Abstract Background Adhesive small bowel obstructions are the most common postoperative causes of hospitalization. Several studies investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic role of water-soluble ...contrast agent (WSCA) in predicting the need for surgery, but there is no consensus. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was done of studies on diagnostic and therapeutic role of oral WSCA. Results WSCA had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 93% in predicting resolution of obstruction without surgery; diagnostic accuracy increased significantly if abdominal X-rays were taken after 8 hours. The administration of oral WSCA reduced the need for surgery (odds ratio .55, P = .003), length of stay (weighted mean difference −2.18 days, P < .00001), and time to resolution (weighted mean difference −28.25 hours, P < .00001). No differences in terms of morbidity or mortality were recorded. Conclusions The administration of WSCA is accurate in predicting the need for surgery; the test should be taken after at least 8 hours from administration. WSCA is a proven safe and effective treatment, correlated with a significant reduction in the need for surgery and in the length of hospital stay.
Although most patients with acute pancreatitis have the mild form of the disease, about 20-30% develops a severe form, often associated with single or multiple organ dysfunction requiring intensive ...care. Identifying the severe form early is one of the major challenges in managing severe acute pancreatitis. Infection of the pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis occurs in about 20-40% of patients with severe acute pancreatitis, and is associated with worsening organ dysfunctions. While most patients with sterile necrosis can be managed nonoperatively, patients with infected necrosis usually require an intervention that can be percutaneous, endoscopic, or open surgical. These guidelines present evidence-based international consensus statements on the management of severe acute pancreatitis from collaboration of a panel of experts meeting during the World Congress of Emergency Surgery in June 27-30, 2018 in Bertinoro, Italy. The main topics of these guidelines fall under the following topics: Diagnosis, Antibiotic treatment, Management in the Intensive Care Unit, Surgical and operative management, and Open abdomen.
The current COVID-19 pandemic underlines the importance of a mindful utilization of financial and human resources. Preserving resources and manpower is paramount in healthcare. It is important to ...ensure the ability of surgeons and specialized professionals to function through the pandemic. A conscious effort should be made to minimize infection in this sector. A high mortality rate within this group would be detrimental.This manuscript is the result of a collaboration between the major Italian surgical and anesthesiologic societies: ACOI, SIC, SICUT, SICO, SICG, SIFIPAC, SICE, and SIAARTI. We aim to describe recommended clinical pathways for COVID-19-positive patients requiring acute non-deferrable surgical care. All hospitals should organize dedicated protocols and workforce training as part of the effort to face the current pandemic.
Small and large bowel obstructions are responsible for approximately 15% of hospital admissions for acute abdominal pain in the USA and ~ 20% of cases needing acute surgical care. Starting from the ...analysis of a common clinical problem, we want to guide primary care physicians in the initial management of a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain associated with intestinal obstruction.
Introduction
Complicated diaphragmatic hernia (DH) can be congenital or acquired. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) are rare and often can be asymptomatic until adulthood. Traumatic ...diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) is a complication that occurs in about 1–5% of victims of road accidents and in 10–15% of penetrating traumas of the lower chest. CDH and TDH are potentially life-threatening conditions, and the management in emergency setting still debated. This study aims to evaluate the surgical treatment options in emergency setting.
Methods
A bibliographic research reporting the item “emergency surgery” linked with “traumatic diaphragmatic rupture” and “congenital diaphragmatic hernia” was performed. Several parameters were recorded including sex, age, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, site and herniated organs.
Results
The research included 146 articles, and 1542 patients were analyzed. Most of the complicated diaphragmatic hernias occurred for a diaphragmatic defect due to trauma, only 7.2% occurred for a congenital diaphragmatic defect. The main diagnostic method used was chest X-ray and CT scan. Laparotomic approach still remains predominant compared to the minimally invasive approach.
Conclusion
Surgery is the treatment of choice and is strongly influenced by the preoperative setting, performed mainly with X-ray and CT scan. Minimally invasive approach is safe and feasible but is highly dependent on the surgeon's expertise, especially in emergency setting.
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is typically defined as a group of diseases characterized by an interruption of the blood supply to varying portions of the small intestine, leading to ischemia and ...secondary inflammatory changes. If untreated, this process will eventuate in life threatening intestinal necrosis. The incidence is low, estimated at 0.09-0.2% of all acute surgical admissions. Therefore, although the entity is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain, diligence is always required because if untreated, mortality has consistently been reported in the range of 50%. Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are the cornerstones of modern treatment and are essential to reduce the high mortality associated with this entity. The advent of endovascular approaches in parallel with modern imaging techniques may provide new options. Thus, we believe that a current position paper from World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) is warranted, in order to put forth the most recent and practical recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of AMI. This review will address the concepts of AMI with the aim of focusing on specific areas where early diagnosis and management hold the strongest potential for improving outcomes in this disease process. Some of the key points include the prompt use of CT angiography to establish the diagnosis, evaluation of the potential for revascularization to re-establish blood flow to ischemic bowel, resection of necrotic intestine, and use of damage control techniques when appropriate to allow for re-assessment of bowel viability prior to definitive anastomosis and abdominal closure.
Abstract
Introduction
Complications secondary to spilled gallstones can be classified in the category of disease of medical progress because prior to advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy very few ...reports published on the topic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the predisposing factors and the complication rate of spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the past 21 years.
Methods
Embase, Pubmed, Medline, Google scholar and Cochrane library were systematically searched for pertinent literature.
Results
Seventy five out of 181 articles were selected including 85 patients; of those 38% were men and 62% women. The median age of the cohort was 64 years old and ranged between 33 and 87 years. Only 23(27%) of the authors reported the incident of spillage of the gallstones during the operation. Time of onset of symptoms varied widely from the second postoperative day to 15 years later. Ten of 85 patients were asymptomatic and diagnosed with spilled gallstones incidentally. The rest of the patients presented with complications of severe morbidity and almost, 87% of the patients needed to be treated with surgical intervention and 12% with US ± CT scan guidance drainage. Only one perioperative death reported.
Conclusions
Symptomatic patients with lost gallstones present with severe morbidity complications and required mostly major surgical procedures. Therefore, standardisation of the management of spilled gallstones is needed urgently. Hospitals need to review their policy with audits and recommendations and clinical guidelines are needed urgently.
Antibiotic resistance is an ecosystem problem threatening the interrelated human-animal-environment health under the “One Health” framework. Resistant bacteria arising in one geographical area can ...spread via cross-reservoir transmission to other areas worldwide either by direct exposure or through the food chain and the environment. Drivers of antibiotic resistance are complex and multi-sectoral particularly in Lower- and Middle-income countries. These include inappropriate socio-ecological behaviors; poverty; overcrowding; lack of surveillance systems; food supply chain safety issues; highly contaminated waste effluents; and loose rules and regulations. In order to examine the drivers of antibiotic resistance from a “one health” perspective, a literature review was conducted on three databases including PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. A total of 485 studies of potential relevance were selected, out of which 182 were included in this review. Results have shown that the aforementioned market failures are the leading cause for the negative externality of antibiotic resistance that extends in scope from the individual to the global ecosystem. Incremental and sustainable global actions can make the change, however, the problem will continue to prevail if governments do not prioritize the “One health” approach and if individual’s accountability is still denied in a world struggling with profound socio-economic problems.
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