Evolution and results of the surgical management of 143 cases of severe acute pancreatitis in a referral centre.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is the accepted treatment for infected acute pancreatitis, although mortality remains high. As an alternative, a staged management has been proposed to improve results. Initial percutaneous drainage could allow surgery to be postponed, and improve postoperative results. Few centres in Spain have published their results of surgery for acute pancreatitis. OBJECTIVE: To review the results obtained after surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis during a period of 12 years, focusing on postoperative mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have reviewed the experience in the surgical treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) at Bellvitge University Hospital from 1999 to 2011. To analyse the results, 2 periods were considered, before and after 2005. A descriptive and analytical study of risk factors for postoperative mortality was performed RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were operated on for SAP, and necrosectomy or debridement of pancreatic and/or peripancreatic necrosis was performed, or exploratory laparotomy in cases of massive intestinal ischemia. Postoperative mortality was 25%. Risk factors were advanced age (over 65 years), the presence of organ failure, sterility of the intraoperative simple, and early surgery (< 7 days). The only risk factor for mortality in the multivariant analysis was the time from the start of symptoms to surgery of<7 days; furthermore, 50% of these patients presented infection in one of the intraoperative cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic infection can appear at any moment in the evolution of the disease, even in early stages. Surgery for SAP has a high mortality rate, and its delay is a factor to be considered in order to improve results.

Long-Term Effects of a Stepwise, Multimodal, Non-Restrictive Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme for Reducing Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use in the ICU.

Information on the long-term effects of non-restrictive antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies is scarce. We assessed the effect of a stepwise, multimodal, non-restrictive AMS programme on broad-spectrum antibiotic use in the intensive care unit (ICU) over an 8-year period. Components of the AMS were progressively implemented. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing was also assessed by monthly point-prevalence surveys from 2013 onwards. A Poisson regression model was fitted to evaluate trends in the reduction of antibiotic use and in the appropriateness of their prescription. From 2011 to 2019, a total of 12,466 patients were admitted to the ICU. Antibiotic use fell from 185.4 to 141.9 DDD per 100 PD [absolute difference, -43.5 (23%), 95% CI -100.73 to 13.73; p = 0.13] and broad-spectrum antibiotic fell from 41.2 to 36.5 [absolute difference, -4.7 (11%), 95% CI -19.58 to 10.18; p = 0.5]. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing rose by 11% per year [IRR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.00; p = 0.048], while broad-spectrum antibiotic use showed a dual trend, rising by 22% until 2015 and then falling by 10% per year since 2016 [IRR: 0.90, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.99; p = 0.03]. This stepwise, multimodal, non-restrictive AMS achieved a sustained reduction in broad-spectrum antibiotic use in the ICU and significantly improved appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing.

The role of perioperative cardiorespiratory support in post infarction ventricular septal rupture-related cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend emergency surgical correction in patients with post infarction ventricular septal rupture (PIVSR), but patients with multiorgan failure are commonly managed conservatively because of high surgical risk. We assessed characteristics and outcomes of operated PIVSR patients with or without the use of short-term ventricular assist devices (ST-VADs). We also assessed the impact of a ST-VAD on the performance of surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed all consecutive patients with PIVSR between January 2004 and May 2017. Baseline clinical characteristics, use of ST-VAD and performance of surgery during admission were assessed. The main outcome measured was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were included. Mean age was 69.2 years. Most patients (20/28, 71.4%) underwent surgical repair. ST-VADs were used in 11/28 patients (39.3%). This percentage progressively increased across the study period, from 22.2% (2/9) in 2004-2011 to 58.3% (7/12) in 2015-2017 (p=0.091). Patients undergoing ST-VAD use had poorer INTERMACS status, higher values of creatinine, lactate and alanine aminotransferase and lower left ventricular ejection fraction as compared with operated patients without support. In-hospital mortality did not differ according to the use of ST-VADs in operated patients (27.3% without ST-VAD vs. 22.2% with ST-VAD, p=0.604). All five patients undergoing early preoperative venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support and delayed surgery survived at hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: ST-VAD use increased in patients with PIVSR. Despite a higher risk profile in operated patients undergoing ST-VAD use, mortality was not significantly different in these patients. Early preoperative venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered for very high risk PIVSR patients.

Factors influencing mortality in patients undergoing surgery for acute pancreatitis: importance of peripancreatic tissue and fluid infection.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of present study were to analyze the mortality risk factors in patients who had surgery for acute pancreatitis and to assess the importance of culturing peripancreatic tissue or fluid infection to ascertain the infection status. METHODS: Surgery was indicated both in patients with infected severe acute pancreatitis and in those with sterile pancreatitis with an unfavorable course. During surgery, cultures were taken of tissues (pancreatic necrosis and peripancreatic fat), intra-abdominal fluid, and bile. RESULTS: Of 107 patients operated on, fluid culture was analyzed in 94 patients, pancreatic necrosis in 61 patients, peripancreatic fat in 39 patients, and bile in 38 patients. Sterile pancreatitis with sterile ascites was found in 17 patients, sterile pancreatitis with infected ascites in 22, and pancreatic tissue infection in 60. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sterile tissue cultures, age over 65 years, and fewer than 12 days between the beginning of pain and surgery were risk factors for mortality. Sterile pancreatitis with sterile ascites and sterile pancreatitis with infected ascites had similar postoperative mortality (41% and 50%, respectively); the group with pancreatic tissue infection had a lower mortality (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Early surgery, advanced age, and sterility of tissue cultures have been demonstrated as mortality factors for acute pancreatitis. Intra-abdominal fluid may be infected in the presence of sterile necrosis.