database in Japan, we found substantial clinical and economic burdens of chronic critical illness in Japan. Chronic critical illness was particularly common in elderly people. Although inhospital mortality of chronic critical illness patients continues to decrease, costs and patients with dependence for activities of daily living or decreased consciousness at discharge are increasing.
  To develop and implement a patient- and family-centered care program for patients in a cardiovascular surgery ICU.
 
  Prospective, pre- and postintervention evaluations were conducted.
 
  The cardiovascular surgery ICU was located in a tertiary hospital.
 
  Participants included 56 family members of patients in cardiovascular surgery ICU between May and July 2019.
 
  Providing personalized treatment plans for patients by 1) providing an ICU diary, 2) communicating with the medical staff, 3) providing personal care using ICU visitation kit, and 4) guiding bedside range of motion exercises. The experimental group received a guided ICU diary and education program from a nurse, including the application of a family participation visitation program. Family members were provided with customized information from the ICU diary and communicated with the medical staff for approximately 10 minutes. Family members were instructed on how to perform personal care using an "ICU visitation kit" during visitation hours when perients.
  To assess patients' long-term outcome and satisfaction after laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR).
 
  Data on the long-term outcome and satisfaction of patients undergoing LVMR are limited.
 
  Patients who underwent LVMR between 2004 and 2017 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. We attempted to contact all patients by telephone for an interview using a standardized questionnaire to record pre-LVMR symptoms, long-term outcome, and overall satisfaction.
 
  Total number of patients who underwent LVMR was 848 and 99(12%) were deceased at follow-up (FU). In the end, 544(64%) patients were contacted successfully and 478(56%) were able to complete the questionnaire. Median time elapsed since surgery was 7 years and mean age was 62 years. Patients' reported pre-operative symptoms were obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) in 40%, fecal incontinence (FI) in 22%, combination of ODS and FI in 21% and other conditions in 17%. Bowel symptoms were reported as improved by 69% of patients and worse by 12%. Pelvic pain was reported to be improved in 47% of the patients after LVMR but new onset of pelvic pain appeared in 15%. Sexual function was reported to be better and worse with equal frequency. Overall, 63% of the patients were satisfied with the outcome and 76% would recommend this procedure to others with similar symptoms.
 
  LVMR offers acceptable long-term outcomes and satisfaction. There is a mixed impact on pelvic pain and sexual function which requires careful consideration in counselling patients for this procedure.
 LVMR offers acceptable long-term outcomes and satisfaction. There is a mixed impact on pelvic pain and sexual function which requires careful consideration in counselling patients for this procedure.
  To reappraise the optimal number of examined lymph nodes (ELN) in pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
 
  The well-established threshold of 15 ELN in PD for PDAC is optimized for detecting one positive node (PLN) per the previous 7 edition of the AJCC staging manual. In the framework of the 8 edition, where at least four PLN are needed for an N2 diagnosis, this threshold may be inadequate for accurate staging.
 
  Patients who underwent upfront PD at two academic institutions between 2000 and 2016 were analyzed. The optimal ELN threshold was defined as the cut-point associated with a 95% probability of identifying at least 4 PLN in N2 patients. The results were validated addressing the N-status distribution and stage migration.
 
  Overall, 1218 patients were included. The median number of ELN was 26 (IQR 17-37). ELN was independently associated with N2-status (OR 1.27, p < 0.001). The estimated optimal threshold of ELN was 28. This cut-point enabled improved detection of N2 patients and stage III disease (58% versus 37%, p = 0.001). The median survival was 28.6 months. There was an improved survival in N0/N1 patients when ELN exceeded 28, suggesting a stage migration effect (47 versus 29 months, adjusted HR 0.649, p < 0.001).  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pepstatin-a.html  In N2 patients, this threshold was not associated with survival on multivariable analysis.
 
  Examining at least 28 LN in PD for PDAC ensures optimal staging through improved detection of N2/stage III disease. This may have relevant implications for benchmarking processes and quality implementation.
 Examining at least 28 LN in PD for PDAC ensures optimal staging through improved detection of N2/stage III disease. This may have relevant implications for benchmarking processes and quality implementation.
  To assess outcomes among patients undergoing total pancreatectomy (TP) including predictors for complications and in-hospital mortality.
 
  Current studies on TP mostly originate from high-volume centers and span long time periods and therefore may not reflect daily practice.
 
  This prospective pan-European snapshot study included patients who underwent elective (primary or completion) TP in 43 centers in 16 European countries (June 2018-June 2019). Subgroup analysis included cut-off values for annual volume of pancreatoduodenectomies (<60 vs. ≥60). Predictors for major complications and in-hospital mortality were assessed in multivariable logistic regression.
 
  In total, 277 patients underwent TP, mostly for malignant disease (73%). Major postoperative complications occurred in 70 patients (25%). Median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR 9-18) and 40 patients were readmitted (15%). In-hospital mortality was 5% and 90-day mortality 8%. In the subgroup analysis, in-hospital mortality was lower in patients operated in centers with ≥60 pancreatoduodenectomies compared < 60 (4% vs. 10%, p = 0.046). In multivariable analysis, annual volume < 60 pancreatoduodenectomies (OR 3.78, 95%CI 1.18-12.16, p = 0.026), age (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-1.14, p = 0.046), and estimated blood loss ≥2L (OR 11.89, 95%CI 2.64-53.61, p = 0.001) were associated with in-hospital mortality. ASA ≥3 (OR 2.87, 95%CI 1.56-5.26, p = 0.001) and estimated blood loss ≥2L (OR 3.52, 95%CI 1.25-9.90, p = 0.017) were associated with major complications.
 
  This pan-European prospective snapshot study found a 5% in-hospital after TP. The identified predictors for mortality, including low-volume centers, age, and increased blood loss, may be used to improve outcomes.
 This pan-European prospective snapshot study found a 5% in-hospital after TP. The identified predictors for mortality, including low-volume centers, age, and increased blood loss, may be used to improve outcomes.