Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery Research Articles

Timing of Stoma Closure in Neonates: the ToSCiN mixed-methods study.

Neonates undergoing emergency abdominal surgery frequently require a stoma; closing this stoma with a second operation is an essential part of recovery. Timing of closure varies. Optimal timing is unclear and would be best resolved through a randomised controlled trial; such a trial is likely to be challenging. To determine if it is feasible to conduct a clinical trial comparing 'early' versus 'late' stoma closure in neonates. Mixed methods comprising three parallel workstreams incorporating: a clinician survey, prospective observational cohort study, parent interviews, focus groups, database analyses and consensus meeting. Specialist neonatal surgical centres across the United Kingdom. Neonatologists, neonatal surgeons, neonatal dietitians and neonatal nurses who care for neonates with stomas. Neonates with recent stoma, their parents and the clinicians looking after them. Three existing, overlapping clinical databases. One hundred and sixty-six professionals from all 27 neonatal surgical centres completed the survey: 6 weeks was the most common target time for stoma closure across clinical scenarios, although there was wide variation. Timing of closure was influenced by nutrition, growth and stoma complications. The prospective cohort study enrolled 56 infants from 8 centres. Infants were mostly preterm with necrotising enterocolitis or intestinal perforation. Clinicians identified extreme preterm gestation and clinical conditions as reasons for not randomising babies into a hypothetical trial comparing early and late stoma closure. Parents and healthcare professionals identified that comparator arms needed more clinical flexibility in relation to timing of stoma closure. Analysis of existing databases revealed wide variation in current timing of stoma closure in neonates and identified approximately 300 eligible infants for a trial per annum in the United Kingdom. A trial of 'early' compared to 'late' stoma closure in neonates is feasible and is important to families and health professionals. The population of eligible babies in the United Kingdom is sufficient for such a trial. Challenges centre around lack of equipoise in certain scenarios, specifically: extremely preterm infants; infants waiting too long for stoma closure in the 'late' comparator; and logistical issues in closing a stoma at a trial-allocated time. These challenges are addressable by incorporating flexibility based on gestation at birth, communicating that both trial arms are standard practice and valid treatment options, and providing resources, for example, for operating lists. We recommend the following population, intervention, comparator and outcome as a starting point to inform future trial design. Population: neonates with stomas (excluding those with a fixed treatment pathway). Intervention: stoma closure at 6 weeks and after 32 weeks post conceptual age. Comparator: expectant management with stoma closure undertaken when the clinical team determines is best for the infant. Primary outcomes: weight gain/growth or length of hospital stay. This study is registered as IRAS Project ID 278331, REC Reference 20/LO/1227. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR128617) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 71. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Review of the treatment options and results of earthquake-related pelvic injuries after the Türkiye earthquake on 6th February.

The aim of this study was to review the characteristics and classifications of pelvic injuries due to earthquake trauma, to determine the treatment options and outcomes, and to present the experiences of our single trauma center. Sixty patients (23 male, 37 female) who underwent surgical treatment for pelvic ring injuries after the earthquake were analyzed in this study. Demographic data, such as age and gender, operations, and fracture details were recorded. Laboratory results and the amount of blood used were included in the analysis. Fractures were classified according to the Young-Burgess classification. Surgical treatment methods, side of injury, accompanying injuries, and treatment results were analyzed using SPSS software. Left-sided trauma was the most common mechanism of injury, with 36 patients (60%) sustaining left-sided pelvic fractures. Pelvic ring fractures were detected in 78.3% of patients, and combined acetabulum and pelvic ring fractures were identified in 21.7% of patients. Thoracic trauma and extra-pelvic fractures were seen in 12 (20%) and 18 (30%) patients, respectively. Twenty percent of patients underwent emergency abdominal surgery prior to pelvic surgery. Complications were observed in 7 patients (11.6%) in the early period. The average amount of blood used for patients was 2.91 U (min: 0, max: 13 U, SD: 2.66). This study has shown us that lateral compression injuries are more common, and that low hemoglobin levels, high inflammation parameters, previous abdominal surgery, accompanying fractures, and lung injury are the main characteristics of patients with earthquake-related pelvic injuries. It also demonstrates that for the optimal use of materials and implants, experience in different techniques is required, and shows the significant need for blood transfusions in the treatment of these injuries. Level IV, Therapeutic study.

A Prospective Observational Study to Assess the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and C-reactive Protein-to-Albumin Ratio (CAR) in Predicting Morbidity and Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery.

Background Emergency abdominal surgeries pose significant challenges, especially in the Indian population, due to comorbidities, delayed presentations, and limited resources. Accurately predicting morbidity and mortality is crucial for timely interventions and improved patient care. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) have shown potential as prognostic markers, balancing inflammation and nutritional status. Aim The study aims to evaluate the predictive efficacy of NLR and CAR with regard to postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery, thereby contributing to better risk stratification and management strategies. Patients and methods A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospitalin northern Karnatakafrom August 2022 to June 2024, involving 102 patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgeries. The sample size (71) was calculated using G*Power software, targeting a 95% power with a 5% significance level. The inclusion criterion was patients aged over 18 years undergoing emergency abdominal surgeries;those who were immunocompromised, on steroid therapy, having malignancies,undergoing radiotherapy, or having chronic liver diseases were excluded from the study. Patients coming into the surgical inpatient department (IPD) with an acute abdomen requiring emergency abdominal surgeries as an emergency were preoperatively assessed using complete blood count (CBC), CRP, and serum albumin tests. NLR and CAR were evaluated preoperatively and at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The outcome measures included surgical site infection rates, hospital stay duration, and outcomein the form of recovery or death. SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analyses. Results The study included 102 patients whose mean age was 43.7 ± 18.9 years; 74 of the participants (72.5%) were male. The most common procedures were exploratory laparotomy (64 patients; 62.7%) and appendicectomy (32 patients; 31.4%). A significant increase in CAR levels was observed on postoperative days 1 and 2 compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Preoperative NLR ≥ 8 was significantly associated with higher mortality (65% vs. 50%, p < 0.01). Preoperative albumin > 3.2 g/dL was associated with better outcomes (recovery in54 patients; 65.9%) compared to < 3.2 g/dL (15 patients; 75% mortality). This study showed that NLR and CAR are valuable predictors of postoperative outcomes, with CAR indicating the risk for surgical site infections (SSI) and NLR predicting mortality. Conclusion The preoperative NLR had a significant association with mortality among the patients. Hence the NLR can be a good marker for the worst outcome and CAR during the postoperative period can be considered as a marker to detect the risk of SSI. NLR and CAR are simple, inexpensive tests readily available from routine blood investigations. The utility of NLR and CAR as valuable prognostic markers in the perioperative assessment of patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery could enhance the prediction of patient outcomes and guide more effective management strategies to improve patient outcomes in high-risk emergency abdominal surgery.

Emergency Abdominal Surgery in Children With COVID-19: An National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric Propensity Score Matched Analysis

IntroductionEvidence suggests that coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with increased perioperative mortality in adults. We hypothesized that children with COVID-19 had worse outcomes after emergency surgery compared to children without COVID-19. MethodsChildren <18 y who underwent emergency abdominal surgery were included in the 2021 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. Children with COVID-19 diagnosed preoperatively were identified. A propensity score-matched analysis was performed, matching demographic and clinical factors. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were assessed. Due to event rarity, a composite outcome for postoperative morbidity was also assessed. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests identified differences between groups. Logistic regression identified the odds of the composite morbidity outcome. ResultsOverall, 13,619 children (median age 10.8 y, interquartile range: 6.4-14.2) underwent emergency abdominal surgery, of whom 224 (1.6%) had COVID-19. The majority were female (58.2%), White (61.3%), and non-Hispanic (53.4%). On unadjusted analysis, there was an association between COVID-19 status and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (P < 0.01). A greater proportion of COVID-19-positive children had dirty/infected wounds (30.4% versus 22.2%, P < 0.01). Also, a greater proportion of COVID-19-positive children suffered cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (1.3% versus 0.2%, P < 0.01). Matched cohorts of 224 COVID-19-positive and 224 COVID-19-negative children did not differ by demographic or clinical factors (P > 0.05). Propensity score matching did not reveal significant differences in postoperative morbidity or mortality. Children with COVID-19 did not demonstrate increased odds of morbidity analyzed as a composite outcome (odds ratio: 0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-1.48, P = 0.31). ConclusionsContrary to findings in adults, COVID-19 was not associated with worse clinical outcomes in children undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and Frailty Predict Short-Term Mortality in Patients ≥75 Years Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

An elevated cardiac troponin concentration is a prognostic factor for perioperative cardiac morbidity and mortality. In elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery, frailty is a recognized risk factor, but little is known about the prognostic value of cardiac troponin in these vulnerable patients. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic significance of elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentration and frailty in a cohort of elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. We included consecutive patients ≥75 years of age who presented for emergency abdominal surgery, defined as abdominal pathology requiring surgery within 72 hours, in a university hospital in Norway. Patients who underwent vascular procedures or palliative surgery for inoperable malignancies were excluded. Preoperatively, frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and blood samples were measured for hs-cTnT. We evaluated the predictive power of CFS and hs-cTnT concentrations using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Cox proportional hazard regression with 30-day mortality as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included (1) a composite of 30-day all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiac event (MACE), defined as myocardial infarction, nonfatal cardiac arrest, or coronary revascularization; and (2) 90-day mortality. Of the 210 screened and 156 eligible patients, blood samples were available in 146, who were included. Troponin concentration exceeded the 99th percentile upper reference limit (URL) in 83% and 89% of the patients pre- and postoperatively. Of the participants, 53% were classified as vulnerable or frail (CFS ≥4). The 30-day mortality rate was 12% (18 of 146). Preoperatively, a threshold of hs-cTnT ≥34 ng/L independently predicted 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-9.45), and the composite outcome of 30-day mortality and MACE (HR 2.58, 95% CI, 1.07-6.49). In this model, frailty (continuous CFS score) also independently predicted 30-day mortality (HR 1.42, 95% CI, 1.01-2.00) and 30-day mortality or MACE (HR 1.37, 95% CI, 1.02-1.84). The combination of troponin and frailty, 0.14 × hs-cTnT +4.0 × CFS, yielded apparent superior predictive power (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [AUC] 0.79, 95% CI, 0.68-0.88), compared to troponin concentration (AUC 0.69, 95% CI, 0.55-0.83) or frailty (AUC 0.69, 95% CI, 0.57-0.82) alone. After emergency abdominal surgery in elderly patients, increased preoperative troponin concentration and frailty were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. The combination of increased troponin concentration and frailty seemed to provide better prognostic information than troponin or frailty alone. These results must be validated in an independent sample.

Urgency adjusted outcomes of emergency abdominal surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

Patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are a complex cohort who are relatively poorly represented in published literature. This is partly due to the lack of consensus of the definition of the term emergency in IBD surgery. There is ongoing and recent work defining clinical urgency for unplanned surgical procedures and categorizing the high-risk surgical patient. This paper aims to report the difference in patient metrics and risks as recorded by the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA). Complete patient data, including histology, were available in the NELA database between 2013 and 2016. Urgency categories recorded by NELA are <2h, 2-6h, 6-18h, and >18h. Patient characteristics, physiology, biochemistry, and outcomes are reported according to these urgency categories with regression analysis used to compare differences between them. Mortality in Crohn's disease (CD) ranged from 1.4% in the >18h urgency to 14.6% in the most urgent. In ulcerative colitis (UC), this range was from 3.1% to 14.8%. In both CD and UC, there were significant trends in hemodynamic instability, serum white cell count, serum electrolytes and creatinine, and outcome measures length of stay and unplanned return to theater. Patients having emergency surgery for IBD are not a single cohort when considering physiology, blood biochemistry, or most importantly, outcomes. Risk counseling and management should reflect this. Hemodynamic changes are subtle and may be missed in this cohort.

Rationale and study design for an Individualized PeriopeRative Open lung VEntilatory approach in Emergency Abdominal Laparotomy/scopy: study protocol for a prospective international randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPostoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) are the most frequent postoperative complications, with an estimated prevalence in elective surgery ranging from 20% in observational cohort studies to 40% in randomized clinical trials. However, the prevalence of PPCs in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery is not well defined. Lung-protective ventilation aims to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury and reduce PPCs. The open lung approach (OLA), which combines recruitment manoeuvres (RM) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration, aims to minimize areas of atelectasis and the development of PPCs; however, there is no conclusive evidence in the literature that OLA can prevent PPCs. The purpose of this study is to compare an individualized perioperative OLA with conventional standardized lung-protective ventilation in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery with clinical signs of intraoperative lung collapse. MethodsRandomized international clinical trial to compare an individualized perioperative OLA (RM plus individualized PEEP and individualized postoperative respiratory support) with conventional lung-protective ventilation (standard PEEP of 5 cmH2O and conventional postoperative oxygen therapy) in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery with clinical signs of lung collapse. Patients will be randomised to open-label parallel groups. The primary outcome is any severe PPC during the first 7 postoperative days, including: acute respiratory failure, pneumothorax, weaning failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary infection. The estimated sample size is 732 patients (366 per group). The final sample size will be readjusted during the interim analysis. DiscussionThe Individualized Perioperative Open-lung Ventilatory Strategy in emergency abdominal laparotomy (iPROVE-EAL) is the first multicentre, randomized, controlled trial to investigate whether an individualized perioperative approach prevents PPCs in patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Combination of neuromuscular block monitoring and hand grip strength assessment for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery

Relevance. The hand grip strength measurement together with neuromuscular block monitoring played an important role during surgery. They both helped in losing less time during surgery and also facilitate the task of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to reduce time on intubation, facilitate the task of the surgeon and to limit post-surgical pain. In rehabilitation, hand grip strength helps in determining further recuperation measures after asurgery. There are three fundamental principles for an anesthesiologist to ensure that the patient after combined endotracheal anesthesia can be extubated, the first one is to ask the patient to move his head forward, the second one is to ask the patient whether the intubation tube is disturbing him in his mouth and the third most important one is to make the patient hold his wrist very firmly. Materials and Methods. Monitoring of muscle relaxant on induction, intra and post-surgery is carried out using aTOF Watch SX in coordination with handgrip strength measurement on 46 patients aged from 18 to 60 years of BMI of 18-30 kg/m² 15min before endotracheal intubation and 15min, 45min and 210min post extubation by using adynamometer “MEGEON 34090” to help us understand whether after extubation muscle strength changes and to what extent. Also, pre-anesthesiology protocol, combined endotracheal protocol, Microsoft excel advanced, monitoring of hemodynamics, ECG, PEEP, PCO2, PO2, respiratory volume using Drager Fabius. Results and Discussion. The results showed that to reach deep muscle relaxation both atracurium benzilate (FKP Kursk Biofabric company, Kursk, Russia) at TOF 0 took 258.5± 83.5 secs and Cisatracurium benzilate (ZAO Obninsk Chemical pharmaceutical company, Obninsk, Russia) at TOF0-252.4±100.1 secs in emergency patients and basically hand grip strength also was lesser as compared to planned cholecystectomy patients. Conclusion. Rehabilitation was necessary for patients undergoing massive abdominal emergency surgeries underlying the fact that on apain scale 10/10 post surgery, further treatments should be implemented to reduce pain, reduce residual neuromuscular block and muscle weakness after extubation at TOF 90-95%.

Laparoscopy for emergency abdominal surgery is associated with reduced physical functional decline in older patients: a cohort study

BackgroundAn increasing number of older patients require emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen. They are susceptible to surgical stress and lose their independence in performing daily activities. Laparoscopic surgery is associated with faster recovery, less postoperative pain, and shorter hospital stay. However, few studies have examined the relationship between laparoscopic surgery and physical functional decline. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between changes in physical function and the surgical procedure.MethodsIn this was a single-center, retrospective cohort study, we enrolled patients who were aged ≥ 65 years and underwent emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. We assessed their activities of daily living using the Barthel Index. Functional decline was defined as a decrease of ≥ 20 points in Barthel Index at 28 days postoperatively, compared with the preoperative value. We evaluated an association between functional decline and surgical procedures among older patients, using multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsDuring the study period, 852 patients underwent emergency abdominal surgery. Among these, 280 patients were eligible for the analysis. Among them, 94 underwent laparoscopic surgery, while 186 underwent open surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery showed a less functional decline at 28 days postoperatively (6 vs. 49, p < 0.001). After adjustments for other covariates, laparoscopic surgery was an independent preventive factor for postoperative functional decline (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05–0.83; p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn emergency abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery reduces postoperative physical functional decline in older patients. Widespread use of laparoscopic surgery can potentially preserve patient quality of life and may be important for the better development of emergency abdominal surgery.

Post-Operative Follow-Up Of Abdominal Emergencies At The Niamey National Hospital

Introduction: Digestive surgical emergency is an important public health problem in terms of morbidity and mortality. It can be seen at any age. The prognosis depends on the precocity of treatment. Patients and Method: We carried out a prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study involving 78 post-operative patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery at the Niamey National Hospital over a period of one month from the 1st to March 31, 2023. Included in the study were all patients who consulted the emergency department of the HNN, who were operated on and hospitalized in the post-operative, intensive care and visceral surgery departments, during the study period. The variables studied were: Age, sex, origin, personal history and profession, treatment received preoperatively, postoperatively, evolution during treatment, duration of hospitalization and patient outcome. The data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft 2016 and Sphinx.v5 software.

Laparoscopic surgery for advanced peritonitis

To determine the criteria for choosing surgical access in patients with advanced peritonitis considering its local and general manifestations. We analyzed treatment outcomes in 588 patients with advanced peritonitis. The most common causes of peritonitis were destructive forms of acute appendicitis (273 cases), perforated gastroduodenal ulcers (165 cases), acute cholecystitis (59 cases). To determine the criteria for choosing surgical access in advanced peritonitis, we analyzed treatment outcomes considering MPI, SPP and WSES SSS score. The choice of surgical access in advanced peritonitis can only symbolically be standardized according to modern scoring systems (MPI, SPP, WSES SSS). Laparotomy is necessary for MPI score ≥30 and SPP score > 10 (WSES SSS score > 8). Regardless of MPI, SPP, WSES SSS scores, the absolute contraindications for laparoscopic surgery are dense non-removable fibrin deposits, interintestinal abscesses, purulent recesses, intra-abdominal pressure > 20 mm Hg or small intestine dilation> 3 cm, sepsis or septic shock (qSOFA score 2-3), previous open abdominal surgery, unstable hemodynamics, technical difficulties. Conversion should be used at any doubt. Careful patient selection, surgical experience and training in laparoscopic technique are decisive factors for wider use of laparoscopic approach in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Monitoring of Neuromuscular block during emergency abdominal surgery

Relevance. Sixty percent of cases of residual neuromuscular block (rNMB) were recorded globally, yet this issue of rNMB in critically ill patients remains taboo. To predict any leftover NMB, a train-of-four stimulation (TOF) Watch SX was utilized to track the depth of muscle relaxant in emergency patients both during and after surgery, even when they were transported to the intensive care unit. This study aimed to investigate differences in the variability of neuromuscular block between two distinct surgical procedures: laparoscopic cholecystectomy (the control group) and emergency abdominal surgery (the investigation group). Materials and Methods. Using two different muscle relaxants and assessing their depth using accelerometry notably the TOF Watch SX. A total of 140 patients, aged 18-60 years with a BMI of 18-30 kg/m², participated in the study. Group I underwent planned cholecystectomy (control group), while Group II underwent emergency abdominal surgery (investigation group). The muscle relaxants Ridelat-C, generic of atracurium benzilate (Verofarm OOO, Harabovsk, Russia) and Kruaron, generic of rocuronium bromide (Verofarm OOO, Harabovsk, Russia) were administered, with various monitoring methods, including Drager Fabius, ECG, and lab results, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 advanced with graphs and ANOVA. Results and Discussion. The results demonstrated profound skeletal muscle relaxation for planned cholecystectomy, with TOF 0 achieved at 165.9 ± 95 seconds for Kruaron and 183.3 ± 90 seconds for Ridelat-C. In emergency abdominal surgery, it took 207.1 ± 120 seconds with Kruaron and 255.5 ± 109.5 seconds with Ridelat-C at TOF0. Notably, Kruaron exhibited prolonged effects in Group II, leading to residual neuromuscular block in critically ills even 2.5 hours post-surgery. Conclusion . Neuromuscular blocking agents modestly exacerbated neuromuscular dysfunction, potentially contributing to acquired critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy, severe sepsis/septic shock, and massive blood loss/haemorrhagic shock. In critically ills, a minimal calculated dose of Kruaron is recommended, while Ridelat-C, which metabolized within the blood plasma without involving the kidneys or liver, might be a better choice. Suggamadex was suggested for reversing Kruaron effects due to its rapid effect as compared to proserine.

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria for diagnosis of malnutrition and outcomes prediction in emergency abdominal surgery

ObjectivesMalnutrition has adverse postoperative outcomes, especially in emergency surgery. Among the numerous tools for nutritional assessment, this study aims to investigate malnutrition diagnosed by Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition predictive value for outcomes after emergency abdominal surgery. MethodsThis was a prospective observational study. Among the 468 patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery admitted to a department of emergency surgery from June 2020 to December 2021, 53 patients were not eligible for enrollment, and 19 patients had missing data. Thus, the final number of participants was 396. Muscle mass was evaluated by skeletal muscle index at the third lumbar vertebra on computed tomography scans, and the lower quartile was defined as the threshold of muscle mass reduction. The associations of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition, Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (muscle mass reduction excluded), and skeletal muscle index with in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, and postoperative stay were evaluated using χ2. In addition, confounding factors were screened, regression models were established, and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition predictive value was analyzed for clinical outcome. Ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate department. ResultsMalnutrition was observed in 19.9% of the total 396 patients based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition and in 12.4% on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (muscle mass reduction excluded). Sarcopenia by skeletal muscle index was found in 24.7% of patients. Univariate analysis indicated that in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, infective complication rate, and postoperative hospital stay were significantly higher in malnourished and sarcopenic patients. Multivariate analysis found that malnutrition diagnosed by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition was predictive for complications, infective complications, and postoperative stay (total postoperative complications: odds ratio = 3.620; 95% CI, 1.635–8.015; P = 0.002; infective complications: odds ratio = 3.127; 95% CI, 1.194–8.192; P = 0.020; and postoperative stay: regression coefficient = 2.622; P = 0.022). The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (muscle mass reduction excluded) identified postoperative complications and postoperative stay (total postoperative complications: odds ratio = 3.364; 95% CI, 1.247–9.075; P = 0.017 and postoperative stay: regression coefficient = 3.547; P = 0.009). Sarcopenia by skeletal muscle index was a risk factor for postoperative complications (odds ratio = 3.366; 95% CI, 1.587–7.140; P = 0.002). ConclusionThe Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutritison (muscle mass reduction excluded) had predictive value for adverse clinical outcomes due to malnutrition in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Effectiveness of A Surgical Wound Care Bundle for Reducing Surgical Site Infection after Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) imposes a considerable financial burden to both hospital and patient by increasing the hospital stay, utilization of resources and readmission rates. This study compared the effectiveness of surgical wound care bundle concept with traditional ongoing wound care for reduction of SSI after emergency abdominal surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in Department of Surgery of SSMC, for one-year period after ethical approval. A total of 120 patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery were included after taking informed written consent and divided into two groups: Group-A (n=60, surgical wound care bundle) and Group-B (n=60, traditional ongoing care). A detailed history and thorough clinical examination were carried out in each patient. Data were collected in separated case-record form and analyzed by SPSS 24. Results: Mean age of Group A and Group B was 44.88±11.2 years and 44.82±13.3 years accordingly (p=0.391) with male majority in both groups (70% in Group-A and 80% in Group-B, p&lt;0.292). Both groups were statistically similar regarding comorbidities, baseline laboratory parameters and pre-operative diagnosis (p&gt;0.05). Group-B patients had higher frequency of SSI development compared to Group-A (43.3% vs. 15%, p=0.001). Besides, patients having traditional ongoing care had longer hospital duration than surgical wound care bundle (10.1±2.7 vs. 6.9±1.9 days, p&lt;0.01). Though not significant, 30-day readmission rate was also higher in Group-B than Group-A (16.7% vs. 5%, p=0.075). Conclusion: Surgical wound care bundle reduce surgical site infections in patients with emergency abdominal surgery. However, further multicenter studies are warranted. Sir Salimullah Med Coll J 2023; 31: 101-106

Predictors of mortality in elderly patients in emergency abdominal surgery: A retrospective single-center study

Background/Aim: Advancements in medical technologies and prolonged life expectancy have increased the number of surgical interventions for elderly patients. Despite this however, emergency surgical interventions remain associated with a high mortality rate. Managing an emergency abdominal surgery in elderly patients poses great challenges for both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. However, knowing the risk factors that increase mortality may offer advantages to the clinician managing the treatment process. There are studies in the literature examining the mortality of emergency surgeries in elderly patients. However, there are very few studies that work with a specific patient group such as abdominal surgery and then analyze laboratory test results. Here, we aimed to identify the risk factors that can be used to predict mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Methods: The study was designed retrospectively in a single center; 100 patients over the age of 80 who underwent emergency abdominal surgery were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as survivor and non-survivor. Demographic, surgical, and anesthetic characteristics, laboratory tests, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status scores, postoperative intensive care needs, and treatments of the groups were compared using the chi-squared and Mann Whitney U-test. Determining factors were investigated with logistic regression analysis. Results: In multivariate analysis, ASA 3 and major surgery significantly increased mortality (P=0.041, P=0.011). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that C-reactive protein with a cut-off value of &gt;84 mg/L had a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 71.2% (AUC=0.636, P=0.004), while lactate with a cut-off value of &gt;3.6 mmol/L had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 95.5% in predicting mortality (AUC=0.776, P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The magnitude of surgery and the ASA score were the best predictors of mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Assessment of senile asthenia syndrome using the Frailty and Edmonton frail scales in elderly and senile patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery

The aim of the work was to compare the effectiveness of the assessment of senile asthenia syndrome using the Frailty and Edmonton Frail scales in elderly and senile patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study included 80 patients aged 60 to 89 years with a diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis. A correlation was determined between asthenia and the severity of the patient’s condition according to the P-POSSUM scale, the peak value of the increase in the risk of postoperative complications and mortality occurs in patients with a sum of points &gt;32, p = 0.012. The syndrome of senile asthenia using the Edmonton Frail scale was detected in 30 (37.5 %) patients, according to the Frailty scale – 32 (40.0 %), U = 3120.0, p = 0.7862.&#x0D; Results. The main advantage of the Edmonton Frail scale is the examination time of 22 ± 3 min, while with the Frailty scale 360 ± 22 min (U = 24.5, p &lt; 0.0001). Based on the assessment of the severity of the condition using the P-POSSUM scale, we determined a direct correlation of average strength between the presence of asthenia and the number of points: Edmonton Frail subgroup A – rs = 0.81, p = 0.000001. The same results, respectively, on the Frailty scale – rs = 0.78, p = 0.000004. The frequency of complications increases significantly in the category of patients with asthenia, which is confirmed by both the Edmonton Frail scale – 23.3 % (U = 605.0, p = 0.0087), and the Frailty scale – 21.9 % (U = 632.0, p = 0.0150).&#x0D; Conclusions. The frequency of detection of senile asthenia syndrome using the Edmonton Frail and Frailty scale in patients was equivalent (U = 3120.0, p = 0.7862). The Edmonton Frail scale is more convenient to use in urgent situations, and the mean time to diagnose asthenia using it was 22 ± 3 min, while the complete diagnosis using the Frailty scale took 360 ± 22 min (U = 24.5, p &lt; 0.0001).&#x0D; A significant increase in the frequency of postoperative complications was determined in the category of patients with asthenia, confirmed both by the Edmonton Frail scale – 23.3 % (U = 605.0, p = 0.0087), and by the Frailty scale – 21.9 % (U = 632.0, p = 0.0150).

Modified Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol Versus Non-ERAS Protocol in Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy for Acute Intestinal Obstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal approach with promising results in improving patient outcome. Only recently, is evidence emerging highlighting how similar principles of care can be applied to patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from November 2021 to April 2022 at PGIMER Chandigarh, which is a leading tertiary care hospital in northern India. 60 patients with acute intestinal obstruction requiring emergency laparotomy were randomized and assigned to ERAS or Non-ERAS group. ERAS protocol with some modifications was applied. Primary endpoints were post-operative hospital stay. Secondary end points were morbidity, 30-day readmission and mortality rate. Data analysis was done using SPSS 22.0. Independent t test or Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square or Fisher-exact test were used for analysis. A significant 3-day reduction in hospital stay was observed in ERAS compared to non-ERAS group (median (interquartile range) 5.50 (4.75-8.25) vs 8.0 (6.0-11.0) p = 0.003) with no difference in 30-day readmission rate, mortality rate and complication rate (according to Clavien-Dindo classification). ERAS group was associated with early recovery of gastrointestinal functions including time to first passage of flatus (p < 0.001), stools (p = 0.014), early ambulation (p < 0.001), time to first fluid diet (p < 0.001), solid diet (p = 0.001) and reduced nasogastric tube reinsertion rates (p = 0.01) despite its early removal. ERAS with some modifications can be applied in patients with intestinal obstruction. Thus, we can expedite post-operative recovery and early regain of gastrointestinal function with decreased hospital stay, comparable morbidity and mortality. Further studies are needed to assess ERAS role in emergency gastrointestinal surgeries. Trial registration Ctri.gov Identifier: CTRI/2022/04/042156.

Acute Changes in Body Muscle Mass and Fat Depletion in Hospitalized Young Trauma Patients: A Descriptive Retrospective Study.

Background: Loss of muscle mass, and its strength, is associated with adverse outcomes in many medical and surgical conditions. Trauma patients may get malnourished during their hospital course due to many interrelated contributing factors. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the acute muscle and fat changes in young trauma patients in the early days post-admission. Objective: to explore the diagnosis, feeding status, and outcome of muscle mass loss among young abdominal polytrauma patients. Methods: It was a retrospective study including hospitalized abdominal trauma patients who underwent an abdominal computerized tomographic (CT) examination initially and a follow-up one week later. CT scan-based automatic and manual analysis of the muscles and fat of the abdominal region was calculated and compared. Also, we evaluated the feeding and nutritional values to explore the adequacy of the provided calories and proteins and the potential influence of enteral feeding on the CT-based parameters for muscle loss and fat depletion. Results: There were 138 eligible subjects with a mean age of 32.8 ± 13.5 years; of them, 92% were males. Operative interventions were performed on two-thirds of the patients, including abdominal surgery (43%), orthopedic surgeries (34%), and neurosurgical procedures (8.1%). On admission, 56% received oral feeding, and this rate slightly increased to 58.4% after the first week. Enteral feed was prescribed for the remaining, except for two patients. The percentage of change in the total psoas muscle area was significantly reduced after one week of admission in patients on enteral feed as compared to those in the oral feeding group (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the percentages of changes in the CT scan findings except for the total psoas muscle area (p = 0.001) and para-spinal muscle area (p = 0.02), which reduced significantly in the those who underwent laparotomy as compared to those who did not need laparotomy. Trauma patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery lost muscle and fat over time. Conclusions: Loss of muscle mass and body fat is not uncommon among young trauma patients. Patients who underwent laparotomy are more likely to be affected. Further larger studies are needed to assess the specific features in the younger trauma population and how far this can be influenced by the nutrition status and its impact on the clinical outcomes. It could be early or impending stages of sarcopenia linked to trauma patients, or just acute changes in the muscle and fat, that need further investigation and follow-up after hospital discharge.

819 ELLIPSE: Electrical Impedance Analysis in Patients Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Abstract Introduction An ageing population represents greater operative risk; therefore, preoperative risk stratification is required to allow patients to make an informed decision. One method of risk stratification is bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) which can provide information such as muscle and fat mass, providing a proxy for patient metabolic health. Aim Metabolic health is intrinsically linked to outcomes following surgery. We hypothesised that BIA is a feasible method of assessing patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery and predicting postoperative outcomes. Method A BIA analyser was used to measure patients body composition. All adult patients who met the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) inclusion criteria were prospectively recruited and followed up until 30 days postoperatively. These patients had serial BIA measurements and compared with a healthy population. The phase angle (PA) is a raw variable which can be standardised to a healthy reference population and matched for age and gender. In summary, a higher phase angle is associated with improved outcomes. Results 31 patients were recruited and BIA analysis in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery was feasible. Patients with a phase angle lower than the reference population had a greater incidence of complications (p = 0.03) and had more severe complications (p = 0.023). Furthermore, the same patients also had a significantly higher NELA morbidity percentage (p = 0.022). Conclusions Our study shows that conducting BIA analysis in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery is feasible. The presence and severity of complications correlates with the phase angle. This represents a successful proof of concept study of BIA to predict postoperative outcomes.

Analysis of Variables Influencing Short-Term Complications in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery (EGS): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Emergency general surgery (EGS) encompasses a wide range of acute surgical conditions that pose significant risks to patient life and well-being. Understanding the factors that contribute to short-term complications in geriatric patients undergoing EGS is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This retrospective single-center cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of various variables on short-term complications in geriatric patients undergoing EGS. A total of 212 patients aged 65 and above who underwent emergency abdominal surgery between 2017 and 2018 were included in the study. The analysis focused on several variables, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), beta-blocker use, open abdomen treatment, blood transfusions, anticoagulant therapy, and vasopressor use. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association between these variables and short-term complications. Among the analyzed variables, blood transfusionsand vasopressor use demonstrated a statistically significant association with short-term complications. Patients who received blood transfusions had a significantly higher risk of complications, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.01 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.28-7.06, p-value = 0.011). Similarly, the use of vasopressors was strongly correlated with increased short-term complications, with an OR of 14.61 (95% CI: 4.86-43.89, p-value < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of minimizing blood transfusions and careful consideration of vasopressor use in geriatric patients undergoing EGS to reduce the risk of short-term complications. Further research is warranted to explore additional factors and optimize perioperative management strategies to improve outcomes in this vulnerable patient population.