Incidence, diagnosis, management and outcome of acute mesenteric ischaemia: a prospective, multicentre observational study (AMESI Study).

BACKGROUND: The aim of this multicentre prospective observational study was to identify the incidence, patient characteristics, diagnostic pathway, management and outcome of acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI). METHODS: All adult patients with clinical suspicion of AMI admitted or transferred to 32 participating hospitals from 06.06.2022 to 05.04.2023 were included. Participants who were subsequently shown not to have AMI or had localized intestinal gangrene due to strangulating bowel obstruction had only baseline and outcome data collected. RESULTS: AMI occurred in 0.038% of adult admissions in participating acute care hospitals worldwide. From a total of 705 included patients, 418 patients had confirmed AMI. In 69% AMI was the primary reason for admission, while in 31% AMI occurred after having been admitted with another diagnosis. Median time from onset of symptoms to hospital admission in patients admitted due to AMI was 24 h (interquartile range 9-48h) and time from admission to diagnosis was 6h (1-12 h). Occlusive arterial AMI was diagnosed in 231 (55.3%), venous in 73 (17.5%), non-occlusive (NOMI) in 55 (13.2%), other type in 11 (2.6%) and the subtype could not be classified in 48 (11.5%) patients. Surgery was the initial management in 242 (58%) patients, of which 59 (24.4%) underwent revascularization. Endovascular revascularization alone was carried out in 54 (13%), conservative treatment in 76 (18%) and palliative care in 46 (11%) patients. From patients with occlusive arterial AMI, revascularization was undertaken in 104 (45%), with 40 (38%) of them in one site admitting selected patients. Overall in-hospital and 90-day mortality of AMI was 49% and 53.3%, respectively, and among subtypes was lowest for venous AMI (13.7% and 16.4%) and highest for NOMI (72.7% and 74.5%). There was a high variability between participating sites for most variables studied. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of AMI and AMI subtypes varies worldwide, and case ascertainment is challenging. Pre-hospital delay in presentation was greater than delays after arriving at hospital. Surgery without revascularization was the most common management approach. Nearly half of the patients with AMI died during their index hospitalization. Together, these findings suggest a need for greater awareness of AMI, and better guidance in diagnosis and management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05218863 (registered 19.01.2022).

Biomarkers In Prediction of Acute Mesenteric Ischaemia: a prospective multicentre study (BIPAMI study): a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a life-threatening disease where early diagnosis is critical to avoid morbidity and mortality from extensive irreversible bowel necrosis. Appropriate prediction of presence of bowel necrosis is currently not available but would help to choose the optimal method of treatment. The study aims to identify combinations of biomarkers that can reliably identify AMI and distinguish between potentially reversible and irreversible bowel ischaemia. METHODS: This is a prospective multicentre study. Adult patients with clinical suspicion of AMI (n = 250) will be included. Blood will be sampled on admission, at and after interventions, or during the first 48 h of suspicion of AMI if no intervention undertaken. Samples will be collected and the following serum or plasma biomarkers measured at Tartu University Hospital laboratory: intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), alpha-glutathione S-transferase (Alpha- GST), interleukin 6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA), D-lactate, D-dimer, signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE-1) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Additionally, more common laboratory markers will be measured in routine clinical practice at study sites. Diagnosis of AMI will be confirmed by computed tomography angiography, surgery, endoscopy or autopsy. Student's t or Wilcoxon rank tests will be used for comparisons between transmural vs. suspected (but not confirmed) AMI (comparison A), confirmed AMI of any stage vs suspected AMI (comparison B) and non-transmural AMI vs transmural AMI (comparison C). Optimal cut-off values for each comparison will be identified based on the AUROC analysis and likelihood ratios calculated. Positive likelihood ratio > 10 (> 5) and negative likelihood ratio < 0.1 (< 0.2) indicate high (moderate) diagnostic accuracy, respectively. All biomarkers with at least moderate accuracy will be entered as binary covariates (using the best cutoffs) into the multivariable stepwise regression analysis to identify the best combination of biomarkers for all comparisons separately. The best models for each comparison will be used to construct a practical score to distinguish between no AMI, non-transmural AMI and transmural AMI. DISCUSSION: As a result of this study, we aim to propose a score including set of biomarkers that can be used for diagnosis and decision-making in patients with suspected AMI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06212921 (Registration Date 19-01-2024).

Epidemiology of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: A Population-Based Investigation.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of population-based studies on acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). We have therefore performed a nationwide epidemiological study in Estonia, addressing incidence, demographics, interventions and mortality of AMI. METHODS: A retrospective population-based review was conducted of all adult cases of AMI accrued from the digital Estonian Health Insurance Fund and Causes of Death Registry for 2016-2020 based on international classification of diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic codes and procedure codes (NOMESCO). RESULTS: Overall, 577 cases of AMI were identified-an annual incidence of 8.7 per 100,000. The median age was 79 (range 32-104) and 57% were female. Predominating comorbidities included hypertensive disease (81%), atherosclerosis (67%), and atrial fibrillation (52%). The majority of cases (60%) were caused by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (thrombosis 54%, embolism 12%, and unclear 34%). Inferior mesenteric artery occlusion occurred in 7%, non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia in 7%, venous thrombosis in 4%, whereas the type remained unclear in 21% of cases. 40% of patients received intervention (revascularization and/or intestinal resection) and 13% active non-operative treatment. In 21% an exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy revealed unsalvageable bowel prompting end-of-life care, which was the only management in a further 25% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The population-based annual incidence of AMI in Estonia was 8.7 per 100,000 during the study period. The overall hospital mortality and 1 year mortality were 64% and 74%, respectively. In the 53% of patients who received active treatment hospital mortality was 32% and 1 year all-cause mortality was 51%. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04867499.

The Utility of 4D-CT Imaging in Primary Hyperparathyroidism Management in a Low-Volume Center.

Background: Ultrasonography (US) and the 99mTc-sestamibi parathyroid scan (SPS) may have suboptimal accuracy when detecting the localization of enlarged parathyroid gland(s) (PTG). Therefore, the more accurate four-dimensional computed tomography scan (4D-CT) has been employed for PTG imaging. Currently, there is a paucity of data evaluating the utility of 4D-CT in low caseload settings. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the impact of PTG imaging, using 4D-CT in conjunction with its intraoperatively displayed results, on the outcomes of surgical PTX. Materials and Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of surgically treated patients with pHPT from 01/2010 to 01/2021 was conducted. An evaluation of the impact of the preoperative imaging modalities on the results of surgical treatment was carried out. Results: During the study period, 290 PTX were performed; 45 cases were excluded due to surgery for secondary, tertiary or recurrent HPT, or due to the use of alternative imaging techniques. The remaining 245 patients were included in the study. US was carried out for PTG imaging in 236 (96.3%), SPS in 93 (38.0%), and 4D-CT in 52 patients (21.2%). The use of 4D-CT was associated with a significantly higher rate of successful localization of enlarged PTG (49 cases, 94.2%) compared to US and SPS (74 cases, 31.4%, and 54 cases, 58.1%, respectively). We distinguished between three groups of patients based on preoperative imaging: (1) PTG lateralization via US or SPS in 106 (43.3%) cases; (2) precise localization of PTG via 4D-CT in 49 (20.0%) patients; and (3) in 90 cases (36.7%), PTG imaging failed to localize an enlarged gland. The group of 4D-CT localization had significantly shorter operative time, lower rate of simultaneous thyroid resections, as well as lower rate of removal of ≥2 PTG, compared to the other groups. The 4D-CT imaging was also associated with the lowest perioperative morbidity and with the lowest median PTH in the one month follow-up; however, compared to the other groups, these differences were statistically not significant. The implementation of 4D-CT (since 01/2018) was associated with a decrease in the need for redo surgery (from 11.5% to 7.3%) and significantly increased the annual case load of PTX at our institution (from 15.3 to 41.0) compared to the period before 4D-CT diagnostics. Conclusions: 4D-CT imaging enabled to precisely locate almost 95% of enlarged PTG in patients with pHPT. Accurate localization and intraoperatively displayed imaging results are useful guides for surgeons to make PTX a faster and safer procedure in a low-volume center.

Long-term survival, risk factors and causes of mortality in surgically treated chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease with a high complications rate, poor quality of life and considerable mortality. Prospective investigations on long-term outcomes in chronic pancreatitis are scarce. Thus, we aimed to assess long-term survival, causes of death and impact of risk factors on survival in a cohort of surgically managed patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: After IRB approval, a prospective longitudinal cohort study with long-term follow-up (up to 19.6 years) was conducted. All consecutive single center patients operated between 1997 and 2019 were included. Data on health and social status, risk behavior, history of CP, indications for surgery, comorbidities and causes of death were collected. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional multivariate hazard regression was used to assess the impact of risk factors on mortality. The results are reported as the hazard ratio (HR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI). The log-rank test was used to test for differences in survival between groups. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients with CP were subjected to operative management due to chronic pain or local complications of CP. Forty-eight patients (29.8%) died during the follow-up period. Mortality rate was 32.8 per 1000 patient-years (PY) since the diagnosis of CP. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.8 (2.7 for the subgroup of continuous alcohol users). Median survival after surgical treatment was 13.3 years. Univariate analysis revealed the following risk factors on survival: preoperative and postoperative continuous moderate or heavy alcohol consumption, heavy smoking, age ≥50 years, Charlson's comorbidity index (CCI) ≥4 and 2-3, unemployment, disability, insulin-dependent diabetes, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), and low body mass index (BMI). In multivariate regression analysis lower survival was associated with continuous moderate/heavy alcohol consumption (hazard ratio (HR) 2.27), history of heavy smoking (HR 4.40), unemployment (HR 2.49), CCI 2-3 and ≥4 (HR 2.53 and HR 3.16, respectively), and BMI <18.5 (HR 4.01). Behavioral risk factors accounted for the vast majority of deaths due to chronic alcoholic liver disease (21 cases, 43.7%), smoking-related diseases (15 cases, 31.3%). CP-related mortality was 4.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes of surgically treated chronic pancreatitis was associated with low CP-related mortality. Alcohol-related and smoking-related diseases caused the vast majority of deaths. Thus, surgery provides the best results in patients, preventing postsurgical relapse of original behavioral risks. For achieving this, ongoing postoperative support would be highly beneficial.

Diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers to detect acute mesenteric ischaemia in adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a disease with different pathophysiological mechanisms, leading to a life-threatening condition that is difficult to diagnose based solely on clinical signs. Despite widely acknowledged need for biomarkers in diagnosis of AMI, a broad systematic review on all studied biomarkers in different types of AMI is currently lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of all potential biomarkers of AMI studied in humans. METHODS: A systematic literature search in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus was conducted in December 2022. Studies assessing potential biomarkers of AMI in (at least 10) adult patients and reporting their diagnostic accuracy were included. Meta-analyses of biomarkers' sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and the study quality was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. RESULTS: Seventy-five studies including a total of 9914 patients assessed 18 different biomarkers in serum/plasma and one in urine (each reported in at least two studies), which were included in meta-analyses. None of the biomarkers reached a conclusive level for accurate prediction. The best predictive value overall (all studies with any type and stage of AMI pooled) was observed for Ischaemia-modified albumin (2 studies, sensitivity 94.7 and specificity 90.5), interleukin-6 (n = 4, 96.3 and 82.6), procalcitonin (n = 6, 80.1 and 86.7), and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) measured in serum (n = 16, 73.9 and 90.5) or in urine (n = 4, 87.9 and 78.9). In assessment of transmural mesenteric ischaemia, urinary I-FABP (n = 2, 92.3 and 85.2) and D-dimer (n = 3, 87.6 and 83.6) showed moderate predictive value. Overall risk of bias was high, mainly because of selected study populations and unclear timings of the biomarker measurements after onset of symptoms. Combinations of biomarkers were rarely studied, not allowing meta-analyses. CONCLUSIONS: None of the studied biomarkers had sufficient sensitivity and specificity to diagnose AMI, although some biomarkers showed moderate predictive accuracy. Future studies should focus on timing of measurements of biomarkers, distinguishing between early stage and transmural necrosis, and between different types of AMI. Additionally, studies on combinations of biomarkers are warranted. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022379341.

Flood syndrome following right-sided heart failure: a case report.

Flood syndrome is a rare condition, where a patient with ascites suffers sudden umbilical hernia rupture and a subsequent drainage of ascitic fluid from the abdominal cavity. The cause of ascites is usually liver cirrhosis. Complications associated with cirrhosis of the liver make Flood syndrome difficult to manage. In these cases, conservative management has been associated with high morbidity. We describe, to our knowledge, for the first time a patient with Flood syndrome caused by right-sided heart failure. We also show that conservative treatment gives great initial outcome and is a viable option for this type of Flood syndrome.

Complications of chronic pancreatitis prior to and following surgical treatment: A proposal for classification.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a long-lasting disease frequently associated with complications for which there is no comprehensive pathophysiological classification. AIM: The aims of this study were to: Propose a pathophysiological classification of the complications of CP; evaluate their prevalence in a surgical cohort prior to, and following surgical management; and assess the impact of the surgical treatment on the occurrence of new complications of CP during follow-up. We hypothesized that optimal surgical treatment can resolve existing complications and reduce the risk of new complications, with the exclusion of pancreatic insufficiency. The primary outcomes were prevalence of complications of CP at baseline (prior to surgical treatment) and occurrence of new complications during follow-up. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, a prospective observational cohort study with long-term follow-up (up to 20.4 years) was conducted. All consecutive single-center adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with CP according to the criteria of the American Pancreas Association subjected to surgical management between 1997 and 2021, were included. The prevalence of CP complications evaluated, according to the proposed classification, in a surgical cohort of 166 patients. Development of the pathophysiological classification was based on a literature review on the clinical presentation, course, and complications of CP, as well a review of previous classification systems of CP. RESULTS: We distinguished four groups of complications: Pancreatic duct complications, peripancreatic complications, pancreatic hemorrhages, and pancreatic insufficiency (exocrine and endocrine). Their baseline prevalence was 20.5%, 23.5%, 10.2%, 31.3%, and 27.1%, respectively. Surgical treatment was highly effective in avoiding new complications in the first and third groups. In the group of peripancreatic complications, the 15-year Kaplan-Meier prevalence of new complications was 12.1%. The prevalence of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency increased during follow-up, being 66.4% and 47.1%, respectively, at 15 years following surgery. Pancreatoduodenal resection resulted optimal results in avoiding new peripancreatic complications, but was associated with the highest rate of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. CONCLUSION: The proposed complication classification improves the understanding of CP. It could be beneficial for clinical decision making, as it provides an opportunity for more comprehensive judgement on patient's needs on the one hand, and on the pros and cons of the treatment under consideration, on the other. The presence of complications of CP and the risk of development of new ones should be among the main determinants of surgical choice.

'Short' pancreaticojejunostomy might be a valid option for treatment of chronic pancreatitis in many cases.

BACKGROUND: The Partington-Rochelle pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is an essential management option for patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) associated with intractable pain and a dilated pancreatic duct (PD). Wide ductotomy and long PJ (L-PJ) have been advocated as the standard of care to ensure full PD decompression. However, the role of short PJ (S-PJ) in a uniformly dilated PD has not yet been evaluated. AIM: To evaluate the possible advantages and disadvantages of S-PJ and L-PJ and to interpret the perspective of S-PJ in the treatment of CP. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected cohort data was conducted on surgically treated CP patients subjected to side-to-side PJ. The length of the PJ was adapted to anatomical alterations in PD. A comparison was made of S-PJ (< 50 mm) for uniformly dilated PD and L-PJ (50-100 mm) in the setting of multiple PD strictures, calcifications and dilatations. We hypothesized that S-PJ and L-PJ ensure comparable clinical outcomes. The primary outcomes were pain relief and quality of life (QOL); the secondary outcomes were perioperative characteristics, body weight, patients' satisfaction with treatment, and readmission rate due to CP. RESULTS: Overall, 91 patients underwent side-to-side PJ for CP, including S-PJ in 46 patients and L-PJ in 45 patients. S-PJ resulted in better perioperative outcomes: Significantly shorter operative time (107.5 min vs 134 min), lower need for intraoperative (0% vs 15.6%) and total (2.2% vs 31.1%) blood transfusions, and lower rate of perioperative complications (6.5% vs 17.8%). We noted no significant difference in pain relief, improvement in QOL, body weight gain, patients' satisfaction with surgical treatment, or readmission rate due to CP. CONCLUSION: Based on our data, in the setting of a uniformly dilated PD, S-PJ provides adequate decompression of the PD. As the clinical outcomes following S-PJ are not inferior to those of L-PJ, S-PJ should be preferred as a surgical option in the case of a uniformly dilated PD.

Torsion of Meckel's diverticulum as a cause of small bowel obstruction: A case report.

Axial torsion and necrosis of Meckel's diverticulum causing simultaneous mechanical small bowel obstruction are the rarest complications of this congenital anomaly. This kind of pathology has been reported only eleven times. Our case report presents this very unusual case of Meckel's diverticulum. A 41-year-old man presented at the emergency department with complaints of crampy abdominal pain, nausea and retention of stool and gases. Clinical diagnosis was small bowel obstruction. Because the origin of obstruction was unknown, computer tomography was indicated. Computed tomography (CT)-scan revealed dilated small bowel loops with multiple air-fluid levels; the oral contrast medium had reached the jejunum and proximal parts of the ileum but not the distal small bowel loops or the large bowel; in the right mid-abdomen there was a 11 cm × 6.4 cm × 7.8 cm fluid containing cavity with thickened wall, which was considered a dilated bowel-loop or cyst or diverticulum. Initially the patient was treated conservatively. Because of persistent abdominal pain emergency laparotomy was indicated. Abdominal exploration revealed distended small bowel loops proximal to the obstruction, and a large (12 cm × 14 cm) Meckel's diverticulum at the site of obstruction. Meckel's diverticulum was axially rotated by 720°, which caused small bowel obstruction and diverticular necrosis. About 20 cm of the small bowel with Meckel's diverticulum was resected. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. We recommend CT-scan as the most useful diagnostic tool in bowel obstruction of unknown origin. In cases of Meckel's diverticulum causing small bowel obstruction, prompt surgical treatment is indicated; delay in diagnosis and in adequate treatment may lead to bowel necrosis and peritonitis.