Purpose: The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors associated with postoperative morbidity and major morbidity, with a prolonged length of hospital stay and with the need of readmission in patients undergoing appendectomy due to acute appendicitis. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1638 adult patients who underwent emergency appendectomy for preoperatively suspected acute appendicitis from 2010 to 2020 at the University Hospital Erlangen. Data including patient demographics, pre-, intra-, and postoperative findings were collected and compared between different outcome groups (morbidity, major morbidity, prolonged length of postoperative hospital stay (LOS) and readmission) from those patients with verified acute appendicitis (n = 1570). Results: Rate of negative appendectomies was 4%. In patients with verified acute appendicitis, morbidity, major morbidity and readmission occurred in 6%, 3% and 2%, respectively. Mean LOS was 3.9 days. Independent risk factors for morbidity were higher age, higher preoperative WBC-count and CRP, lower preoperative hemoglobin, longer time to surgery and longer duration of surgery. As independent risk factors for major morbidity could be identified higher age, higher preoperative CRP, lower preoperative hemoglobin and longer time to surgery. Eight parameters were independent risk factors for a prolonged LOS: higher age, higher preoperative WBC-count and CRP, lower preoperative hemoglobin, need for conversion, longer surgery duration, presence of intraoperative complicated appendicitis and of postoperative morbidity. Presence of malignancy and higher preoperative WBC-count were independent risk factors for readmission. Conclusion: Among patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis, there are relevant risk factors predicting postoperative complications, prolonged hospital stays and readmission. Patients with the presence of the identified risk factors should receive special attention in the postoperative course and may benefit from a more individualized therapy.

(1) Background: Since its introduction in the 1990s, laparoscopic appendectomy has become established over the years and is today considered the standard therapy for acute appendicitis. In some cases, however, a conversion to the open approach is still necessary. The primary aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the need to convert from the laparoscopic to an open approach during appendectomy for acute appendicitis. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1220 adult patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis from 2010 to 2020 at the University Hospital Erlangen was performed. Data, including patient demographics and pre-, intra-, and postoperative findings, were collected and compared between patients with and without conversion. (3) Results: The conversion rate in our cohort was 5.5%. A higher preoperative WBC count and CRP (OR 1.9, p = 0.042, and OR 2.3, p = 0.019, respectively), as well as the presence of intraoperative perforation, necrosis or gangrene, perityphlitic abscess and peritonitis (OR 3.2, p = 0.001; OR 2.3, p = 0.023; OR 2.6, p = 0.006 and OR 2.0, p = 0.025, respectively) were identified as independent risk factors for conversion from the laparoscopic to the open approach. Conversion was again independently associated with higher morbidity (OR 2.2, p = 0.043). (4) Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach is feasible and safe in the majority of patients with acute appendicitis. Only increased inflammatory blood markers could be detected as the preoperative risk factors potentially influencing the choice of surgical approach but only with low specificity and sensitivity. For the decision to convert, intraoperative findings are additionally crucial. However, patients with conversion should receive special attention in the postoperative course, as these have an increased risk of developing complications.

Introduction: Bacteria play an important role not only in pathogenesis of appendicitis but also in the postoperative course of patients. However, the usefulness of an intraoperative swab during appendectomy is controversial. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of intraoperative swab during appendectomy on the postoperative outcome in patients with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a consecutive series of 1570 adult patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis at the University Hospital Erlangen between 2010 and 2020. Data regarding the intraoperative swab were collected and analyzed for the entire cohort as well as for patients with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis. Results: An intraoperative swab was taken in 29% of the cohort. The bacterial isolation rate in the obtained intraoperative swabs was 51%, with a significantly higher rate observed in patients with complicated appendicitis compared to those with uncomplicated appendicitis (79% vs. 35%, p < 0.001). The presence of a positive swab was significantly associated with worse postoperative outcomes, including higher morbidity, increased need for re-surgery, and longer hospital stay, when compared to patients without a swab or with a negative swab. A positive swab was an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity (OR 9.9 (95% CI 1.2–81.9), p = 0.034) and the need for adjustment of postoperative antibiotic therapy (OR 8.8 (95% CI 1.1–72.5), p = 0.043). However, a positive swab resulted in postoperative antibiotic therapy adjustment in only 8% of the patients with bacterial isolation in the swab. Conclusion: The analysis of swab samples obtained during appendectomy for acute appendicitis can help identify patients at a higher risk of a worse postoperative outcome. However, the frequency of antibiotic regime changes based on the swab analysis is low.

Background: Morbidity due to anastomotic leakage is a major concern in transthoracic oesophagectomy. The aim of this randomised trial is to evaluate whether a circumferential suture reinforcement of the stapled end-to-side anastomosis in robot-assisted minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy (RAMIE) leads to a reduced incidence of anastomotic leakages in the postoperative course. Methods/design: This is a multi-centre randomised, double-blind, superiority trial with an adaptive sample size design undergoing RAMIE for malignant tumours. Patients will be randomised 1:1 into two study arms. In study arm A, participants will receive a standard circular-stapled end-to-side oesophagogastric anastomosis, while in study arm B, the anastomosis will have a circumferential suture reinforcement. The primary endpoint is the rate of anastomotic leakage. Secondary endpoints are incision-to-suture time, duration of circumferential suture reinforcement, anastomotic stenosis rate, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and quality of life. Discussion: This randomised controlled trial will assess the impact of circumferential suture reinforcement of the oesophagogastric anastomosis on short-term outcomes and quality of life of patients undergoing robot-assisted minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy. Trial regsitration: DRKS00034787. Registered on 7 October 2024.

Circulating myeloid cells are critical regulators of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. However, their postoperative dynamics and clinical relevance remain poorly defined. In a prospective longitudinal study, blood was collected from PDAC patients prior to surgery and on postoperative day 7. Flow cytometry was used to characterize monocytes, including classical (CM), intermediate (IMM), and non-classical (NCM) subsets, along with regulatory and co-stimulatory molecules (CD71, CD40, CD141, CD80, CD86, PD-L1). Cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β) were quantified by ELISA and correlated with clinical parameters and survival. Total monocytes and CM increased significantly at day 7, whereas IMM and NCM decreased. CD71, CD141, CD80, and CD86 expression were significantly altered across subsets, with the most pronounced reduction observed in CD86 expressing NCM. CD86 expressing NCM correlated inversely with systemic bilirubin but not CEA, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, or hospital stay. IL-6 and IL-10 increased postoperatively; IL-10 showed a tendency toward inverse correlation with CD86⁺ NCM. Low CD86 expression on NCM at day 7 was associated with reduced survival and higher relapse probability. CD86 expression on NCMs is profoundly reduced after PDAC surgery and serves as a prognostic biomarker linked to inflammation, bilirubin metabolism, survival, and recurrence. Postoperative monocyte profiling may improve risk stratification and inform early clinical decision-making.