Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery is among the most complex fields in visceral surgery, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. This article provides a brief overview of current evidence-based strategies for the prevention of typical complications: post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), bile leaks, postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH). In the context of the definitions of the International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) and the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS), preoperative conditioning measures, modern functional imaging, intraoperative surgical techniques, and pharmacological interventions are briefly outlined.

The introduction and ongoing development of minimally invasive surgical techniques have fundamentally transformed thoracic surgery in recent years. In parallel, anaesthesiological concepts have been developed with reduced invasiveness and fewer complications that aim for faster recovery. These include, for example, video-assisted thoracoscopy without the use of endotracheal intubation (non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery, NIVATS). This review article describes the anaesthesiological principles, techniques used, potential benefits, as well as risks and limitations of non-intubated VATS (NIVATS), and discusses its role in clinical practice. What is of particular importance for patient outcomes is effective team communication between thoracic surgery and anaesthesiology.

Vocal cord paralysis significantly impairs the quality of life of those affected. Unilateral paresis primarily causes glottal closure insufficiency, weak voice, and hoarseness. Bilateral paresis, on the other hand, impairs breathing and limits physical capacity. For over a hundred years, various biomaterials have been used to treat unilateral vocal cord paralysis, including tissue transfer, injection materials, implants, and nerve transfer. According to current scientific findings, early augmentation can reduce the need for later invasive treatment and speed up the patient's voice rehabilitation. In cases of bilateral paralysis, laser resection is currently the most common treatment for glottal enlargement, but this requires a trade-off between improved breathing and preserved voice quality. In the future, laryngeal pacemakers and selective reinnervation could restore vocal fold function in a targeted manner, thereby significantly improving quality of life.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is known to exhibit high tumor heterogeneity, and molecular alterations can be detected in a relevant proportion of patients. These alterations may permit the use of targeted therapy but also have important implications for the use of other therapies particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, comprehensive characterization of the molecular profile is crucial for achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes in the perioperative setting even in early stages. A wide range of diagnostic techniques with specific advantages and limitations are currently available for molecular testing of NSCLC. The choice of method depends on the clinical setting and the available tissue. Modern next-generation sequencing panels currently represent the diagnostic gold standard in this regard. Numerous studies are currently investigating the use of various targeted therapies for molecularly altered NSCLC in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and perioperative settings, and have in some cases yielded spectacular improvements of disease-free- as well as overall survival. The results of the ADAURA trial led to the approval of osimertinib for adjuvant treatment of completely resected, EGFR-mutated NSCLC, while the ALINA trial provided the basis for the approval of alectinib in the adjuvant treatment of ALK-positive, completely resected NSCLC. This article discusses the current evidence regarding the perioperative use of targeted therapies, the recommendations for molecular testing in non-small cell lung cancer, and the resulting therapeutic implications, as well as ongoing research efforts in this evolving field.