[A study of the predictive value of the primary review and complementary examinations in assessing the need for surgery in patients with stab wounds in the torso]. / Estudio del valor predictivo de la revisión primaria y de las exploraciones complementarias para anticipar la necesidad de intervención quirúrgica en pacientes con heridas de arma blanca en el torso.

INTRODUCTION: Observation is the gold standard for stable patients with stab wounds. The aim of the study was to analyse the value of the primary review and complementary examinations to predict the need for surgery in stab wound patients in order to decrease observation times. METHODS: A retrospective study of stab wound patients recorded in a database. Clinical and diagnostic workup parameters were analysed. The main variable was the need for surgery. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were included between 2006 and 2009, with a mean injury severity score (ISS) of 7.8±7, and 0.5% mortality. More than half (52%) of the patients suffered multiple wounds. Wound distribution was 23% neck, 46% thorax and 31% abdomen. Surgery was required in 73 (37%) patients (59% immediate, 27% delayed and 14% delayed). The need for surgery was associated with a lower revised trauma score (RTS), evisceration, active bleeding, and fascial penetration. Initial and control haemoglobin levels were significantly lower in patients who required surgery. A positive computerised tomography (CT) scan was associated with surgery. There were complications in 18% of patients, and they were more frequent in those who underwent surgery. There was no difference in complication rates between immediate and delayed (P=.72). Surgery was finally required in 10% of the patients with no abnormalities in the primary review and diagnostic workup, and 6% of those developed complications. CONCLUSION: None of the parameters studied could individually assess the need for surgery. Primary and secondary reviews were the most important diagnostic tool, but CT scan should be used more often. An observation period of 24 hours is recommended in torso penetrating wounds.

Scientific evidence of the duration of antibiotic treatment in intra-abdominal infections with surgical focus control.

A non-systematic review of the published scientific evidence has been carried out on the duration of empirical antibiotic treatment in surgical intra-abdominal infections (IIA) with effective focus control. Given the progressive increase in antibiotic resistance, it is urgent to have strategies to reduce the pressure on the microbiota. The American guidelines made by Mazuski et al. of 20171, as the central axis in the recommendations of the duration of empirical antibiotic treatment in intra-abdominal infections with control of the focus and a bibliographic search of all the articles that contained the keywords in Pubmed and Google Scholar is added. 21 articles referring to the duration of empirical antibiotic treatment in intra-abdominal infection with control of the focus are collected. With the American guidelines and these articles, a proposal is prepared for the duration of empirical antibiotic treatment in patients without risk factors between 24 and 72 h. And in those who present risk factors, it should be individualized with active monitoring every 24 h of fever, paralytic ileus and leukocytosis (FIL), before an early detection of complications or the need for changes in antibiotic treatment. Short treatments are just as effective as those of longer durations and are associated with fewer adverse effects, therefore, daily adjusting and reassessing the duration of empirical antibiotic treatment is essential for better practice.