Assessment of the Safety and Efficiency of a Preperitoneal Continuous Infusion Using Bupivacaine after Abdominal Laparotomy in Digestive Carcinology.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of continuous preperitoneal wound infiltration using bupivacaine after abdominal laparotomy in relation to plasma bupivacaine concentration and visual analog scale. Our study was performed on 60 adult patients with digestive cancer, operated at laparotomy, and randomized into two groups: bupivacaine and saline groups. The wound infiltration was through a multiperforated catheter along the scar. For the bupivacaine group, 0.25% bupivacaine was used; however, for the saline group, only saline (0.9%) was infiltrated. The pain was assessed by using the visual analog scale (VAS) in both groups. Plasma bupivacaine concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The bupivacaine group had significantly lower postoperative morphine consumption and lower postoperative pain than the saline group (P < 0.0001). The majority of patients in the bupivacaine group had significant relief with the VAS scores of less than 3/10 cm at rest and 6/10 cm on mobilization. However, for the saline group, the VAS scores were higher than 6/10 cm either at rest or with mobilization. There was no clinical sign of toxicity and no technical complications for the bupivacaine group. Only eleven patients required morphine in this group, but the majority of patients received morphine at different doses in the saline group. Plasma bupivacaine was at very low concentrations. Overall, the current study has confirmed that continuous preperitoneal wound infiltration as postoperative analgesia is a simple, effective, and safe technique. It allows decreasing of morphine consumption and subsequently canceling their side effects.

[Treatment of postoperative peritonitis in the Intensive Care Unit: a retrospective study of 46 cases]. / Les péritonites postopératoires en réanimation: étude rétrospective, à propos de 46 cas.

We conducted a study of 46 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with postoperative peritonitis. The incidence of postoperative peritonitis in this setting was 2.7%. The average age of patients was 53.3 years, with a sex ratio of 1.2. Submesocolic surgery was the most common cause of postoperative peritonitis (65.2%), mainly occurring in the colorectal region (48%). Clinical signs were dominated by fever (78%), abdominal pain (57%) and extra-abdominal signs. The mean time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 7.3 days. Reoperation was performed on the basis of clinical and biological criteria in 56.5% of cases. Therapeutic management was based on perioperative reanimation, treatment of organ dysfunctions, probabilistic antibiotic therapy and middle laparotomy. The bacteriological profile was dominated by BGN (79%). The loosening of the anastomotic sutures was the direct cause of PPO in 57% of patients. Mortality rate was 60%. The main prognostic factors were: renal failure, the number of patients with organ failure, PT<50%, the need for ventilation and the use of catecholamines.

Factors Associated with Mortality in Severe Acute Cholangitis in a Moroccan Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Analysis of 140 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute cholangitis is a life-threatening biliary infection, leading to organ dysfunction, septic shock, and naturally death. Mortality has dropped significantly in the past years through improving resuscitation and biliary drainage techniques. The aim of our study is to analyze our daily practice and the factors associated with mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study including severe acute cholangitis patients admitted to our unit from January 2009 to December 2018. Variables analyzed (univariate then multivariate analysis) were age, sex, history, origin, evolution time, bilirubin, etiology, organ dysfunction, qSOFA, SOFA, TOKYO, biliary drainage timing and technique, shock, antibiotherapy, and resuscitation. RESULTS: 140 patients were included in this study. Average age was 61. Sex ratio M/F was 0.59. Lithiasis etiology was dominant (69%). SOFA average score upon admission was 8. Ceftriaxone + metronidazole was the empirical antibiotic used in 87%. Average time to biliary drainage was 1.58 ± 0.89 days. Endoscopic unblocking was the technique used in 76%. Mean duration of ICU stay was 6 days. Mortality rate was 28%. Statistically significant factors for mortality (p < 0.05) were history of taking anticoagulant treatment, use of catecholamines and mechanical ventilation during ICU stay, and delay in consultation and administration of antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Early recognition, antibiotics, resuscitation, and minimally invasive biliary drainage have improved patient outcomes although there is still progress to be made. Moreover, as multiple organ failure is often associated with mortality in severe acute cholangitis, predictive risk factors of organ failure should be more investigated.

Intracardiac Thrombosis and Multiple Arterial Thromboembolism with Acute Limb Ischemia: A Rare Complication of Carbon Monoxide Intoxication.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a very common reason for emergency ward admission, with symptoms varying from a simple headache and dizziness to severe neurological and cardiac impairment. We report here a rare clinical presentation of CO intoxication manifested by a severe cardiac impairment with intracardiac thrombus formation, acute limb ischemia, renal infarction, and carotid artery thrombosis. There have been initial reports of thromboembolic events in acute CO poisoning with intracardiac thrombosis being sparsely reported. Contrary to venous thromboembolism, arterial thromboembolism in CO poisoning seems to be extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in recent literature of a combined intracardiac thrombosis and multiple arterial thromboembolism induced by CO poisoning.

Paracetamol self-poisoning: when oral N-acetylcysteine saves life? a case report.

Paracetamol is the most widely drug involved in accidental paediatric exposures and deliberate self-poisoning cases because of its availability. N-acetyl cystein is the main treatment for this poisoning. We report a case of a 24-year-old Arab female who has deliberately ingested 100 tablets of 500 mg paracetamol each (50g). Her first examination was normal. She has received oral N-acetyl cystein (NAC) 6 hours after the ingestion. Serum paracetamol level done 18 hours post ingestion was 900 mg/l. On review the next days, she did not develop any symptoms of liver failure. However, due to the massive paracetamol ingestion associated with high serum paracetamol levels, oral NAC was continued for 3 days. The patient was discharged well on the fifth day of hospitalization. Our patient has ingested one of the highest paracetamol overdose (50g) with the highest paracetamol blood levels ever reported in medical literature. She was treated, six hours after ingestion, with oral NAC for 3 days without any side effects.

[TURP syndrome: about a case]. / TURP syndrome: à propos d'un cas.

We report the case of a 78-year old patient, with no particular past medical history, who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (50 g) under spinal anesthesia for benign hypertrophy. 90 minutes after the beginning of the procedure, the patient had nausea, vomiting, visual fog and bradycardia, suggesting TURP syndrome. Ionogramme objectified a serum sodium level of 118meq/L, hence the patient was treated with 3% hypertonic saline solution, with good evolution. This study describes a common but moderate occurrence of TURP syndrome whose management was facilitated by patient's alertness during spinal anesthesia.

[Medical simulation in hemodialysis]. / Simulation médicale en hémodialyse.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation is an innovative educational tool based on learning experience in a secure environment without fear of repercussions especially in critical situations such as in emergencies. It offers great prospects in the development of dialysis training. METHODS: We report the results of an observational study comparing medical simulation to conventional training methods in the management of hemodialysis in emergency situations. We discuss afterwards the possibilities currently allowed by medical simulation in dialysis training. RESULTS: The training was beneficial (significant difference between initial and final level of knowledge) for all participants. There was no significant difference between the conventional approach, simulation training and the two combined tools. However, satisfaction rate was higher in simulation training. We observed a tendency to have better results in "active players" of the simulation compared to observers. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of integrating medical simulation training in our dialysis training strategies as a complementary tool to classical teaching/learning methods.

[Facial mucormycosis complicating severe angiocholitis: about a case]. / Une mucormycose faciale compliquant une angiocholite grave: à propos d'un cas.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection occurring in immunocompromised patients. It is a serious life threatening condition. Even though diagnosed early, mucormycosis has a mortality rate reaching 50%. We report the case of mucormycosis in a diabetic patient hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit for severe angiocholitis. Evolution was lethal.