Artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision (CV) are beginning to impact medicine. While evidence on the clinical value of AI-based solutions for the screening and staging of colorectal cancer (CRC) is mounting, CV and AI applications to enhance the surgical treatment of CRC are still in their early stage. This manuscript introduces key AI concepts to a surgical audience, illustrates fundamental steps to develop CV for surgical applications, and provides a comprehensive overview on the state-of-the-art of AI applications for the treatment of CRC. Notably, studies show that AI can be trained to automatically recognize surgical phases and actions with high accuracy even in complex colorectal procedures such as transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). In addition, AI models were trained to interpret fluorescent signals and recognize correct dissection planes during total mesorectal excision (TME), suggesting CV as a potentially valuable tool for intraoperative decision-making and guidance. Finally, AI could have a role in surgical training, providing automatic surgical skills assessment in the operating room. While promising, these proofs of concept require further development, validation in multi-institutional data, and clinical studies to confirm AI as a valuable tool to enhance CRC treatment.

A significant proportion of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer is discovered with peritoneal metastases at laparotomy. Despite the continuous improvement in the performance of radiological imaging, the preoperative recognition of such an advanced disease is still challenging during the diagnostic work-up, since the sensitivity of CT scans to peritoneal carcinomatosis is not always adequate. Staging laparoscopy offers the chance to significantly increase the rate of promptly diagnosed peritoneal metastases, thus reducing the number of unnecessary laparotomies and modifying the initial treatment strategy of gastric cancer. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the current literature regarding the role of staging laparoscopy in the management of gastric cancer. Indications, techniques, accuracy, advantages, and limitations of staging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology were discussed. Furthermore, a focus on current evidence regarding the application of artificial intelligence and image-guided surgery in staging laparoscopy was included in order to provide a picture of the future perspectives of this technique and its integration with modern tools in the preoperative management of gastric cancer.

Background: The potential long-term survival benefits of surgical resection for synchronous liver-only metastases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (liver oligo-PDAC) remain controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to compare the current evidence on long-term survival outcomes between surgical treatment of liver oligo-PDAC and conventional systemic chemotherapy. Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify studies comparing surgery and systemic chemotherapy in terms of long-term survival in oligo-PDAC patients. The search included studies published up to October 2024. The meta-analysis was performed using the Jamovi software. Results: Eleven retrospective studies were selected for a total of 897 patients: 565(63%) underwent synchronous resection of liver metastases and the primary tumor, while 332(37%) received conventional chemotherapy. The majority of patients presented a pancreatic head tumor, and the median number of liver metastases ranged between 1 and 3 in the surgical cohort and 1 and 2 in the nonsurgical cohort. The rate of major surgical complications was 14.4% while the cumulative incidence of postoperative mortality was 2.8%. The median overall survival(OS) in the surgical group ranged from 7.6 to 18.4 months, while a lower value comprised between 6 and 9.9 months was evidenced in the nonsurgical cohort. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis for the OS evaluation, showing significantly better survival outcomes in the surgical group (OR: 0.286, 95% CI: 0.100–0.409; P < 0.0001). According to the Q-test, there was no significant heterogeneity in the true outcomes (Q = 4.063, P = 0.541, I ² = 0 %). A sensitivity analysis, conducted by excluding one study at a time, confirmed the robustness of the meta-analysis findings. Conclusions: Surgical resection of oligo-PDAC may represent a valuable treatment option with potential long-term survival benefits. However, prospective randomized trials are required to further validate these findings.

Pancreatic surgery is complex and associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to other abdominal surgeries. Over the past decade, the introduction of new technologies, such as minimally invasive approaches, improvements in multimodal treatments, advancements in anesthesia and perioperative care, and better management of complications, have collectively improved patient outcomes after pancreatic surgery. In particular, the adoption of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) recommendations has reduced hospital stays and improved recovery times, as well as post-operative outcomes. The aim of this narrative review is to highlight the surgeon’s perspective on the ERAS program for pancreatic surgery, with a focus on its potential advantages for perioperative functional recovery outcomes.

Post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) is an increasingly described complication after pancreatic resection. No uniform definition criteria were present in the literature until the recent proposal of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS). Aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of the novel ISGPS definition of PPAP. Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) between 2006 and 2022 were enrolled. PPAP was defined and graded according to the ISGPS criteria. Among 520 PDs, 120 (23%)patients developed post-operative hyperamylasemia (POH), while PPAP occurred in 63(12.1%) cases. PPAP occurrence related to a higher rate of more severe complications (48-76.1%vs118-25.8%; p < 0.0001), delayed gastric emptying (DGE) (27-42.9%vd114-24.9%; p = 0.003) and post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (57-90.5%vs186-40.8%; p < 0.0001). When stratified for PPAP severity, grade B and C patients more frequently developed major complications (p < 0.0001), POPF (p < 0.0001), DGE (p = 0.02) and post-operative hemorrhage (p < 0.0001) as compared to POH. At the multivariable analysis, soft pancreatic texture (p = 0.01)and a Wirsung diameter ≤3 mm (p = 0.01) were recognized as prognostic factors for PPAP onset, while a pancreatic duct ≤3 mm was the only feature significantly influencing a more severe course of PPAP (p = 0.01). The ISGPS classification is confirmed as a valuable method for a uniform definition and clinical course evaluation. Further studies in a prospective manner are still needed for a further confirmation.