Physical performance following acute high-risk abdominal surgery: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute high-risk abdominal (AHA) surgery is associated with high mortality, multiple postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stay. Further development of strategies for enhanced recovery programs following AHA surgery is needed. The aim of this study was to describe physical performance and barriers to independent mobilization among patients who received AHA surgery (postoperative days [POD] 1-7). METHODS: Patients undergoing AHA surgery were consecutively enrolled from a university hospital in Denmark. In the first postoperative week, all patients were evaluated daily with regards to physical performance, using the Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS; 0-6 points) to assess basic mobility and the activPAL monitor to assess the 24-hour physical activity level. We recorded barriers to independent mobilization. RESULTS: Fifty patients undergoing AHA surgery (mean age 61.4 ± 17.2 years) were included. Seven patients died within the first postoperative week, and 15 of 43 (35%) patients were still not independently mobilized (CAS < 6) on POD-7, which was associated with pulmonary complications developing (53% v. 14% in those with CAS = 6, p = 0.012). The patients lay or sat for a median of 23.4 hours daily during the first week after AHA surgery, and the main barriers to independent mobilization were fatigue and abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Patients who receive AHA surgery have very limited physical performance in the first postoperative week. Barriers to independent mobilization are primarily fatigue and abdominal pain. Further studies investigating strategies for early mobilization and barriers to mobilization in the immediate postoperative period after AHA surgery are needed.

CONTEXTE: La chirurgie abdominale d'urgence à risque élevé est associée à un fort taux de mortalité, à des complications postopératoires multiples et à des hospitalisations prolongées. Il est donc nécessaire d'élaborer de nouvelles stratégies pour améliorer le rétablissement après ce type de chirurgie. La présente étude visait à décrire le fonctionnement physique et les obstacles aux déplacements autonomes chez les patients ayant subi une chirurgie de ce type (jours postopératoires 1 à 7). MÉTHODES: Nous avons recruté successivement les patients subissant une chirurgie abdominale d'urgence à risque élevé dans un hôpital universitaire du Danemark. Durant la première semaine postopératoire, tous les patients ont subi quotidiennement une évaluation visant à vérifier leur fonctionnement physique. Nous nous sommes servis du Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS; de 0 à 6 points) pour évaluer la mobilité de base et du moniteur activPAL pour évaluer le niveau d'activé physique 24 heures par jour. Nous avons noté les obstacles aux déplacements autonomes. RÉSULTATS: Cinquante patients (âge moyen : 61,4 ans ± 17,2) ont été retenus. Sept sont décédés durant la première semaine postopératoire, et 15 des 43 patients restants (35 %) ne se déplaçaient pas encore de façon autonome (CAS < 6) le septième jour, une situation associée à l'apparition de complications pulmonaires (53 % c. 14 % de ceux qui avaient un CAS de 6, p = 0,012). Les patients étaient couchés ou assis pendant une durée médiane de 23,4 heures par jour durant la première semaine postopératoire, et les principaux obstacles aux déplacements autonomes étaient la fatigue et la douleur abdominale. CONCLUSION: Les patients qui subissent une chirurgie abdominale d'urgence à risque élevé ont un fonctionnement physique très faible durant la première semaine postopératoire. Les obstacles aux déplacements autonomes sont principalement la fatigue et la douleur abdominale. Il faudra d'autres études sur les stratégies de mobilisation précoces et les obstacles aux déplacements peu après une chirurgie abdominale d'urgence à risque élevé.

Perioperative clinical management in relation to emergency surgery for perforated peptic ulcer: A nationwide questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Perforation is a severe complication of peptic ulcer disease. Evidence regarding perioperative management of patients undergoing surgery for perforated peptic ulcer is scarce without any clear guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the clinical practice and possible differences in the perioperative management of patients undergoing emergency surgery for perforated peptic ulcers in Denmark. METHODS: The study was an anonymous, nationwide questionnaire survey. All doctors working at general surgical departments in Denmark were included. The questionnaire consisted of four parts; 1) demographic details including job position, subspecialty, geographic location, and surgical experience, 2) pre- and postoperative use of nasoenteral tubes, 3) routine use of nil-by-mouth (NBM) regime, 4) questions regarding postoperative nutrition.Subgroup analyses were performed according to job position and subspecialty. RESULTS: In total, the questionnaire was answered by 287 surgeons, of which 74% were experienced surgeons being able to perform surgery for perforated peptic ulcers independently.Pre- and postoperative nasoenteral tubes were used routinely by the majority of the respondents. One of five surgeons routinely practiced a postoperative NBM regime. Generally, the respondents allowed clear fluids postoperatively without restrictions but were reluctant to allow free fluids or solid foods. Two of three surgeons routinely used tube- or parental nutrition. The results varied depending on job position and subspecialty. CONCLUSIONS: After emergency surgery, the postoperative management of patients with perforated peptic ulcers varies considerably among general surgeons in Denmark. Evidence-based national or international guidelines are needed to standardize and optimize the clinical practice.

Functional performance and 30-day postoperative mortality after emergency laparotomy-a retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study of 1084 patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of predicting adverse postoperative outcomes, functional performance status as a proxy for frailty has not been systematically evaluated in emergency abdominal surgery. Our aim was to evaluate if the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score was independently associated with mortality following high-risk emergency abdominal surgery, in a multicentre, retrospective, observational study of a consecutive cohort. METHODS: All patients aged 18 or above undergoing high-risk emergency laparotomy or laparoscopy from four emergency surgical centres in the Capitol Region of Denmark, from January 1 to December 31, 2012, were included. Demographics, preoperative status, ECOG performance score, mortality, and surgical characteristics were registered. The association of frailty with postoperative mortality was evaluated using multiple regression models. Likelihood ratio test was applied for goodness of fit. RESULTS: In total, 1084 patients were included in the cohort; unadjusted 30-day mortality was 20.2%. ECOG performance score was independently associated with 30-day mortality. Odds ratio for mortality was 1.70 (95% CI (1.0, 2.9)) in patients with ECOG performance score of 1, compared with 5.90 (95% CI (1.8, 19.0)) in patients with ECOG performance score of 4 (p < 0.01). Likelihood ratio test suggests improvement in fit of logistic regression modelling of 30-day postoperative mortality when including ECOG performance score as an explanatory variable. CONCLUSIONS: This study found ECOG performance score to be independently associated with the postoperative 30-day mortality among patients undergoing high-risk emergency laparotomy. The utility of including functional performance in a preoperative risk assessment model of emergency laparotomy should be evaluated.

Sarcopenia predicts 90-day mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

PURPOSE: Image-based measurement of sarcopenia is an established predictor of a decreased outcome for a large variety of surgical procedures. Sarcopenia in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery has not been well studied. This study aims to investigate the association between the total psoas area (TPA) and postoperative mortality after 90 days in a group of elderly emergency laparotomy patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the emergency CT-scans of 150 elderly patients from a consecutive cohort undergoing emergency abdominal surgery at our surgical center. TPA was measured manually at the level of L3 and indexed to patient height. Sarcopenia was defined as having a TPA index below the first quartile for gender in the cohort. Other collected variables were age, vital status/date of death, ASA-score, surgical procedure, and WHO performance score. RESULTS: Overall 90-day mortality was 42.7%. Sarcopenic patients had a higher 90-day mortality (60.5%) than non-sarcopenic patients (36.6%), corresponding to an odds ratio of 2.66 (95% confidence interval 1.2-5.7, p = 0.01). Sarcopenic patients had an increased mortality compared with non-sarcopenic patients (p = 0.0009, Log-rank test), with a clear separation of the two groups within 30 days postoperatively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, with age, ASA-score, and WHO performance score as covariates, sarcopenia was independently associated with 90-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Manual measurement of TPA on an abdominal CT-scan is a relevant risk factor for postoperative mortality in elderly patients undergoing high-risk emergency abdominal surgery. Incorporation of sarcopenia in postoperative risk-prediction models in emergency abdominal surgery should be considered.

Perioperative treatment of patients undergoing acute high-risk abdominal surgery
.

Critically ill acute high-risk abdominal surgery patients represent a major challenge to health care providers, with the typical patient being elderly and frail, and with severe and multiple comorbidities. The mortality rate in this population is high, and the postoperative course is characterized by complications, prolonged hospitalisation and considerable risk of permanent disability. With an ageing population, the number of elderly patients, as well as challenges concerning treatment will arise, calling for a coordinated effort both nationally and internationally to enhance treatment in this vulnerable patient group. By the time of admission, the acute high-risk abdominal surgery patients are often physiologically deranged. The burden of multiple organ system dysfunction caused by an acute abdominal catastrophe, is associated with great risk. Timely stabilisation, diagnosis, pain management and surgical treatment are essential for a good out-come. Except from a few initiatives in subpopulations, there has, up until now, been an absence of organised multidisciplinary collaboration in approaching the critically ill emergency surgery patient. We have not been able, neither nationally or internationally, to introduce a standardised approach to the perioperative treatment based on the existing evidence. By analysing data from 4 hospitals in Denmark, we were able to illustrate a protracted critical period following acute high-risk abdominal surgery, where the frequency of postoperative complications is high, and associated with an increased risk of dying. The mortality in the cohort was 34% one year after surgery. A standardised, multimodal and multidisciplinary perioperative treatment protocol was implemented at Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre. This resulted in a significant and persistent reduction in mortality during a follow-up period of 6 months. Despite the standardised course, we recognised the difficulty in mobilising patients during the first postoperative week due to fatigue and pain. Traditionally, the
 success in treatment is measured by death- and complication rates, and length of hospital stay, but the literature is sparse when reporting patient outcome measures. We found a surprisingly good quality of life in a small group of elderly patients who had survived acute high risk abdominal surgery. In the future, it is essential to use patients' knowledge and experience to develop quality improvement initiatives in treatment, as well as to improve the dialogue between the patient, doctor, and closest relatives, helping them in forming realistic expectations of the postoperative outcomes. Unfortunately, as of now, we have no systematic collection of patient reported outcome measures in this critically ill and rather vulnerable population. This is a challenging group of patients with a need for extensive treatment, and specialized care, and rehabilitation. Future research should be conducted in dedicated specialized wards, where the staff is educated and motivated to see the complicated task through. The initiative from the research group behind this thesis should be considered as a clinically relevant, pragmatic introduction to a hopefully larger and necessary effort to improve the quality of care and the outcome following acute high-risk abdominal surgery.

Laparoscopy in major abdominal emergency surgery seems to be a safe procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopy is well established in the majority of elective procedures in abdominal surgery. In contrast, it is primarily used in minor surgery such as appendectomy or cholecystectomy in the emergent setting. This study aimed to analyze the safety and effectiveness of a laparoscopic approach in a large cohort of major abdominal emergencies. METHODS: A population-based cohort from the Region of Copenhagen, Denmark, including n = 1,139 patients undergoing major abdominal emergency surgery in 2012. RESULTS: A total of 313 patients were operated with an initial laparoscopic approach; 37% were laparoscopically completed and 63% of the operations were converted to a laparotomy. Most conversions (40%) were for performing a bowel resection, 35% were due to inadequate exposure, 2% were converted due to accidental bleeding and 7% due to iatrogenic injuries. The reoperation rate was 17% in the laparoscopically completed group versus 19% in the group converted to laparoscopy and 20% in the open group. Major complications occurred after 31.6% of the laparoscopically completed operations, after 46.4% of the converted operations and after 49.5% of the open operations. The median length of stay was eight days in the laparoscopic group, 12 days in the converted group and 11 days in the group of open operations. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, unselected group of major abdominal emergencies, we report a low rate of complications for operations conducted by an initial laparoscopic approach, and a high rate of conversion to open surgery, with 10% of the entire study population obtaining the benefits of a laparoscopic approach. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

The impact of acute high-risk abdominal surgery on quality of life in elderly patients.

INTRODUCTION: Undergoing acute high-risk abdominal (AHA) surgery is associated with reduced survival and a great risk of an adverse outcome, especially in the elderly. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the residential status and quality of life in elderly patients undergoing AHA surgery. METHODS: From 1 November 2014 to 30 April 2015, consecutive patients (≥ 75 years) undergoing AHA surgery were included for follow-up after six months. The patients included answered a health-related quality-of-life questionnaire and a supplemental questionnaire regarding residential status. The results were compared with an age-matched national control group. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients matched the inclusion crit-eria. Mortality at six months after surgery was 46%. Out of the 28 survivors, 22 participated in the study. Quality of life was estimated as good in 77% of the survivors and they were willing to undergo surgery again, if necessary. All study participants were admitted from their own home, and 95% had no change in residential status after six months. CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported quality of life in elderly survivors six months after AHA surgery was surprisingly good in a small study where all findings should be interpreted with precaution. The majority had no change in residential status. Our study may provide useful information for surgeons advising elderly patients and their families about realistic outcomes following AHA surgery. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency and registered with clinicaltrials.gov.

[Pre-sacral cyst as differential diagnosis to recurrent pilonidal cyst with abscess]. / Præsakral cyste som differentialdiagnose til recidiverende pilonidalcyste med abscess.

A 31-year-old man presented with a recurrent abscess in the gluteal cleft. It was interpreted as a pilonidal sinus and he underwent surgery several times. The modified Bascom's asymmetric midgluteal cleft closure technique was used without satisfying clinical remission. Endoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasound visualized a pre-sacral cyst, which was excised in toto with laterosacral approach of Kraske. A histological examination showed epidermal inclusion cyst. The post-operative course was uneventful.