Currently, no specific technique can eliminate development of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula. While consistent practice of any standardized technique may decrease the rate of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, experienced surgeons can have lower postoperative pancreatic fistula rates performing a variety of techniques depending on the clinical situation. There is no clear evidence on the benefit of internal or external stenting after pancreatico-enteric anastomosis. The use of somatostatin analogues may be important in decreasing morbidity after pancreatoduodenectomy, but it remains controversial. Future studies should focus on novel approaches to decrease the rate of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula with appropriate risk adjustment.

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Background: Delaying surgery after chemoradiation is one of the strategies for increasing tumor regression in rectal cancer. Tumour regression and PCR are known to have positive impact on survival.Methods: It's a retrospective study of 161 patients undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients were divided into three categories based on the gap between NCRT and surgery, i.e., <8, 8-12 and >12 weeks. Tumor regression grades (TRG), sphincter preservation, post-operative morbidity-mortality and survival were evaluated.Results: Sphincter preservation was significantly less in >12 weeks group compared to the other two groups (P=0.003). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in >12 weeks group compared to 8-12 weeks group (P=0.001).There was no difference in major postoperative morbidity and hospital stay among the groups. There was no significant correlation between delay and TRG (P=0.644). At Median follow up of 49.5 months the projected 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were not significantly different among the 3 groups (OS: 79.5% vs. 83.3% vs. 76.5%; P=0.849 and DFS 50.4% vs. 70.6% vs. 62%; P=0.270 respectively) Conclusions: Delaying surgery by more than 12 weeks causes more blood loss but no change in morbidity or hospital stay. Increased time interval between radiation and surgery does not improve tumor regression and has no effect on survival.

BACKGROUND: Short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy has not been widely evaluated as an alternative to traditional long-course chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. OBJECTIVE:This study compared the oncological and short-term outcomes between short-course radiotherapy + chemotherapy and long-course chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.DESIGN: This is a retrospective propensity-matched study SETTINGS:The study was conducted in a colorectal department at a tertiary care oncology center in India.PATIENTS: There were 173 patients. Group A had 47 patients and group B had 126 patients. A 1:2.7 matching was done for age, sex, distance of tumor from the anal verge, sphincter preservation surgeries, MRI-based pretreatment T stage, and circumferential resection margin. INTERVENTIONS:The interventions performed were short-course radiotherapy + chemotherapy (group A) and long-course chemoradiotherapy (group B) in locally advanced rectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The primary measures were pathological circumferential resection margin positivity, downstaging, tumor regression grade, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Of the patients, 52% had a positive circumferential resection margin on MRI, 57% had low rectal tumors, and 20% had T4 tumors. Distribution of rectal surgeries was similar between the 2 groups. pT downstaging and tumor regression scores were significantly better in group B (p = 0.028 and 0.026). Pathological circumferential resection margin, distal resection margin, and nodal yield were similar. On multivariate analysis, pretreatment N status was the only independent predictive factor for pathological circumferential resection margin status. Grade 3 to 4 Clavien-Dindo complications, anastomotic leak rates, and hospital stay were similar between the 2 groups. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study. Although propensity matching was performed, selection bias cannot be eliminated completely, as seen in the difference in the surgical approaches between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort containing a significant portion of MRI circumferential resection marginpositive low rectal cancers, short-course radiotherapy + chemotherapy followed by delayed surgery resulted

Aim:The aim was to compare oncological and short-term outcomes between open and laparoscopic surgery in locally advanced rectal cancers.Methods: It is a retrospective analysis conducted in a high volume tertiary centre.Matching was carried out for nine variables, including preoperative factors, neoadjuvant treatment and sphincter preservation. Results:Both the open and laparoscopic surgery arms had 239 patients each. The distributions of pretreatment MRI T3, T4, circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive tumours, neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation and sphincter preservation were 80.3%, 13.6%, 50%, 89% and 56.4% respectively. The mean number of nodes harvested (12.9 vs. 12.7, P = 0.716), pathological CRM positivity (6.3% in open vs. 5.4% in laparoscopic, P = 0.697) and distal resection margins were similar. The mean blood loss was higher in open surgeries (910 ml vs. 349 ml, P < 0.001). Anastomotic leaks and Clavien-Dindo Grade 3-4 complications were higher in the open arm than in the laparoscopy arm (5.9% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.024, and 12.5% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.015 respectively). The median postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopy arm (7 vs. 6, P = 0.015). In CRM positive and threatened cases, the measured outcomes were similar between the two groups except for blood loss which was significantly higher in the open surgery (872 vs. 379, P = 0.000). Conclusions: In high volume centres, in the hands of experienced colorectal surgeons, laparoscopic rectal surgery is oncologically safe in locally advanced rectal cancers and has lesser morbidity and shorter hospital stay than open surgery. In CRM positive and threatened cases the laparoscopic surgery showed less blood loss compared to open surgery, while other outcome measures were similar to open surgery.

Based on these results, taxane based regimen such as Paclitaxel/adriamycin can be recommended as a first line neoadjuvant regimen in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Background Trismus is a common complication following treatment for oral cancers. However, its incidence in site‐specific cancers is not adequately studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with trismus in treated patients with oral cancer. Methods The maximal mouth opening in treated oral cancers was measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find risk factors for developing trismus in the entire cohort and in a subgroup of patients with gingivobuccal complex cancers. Results A total of 401 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of trismus was 72.8%. On multivariate analysis, adjuvant therapy and submucous fibrosis were independent predictors. Reconstruction and method of reconstruction did not affect trismus. Bialveolar resections had significantly higher incidence of trismus. Discussion High prevalence of trismus was seen in patients following multimodal therapy for oral cancers. Adequate reconstruction alone may not prevent trismus and aggressive rehabilitation is key to its prevention.