Laparoscopic approach to acute abdomen from the Consensus Development Conference of the Società Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e nuove tecnologie (SICE), Associazione Chirurghi Ospedalieri Italiani (ACOI), Società Italiana di Chirurgia (SIC), Società Italiana di Chirurgia d'Urgenza e del Trauma (SICUT), Società Italiana di Chirurgia nell'Ospedalità Privata (SICOP), and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES).

BACKGROUND: In January 2010, the SICE (Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery), under the auspices of the EAES, decided to revisit the clinical recommendations for the role of laparoscopy in abdominal emergencies in adults, with the primary intent being to update the 2006 EAES indications and supplement the existing guidelines on specific diseases. METHODS: Other Italian surgical societies were invited into the Consensus to form a panel of 12 expert surgeons. In order to get a multidisciplinary panel, other stakeholders involved in abdominal emergencies were invited along with a patient's association. In November 2010, the panel met in Rome to discuss each chapter according to the Delphi method, producing key statements with a grade of recommendations followed by commentary to explain the rationale and the level of evidence behind the statements. Thereafter, the statements were presented to the Annual Congress of the EAES in June 2011. RESULTS: A thorough literature review was necessary to assess whether the recommendations issued in 2006 are still current. In many cases new studies allowed us to better clarify some issues (such as for diverticulitis, small bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, hernias, trauma), to confirm the key role of laparoscopy (such as for cholecystitis, gynecological disorders, nonspecific abdominal pain, appendicitis), but occasionally previous strong recommendations have to be challenged after review of recent research (such as for perforated peptic ulcer). CONCLUSIONS: Every surgeon has to develop his or her own approach, taking into account the clinical situation, her/his proficiency (and the experience of the team) with the various techniques, and the specific organizational setting in which she/he is working. This guideline has been developed bearing in mind that every surgeon could use the data reported to support her/his judgment.

Rate of reintubation in mechanically ventilated neurosurgical and neurologic patients: evaluation of a systematic approach to weaning and extubation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a systematic approach to weaning and extubation (intervention) is superior to the sole physician's judgment (control) in preventing reintubation secondary to extubation failure in patients with neurologic disorders. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a large teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred eighteen intubated patients who had been receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 12 hrs and were able to trigger the ventilator. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to the intervention (n = 165) or control group (n = 153). MEASUREMENTS: Rate of reintubation after extubation failure occurring within 48 hrs (primary end point). Duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, mortality, rate of tracheotomy (secondary end points). The perception of the research protocol by the intensive care unit staff was also assessed. MAIN RESULTS: The rate of reintubation was lower in the intervention (5%) than in the control (12.5%) group (p = 0.047). There was no difference in any of the other outcome variables (secondary end points). Simplified Acute Physiologic Score II (adjusted odds ratio 1.042 per unit; 95% confidence interval 1.006-1.080; p = 0.022) and inclusion in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 2.393; 95% confidence interval 1.000-5.726; p = 0.05) were the only two independent predictive factors for the risk of extubation failure. The protocol was felt by the staff to determine an improvement in patients' clinical outcome, but to increase intensive care unit workload; nurses and physiotherapists considered its impact on their professional role more positively than physicians. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with neurologic diseases, a systematic approach to weaning and extubation reduces the rate of reintubation secondary to extubation failure without affecting the duration of mechanical ventilation, and is overall positively perceived by intensive care unit professionals.

Giant intracranial aneurysms treated with deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest.

The use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), using groin cannulation with the chest closed (CCDHCA), has improved the surgical treatment of large and giant cerebral aneurysms. Twelve consecutive ASA I-II patients (10 women and 2 men), with a mean age of 35 years (range 14 to 55 y) underwent DHCA for clipping or trapping of their aneurysm (giant, n=10; large, n=2; 42% posterior circulation), under balanced general anesthesia. Intraoperative standard monitors were completed with jugular oxygen saturation, pulmonary artery, pulmonary artery occlusion, central venous pressures, electroencephalography, evoked potentials, and cerebral (subdural), and core temperature. At the start of circulatory arrest, brain temperature was 15.1+/-1.1 degrees C (range 13.5 to 17.5), and core temperature 14.1+/-1.1 degrees C (range 12.7 to 17.0). Mean circulatory arrest time was 26.5+/-13.9 minutes (range 9 to 54) and anesthesia lasted 14+/-1 hours. Only one patient underwent DHCA with standard sternotomy, because of aortic insufficiency. Follow-up (up to 70 mo) revealed no deaths and Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months revealed good recovery in 9, moderate disability in 1, and severe disability in 2 patients. Selected patients with large/giant intracranial aneurysms, deemed unapproachable by conventional surgical techniques, were successfully treated using CCDHCA. Mortality rate was 0% and neurologic complications occurred in 25% of the patients.