The latest medical research on Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

The research magnet gathers the latest research from around the web, based on your specialty area. Below you will find a sample of some of the most recent articles from reputable medical journals about oral & maxillofacial surgery gathered by our medical AI research bot.

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Cost-Effectiveness of Nonoperative Management vs Upfront Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Pediatric Uncomplicated Appendicitis Over 1 Year.

American College of Surgeons

Non-operative management (NOM) with antibiotics alone for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis is accepted to be safe and effective. However, the relative cost-effectiveness of this approach compared to appendectomy remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of non-operative versus operative management for pediatric uncomplicated acute appendicitis.

A trial-based real-world economic evaluation from the healthcare sector perspective was performed using data collected from a multi-institutional non-randomized controlled trial investigating NOM versus surgery. The time horizon was 1 year, with costs in 2023 US dollars. Ratio of costs-to-charges (RCC)-based data for the initial hospitalization, readmissions, and unplanned emergency department visits were extracted from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS). Utility data were derived from patient-reported disability days and health-related quality-of-life scores. Multiple scenarios and one-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses accounted for parameter uncertainty. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) or disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Primary outcome measures included total and incremental mean costs, QALY, DALY, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

Of 1,068 participants, 370 (35%) selected NOM and 698 (65%) selected urgent laparoscopic appendectomy. Operative management cost an average of $9,791/patient and yielded an average of 0.884 QALYs while NOM cost an average of $8,044/patient and yielded an average of 0.895 QALYs. NOM was both less costly and more effective in base case and scenario analyses using disability days and alternate methods of calculating utilities.

NOM is cost-effective compared to laparoscopic appendectomy for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis over 1 year.

Eliminating Error in Central Line Scheduling and Placement Using Quality Improvement Methods.

American College of Surgeons

The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as "surgery or other invasive procedure performed at the wrong site, on the wrong patient, or that is the wrong (unintended) procedure for a patient regardless of the type of procedure or the magnitude of the outcome." At our institution, we observed a low but consistent rate of incorrect surgical line placement for pediatric patients with cancer.

Following quality improvement methodology and using the resources available on a large academic medical campus we designed and implemented a new multi-factorial process to schedule and place surgical central lines for pediatric patients with cancer. Changes included re-defining responsibilities, adding staff, and redesigning the process with workflows supported by modifications to the electronic medical record. Our primary outcome measures were incorrect central line placement or near miss event per quarter and days between these events.

After implementation the rate of incorrect line placement and near miss events was reduced to zero with 1018 days since the last incorrect line placement.

As a result of our multi-factorial quality improvement initiative in the scheduling and placement of central lines, we were able to eliminate surgical line placement sentinel events and improve care for pediatric patients with cancer.

Travel to High-Volume Centers and Survival After Esophagectomy for Cancer.

JAMA Surgery

Ongoing efforts have encouraged the regionalization of esophageal adenocarcinoma treatment to high-volume centers (HVCs). Yet such centralization has been linked with increased patient travel burden and reduced postoperative continuity of care.

To determine whether traveling to undergo esophagectomy at HVCs is linked with superior overall survival compared with receiving care locally at low-volume centers (LVC).

This cohort study considered data for all patients diagnosed with stage I through III esophageal adenocarcinoma in the 2010-2021 National Cancer Database. Patients were stratified based on distance traveled to receive care and the annual esophagectomy volume at the treating hospital: the travel-HVC cohort included patients in the top 25th percentile of travel burden who received care at centers in the top volume quartile, and the local-LVC cohort represented those in the bottom 25th percentile of travel burden who were treated at centers in the lowest volume quartile. Data were analyzed from July 2023 to January 2024.

The primary end points were overall survival at 1 year and 5 years. Secondary end points included perioperative outcomes and factors linked with traveling to receive care.

Of 17 970 patients, 2342 (13%) comprised the travel-HVC cohort, and 1969 (11%), the local-LVC cohort. The median (IQR) age was 65 (58-71) years; 3748 (87%) were male and 563 (13%) were female. After risk adjustment and with care at local LVCs as the reference, traveling to HVC was associated with superior survival at 1 year (hazard ratio for mortality [HR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.58-0.83) and 5 years (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90). Stratifying by stage, traveling to HVCs was associated with comparable outcomes for stage I disease but reduced mortality for stage III (1-year HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.87; 5-year HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.93). Further, traveling to HVC was associated with greater lymph node harvest (β, 5.08 nodes; 95% CI, 3.78-6.37) and likelihood of margin-negative resection (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.29-2.60).

Traveling to HVCs for esophagectomy was associated with improved 1-year and 5-year survival compared with receiving care locally at LVCs, particularly among patients with locoregionally advanced disease. Future studies are needed to ascertain barriers to care and develop novel targeted pathways to ensure equitable access to high-volume facilities and high-quality oncologic care.

Vagus Nerve Preservation for Early Distal Gastric Cancer With Monitoring and Indocyanine Green Labeling: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA Surgery

Radical gastric cancer surgery can cause functional and physiological disorders due to the resection of perigastric vagus nerves. Few studies have used intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and indocyanine green (ICG) labeling to preserve the perigastric vagus nerve and to evaluate the corresponding effects.

To assess the feasibility and effects of vagus nerve preservation using neurophysiologic monitoring and ICG labeling during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in patients with early distal gastric cancer.

This open-label, prospective randomized clinical trial initially enrolled 285 patients with clinical stage cT1N0M0 distal gastric cancer from May 2022 to May 2023. This trial was conducted at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University in Jinan, China, and enrolled patients aged 18 to 80 years with histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma scheduled for distal gastrectomy. The final follow-up examination was performed May 1, 2024.

Eligible participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to vagus nerve preservation distal gastrectomy (VPG) or vagus nerve resection distal gastrectomy (VRG).

The primary outcome was the incidence of postsurgical gastroparesis. Secondary outcomes included postoperative gallstone formation, quality of life, morbidity, mortality, overall survival, and disease-free survival up to 12 months postoperatively. All analyses were based on both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

Of 264 patients included in the intention-to-treat analysis, the median (IQR) patient age was 58.0 (52.0-67.0) years, and 67 patients (25.4%) were female. Both the VPG and VRG groups included 132 patients. Postoperative gastroparesis occurred in 1 patient (0.8%) in the VPG group and in 10 patients (7.6%) in the VRG group. Gallstones developed in 0 patients in the VPG group and in 9 patients (6.8%) in the VRG group. As assessed by mean (SD) score on the 30-item European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the VRG group experienced more nausea and vomiting at 6 months postsurgery (19.38 [7.62]) than the VPG group (17.15 [9.21]) (P = .03) and had significantly higher rates of persistent appetite loss, reflux symptoms, and eating difficulties at both 6 months and 12 months than the VPG group. Differences in postoperative complications and metastasis were not significant.

Neurophysiologic monitoring and ICG labeling during distal laparoscopic gastrectomy for vagus nerve preservation in patients with early distal gastric cancer are safe and feasible. Preserving the perigastric vagus nerve may retain the function of the remnant stomach and improve quality of life.

Chictr.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR2200059489.

Imaging in Diagnosis and Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: A Review.

JAMA Surgery

Active surveillance (AS) has become an increasingly important option for managing low-risk and select intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Although imaging, particularly multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), has emerged in the prebiopsy pathway for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, the role of mpMRI in patient selection for AS and the necessity of prostate biopsies during AS remain poorly defined. Despite well-founded biopsy schedules, there has been substantial investigation into whether imaging may supplant the need for prostate biopsies during AS. This review aimed to summarize the contemporary role of imaging in the diagnosis and surveillance of prostate cancer.

Multiparametric MRI is the most established form of imaging in prostate cancer, with routine prebiopsy use being shown to help urologists distinguish between clinically significant and clinically insignificant disease. The visibility of these lesions on mpMRI closely correlates with their behavior, with visible disease portending a worse prognosis. Combined with other clinical data, risk calculators may better delineate patients with higher-risk disease and exclude them from undergoing AS. While current evidence suggests that mpMRI cannot replace the need for prostate biopsy during AS due to the possibility of missing higher-risk disease, the addition of prostate biomarkers may help to reduce the frequency of these biopsies. The role of prostate-specific antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography is still emerging but has shown promising early results as an adjunct to mpMRI in initial diagnosis.

Imaging in prostate cancer helps to better select patients appropriate for AS, and future studies may strengthen the predictive capabilities of risk calculators. Multiparametric MRI has been shown to be imperative to rationalizing biopsies for patients enrolled in AS. However, heterogeneity in the evidence of mpMRI during AS has suggested that further prospective studies and randomized clinical trials, particularly in homogenizing reporting standards, may reveal a more defined role in monitoring disease progression.

Long-Term Outcomes of Component Separation for Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair.

JAMA Surgery

Component separation is a reconstructive technique used to facilitate midline closure of large or complex ventral hernias. Despite a contemporary surge in popularity, the incidence and long-term outcomes after component separation remain unknown.

To evaluate the incidence and long-term outcomes of component separation for abdominal wall hernia repair.

This cohort study examined 100% Medicare administrative claims data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2021. Participants were adults (aged ≥18 years) who underwent elective inpatient ventral hernia repair. Data were analyzed from January through June 2024.

Use of component separation technique during ventral hernia repair.

The primary outcomes were the incidence of component separation over time and operative recurrence rates up to 10 years after surgery for hernia repairs with and without component separation. The secondary outcome was rate of operative recurrence after component separation stratified by surgeon volume.

Among 218 518 patients who underwent ventral hernia repair, the mean (SD) age of the cohort was 69.1 (10.9) years; 127 857 patients (58.5%) were female and 90 661 (41.5%) male. A total of 23 768 individuals had component separation for their abdominal wall hernia repair. The median (IQR) follow-up time after the index hernia surgery was 7.2 (2.7-10) years. Compared with patients who did not have a component separation, patients undergoing repair with component separation were slightly younger; more likely to be male; and more likely to have comorbidities, including obesity, and had surgeries that were more likely to be performed open and use mesh. Proportional use of component separation increased from 1.6% of all inpatient hernia repairs in 2007 (279 patients) to 21.4% in 2021 (1569 patients). The 10-year adjusted operative recurrence rate after component separation was lower (11.2%; 95% CI, 11.0%-11.3%) when compared with hernia repairs performed without component separation (12.9%; 95% CI, 12.8%-13.0%; P = .003). Operative recurrence was lower for the top 5% of surgeons by component separation volume (11.9%; 95% CI, 11.8%-12.1%) as opposed to the bottom 95% of surgeons by volume (13.6%; 95% CI, 13.4%-13.7%; P = .004).

This study found that component separation was associated with a protective effect on long-term operative recurrence after ventral hernia repair among Medicare beneficiaries, which is somewhat unexpected given the intent of its use for higher complexity hernias. Surgeon volume, while significant, had only a minor influence on operative recurrence rates.

Omitting Radiotherapy after Breast-Conserving Surgery in Luminal A Breast Cancer: The LUMINA Study.

American College of Surgeons

The modern generation of trials evaluating the role of adjuvant radiation have turned to genomic profiling as a further risk stratification tool. T...

Routine Imaging or Symptomatic Follow-Up After Resection of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

JAMA Surgery

International guidelines lack consistency in their recommendations regarding routine imaging in the follow-up after pancreatic resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Consequently, follow-up strategies differ between centers worldwide.

To compare clinical outcomes, including recurrence-focused treatment and survival, in patients with PDAC recurrence who received symptomatic follow-up or routine imaging after pancreatic resection in international centers affiliated with the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA).

This was a prospective, international, cross-sectional study. Patients from a total of 33 E-AHPBA centers from 13 countries were included between 2020 and 2021. According to the predefined study protocol, patients who underwent PDAC resection and were diagnosed with disease recurrence were prospectively included. Patients were stratified according to postoperative follow-up strategy: symptomatic follow-up (ie, without routine imaging) or routine imaging.

Symptomatic follow-up or routine imaging in patients who underwent PDAC resection.

Overall survival (OS) was estimated with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using the log-rank test. To adjust for potential confounders, multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between follow-up strategy and recurrence-focused treatment. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study the independent association between follow-up strategy and OS.

Overall, 333 patients (mean [SD] age, 65 [11] years; 184 male [55%]) with PDAC recurrence were included. Median (IQR) follow-up at time of analysis 2 years after inclusion of the last patient was 40 (30-58) months. Of the total cohort, 98 patients (29%) received symptomatic follow-up, and 235 patients (71%) received routine imaging. OS was 23 months (95% CI, 19-29 months) vs 28 months (95% CI, 24-30 months) in the groups who received symptomatic follow-up vs routine imaging, respectively (P = .01). Routine imaging was associated with receiving recurrence-focused treatment (adjusted odds ratio, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.22-5.41; P = .01) and prolonged OS (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56-.99; P = .04).

In this international, prospective, cross-sectional study, routine follow-up imaging after pancreatic resection for PDAC was independently associated with receiving recurrence-focused treatment and prolonged OS.

Diagnosis of Respiratory Sarcopenia for Stratifying Postoperative Risk in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

JAMA Surgery

Physical biomarkers for stratifying patients with lung cancer into subtypes suggestive of outcomes are underexplored.

To investigate the clinical utility of respiratory sarcopenia for optimizing postoperative risk stratification in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

This retrospective cohort study reviewed consecutive patients undergoing lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for NSCLC at 2 institutions in Tokyo, Japan, between 2009 and 2018. Eligible patients underwent electronic computed tomography image analysis. Follow-up began at the date of surgery and continued until death, the last contact, or March 2022. Data analysis was performed from April 2022 to March 2023.

Respiratory sarcopenia was identified by poor respiratory strength (peak expiratory flow rate) and was confirmed by a low pectoralis muscle index (PMI; pectoralis muscle area/body mass index). Patients with poor peak expiratory flow rate but normal PMI received a diagnosis of pre-respiratory sarcopenia. Short-term and long-term postoperative outcomes were compared among patients with a normal status, pre-respiratory sarcopenia, and respiratory sarcopenia. Group differences were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson χ2 test for continuous and categorical data, respectively. Survival differences were compared using the log-rank test. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Of a total of 1016 patients, 806 (497 men [61.7%]; median [IQR] age, 69 [64-76] years) were eligible for electronic computed tomography image analysis. The median (IQR) duration of follow-up for survival was 5.2 (3.6-6.4) years. Respiratory strength was more closely correlated with PMI than pectoralis muscle radiodensity (Pearson r2, 0.58 vs 0.29). Respiratory strength and PMI declined with aging simultaneously (both P for trend < .001). Pre-respiratory sarcopenia was present in 177 patients (22.0%), and respiratory sarcopenia was present in 130 patients (16.1%). The risk of postoperative complications escalated from 82 patients (16.4%) with normal status to 39 patients (22.0%) with pre-respiratory sarcopenia to 39 patients (30.0%) with respiratory sarcopenia (P for trend < .001), as did the risk of delayed recovery after surgery (P for trend < .001). Compared with patients with normal status or pre-respiratory sarcopenia, patients with respiratory sarcopenia exhibited worse 5-year overall survival (438 patients [87.2%] vs 133 patients [72.9%] vs 85 patients [62.5%]; P for trend < .001). Multivariable analysis identified respiratory sarcopenia as a factor independently associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.15-2.89; P = .01) after adjustment for sex, age, smoking status, performance status, chronic heart disease, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, C-reactive protein, albumin, carcinoembryonic antigen, histology, and pathologic stage.

This study identified individuals at higher risk of poor outcomes by screening and staging respiratory sarcopenia. The early diagnosis of respiratory sarcopenia could optimize management strategies and facilitate longitudinal care in patients with NSCLC.

Time Since Prior NSTEMI and Major Adverse Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events After Noncardiac Surgery.

JAMA Surgery

Delaying elective noncardiac surgery after a recent acute myocardial infarction is associated with better outcomes, but current American Heart Association recommendations are based on data that are more than 20 years old.

To examine the association between the time since a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and the risk of postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

This cross-sectional study examined Medicare claims data between 2015 and 2020 for patients 67 years or older who had major noncardiac surgery. Data were analyzed from September 21, 2023, to February 1, 2024.

Time elapsed between a prior NSTEMI and surgery.

MACCE (30-day mortality, in-hospital myocardial infarction, heart failure, or stroke) and all-cause 30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between outcomes and time since a prior NSTEMI.

The sample included 5 227 473 surgeries. The mean (SD) age was 75.7 (6.6) years; 2 981 239 (57.0%) were female, and 2 246 234 (43%) were male. There were 42 278 patients (0.81%) with a previous NSTEMI. Compared with patients without a prior NSTEMI, patients with an NSTEMI within 30 days of elective surgery had higher odds of MACCE, regardless of whether they had undergone coronary revascularization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.15; 95% CI, 1.09-4.23; P = .03) or not (aOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.31-3.16; P = .001). The odds of postoperative MACCE leveled off after 30 days in patients who had undergone any coronary revascularization procedure (and after 90 days in patients with drug-eluting stents) and then increased after 180 days (any revascularization at 181-365 days: aOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.25-1.71; P < .001; patients with drug-eluting stents at 181-365 days: aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.42-2.12; P < .001). The odds of MACCE did not level off for patients who did not have revascularization. Findings for all-cause 30-day mortality were similar to those for MACCE, except that the odds of mortality in patients with previous NSTEMI who had revascularization leveled off after 60 days in elective surgeries and 90 days for nonelective surgeries (elective 30-day: aOR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.30-6.36; P = .009; elective 61- to 90-day: aOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.57-1.86; P = .92; nonelective 30-day: aOR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.52-2.40; P < .001; nonelective 91- to 120-day: aOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.73-1.37; P = .99).

This study found that among older patients undergoing noncardiac surgery who had revascularization, the odds of postoperative MACCE and mortality leveled off between 30 and 90 days and then increased after 180 days. The odds did not level off for patients who did not have revascularization. Delaying elective noncardiac surgery to occur between 90 and 180 days after an NSTEMI may be reasonable for patients who have had revascularization.

Qualitative Exploration of Abdominal Transplant Surgeon Perception of Retirement.

Journal of the

For many surgeons, retirement is an emotionally evocative subject, tied to a sense of loss. With minimal guidelines to facilitate a smooth transition, physicians tend to be inadequately prepared. There are few qualitative studies exploring surgeons' perspectives and none focused on transplant surgeons, a population with arguably unique challenges. We set out to define an "ideal" retirement for transplant surgeons, and identify behavioral and cognitive patterns associated with optimism towards retirement.

We conducted 60-minute semi-structured interviews with 30 division chiefs of transplant surgery to explore their perceptions of retirement. Thematic analysis using a framework approach was performed to identify key themes.

The cohort was predominantly male (80.0%) and White (76.7%), with 24.8 years in practice on average (range 12-40 years). Participants expressed desires to retire at the peak of their career trajectory and maintain autonomy in this transition. However, when naming signs of impending retirement, they often cited indicators of burnout. Attributes separating those who were optimistic from others included 1) well-rounded sense of identity, 2) holistic attitude towards one's health and well-being, 3) belief in the ability to exert autonomy over retirement process through long-range planning, 4) community centered mindset, and 5) multifaceted and evolving view of career identity.

While surgeons aspire to "go out on top," many envision working until they can no longer endure it. This discrepancy highlights the need for normalizing discussions around retirement. With their unique insights, we have the opportunity to develop supportive interventions, such that transplant surgeons retire in a manner which preserves dignity and celebrates their legacy.

Validation of Artificial Intelligence-Based POTTER Calculator in Emergency General Surgery Patients Undergoing Laparotomy: Prospective, Bi-Institutional Study.

Journal of the

The POTTER calculator, a widely used interpretable artificial intelligence (AI) risk calculator, has been validated in population-based studies and shown to predict outcomes in emergency general surgery (EGS) patients better than surgeons. We sought to prospectively validate POTTER.

Patients undergoing an emergency exploratory laparotomy for non-trauma indications at two Academic Medical Centers between June 2020 and March 2022 were included. POTTER preoperative risk calculations and postoperative outcomes were systematically recorded. POTTER's performance in predicting 30-day postoperative mortality, septic shock, respiratory failure, bleeding, and pneumonia was assessed using the c-statistic methodology.

A total of 361 patients were included. The median age was 63 years (IQR: 51-72), 45.4% were females, and the overall mortality and morbidity were 24.1% and 51.4%, respectively. POTTER predicted mortality accurately with a c-statistic of 0.90. POTTER also accurately predicted the occurrence of individual postoperative complications, with c-statistics ranging between 0.80 and 0.89.

This is the first prospective validation of the AI-enabled POTTER calculator. The superior accuracy, user-friendliness, and interpretability of POTTER make it a useful bedside tool for preoperative patient and family counseling.