The global response: How cities and provinces around the globe tackled Covid-19 outbreaks in 2021.

Background: Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc. However, given the heterogeneity in the enforcement of these strategies and constant fluctuations in the strictness levels of these strategies, it becomes challenging to assess the true impact of these strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated various transmission control measures that were imposed in 10 global urban cities and provinces in 2021- Bangkok, Gauteng, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, London, Manila City, New Delhi, New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo. Findings: Based on our analysis, we herein propose the population-level Swiss cheese model for the failures and pitfalls in various strategies that each of these cities and provinces had. Furthermore, whilst all the evaluated cities and provinces took a different personalized approach to managing the pandemic, what remained common was dynamic enforcement and monitoring of breaches of each barrier of protection. The measures taken to reinforce the barriers were adjusted continuously based on the evolving epidemiological situation. Interpretation: How an individual city or province handled the pandemic profoundly affected and determined how the entire country handled the pandemic since the chain of transmission needs to be broken at the very grassroot level to achieve nationwide control. Funding: The present study did not receive any external funding.

Single trocar retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for dysplastic poorly functioning kidney with ectopic ureter in children.

This is the first report of a single trocar nephrectomy for poorly functioning dysplastic kidney and ectopic ureter, performed in 5 patients from 2010 to 2011. The mean operative time was 63 min and mean postoperative hospital stay was 31 h. There were no perioperative complications. The single trocar nephrectomy is a feasible and safe procedure for patients with dysplastic kidney and ectopic ureter.

Early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts with 400 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts with 400 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The operation was performed using four ports. The cystic duct was identified and divided. The liver was suspended by two stay-sutures: one on the round ligament and the other on the distal cystic duct. The choledochal cyst was isolated and removed completely, and biliary-digestive continuity was reestablished by hepaticoduodenostomy (HD) or hepaticojejunostomy (HJ). RESULTS: From January 2007 to June 2011, 400 patients were operated on. There were 305 girls and 95 boys. Ages ranged from 1 month to 16 years (mean, 47.5±2.1 months). Cystic excision and HD were performed in 238 patients and HJ in 162 patients. The mean operating time was 164.8±51 minutes for the HD group and 220±60 minutes for the HJ group. Conversion to open surgery was required in 2 patients. There were no perioperative deaths. Postoperative biliary leakage occurred in 8 patients (2%), resolving spontaneously in 7 and requiring a second operation in 1 patient. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.4±0.3 days for the HD group and 6.7±0.5 days for the HJ group. Follow-up between 5 months and 57 months postdischarge (mean, 24.2±2.7 months) was obtained in 342 patients (85.5%). Cholangitis occurred in 5 patients (1.5%) in the HD group and 1 patient (0.6%) in the HJ group. Gastritis due to bilious reflux was 3.8% in the HD group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair is a safe and effective procedure for choledochal cyst. The rate of cholangitis and anastomotic stenosis is low.

Thoracoscopic repair for congenital diaphragmatic hernia: experience with 139 cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze indications and to present details of surgical technique and outcomes of thoracoscopic repair for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in 139 patients. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of all patients with CDH who underwent thoracoscopic repair by the same surgical team from June 2001 to October 2009. Patients were placed in the lateral decubitus position. The operations were performed using three trocars. Pleural insufflation with carbon dioxide was maintained at a pressure of 2-6 mm Hg. The hernia defect was repaired using nonabsorbable interrupted sutures with extracorporeal knots. A prosthetic patch was used when direct closure of the hernia defect was not feasible. RESULTS: There were 139 patients, including 91 boys and 48 girls. Seventy-five patients were newborns, and 64 were infants or children. The hernia was located on the left side in 113 patients (81.3%) and on the right side in 26 patients (18.7%). The mean operative time for thoracoscopic approach was 66 ± 27 minutes. Conversion was required in 11 patients (7.9%) from 2001 to 2007. There were no conversions in 2008 or 2009. A prosthetic patch was used in 7 patients. There were 14 postoperative deaths (10%). Follow-up was obtained in 114 patients, ranging from 1 to 84 months (mean 26.3 ± 24.7 months). Five patients had recurrence (3.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic repair is feasible and safe for children with CDH, including newborns. The conversion rate decreased, and indications increased with surgical team experience.

Laparoscopic complete cyst excision and hepaticoduodenostomy for choledochal cyst: early results in 74 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the technical details and early outcomes of complete laparoscopic cyst excision and hepaticoduodenostomy for choledochal cyst. METHODS: The operation was performed using four ports. The cystic duct was identified and divided. The liver was elevated by two stay sutures: one on the round ligament, and the other on the distal cystic duct. The choledochalcyst was isolated and removed completely and the duodenum was mobilized. Hepaticoduodenostomy was constructed 2 cm distal to the pylorus using two running sutures with 5-0 polydioxane sutures. RESULTS: From January to December 2007, 74 patients were operated. There were 59 girls and 15 boys. Ages ranged from 2.5 months to 16 years old. The diameter of the cyst ranged from 10 mm to 184 mm. The operating time ranged from 90 minutes to 340 minutes (mean: 186 minutes). Conversion to open surgery was required in one patient. Blood transfusion was required in four patients. Postoperative anastomotic leakage occurred in three patients, resolving spontaneously in two patients and requiring a second operation in the third.Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 4 days to 21 days (average: 6.6 days). Follow-up from 3 months to 12 months was obtained in 56 patients (75.5%). Of these patients, cholangitis occurred in three patients (5.3%) and gastritis due to bilious reflux in eight patients (14.3%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic complete cyst excision and hepaticoduodenostomy is a safe and physiologic procedure for choledochal cyst.

Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy for purulent pericarditis: experience with 21 cases.

PURPOSE: We present our experience in performing thoracoscopic pericardiectomy for purulent pericarditis in 21 children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pericardiectomy was carried out using one optical trocar and two operating trocars. Pleural insufflation with carbon dioxide was maintained at 2-4 mm Hg. Anterior pericardiectomy was performed from the left phrenic nerve to the right border of the sternum to free the anterior part of the heart, notably the cardiac apex and the original area of the great vessels. Purulent debris was removed prior to detaching the epicardial peel. RESULTS: This study included 21 patients. Their mean age was 8 years. The time from onset of the disease to surgery ranged from 4 to 34 days (average, 15.2 days). Operative times ranged from 50 to 180 minutes (average, 100 minutes). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. All symptoms of cardiac tamponade disappeared immediately postoperatively. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 15 months and showed normal clinical manifestations, echocardiographs, and chest x-rays in all children. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy with removal of a generous amount of the pericardium is feasible and safe for purulent pericarditis.