Advancing geriatric surgical outcomes in elective ventral and incisional hernia repair surgeries: An American college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program study.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing age is known to be associated with increased risk for postoperative morbidity and mortality, however, the goal of this study was to determine if an increase in age correlates to differences in surgical outcomes for elective ventral hernia repair. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using American College of Surgeons NSQIP database from 2016 to 2020. Included diagnosis codes were laparoscopic or open incisional or ventral hernia repairs, categorized into three age groups: 18-64y, 65-74y, and ≥75y. Thirty-day perioperative outcomes analyzed using bivariate χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified 116,643 people who had elective ventral or incisional hernia repair. Compared to 18-64y and 65-74y age groups, patients ≥75y were significantly more likely to develop any post-operative complication, be re-admitted post-operatively for any reason, have an extended hospital stay, and require a reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients ≥75y have significantly higher rates of perioperative complications after elective hernia repair compared to younger patients.

The impact of minimally invasive surgery and frailty on post-hepatectomy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The impact of patient frailty on post-hepatectomy outcomes is not well studied. We hypothesized that patient frailty is a strong predictor of 30-day post-hepatectomy complications. METHODS: The liver-targeted National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for 2014-2019 was reviewed. A validated modified frailty index (mFI) was used. RESULTS: A total of 24,150 hepatectomies were reviewed. Worsening frailty was associated with increased incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications (mFI 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 was 3.9%, 6.3%, 10%, 8.1%, 50% respectively; p < 0.001). Minimally invasive hepatectomies had a lower rate of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications for non-frail (Laparoscopic: 1%, Robotic: 2.6%, Open: 4.6%; p < 0.001) and frail patients (Laparoscopic: 3%, Robotic: 2.3%, Open: 7.7%; p < 0.001). Frail patients experienced higher incidence of post-hepatectomy liver failure (5.4% vs 4.1% for non-frail; p < 0.001) and grade C liver failure (28% vs 21.1% for non-frail; p = 0.03). Incorporating mFI to Albumin-Bilirubin score (ALBI) improved its ability to predict Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications (AUC improved from 0.609 to 0.647; p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (AUC improved from 0.663 to 0.72; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Worsening frailty correlates with increased incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications post-hepatectomy, whereas minimally invasive approaches decrease this risk. Incorporating frailty assessment to ALBI improves its ability to predict major postoperative complications and 30-day mortality.

Are Concomitant Operations During Bariatric Surgery Safe? An Analysis of the MBSAQIP Database.

INTRODUCTION: The American College of Surgeons tracks 30-day outcomes using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality Initiative Program (MBSAQIP) database. We examined the short-term outcomes of patients that undergo bariatric surgery concomitantly with other operations such as hernia repairs and cholecystectomy to determine the safety of this practice. METHODS: The MBSAQIP Participant Use Data File for 2015-2017 was examined for differences in primary bariatric operations vs concomitant procedures (CP). We looked for concurrent CPT codes for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and hernia repairs (ventral, epigastric, incisional, and inguinal). p was significant at < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 464,674 cases, of which 15,614 had CP. For both LRYGB+LC and SG+LC, there were increased operative times and length of stay. There were statistically significant higher rates of readmission, reintervention, and reoperation for SG+LC vs SG alone, as well as for LRYGB+hernia and SG+hernia. There was a higher risk of death (p < 0.001) in LRYGB+hernia patients. Also, LRYGB+hernia patients had statistically significant increases in unplanned admission to the intensive care unit and pulmonary embolus. SG+hernia patients had a higher rate of ventilation > 48 h, unplanned admission to the ICU, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and readmission, reintervention, and reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically higher rate of complications with concomitant procedures in the MBSAQIP database. Length of stay and operative times are increased in concomitant operations as are readmissions, reinterventions, and reoperations. These findings would indicate that additional procedures at the time of bariatric surgery should be deferred if possible.

Concomitant Hiatal Hernia Repair with Sleeve Gastrectomy: A 5-Year Analysis.

Background: The sleeve gastrectomy (SG) can be associated with postoperative gastroesophageal reflux and when a hiatal hernia (HH) is present, it should be fixed. Earlier studies have shown that 20% of SG have a concomitant hiatal hernia repair (SG+HHR). The aim of this project is to determine the rate of SG+HHR in a large state administrative database. Methods: The Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File (IPUDF) and Outpatient Public Use Data File (OPUDF) for the years 2013-2017 were examined for patients that underwent SG+HHR at the same time. Patient demographics, diagnosis, and charge data were also examined. A t-test was performed between groups and P was considered significant at < 0.05. Results: In the OPUDF, there were 6,193 (33.7%) patients who underwent SG+HHR out of 18,403 patients who underwent SG. Mean charges were $94,741 [standard deviation (SD) = $87,284]. Length of stay (LOS) was 2.1 (SD = 3.5) vs 2.3 days (SD = 3.3) with a shorter stay for SG+HHR vs SG alone (P < 0.001). In the IPUDF, there were 11,536 (21.1%) patients who underwent SG+HHR out of 54,545 patients who underwent SG. Mean charges were $69,006 (SD = $46,365). LOS was 1.59 days (SD = 3.7) for SG+HHR vs 1.63 days (SD = 1.6) for SG (P = .043). The rate of SG+HHR increased over the study period. Conclusions: SG+HHR is common in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. There is a yearly trend of increasing rates of SG+HHR.

Coriocarcinoma: reporte de 3 casos / Choriocarcinoma: report of 3 cases

La enfermedad trofoblástica gestacional (ETG) es un trastorno proliferativo de las células del trofoblasto. La ETG más agresiva es el coriocarcinoma, debido a su rápida invasión vascular y formación de múltiples metástasis. Presentamos tres casos de coriocarcinoma poco frecuentes. Tres mujeres de 30, 47 y 44 años, respectivamente, acudieron a Emergencia por ginecorragia y tumoración vaginal con variaciones de presentación y antecedentes significativos, encontrándose en todas ellas metástasis diversas y raras. Se presenta estos casos, por ser una patología poco frecuente pero extremadamente agresiva, con amplio espectro clínico, presentaciones inusuales y necesidad de un diagnóstico precoz para su óptimo tratamiento.

Gestational trophoblastic disease is a proliferative disorder of trophoblast cells. Choriocarcinoma is the most aggressive type due to its rapid vascular invasion and metastasis formation. We present three rare cases of choriocarcinoma. Three women 30, 47, and 44 years old respectively were admitted for vaginal bleeding and vaginal tumor as main complaints with different presentations of the disease and past medical history; various and rare metastases were found. We report these cases because of their rarity and aggressive pathology, showing a wide clinical spectrum, unusual presentations and the need for early diagnostic and optimal treatment.

Culture and alcohol use: historical and sociocultural themes from 75 years of alcohol research.

OBJECTIVE: For the period of almost 75 years, we examined the literature for studies regarding the influences of culture on alcohol use and misuse. METHOD: This review is a chronology of research articles published from 1940 to 2013. From a structured literature search with select criteria, 38 articles were identified and 34 reviewed. RESULTS: This analysis revealed a progression across this period of research from studies that began as descriptive ethnographic evaluations of one or more indigenous societies or cultural groups, evolving to studies using complex multivariate models to test cross-cultural effects in two or more cultural groups. Major findings across this period include the assertions that (a) a function of alcohol use may be to reduce anxiety, (b) certain cultural groups possess features of alcohol use that are not associated with negative consequences, (c) the disruptive effects of acculturative change and the stressors of new demands are associated with an increase in alcohol consumption, (d) cultural groups shape expectations about the effects of alcohol use and their definition of drunkenness, and (e) the hypothesized relationships of culture with alcohol use and misuse have been demonstrated in multivariate model analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Across this 75-year period, the early proposition that culture is an important and prominent correlate of alcohol use and misuse has persisted. Within the current era of alcohol studies, this proposition has been supported by multivariate model analyses. Thus, the proposition that culture might affect alcohol use remains prominent and is as relevant today as it was when it was first proposed nearly 75 years ago.

El control de armas como estrategiade reducción de la violencia en Colombia: pertinencia, estado y desafíos / Arms control as a strategy for violence-reduction in Colombia: pertinence, status and challenges

Este documento tiene como objetivo realizar una exploración de los datos provenientes de diferentes fuentes sobre violencia relacionada con armas de fuego, con el fin de visibilizar el impacto que estas han tenido en la población colombiana durante las tres últimas décadas. Seguidamente se presenta una reseña de la dinámica reciente y el marco normativo sobre el cual se realiza el control de armas en el país, y un breve recuento de las estrategias implementadas. En la última sección se exponen los desafíos y debates planteados al respecto, incluyendo cómo el marco normativo existente impone trabas a la implementación de planes de desarme, sobre los cuales se han demostrado impactos positivos en la reducción de la violencia

The objective of this document is carrying out an exploration of data form different sources about violence relating to firearms, in order to visualize their impact on the Colombian population during the past three decades. Next, a review of the most recent dynamics is offered as well as the normative framework within which arm control is performed in the country, and a brief recount of strategies already implemented. In the last section, both challenges and debates raising in this respect are exposed, including how the current normative frame imposes obstacles to the implementation of disarmament plans about which positive impacts have been proved being effective in actually reducing violence