No abstract

The mFI is significantly associated with morbidity and mortality in this retrospective survey. Additional study with prospective analysis and external validation is needed. The mFI may provide an improved understanding of preoperative risk, which would facilitate perioperative optimization, risk stratification, and counseling related to outcomes.

Prognostic study, level II.

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) instrument was introduced approximately 10 years ago to provide a quantitative method of measuring symptom severity in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Since that time the instrument has been used to assess treatment response to medication, endoscopic procedures, and surgery for GERD. However, the development of the instrument has progressed over the course of several years, and there is no one source which reviews this progress. The purpose of this article is to summarize the development and testing of the GERD-HRQL. The GERD-HRQL was initially developed to measure the typical symptoms of GERD. It was initially determined to have face validity and subsequent studies assessed its content validity, criterion validity, concurrent validity, predictive validity and construct validity. Reliability was determined by the test-retest method. Responsiveness was determined by the effects of treatment. This instrument is practical, with little administrative burden. There are few missing responses. Because there are 51 possible scores, the instrument has a high level of precision; and because of the response anchors, cannot have a floor effect, and only 4/372 patients reached the highest score of 50, implying little ceiling effect. The instrument has been translated into several languages, and appears valid, reliable and practical in each.

This study provides level 1 data, suggesting that elimination of intraperitoneal drainage in all cases of PD increases the frequency and severity of complications.

No abstract

IRE ablation of locally advanced pancreatic tumors remains safe and in the appropriate patient who has undergone standard induction therapy for a minimum of 4 months can achieve greater local palliation and potential improved overall survival compared with standard chemoradiation-chemotherapy treatments. Validation of these early results will need to be validated in the current multi-institutional Phase 2 IDE study.

This study demonstrates that preoperative functional status as measured by FI and SF-36 may help identify patients at higher risk of postoperative complications. In our ageing population, use of such measures may help in better patient selection.