European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology
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The 2008 National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit demonstrated marked variation in the practice and outcomes of breast reconstruction in the UK. To standardise practice and improve outcomes for patients, the British professional associations developed best-practice guidelines with specific guidance for newer mesh-assisted implant-based techniques. We explored the degree of uptake of best-practice guidelines within units performing implant-based reconstruction (IBBR) as the first phase of the implant Breast Reconstruction Evaluation (iBRA) study. ⋯ The iBRA national practice questionnaire has demonstrated variation in reported practice and adherence to IBBR guidelines. High-quality evidence is urgently required to inform best practice.
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Centralization of surgery improves the survival following esophagectomy for cancer, but whether university hospital setting or surgeon volume influences the reoperation rates is unknown. We aimed to clarify whether hospital status or surgeon volume are associated with a risk of reoperation after esophagectomy. ⋯ The risk of reoperation or death within 30 days of esophagectomy seems to be lower in university hospitals even after adjustment for surgeon volume and other potential confounders. These results support centralizing esophageal cancer patients to university hospitals.
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Esophageal and gastric cancer have a poor prognosis and surgical intervention is associated with considerable morbidity, highlighting the need for careful preoperative assessment. The Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) and Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can assess preoperative fitness. This study aims to investigate their correlation with both postoperative respiratory complications and overall survival. ⋯ ISWT and CPET can be useful preoperative tools to predict overall survival for patients undergoing esophago-gastric resection. Furthermore, patients that improve their functional status during chemotherapy seem to do better than those where it remains static or declines.
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The aim of this population-based cohort study was to determine whether the addition of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) to surgery is associated with improved pathologic outcomes and survival in patients with cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer. ⋯ In this population-based study, clinical staging of cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer was highly inaccurate. Compared to surgery alone, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with higher radical resection rates and improved overall survival.