Acute abdomen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome. Importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Systemic lupus erithematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with multiorgan involvement caused principally by vasculitis of small vessels. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most frequently affected by SLE, with abdominal pain as the most common symptom. An early diagnosis and treatment of lupus enteritis is essential to avoid complications like hemorrhage or perforation, with up to 50 % of mortality rate. However, differential diagnosis sometimes is difficult, especially with other types of gastrointestinal diseases as digestive involvement of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), moreover when both entities may coexist. We describe the case of a patient with both diseases that was diagnosed with lupus enteritis and treated with steroid therapy; the patient had an excellent response.

[Post-appendectomy surgical site infection: overall rate and type according to open/laparoscopic approach]. / Infección de sitio quirúrgico tras apendicectomía urgente: tasa global y tipo según la vía de abordaje (abierta/laparoscópica).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence and profile of surgical site infection (SSI) after laparoscopic (LA) or open (OA) appendicectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Observational and analytical study was conducted on patients older than 14years-old with suspected acute appendicitis operated on within a 4-year period (2007-2010) at a third level hospital (n=868). They were divided in two groups according to the type of appendicectomy (LA, study group, 135; OA, control group, 733). The primary endpoint was a surgical site infection (SSI), and to determine the overall rate and types (incisional/organ-space). The risk of SSI was stratified by: i)National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) index (low risk: 0E, 0 and 1; high risk: 2 and 3); ii)status on presentation (low risk: normal or phlegmonous; high risk: gangrenous or perforated). The statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS. The main result and stratified analysis was determined with χ(2), and the risk parameters using OR and Mantel-Haenszel OR with 95%CI, accepting statistical significance with P<.05. RESULTS: Age, gender, ASA index and incidence of advanced cases were similar in both groups. The overall SSI rate was 13.4% (more than a half of them detected during follow-up after discharge). Type of SSI: OA, 13% (superficial 9%, deep 2%, organ-space 2%); AL, 14% (superficial 5%, deep 1%, organ-space 8%) (overall: not significant; distribution: P<.000). Stratified analysis showed that there is an association between incisional SSI/OA and organ-space SSI/LA, and is particularly stronger in those patients with high risk of postoperative SSI (high risk NNIS or gangrenous-perforated presentation). CONCLUSION: OA and LA are associated with a higher rate of incisional and organ-space SSI respectively. This is particularly evident in patients with high risk of SSI.

[Radiological support for diagnosis of acute appendicitis: use, effectiveness and clinical repercussions]. / Empleo, eficacia y repercusión clínica del apoyo radiológico al diagnóstico de la apendicitis aguda.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the increasing need of radiological support in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA), the clinical repercussions associated, and the parameters of diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan for AA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational and analytical study. Cohort, patients operated on for suspected AA at a tertiary referral hospital. Pregnancy and <14 years were exclusion criteria. STUDY GROUP: January 2010-December 2011 (n1=419). CONTROL GROUP: set of patients aged 18 to 65 years old operated between October 2001-September 2003 (n2=237). Variables analyzed in both groups: 1) percentage of radiological support for diagnosis of acute appendicitis; 2) sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of ultrasound and CT scan; 3) rate of surgical explorations with negative result or with diagnosis other than acute appendicitis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS software, χ(2) test, statistical significance accepted with P<.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Age, gender, percentage of atypical locations and gangrenous/perforated episodes were similar in both groups. The number of radiological examinations needed for diagnosis was significantly higher in the study group (78.8% vs. 30.4%, P<.0,000). Sensitivity was significantly superior for CT than for ultrasound scan (97% vs. 86%), but PPV was similar in both tests (92% vs. 94%). Surgical exploration percent values with diagnosis of acute appendicitis was significantly higher in the study group (94.5% vs. 88.6%; P<.006, OR 2.2; CI 95% 1.25-4). CONCLUSIONS: CT and ultrasound scan are excellent diagnostic tools for acute appendicitis, and have contributed to a significant increase in surgical explorations with correct diagnosis.

[Experience of a cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy fast-track program]. / Experiencia de un programa de fast-track en la duodenopancreatectomía cefálica.

INTRODUCTION: Fast-track surgery has been proposed as a valid method in pancreatic surgery. Although morbidity and mortality has improved in the last decade, the prevalence of postoperative complications is still high. The aim of this study is to analyse the results of a programme of Fast-track surgery in this context. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients who underwent a cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy with a programme of early recovery after surgery, were analysed. There were 53 men, with a median age of 63 years old. The median hospital stay was 9 days, with 14.6% of readmissions. The Clavien-DeOliveira Classification was applied to evaluate the severity of postoperative complications. The overall morbidity was 47.6%. The most common complications were general, followed by infection of surgical wound and cardiopulmonary events. Taking into account that a surgical drain was used in 32% of patients, the prevalence of pancreatic fistula was 8.5%, and were classified in the most severity grades (III, IV and V). The postoperative mortality was 4.9%. The associated surgery was a risk factor of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The Fast-track programme after pancreatoduodenectomy in high volume centres is a safe and effective method, that can improve the morbidty and mortality results.

Influence of Preoperative Muscle Mass Assessed by Computed Tomography on Prognosis After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia (SP) and preoperative muscle mass are independent predictive factors for short- and long-term outcome of liver transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of muscle mass index (MMI) and preoperative SP on the prognosis of patients who underwent liver transplantation in our hospital. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients who underwent liver transplantation in the Regional University Hospital of Málaga from September 2013 to March 2016 were analyzed. SP was determined based on the MMI, as assessed by psoas muscle area at the L4 level measured by computed tomography (CT), with adjustment for patient sex. Two cohorts were differentiated: 54 patients without SP and 42 patients with SP. Postoperative complications, graft survival, and patient survival were assessed. A 3-year follow-up was carried out. RESULTS: Recipient characteristics were similar in both cohorts, except for MMI ± SD (group without SP: 94.03 ± 15.43 cm2/m2 vs group with SP: 56.99 ± 13.59 cm2/m2; P = .001). The incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien ≥ 3) in patients with and without SP was 39.5% and 24.1%, respectively (P = .08). SP was not associated with poorer long-term graft or patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: SP, determined by preoperative measurement of MMI, was identified as a predictive factor associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications. Since MMI can be easily determined by CT, it should be assessed in all candidates for liver transplantation.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis: Surgical indications and technical procedures.

Necrosis of pancreatic parenchyma or extrapancreatic tissues is present in 10%-20% of patients with acute pancreatitis, defining the necrotizing presentation frequently associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. During the initial phase of acute necrotizing pancreatitis the most important pillars of medical treatment are fluid resuscitation, early enteral nutrition, endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography if associated cholangitis and intensive care unit support. When infection of pancreatic or extrapancreatic necrosis occurs, surgical approach constitutes the most accepted therapeutic option. In this context, we have recently assited to changes in time for surgery (delaying the indication if possible to around 4 wk to deal with "walled-off" necrosis) and type of access for necrosectomy: from a classical open approach (with closure over large-bore drains for continued postoperative lavage or semiopen techniques with scheduled relaparotomies), trends have changed to a "step-up" philosophy with initial percutaneous drainage and posterior minimally invasive or endoscopic access to the retroperitoneal cavity for necrosectomy if no improvement has been previously achieved. These approaches are progressively gaining popularity and morbidity and mortality rates have decreased significantly. Therefore, a staged, multidisciplinary, step-up approach with minimally invasive or endoscopic access for necrosectomy is widely accepted nowadays for management of pancreatic necrosis.