Urgent Surgeries Research Articles

QLTI-12. COST ANALYSIS OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR BRAIN TUMORS – WHEN YOU CAN WAIT

Abstract BACKGROUND Neurosurgery is expensive and requires advanced technology to achieve the best outcomes, especially for brain tumors. Generally patients are prepared during consultations for a brain tumor surgery, with anesthesiology, cardiology, neuropsychology and other specialties evaluations. Ideally, the hospitalization is planned before and patient is admitted only when is in good conditions. However some patients with brain tumors are evaluated in emergency department and sometimes require urgent procedures. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the direct cost of specialized care for adult neuro-oncological patients considering previous scheduled procedures versus urgent surgeries and another factors that may impact decision about nonelective procedures. METHODS This observational economic analysis describes the direct cost of care of neuro-oncological patients in Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil. Only adult patients with a common primary brain tumor were included. RESULTS The global mortality rate considering all patients were 12.7% and 92.3% of them occurred in nonelective procedures. Also these patients had a greater infection rate and period of hospitalization. Because of this we reviewed when a patient with brain tumor really need an urgent procedure. Despite several patients are initially diagnosed through ER investigation, probably the majority could be compensated through ambulatory consultations and after admitted with better conditions. Situations in which emergency surgery are required include acute hydrocephalus and non-compensated intracranial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS These patients usually have difficulty access to neurosurgical evaluation and so, only look for health assistance when the disease cause severe disability. Emergency surgeries were associated with an increased rate of infections and mortality. The findings of this study could be used by policymakers for resource allocation and to perform economic analyses to establish the value of neurosurgery in achieving global health goals. severe disability. KEY WORDS: costs; brain tumor; emergency; infections

PRINCIPAIS CAUSAS PARA O CANCELAMENTO DE CIRURGIAS ELETIVAS EM UMA INSTITUIÇÃO DE REDE PRIVADA.

The objective of this study was to identify the main causes for the cancellation of elective surgeries in a private institution in a municipality in the Northern region of Brazil, from August 2021 to August 2022. This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, quantitative study carried out in a private health institution, located in the municipality of Belém, capital of the State of Pará, in the Northern region of Brazil. Considering a universe of 110 physical medical records according to the period established from August 2021 to August 2022, a sampling error margin of no more than 5% and a confidence level of 95% were used. Therefore, the sample of this study is composed of 86 medical records of patients who had their elective surgical procedure canceled. The following were excluded: medical records of urgent and emergency surgeries; medical records with inadequately filled out or incomplete information; duplicate medical records. The demographic profile of the patients analyzed, the majority are female (61.63%). The age group 60 to 69 years had the highest prevalence, with a total of 25.58% of surgical cancellations. The majority of patients were brown, with 76.74% of the patients analyzed. (53.49%) patients denied any type of comorbidity, either concomitantly or in isolation. Regarding the surgical specialties with the highest cancellations, orthopedics (52.33%) and otorhinolaryngology (24.42%) were found. Among the main causes of surgical cancellation with the highest rate is related to the unfavorable clinical conditions of the patients (30.23%). Regarding organizational issues, surgeries canceled at the request of the surgeon stand out, with 26.74%.

Trauma Program Value Assessment at an Academic Health Network System Over 12 Years.

Trauma is a leading cause of global death, with 200000 deaths and over 3 million non-fatal injuries/year in the United States. We aim to assess trauma care value for patients who underwent urgent laparotomies (LAP) and thoracotomies (THO) in our Health Network System. Clinical variables (v = 84) from trauma patients (>18 yo) were retrieved retrospectively (Jan-2010 to July-2016) and prospectively (Aug-2016 to Sept-2021) from a Health System warehouse under IRB-approved protocols. Patients were divided according to their Injury Severity Score (ISS) into mild/moderate cases (ISS <15) and severe cases (ISS >15). Value was assessed using quality and cost domains. Quality surrogates included graded postoperative complications (PCs), length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission (RA), patient satisfaction (PS), and textbook (TB) cases. Total charges (TCs) and reimbursement index (RI) were included as surrogates for cost. Value domains were displayed in scorecards comparing Observed (O) with Expected (E) (using the ACS risk calculator) outcomes. Uni-/multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS. 41,927 trauma evaluations were performed, leading to 16044 admissions, with 528 (3.2%) patients requiring urgent surgical procedures (LAP = 413 and THO = 115). Although the M:F ratio (7:3) was similar in LAP vs THO groups, age and BMI were significantly different (41.8 ± 19.1 vs 51.8 ± 19.9 years, 28.6 ± 9.9 vs 27.4 ± 7Kg/m2, respectively, P < .05). Blunt trauma was involved in 68.8/77.3% of the LAP/THO procedures, respectively (P < .05). Multivariate analyses showed ISS, age, ASA class, and medical center as factors significantly predicting PC (P < .05). Postoperative complication grades from the LAP/THO groups showed above-average outcomes; nonetheless, LOS was higher than the national averages. The Trauma Program holds high value in our Health Network System. Protocols for decreasing LOS are being implemented.

Surgical Outcomes After Preoperative Embolization in Hypervascular Spinal Metastases: A Propensity Scored Study of 191 Patients.

Retrospective propensity-score matched, case control study at 2 academic tertiary care centers. To assess the effect of PE on (1) intraoperative blood loss, defined as conventional estimates of blood loss (EBL) and hemoglobin mass loss, and (2) secondary outcomes in patients with spinal metastases from hypervascular histologies. Preoperative embolization (PE) intends to reduce blood loss during surgery for spinal metastases of hypervascular tumors such as renal cell carcinoma. However, studies investigating the effect of PE in hypervascular tumors often consist of small cohorts, do not correct for confounding factors, and have conflicting results. After propensity score matching (PSM), 46 PE patients were matched to 46 non-PE patients without baseline differences. The constraints of PSM did not allow analysis of patients with tumor volumes>9cm3. Multiple linear regression models were fitted for EBL and hemoglobin mass loss. Poisson regression models were fitted for both intraoperative and postoperative transfusions. There was no difference in EBL (948mL [IQR 500-1750] vs. 1100mL [IQR 388-1925], P=0.68) and hemoglobin mass loss (201g [IQR 119-307] vs. 232g [IQR 173-373], P=0.18) between PE and non-PE patients. Other than higher 1-year survival rates (65% vs. 43%, P=0.05) in PE-patients, there were no differences in secondary outcomes. In multiple regression analyses, PE was not associated with decreased intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin mass loss or perioperative blood transfusions. Our study demonstrated that, for tumors <9cm3, PE did not reduce EBL, hemoglobin mass loss or perioperative blood transfusions in patients undergoing spine surgery for metastases from hypervascular histologies. These findings suggest that urgent spine surgeries indicated for hypervascular histologies should not be delayed based on the availability of PE and accurate detection of pre-operative hypervascularity, beyond histology, will likely be an important determination of future PE utilization for spinal metastases. Treatment Benefits, Level III.

Reduced Hospital Admission, Emergency Department Visit, and Urgent Surgeries and its Correlation with Non-COVID-19 Mortality

Reduced Hospital Admission, Emergency Department Visit, and Urgent Surgeries and its Correlation with Non-COVID-19 Mortality

9370 Thinking Outside the Box: A Rare Case of Using Plasmapheresis Treatment of Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis in Preparation For CABG

Abstract Disclosure: K. Shaik: None. A. Kartoumah: None. J. Alsheikh: None. A. Nayeem: None. M.H. Horani: None. Introduction: Amiodarone, a standard treatment for arrhythmias, poses a risk of disrupting thyroid function and causing amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT). In critical cases where AIT is refractory to first-line treatment, plasmapheresis can be a vital option to rapidly lower thyroid hormone levels, which is essential for pre-surgical stabilization. This case report describes plasmapheresis in managing AIT in a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, highlighting its role in preventing potential thyrotoxic crises. Case Presentation: A 75-year-old male with a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias treated with amiodarone, and a ninety-pack-year history of tobacco presented to the ED with complaints of chest pressure and dyspnea. Initial troponin levels were normal at 24 ng/mL but trended upward toward 66 ng/mL. In the ED, he was not tachycardic and denied recurrent pain, fever, or chills. A CT angiogram of his chest showed no pulmonary embolus. The patient was found to have low TSH (0.005), and his T3 and T4 were both elevated (3.89/1.96, respectively), confirming thyrotoxicosis; however, he was negative for Graves’ disease. While in the hospital, his amiodarone was discontinued, and he was started on prednisone 10 mg for 14 days and methimazole 5 mg for 14 days. He was ultimately discharged on the same prednisone and methimazole regimen and told to follow up with outpatient endocrinology. However, the patient reappeared a week later with dyspnea on exertion; blood work performed after admission revealed a higher free T4 at 2.87. The patient was admitted, and angiography showed three-vessel disease; however, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure was delayed over the concern of a potential thyroid storm. Thus, CABG was planned for when free T4 was less than 2, and the patient underwent two rounds of plasmapheresis, which initially decreased free T4 to 1.7 and finally to 1.4. Ultimately, a CABG was performed and well tolerated. Discussion: Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) poses a challenge in patient management, especially in patients requiring urgent surgeries. Plasmapheresis is shown to be a valuable option for rapidly lowering thyroid hormone levels and stabilizing the patient in the pre-operative stages. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of plasmapheresis in reducing free thyroxine levels, facilitating a safe and successful CABG. Due to its ability to quickly remove circulating thyroid hormones, plasmapheresis has excellent potential in managing refractory AIT. It is crucial to carefully time plasmapheresis relative to surgery and monitor for complications throughout. Further research is required to optimize proper plasmapheresis protocols in AIT. Conclusion: This case study highlights plasmapheresis as a promising adjunctive therapy in managing AIT and preventing potential thyrotoxic crises. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Adverse events during general anesthesia at the university hospital center (CHU) “Hôpital du Mali”

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of adverse events during general anesthesia and to describe their progression. Methodology: Cross sectional study with retrospective collection over 6 months at the Mali Hospital University Hospital. It included all patients who underwent elective or urgent surgeries under general anesthesia (GA) with tracheal intubation. Vital parameters and details of incidents and accidents were collected and analyzed. Results: During the study period, 723 anesthesia procedures were performed, of which 339 were GA, a prevalence of 46.9%. Among these patients, 149 (43.9%) experienced at least one AE. The mean age was 28 ± 19.9 years old [3 days old; 85 years old], with a sex ratio ~1. AEs occurred during elective anesthesia in 68.4%. The primary surgical specialties were thoracic/cardiovascular surgery (40.4%) and neurosurgery (37.8%). Patients were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists-2 (ASA 2) in 49.5%. Pharmacological premedication was administered in 84.7%. The intravenous hypnotics used included propofol (85.5%), thiopental (8%), and ketamine (6.5%). Inhalation agents used were isoflurane (99.4%) and halothane (0.6%). Vecuronium (95.5%) was the most commonly used muscle relaxant, while suxamethonium (4.5%) was used for intubation. AEs predominantly occurred during induction and maintenance of anesthesia, with hypotension (84.6%), desaturation, hypertension, and cardiac arrest being the most common. Delayed awakening was observed in 5.6%, including one instance of unrecovered cardiac arrest (0.6%). The overall mortality rate due to AEs was 0.6%. Conclusion: Adverse events are common during GA, particularly during induction and entretien phases, and are associated with a mortality rate of 0.6%. Keywords: Adverse events, GA, Incidence, Mali.

Neuraxial anesthesia for patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension undergoing urgent open abdominal surgeries: two case reports

BackgroundThere is no consensus regarding the choice of anesthetic method for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). We report two cases in which neuraxial anesthesia was safely performed without general anesthesia during open abdominal surgery in patients with severe PH.Case presentationCase 1: A 59-year-old woman had an atrial septal defect and a huge abdominal tumor with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) of 39 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 3.5 Wood units. Case 2: A 23-year-old woman who had hereditary pulmonary artery hypertension (mean PAP, 65 mmHg; PVR, 16.45 Wood units). Both patients underwent open abdominal surgery under neuraxial anesthesia without circulatory collapse with intraoperative administration of vasoconstrictors.ConclusionAlthough anesthetic care must be personalized depending on the pathology and severity of PH, neuraxial anesthesia may be an option for patients with severe PH undergoing abdominal surgery.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax causing life-threatening hemorrhage: a case report

BackgroundSpontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare condition that can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated. We report a case of early treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.Case presentationA 19-year-old Japanese male was diagnosed with left pneumothorax and underwent chest tube drainage. A total of 10 hours after admission, the patient developed dyspnea, chest pain, and sudden massive bloody effusion. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed contrast extravasation near the left lung apex, and spontaneous hemopneumothorax was diagnosed. Angiography revealed bleeding from a branch of the subscapular artery and transcatheter arterial embolization was performed. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and recovered uneventfully.ConclusionsAnesthesiologists involved in urgent surgeries must be aware that a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax can develop a hemopneumothorax, even when full lung expansion has been obtained following chest tube drainage, owing to latent aberrant artery disruption. Interprofessional team engagement is essential for spontaneous hemopneumothorax management.

Vitamin K Antagonist Reversal for Urgent Surgery Using 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrates

Millions of people take vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Some people who need urgent surgical procedures require rapid VKA reversal to prevent excessive intraoperative bleeding. To evaluate the hemostatic noninferiority of an investigational 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) to a control 4F-PCC for rapid VKA reversal before urgent surgery. This phase 3, double-blind, noninferiority randomized clinical trial (LEX-209) was conducted in 24 hospitals in the US, Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Romania from June 7, 2017, through November 8, 2021; the study was stopped in February 2022. Participants were adult patients taking VKA who had an international normalized ratio (INR) of 2 or higher and needed urgent surgery with a substantial bleeding risk (≥50 mL). Patients were randomized 1:1 to a single infusion of either the investigational 4F-PCC or the control 4F-PCC. Data analysis followed intention-to-treat and per-protocol approaches. Single intravenous infusion was dosed by body weight and baseline INR. A dose of 25, 35, or 50 IU/kg of investigational 4F-PCC or control 4F-PCC was administered for baseline INR of 2 to less than 4, 4 to 6, or over 6, respectively. The primary end point was hemostatic efficacy at surgery end. An independent adjudication board, blinded to the 4F-PCC treatment allocation, assessed hemostatic efficacy using an objective 4-point scale. A total of 208 patients (median [range] age, 67.5 [31-92] years; 118 males [56.7%]) received the investigational (n = 105) or the control (n = 103) 4F-PCC. The median (range) dose was 25 (16-50) IU/kg in the investigational group and 25 (15-50) IU/kg in the control group, with a median (range) infusion time of 12 (8-50) minutes and 13 (7-30) minutes and a median (range) time from infusion to surgery start of 1.42 (0.25-15.25) hours and 1.50 (0.42-18.50) hours, respectively. Baseline median (range) INR was 3.05 (1.97-21.10) in the investigational group and 3.00 (2.00-11.30) in the control group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the investigational 4F-PCC was noninferior to the control 4F-PCC, resulting in effective hemostasis in 94.3% of patients vs 94.2% of patients (proportion difference, 0.001; 95% CI, -0.080 to 0.082; P < .001), meeting the prespecified noninferiority margin of 0.15. An INR of 1.5 or lower at 30 minutes after infusion occurred in 78.1% of patients in the investigational group vs 71.8% of patients in the control group (proportion difference, 0.063; 95% CI, -0.056 to 0.181). Thrombotic events (2.9% vs 0%, respectively) and mortality (4.8% vs 1.0%, respectively) were no different than expected for 4F-PCC use. One patient in each treatment group discontinued due to adverse events (cardiac disorders unrelated to 4F-PCC). This randomized clinical trial found that the investigational 4F-PCC was hemostatically noninferior to the control 4F-PCC for rapid VKA reversal in patients needing urgent surgery with considerable bleeding risk; the safety profile of these two 4F-PCCs was similar. These results support the investigational 4F-PCC as a therapeutic option for surgical patients requiring rapid VKA reversal. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02740335.

Retrospective study on the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for complicated fistulizing diverticular disease in a high-volume colorectal center.

We assessed feasibility and safety of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for complicated fistulizing diverticular disease in a tertiary care colorectal center. A single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing sigmoidectomy for fistulizing diverticular disease between 2011 and 2021 was realized. Primary outcomes were rates of conversion to open surgery and severe postoperative morbidity at 30 days. Secondary outcomes included rates of postoperative bladder leaks on cystogram. Among the 104 patients, 32.7% had previous laparotomy. Laparoscopy was the initial approach in 103 (99.0%), with 6 (5.8%) conversions to laparotomy. Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complication rate at 30 days was 10.6%, including two (1.9%) anastomotic leaks. The median postoperative length of stay was 4.0 days. Seven (6.7%) patients underwent reoperation, six (5.8%) were readmitted, and one (0.9%) died within 30 days. Twelve (11.5%) ileostomies were created initially, and two (1.9%) were created following anastomotic leaks. At last follow-up, 101 (97.1%) patients were stoma-free. Urgent surgeries had a higher rate of severe postoperative complications. Among colovesical fistula patients (n = 73), postoperative cystograms were performed in 56.2%, identifying two out of the three bladder leaks detected on closed suction drains. No differences in postoperative outcomes occurred between groups with and without postoperative cystograms, including Foley catheter removal within seven days (73.2% vs. 90.6%, p = 0.08). Laparoscopic surgery for complicated fistulizing diverticulitis showed low rates of severe complications, conversions to open surgery and permanent stomas in high-volume colorectal center.

Perioperative management of surgical procedure during pregnancy: a systematic review

Background: Approximately 1–2% of pregnant women undergo non-obstetric surgery under anaesthesia during their pregnancy. This review specifically targets anaesthesia management for pregnant women undergoing non-obstetric surgery in resource-limited settings. Methods: Following the delineation of primary questions, scope, and inclusion criteria, a comprehensive search strategy utilizing advanced techniques was implemented across electronic sources, databases, and websites to identify relevant articles. A rigorous screening process was applied during the literature evaluation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement guided the conduct of this review, ensuring adherence to standardized reporting practices. Results: A total of 240 articles were initially identified from databases and websites. After screening titles and abstracts, 85 papers were excluded, and an additional 43 were removed due to duplication. Subsequently, 68 items were subjected to eligibility screening. Finally, 30 papers that specifically addressed anaesthetic considerations for pregnant women undergoing non-obstetric operations were reviewed. Conclusion: Thorough preoperative evaluation is essential for all patients, with particular attention to modifications in anaesthetic management to accommodate physiological changes during pregnancy. Urgent and emergent surgeries should proceed promptly during pregnancy to optimize outcomes for both the mother and foetus. Maintaining uteroplacental perfusion generally involves avoiding maternal hypoxaemia, hypotension, hyper- and hypocapnia, temperature extremes, and stress. When deemed safe, regional anaesthesia may offer favourable outcomes for both the mother and foetus.

Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients Treated by Male Versus Female Surgeons: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To compare clinical outcomes of patients treated by female surgeons versus those treated by male surgeons. It remains unclear as to whether surgical performance and outcomes differ between female and male surgeons. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare patients' clinical outcomes-including patients' postoperative mortality, readmission, and complication rates-between female versus male surgeons. MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to September 8, 2022. The update search was conducted on July 19, 2023. We used random-effects models to synthesize data and GRADE to evaluate the certainty. A total of 15 retrospective cohort studies provided data on 5,448,121 participants. We found that patients treated by female surgeons experienced a lower postoperative mortality compared with patients treated by male surgeons [8 studies; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.97; I2 =27%; moderate certainty of the evidence]. We found a similar pattern for both elective and nonelective (emergent or urgent) surgeries, although the difference was larger for elective surgeries (test for subgroup difference P =0.003). We found no evidence that female and male surgeons differed for patient readmission (3 studies; aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.83-1.74; I2 =92%; very low certainty of the evidence) or complication rates (8 studies; aOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-1.01; I2 =38%; very low certainty of the evidence). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that patients treated by female surgeons have a lower mortality compared with those treated by male surgeons.

Activated clotting time value as an independent predictor of postoperative bleeding and transfusion.

Activated clotting time (ACT) is commonly used to monitor anticoagulation during cardiac surgeries. Final ACT values may be essential to predict postoperative bleeding and transfusions, although ideal values remain unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of ACT as a predictor of postoperative bleeding and transfusion use. Retrospective study (722 patients) submitted to surgery between July 2018-October 2021. We compared patients with final ACT < basal ACT and final ACT ≥ basal ACT and final ACT < 140 s with ≥140 s. Continuous variables were analysed with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test; categorical variables using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A linear mixed regression model was used to analyse bleeding in patients with final ACT < 140 and ≥140. Independent variables were analysed with binary logistic regression models to investigate their association with bleeding and transfusion. Patients with final ACT ≥ 140 s presented higher postoperative bleeding than final ACT < 140 s at 12 h (P = 0.006) and 24 h (**P = 0.004). Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time [odds ratio (OR) 1.009, 1.002-1.015, 95% confidence interval (CI)] and masculine sex (OR 2.842,1.721-4.821, 95% CI) were significant predictors of bleeding. Patients with final ACT ≥ 140 s had higher risk of UT (OR 1.81, 1.13-2.89, 95% CI; P = 0.0104), compared to final ACT < 140 s. CPB time (OR 1.019,1.012-1.026, 95% CI) and final ACT (OR 1.021,1.010-1.032, 95% CI) were significant predictors of transfusion. Female sex was a predictor of use of transfusion, with a probability for use of 27.23% (21.84-33.39%, 95% CI) in elective surgeries, and 60.38% (37.65-79.36%, 95% CI) in urgent surgeries, higher than in males. Final ACT has a good predictive value for the use of transfusion. Final ACT ≥ 140 s correlates with higher risk of transfusion and increased bleeding. The risk of bleeding and transfusion is higher with longer periods of CPB. Males have a higher risk of bleeding, but females have a higher risk of transfusion.

Hirschsprung’s disease in adulthood: a case report

Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is caused by a gut development anomaly that leads to functional constipation. In most cases, HD is diagnosed and treated during childhood. Abdominal pain, distension and chronic constipation are typical symptoms of adult presentation. An adult HD case is presented, using analysis of electronic medical records and literature review for diagnostic and management insights. A man in his early 40s, with a history of chronic constipation since infancy, presented to the emergency department with an intestinal obstruction. Imaging tests revealed pronounced colonic dilation along with faecal loading. Following favourable progress, the patient was referred for outpatient investigation. Endoscopy revealed rectal scars with biopsy consistent with HD. A laparoscopic Duhamel-Martin procedure was performed in two stages. The postoperative period was uneventful. Adult HD is overlooked and misdiagnosed. Therefore, a high level of suspicion is needed to diagnose and avoid urgent surgeries, often with the need of colostomy and its particularities. When feasible, appropriate management by elective surgery should be the gold standard.

Immediate Operative Trauma Assessment Score: A Simple and Reliable Predictor of Mortality in Trauma Patients Undergoing Urgent/Emergent Surgery.

Objective: Many current trauma mortality prediction tools are either too intricate or rely on data not readily available during a trauma patient's initial evaluation. Moreover, none are tailored to those necessitating urgent or emergent surgery. Our objective was to design a practical, user-friendly scoring tool using immediately available variables, and then compare its efficacy to the widely-known Revised Trauma Score (RTS). Methods: The adult 2017-2021 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database was queried to identify patients ≥18 years old undergoing any urgent/emergent operation (direct from Emergency Department to operating room). Patients were divided into derivation and validation groups. A three-step methodology was used. First, multiple logistic regression models were created to determine risk of death using only variables available upon arrival. Second, the weighted average and relative impact of each independent predictor was used to derive an easily calculated Immediate Operative Trauma Assessment Score (IOTAS). We then validated IOTAS using AUROC and compared it to RTS. Results: From 249208 patients in the derivation-set, 14635 (5.9%) died. Age ≥65, Glasgow Coma Scale score <9, hypotension (SBP <90mmHg), and tachycardia (>120/min) on arrival were identified as independent predictors for mortality. Using these, the IOTAS was structured, offering scores between 0-8. The AUROC for this was .88. A clear escalation in mortality was observed across scores: from 4.4% at score 1 to 60.5% at score 8. For the validation set (250182 patients; mortality rate 5.8%), the AUROC remained consistent at .87, surpassing RTS's AUROC of .83. Conclusion: IOTAS is a novel, accurate, and now validated tool that is intuitive and efficient in predicting mortality for trauma patients requiring urgent or emergent surgeries. It outperforms RTS, and thereby may help guide clinicians when determining the best course of action in patient management as well as counseling patients and their families.

The changing trend of fungal infection in invasive rhinosinusitis in the COVID era.

SARS-COV virus operates as a significant risk factor for invasive fungal aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Successful management of this fulminant infection requires early recognition of the disease and aggressive medical or surgical interventions to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease process. 1. To isolate and identify different species of fungi among acute rhinosinusitis patients. 2. To assess the association of risk factors causing fungal rhinosinusitis. 3. To assess the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis during the COVID era. This is a retrospective observational study conducted from May 2020 to October 2022, attending the ENT department and relevant data were collected from the medical records department of ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, a Tertiary Care Referral Centre in India. The major risk factors studied were age, gender, COVID-19 infection and underlying diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, malignancies, chronic kidney DISEASES, etc.); details of corticosteroid use of all patients were recorded in the datasheet. The pandemic data was divided into three distinct time periods/waves/eras, i.e., first, second, and third waves, each of which included ten months, to examine the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis in the pandemic era of COVID-19. A total of 412 patients out of which 236 patients were clinically diagnosed with fungal sinusitis based on revised EORTC criteria. The most common site involved was the orbit with paranasal sinus and eye 86/236 (36.4%), followed by involvement of nasal and paranasal sinus alone 68/236 (28.8%). The most prevalent age range affected was 40 to 50 years. The most commonly associated comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (DM) in 176 (74.5%), followed by head and neck malignancies in 22 (9.32%) patients. Thirty-eight (50.6%) Rhizopus species and 18 (24%) Aspergillus flavus were the most common isolated fungal species on culture, followed by Mucor spp. 14 (18.6%) and Aspergillus fumigatus 5 (6.6%) in the period. In the second wave of COVID, there was a surge in Zygomycetes cases 36 (45%) and after the second wave, the Aspergillus cases increased by 14 (19%) during Jan-Oct 2022. With the continuing coronavirus pandemic, there is an unprecedented and discernible rise in the prevalence of acute invasive fungal sinusitis certainly a spike in cases of Aspergillus infection was observed, probably due to unprecedented usage of Amphotericin B for the treatment of mucormycosis during the third wave This underlines the importance of the need to tailor our treatment protocol as per the etiological agents hence the right antifungal drugs combined with urgent surgical procedures on a case-to-case basis may certainly increase the chances of survival.

Surgical Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an idiopathic, incurable, chronic, inflammatory disease of the gastro-intestinal tract, whose incidence is rising around the world for unknown reasons. The characteristic transmural inflammation of Crohn’s disease may occur anywhere along the digestive tract, which results in an inflammatory, fibrostenotic or penetrating phenotype. Although the degree of symptomatology varies, and may increase or disappear during the course of the disease, patients may require chronic immuno-suppressive and surgical treatment, but neither of these can cure the disease. Although the rate of surgical interventions for drug-refractory diseases has decreased over the past six decades, as well as the need for urgent surgical procedures, surgery still has an important place in the treatment of the complications of this serious ailment. After resection, which is not curative, 70 to 90% of patients will suffer endoscopic recurrence within one year, and 35% patients will have repeated intestinal resection within ten years.

The use of intra-aortic balloon pump in cardiac surgery

Background: Objective of the study was to determine the incidence of use, indications, complications of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and its impact on outcome. Methods: Retrospective study of adult cardiac surgical patients presenting for cardiac surgery at Queen Alia Heart Institute in the period of time between September 2023 and February 2024. Patients’ demographic, clinical, perioperative data were recorded and analysed. Time of initiation of intra-aortic balloon, indications and monitoring for complications were observed by the authors. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of IABP; the IABP group and the non-IABP group. Both groups were compared regarding outcome. Ethical committee approval obtained. Results: Data from 202 adult cardiac surgeries was analysed. Average age of patients was 57.2 years. Patients were 34 females (16.8%) and 168 males (83.2%). Most surgeries were elective (93.6%), while urgent surgeries comprised 3.5% and emergency surgeries were 3%. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was the most common procedure (78.2%). The IABP was most commonly used after combined procedures (50%) and to a lesser extent after isolated CABG (15.3%). IABP was inserted least frequently pre-operatively (10.7%), followed by postoperative insertion (35.7%), while intraoperative insertion to aid weaning from CPB was most common (53.6%). Patients from the IABP group were older, had longer CPB time (136.7 minutes) and AXC times (70.5 minutes), they also spent around 2 days more in the ICU and around 4 days more in hospital. Conclusions: IABP was most commonly utilised for combined procedures, after prolonged CPB and aortic cross clamping. The use of IABP was associated with delayed tracheal extubation, longer ICU stay, longer hospitalisation, and higher rates of blood transfusion, higher incidence of re-opening and higher mortality.

Medical care services provision and stress experience in urologists during all waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Urologists' practices reported decreasing medical care provision and increasing stress experience in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, long-term effects of the pandemic are unknown. Medical record data of n = 127 urologists were used to assess changes in healthcare provision, comparing the pandemic with the pre-pandemic period. An online survey among n = 101 urologists was conducted to assess the physicians' perceptions of the identified healthcare provision and organizational changes and experiences of anxiety, stress, and support needs during the pandemic waves. Urologists consultations, specialists' referrals, hospital admissions, documented cancer diagnoses, urologists' perceptions of causes for these changes and experienced stress, anxiety and support needs. Results were demonstrated using descriptive statistics. Over the first two years of the pandemic, there was a slight decline in consultations (-0,94%), but more intensive reduction in hospital admissions (-13,6%) and identified cancer diagnoses (-6,2%). Although patients' behavior was seen as the main reason for the changes, 71 and 61% of consultations of high-risk patients or urgent surgeries were canceled. Telemedical approaches were implemented by 58% of urologists, and 88% stated that the reduced cancer detection rate would negatively affect patients' outcomes. Urologists reported higher anxiety, stress, and need for support during all waves of the pandemic than other disciplines, especially females. The pandemic tremendously affects urologists' health care provision and stress experience, possibly causing long-term consequences for patients and physicians.