relationship of Th1/Th2 ratio, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and albumin (ALB) with pulmonary infection in elderly patients after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and their predictive efficacy for postoperative pulmonary infection.

METHODS

A total of 135 patients with lung infection after radical gastric cancer surgery (infection group) and 135 uninfected patients (control group) admitted to our hospital from April 2020 to June 2022 were included in this study. The general demographic data, surgery-related conditions, combined diseases, and preoperative serum Th1/Th2 ratio, TNF-α, and ALB levels were compared between the two groups. R was used to draw a nomogram for predicting lung infection after radical gastrectomy in elderly patients, and the concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram was obtained to evaluate its prediction ability. The bootstrap method was used to draw the prediction curve, calibration curve, and ideal curve to evaluate the consistency between the nomogram and the actual observation results, and decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the nomogram.

RESULTS

The infection group had longer operative time and postoperative gastric tube indwelling time, higher intraoperative bleeding, and more diabetic patients than the control group (P < 0.05). Preoperative Th1/Th2 ratio and ALB were lower and TNF-α was higher in the infection group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that operative time, intraoperative bleeding, diabetes mellitus, postoperative gastric tube indwelling time, and TNF-α were risk factors for pulmonary infection in elderly patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer, and Th1/Th2 ratio and ALB were protective factors (P < 0.05). A nomogram for predicting postoperative pulmonary infection was developed, and its C-index reached 0.985, which was at a high level. External validation showed that the calibration degree of the nomogram was 0.826, and there was good agreement between the model and the actual observation. DCA showed that the nomogram had obvious positive net benefit and possessed good clinical utility in predicting postoperative infection.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative Th1/Th2 ratio, TNF-α, and ALB are associated with pulmonary infection in elderly patients after radical surgery for gastric cancer. The nomogram developed based on baseline correlation data with the above three indicators has good predictive ability and clinical utility, and can be used as a potential tool to predict postoperative infection and guide clinical management in the perioperative period.

Comparing the efficacy of povidone-iodine and normal saline in incisional wound irrigation to prevent superficial surgical site infection: a randomized clinical trial in gastric surgery

BACKGROUND

Prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) after gastrectomy has received increasing attention. Prophylactic incisional wound irrigation has been advocated to reduce SSI, but the choice of solution remains under debate.

AIMS

To compare the efficacies of wound irrigation with normal saline (NS) and povidone-iodine (PVI) for the prevention of SSI after gastrectomy, and to identify the risk factors for SSI.

METHODS

This randomized, single-centre clinical trial included 340 patients with gastric cancer. They were assigned at random into two groups (ratio 1:1) to receive either 0.9% NS or 1.0% PVI solution for incisional irrigation before wound closure. The primary endpoint was postoperative SSI within 30 days of gastrectomy, and the secondary endpoint was the length of hospital stay.

FINDINGS

In total, 333 patients were included in the modified intent-to-treat group, and the SSI rate did not differ significantly between the PVI group (11/167, 6.59%) and the NS group (9/166, 5.42%) [odds ratio (OR) 1.131, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.459-3.712; P=0.655]. Moreover, the difference between the two groups in terms of length of hospital stay was not significant (P=0.301). Body mass index (BMI) (OR 2.639, 95% CI 1.040-6.694; P=0.041) and postoperative complications (OR 2.565, 95% CI 1.023-6.431; P=0.045) were identified as independent risk factors for SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

NS and PVI had similar efficacy as prophylactic wound irrigation for the prevention of SSI after gastrectomy. The risk of SSI was higher in patients with high BMI or postoperative complications.

Surgical Site Infections in patients undergoing major oncological surgery during the COVID-19 paNdemic (SCION): A propensity-matched analysis

Background and Objectives

There are reports of outcomes of elective major cancer surgery during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We evaluated if reinforcement of hand hygiene, universal masking, and distancing as a part of pandemic precautions led to a decrease in the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in major oncologic resections.

Methods

Propensity score matching using the nearest neighbor algorithm was performed on 3123 patients over seven covariates (age, comorbidities, surgery duration, prior treatment, disease stage, reconstruction, and surgical wound type) yielding 2614 matched (pre‐COVID 1612 and COVID 1002) patients. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify if SSI incidence was lower amongst patients operated during the pandemic.

Results

There was a 4.2% (p = 0.006) decrease in SSI in patients operated during the pandemic. On multivariate regression, surgery during the COVID‐19 period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61–0.98; p = 0.03), prior chemoradiation (OR = 2.46; CI = 1.45–4.17; p < 0.001), duration of surgery >4 h (OR = 2.17; 95%CI = 1.55–3.05; p < 0.001) and clean contaminated wounds (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.09–2.18; p = 0.012) were significantly associated with SSI.

Conclusion

Increased compliance with hand hygiene, near‐universal mask usage, and social distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic possibly led to a 23% decreased odds of SSI in major oncologic resections. Extending these low‐cost interventions in the post‐pandemic era can decrease morbidity associated with SSI in cancer surgery.

Worldwide incidence of surgical site infections in general surgical patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 488,594 patients

BACKGROUND

Establishing worldwide incidence of general surgical site infections (SSI) is imperative to understand the extent of the condition to assist decision-makers to improve the planning and delivery of surgical care. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the worldwide incidence of SSI and identify associated factors in adult general surgical patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was undertaken using MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE (Elsevier) and the Cochrane Library to identify cross-sectional, cohort and observational studies reporting SSI incidence or prevalence. Studies of less than 50 participants were excluded. Data extraction and quality appraisal were undertaken independently by two review authors. The primary outcome was cumulative incidence of SSI occurring up to 30 days postoperative. The secondary outcome was the severity/depth of SSI. The I² statistic was used to explore heterogeneity. Random effects models were used in the presence of substantial heterogeneity. Subgroup, meta-regression sensitivity analyses were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Hunter's plots and Egger's regression test.

RESULTS

Of 2091 publications retrieved, 62 studies were included. Of these, 57 were included in the meta-analysis across six anatomical locations with 488,594 patients. The pooled 30-day cumulative incidence of SSI was 11% (95% CI 10%-13%). No prevalence data were identified. SSI rates varied across anatomical location, surgical approach, and priority (i.e., planned, emergency). Multivariable meta-regression showed SSI is significantly associated with duration of surgery (estimate 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02, P = .014).

CONCLUSIONS

and Relevance: 11 out of 100 general surgical patients are likely to develop an infection 30 days after surgery. Given the imperative to reduce the burden of harm caused by SSI, high-quality studies are warranted to better understand the patient and related risk factors associated with SSI.

Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 Ser290 phosphorylation mediates DNA damage response and regulates radiosensitivity in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

DNA damage response plays critical roles in tumor pathogenesis and radiotherapy resistance. Protein phosphorylation is a critical mechanism in regulation of DNA damage response; however, the key mediators for radiosensitivity in gastric cancer still needs further exploration.

METHODS

A quick label-free phosphoproteomics using high-resolution mass spectrometry and an open search approach was applied to paired tumor and adjacent tissues from five patients with gastric cancer. The dysregulated phosphoproteins were identified and their associated-pathways analyzed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The mostly regulated phosphoproteins and their potential functions were validated by the specific antibodies against the phosphorylation sites. Specific protein phosphorylation was further analyzed by functional and clinical approaches.

RESULTS

832 gastric cancer-associated unique phosphorylated sites were identified, among which 25 were up- and 52 down-regulated. Markedly, the dysregulated phosphoproteins were primarily enriched in DNA-damage-response-associated pathways. Particularly, the phosphorylation of Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) at Ser290 was significantly upregulated in tumor. The upregulation of BCLAF1 Ser290 phosphorylation (pBCLAF1 (Ser290)) in tumor was confirmed by tissue microarray studies and further indicated in association with poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Eliminating the phosphorylation of BCLAF1 at Ser290 suppressed gastric cancer (GC) cell proliferation. Upregulation of pBCLAF1 (Ser290) was found in association with irradiation-induced γ-H2AX expression in the nucleus, leading to an increased DNA damage repair response, and a marked inhibition of irradiation-induced cancer cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The phosphorylation of BCLAF1 at Ser290 is involved in the regulation of DNA damage response, indicating an important target for the resistance of radiotherapy.