Different types of oesophageal reconstructions in the contemporary era: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Oesophageal reconstruction is a complex operation that continues to present a surgical challenge associated with significant morbidity and its associated sequelae. The conventional gastric conduit remains the gold standard reconstructive technique when available. Alternative conduits for oesophageal replacement become necessary when the stomach is unavailable with common options for conduit creation being the jejunum and the colon.

Evaluating the influence of the obesity paradox on survival outcomes in patients being treated surgically for rectal cancer-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for rectal cancer development. The association between obesity and survival outcomes in those undergoing resection for rectal cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between obesity and overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer with curative intent.

Radiogenomic profiling to determine BRCA alteration status-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Approximately 10% of breast and 20% of ovarian cancers are hereditary in nature. The most commonly implicated genes are the BRCA genes, and the current gold standard for testing is by direct DNA sequencing. This process is expensive, time-consuming, and has a turnaround time of several weeks.

Evaluating the Association between Body Mass Indices and the 21-Gene Recurrence Score: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Preconceptions exist regarding the association between obesity and the propensity to develop estrogen receptor positive (ER+) cancer. There is limited data assessing the impact of body mass index (BMI) on 21-gene recurrence score (RS) results.

Aim: To perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis to assess whether increased BMI is associated with low RS in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer.

Ultrasound-guided versus laparoscopic-guided transversus abdominus plane block for laparoscopic cholecystectomy - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Background: The use of transversus abdominus plane (TAP) blocks have come into vogue in recent times, with the ambition to reduce post-operative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. TAP block is commonly performed using an ultrasound-guided approach (US-TAP), with emerging data indicating that laparoscopic-guided (L-TAP) approach may also be useful.

Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing outcomes following US-TAP and L-TAP block in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Evaluating the use of absorbable sutures versus sTaples versus tIssue glue in laparoscopic port skin closure (STILS) trial: A prospective, multi-centre randomised clinical trial (RCT).

Methods: This prospective, multi-centre RCT was conducted in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines for prospective, parallel group randomised studies. Adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery at two teaching hospitals in Dublin, Ireland were recruited and assigned to one of three closure methods (sutures (SU), staples (ST) or tissue glue (TG)) with primary outcome being cosmesis and secondary outcomes being closure speed, wound complications, cost effectiveness and sustainability outcomes being assessed by a blinded outcomes assessor.

Results: A total of 147 patients were recruited and randomised with a total of 138 being examined in the final analysis (SU = 48, ST = 63, TG = 27).

Optimal approaches to flap reconstruction following abdominoperineal resection: A systematic review.

Purpose: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) frequently results in a large volume perineal defect. Flap reconstruction is commonly undertaken to reduce the rate of perineal complications associated with primary closure. Several techniques can be employed including vertical rectus abdominis (VRAM), gluteal myocutaneous and gluteal fasciocutaneous flaps.

Optimal oesophagogastric anastomosis techniques for oesophageal cancer surgery - A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Background: The optimal oesophagogastric anastomosis technique for oesophageal cancer surgery remains unclear. The aim of this study was to perform a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) to compare oesophagogastric anastomosis techniques for oesophageal cancer surgery.

Methods: A systematic review and NMA were performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines-NMA extension.

Assessing the clinical utility of pre-operative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer.

Background: There is a paucity of data supporting the role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) to determine clinicopathological parameters in patients being treated for primary breast cancer.

Aims: To evaluate the association between pre-operative NLR and clinicopathological parameters in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed.

Evaluating the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols following oesophagectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are evidence-based care improvement pathways which are perceived to expedite patient recovery following surgery. Their utility in the setting of oesophagectomy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) to evaluate the impact of ERAS protocols on recovery following oesophagectomy compared to standard care.

Tie or do not tie: comparing knot tying hemostasis in tonsillectomy with other methods of hemostasis. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis sought to compare knot tying against other methods of haemostasis in terms of post-operative haemorrhage, intraoperative blood loss and tonsillectomy time.

Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a literature search according to PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were consulted, Pubmed, Google Scholar and Embase.

Comparing Open, Laparoscopic and Robotic Liver Resection for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer-A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) can be surgically managed through open resections (OLR), laparoscopic resections (LLR), or robotic liver resections (RLR). However, there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the safety and effectiveness of minimally invasive approaches like LLR and RLR. This study aims to clarify these issues by conducting a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare outcomes across OLR, LLR and RLR for patients with CRLM.

Risk of locoregional recurrence after breast cancer surgery by molecular subtype-a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: The prevention of locoregional recurrence (LRR) is crucial in breast cancer, as it translates directly into reduced breast cancer-related death. Breast cancer is subclassified into distinct intrinsic biological subtypes with varying clinical outcomes.

Aims: To perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to determine the rate of LRR by breast cancer molecular subtype.

Right and left living donor nephrectomy and operative approach: A systematic review and meta-analysis of donor and recipient outcomes.

Introduction: The left kidney is preferable in living donor nephrectomy (LDN). We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of right versus left LDN in both donor and recipients. A subgroup analysis of outcomes based on operative approach was also performed.

Prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in laparotomy wounds (PROPEL-2): protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Background: A proportion of patients undergoing midline laparotomy will develop surgical site infections after surgery. These complications place considerable financial burden on healthcare economies and have negative implications for patient health and quality of life. The prophylactic application of negative pressure wound therapy devices has been mooted as a pragmatic strategy to reduce surgical site infections.

Evidence for the Positive Impact of Centralization in Esophageal Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To analyze the impact of centralization on key metrics, outcomes, and patterns of care at the Irish National Center.

Background: Overall survival rates for esophageal cancer in the West have doubled in the last 25 years. An international trend towards centralization may be relevant; however, this model remains controversial, with Ireland centralizing esophageal cancer surgery in 2011.

Evaluating Surgical Outcomes Between Estrogen Receptor Positive Invasive Lobular and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast-A Propensity Matched Analysis.

Introduction: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) contributes significantly to the global cancer burden and is the most common of the histological "special types" of breast cancer. ILC has unique features setting it apart from the more common invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Despite differences, treatment algorithms do not consider histological differences.

Molecular Morbidity Score-Can MicroRNAs Assess the Burden of Disease?

Multimorbidity refers to the presence of two or more chronic diseases and is associated with adverse outcomes for patients. Factors such as an ageing population have contributed to a rise in prevalence of multimorbidity globally; however, multimorbidity is often neglected in clinical guidelines. This is largely because patients with multimorbidity are systematically excluded from clinical trials.

Evaluating the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols following emergency laparotomy - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Introduction: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and systematic approach to peri-operative care, which attempt to reduce the anticipated physiological strain on patients after major surgery. This meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) evaluated the impact of ERAS following emergency laparotomy versus standard care.

Methods: A systematic review was performed as per PRISMA guidelines.

The use of radiomic analysis of magnetic resonance imaging findings in predicting features of early osteoarthritis of the knee-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The primary aim of this study was to systematically review current literature evaluating the use of radiomics in establishing the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in native knees in predicting features of osteoarthritis (OA). A systematic review was performed with respect to PRISMA guidelines in search of studies reporting radiomic analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyse patients with native knee OA. Sensitivity and specificity of radiomic analyses were included for meta-analysis.

Management of early oesophageal cancer: An overview.

The incidence of esophageal cancer, namely the adenocarcinoma subtype, continues to increase exponentially on an annual basis. The indolent nature of the disease renders a significant proportion inoperable at first presentation, however, with the increased utilisation of endoscopy, many early lesions are now being identified which are suitable for endotherapeutic approaches. This article details the options available for dealing with early esophageal cancer by endoscopic mean obviating the need for surgery thereby avoiding the potential morbidity and mortality of such intervention.