RESUMO
Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common cause for seeking care. Previous studies have shown considerable variations in TBI management. New guidelines may have influenced management routines. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, collecting data through structured questionnaires. All Swedish emergency hospitals that manage and treat adult patients with mTBI (Reaction Level Scale [RLS] 1-3, Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] 13-15, age > 18 years) for the initial 24 h after injury were included in this study. Results: The response rate among hospitals fulfilling the study criteria's was 61/67 (91%). We observed a distinct predominance of nonspecialists being responsible for the initial management of these patients, with general surgeons and ED-physicians being the dominating specialties. A total of 45/61 (74%) of the hospitals use a guideline when managing TBI, with 12 hospitals (20%) stating that no guideline was used. Conclusion: In general, established guidelines are used for the management of TBI in Sweden. However, some of these are outdated and several hospitals used local guidelines not based upon reliable evidence-based methodology. Most patients with TBI are managed by nonspecialist doctors, stressing the need of a reliable guideline.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Complications after breast reconstructive surgery are common, and they can be caused by a wide range of factors. The aim of the present study was to identify independent perioperative risk factors for postoperative complications after breast reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 623 consecutive breast cancer patients who had undergone deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, latissimus dorsi (LD) flap, lateral thoracodorsal flap (LTDF), or tissue expander with secondary implant (EXP). Data on demography, perioperative parameters, and complications were collected. Logistic regression models adjusted to the reconstruction method and to confounding demographic factors were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Increased blood loss for each 10-ml step increased the risk for overall early complications (p = 0.017), early seroma (p = 0.037), early resurgery (p = 0.010), late local overall complications (p = 0.024), and late fat necrosis (p = 0.031). Longer duration of surgery for each 10-minute step increased the risk of overall early complications (p = 0.019), but, in the univariate model, there was an increased risk for nine different types of complications (p = 0.004-0.029). There was no association between the experience of the surgeon performing the procedure and the frequency of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of surgery and blood loss during surgery are independent risk factors for postoperative complications, and should be minimised. Further research is needed to establish the association between the experience of the surgeon and the occurrence of complications.