Professor Ian Aird: Master of surgical education.

Ian Aird (1905-1962) was a Scottish surgeon renowned for his textbook: "A companion in surgical studies", a uniquely single-author work of thousands of pages. It was an essential study for young surgeons aspiring to pass the FRCS (Edin) examination. He was appointed Chair of Surgery of the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital in London. Under his direction, his faculty developed a pump oxygenator, used it successfully for the first time in a patient and introduced cardiac surgery in Russia. They also pioneered kidney transplantation in Britain. Aird himself discovered the relationship of blood groups to cancer and peptic ulceration. He became famous for the surgical separation of conjoined twins from Nigeria, fame that created conflicts with medical authority on the issue of cooperating with the press. He became frustrated when the medical council refused to support and sponsor funding for research. Sadly, even his indomitable energy and brilliance could not see him through his depression. He committed suicide at the age of 57.

Meckel's diverticulum and the eponymous legend.

Johann Friedrich Meckel (1781-1833) was a 19th century anatomist born into an eminent dynasty. He was a professor of anatomy, pathology, and zoology at the University of Halle, in Central Germany. The diverticulum, a congenital remnant of the vitellointestinal duct was named after him. Other eponyms include Meckel's cartilage, Meckel syndrome, and Meckel-Serres law of recapitulation. His concepts in comparative anatomy, embryology, and teratology anticipated Darwin. This review is a short tribute to this legend and his prolific contributions. LEVEL: Historic review, level V.

Management of duodenal trauma: A retrospective review from the Panamerican Trauma Society.

INTRODUCTION: The operative management of duodenal trauma remains controversial. Our hypothesis is that a simplified operative approach could lead to better outcomes. METHODS: We conducted an international multicenter study, involving 13 centers. We performed a retrospective review from January 2007 to December of 2016. Data on demographics, mechanism of trauma, blood loss, operative time, and associated injured organs were collected. Outcomes included postoperative intra-abdominal sepsis, leak, need for unplanned surgery, length of stay, renal failure, and mortality. We used the Research Electronic Data Capture tool to store the data. Poisson regression using a backward selection method was used to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: We collected data of 372 patients with duodenal injuries. Although the duodenal trauma was complex (median Injury Severity Score [ISS], 18 [interquartile range, 2-3]; Abbreviated Injury Scale, 3.5 [3-4]; American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade, 3 [2-3]), primary repair alone was the most common type of operative management (80%, n = 299). Overall mortality was 24%. On univariate analysis, mortality was associated with male gender, lower admission systolic blood pressure, need for transfusion before operative repair, higher intraoperative blood loss, longer operative time, renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, higher ISS, and associated pancreatic injury. Poisson regression showed higher ISS, associated pancreatic injury, postoperative renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, the need for preoperative transfusion, and male gender remained significant predictors of mortality. Duodenal suture line leak was statistically significantly lower, and patients had primary repair over every American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The need for transfusion prior to the operating room, associated pancreatic injuries, and postoperative renal failure are predictors of mortality for patients with duodenal injuries. Primary repair alone is a common and safe operative repair even for complex injuries when feasible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV.

Developing congenital heart surgery in India: The travails and triumphs of a pioneer.

Professor IM Rao, from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, was a pioneering cardiac surgeon who, against overwhelming odds, developed congenital heart surgery in India. He made many contributions to the evolution of his specialty, spanning more than four decades and three countries. This is a brief report of his professional life and accomplishments.

Panamerican Trauma Society: The first three decades.

Panamerican Trauma Society was born 30 years ago with the mission of improving trauma care in the Americas by exchange of ideas and concepts and expanding knowledge of trauma and acute illness. The authors, immediate-past leaders of the organization, review the evolution of this assembly of diverse cultures and nationalities.

International rotations: A valuable source to supplement operative experience for acute-care surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care fellows.

BACKGROUND: Acute-care surgery (ACS), trauma, and surgical critical care (SCC) fellowships graduate fellows deemed qualified to perform complex cases immediately upon graduation. We hypothesize international fellow rotations can be a resource to supplement operative case exposure. METHODS: A survey was sent to all program directors (PDs) of ACS and SCC fellowships via e-mail. Data were captured and analyzed using the REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) tool. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 113 PDs, with a response rate of 42%. Most fellows performed less than 150 operative cases (59.5%). The majority of PDs thought the operative exposure either could be improved or was not enough to ensure expertise in trauma and emergent general surgery. Only a minority of the PDs found their case load exceptional (can be improved: 43%, not enough: 30% exceptional: 27%). Most PDs thought an international experience could supplement the breadth of cases, provide research opportunities, and improve understanding of trauma systems (70%). Ten sites offered international rotations (70%). Most fellowships would be willing to provide reciprocity to the host institution (90%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of PDs for ACS, trauma, and SCC programs perceive a need for increased quality and quantity of operative cases. The majority recognize international fellow rotations as a valuable tool to supplement fellows' education.

History of the Innovation of Damage Control for Management of Trauma Patients: 1902-2016.

OBJECTIVE: To review the history of the innovation of damage control (DC) for management of trauma patients. BACKGROUND: DC is an important development in trauma care that provides a valuable case study in surgical innovation. METHODS: We searched bibliographic databases (1950-2015), conference abstracts (2009-2013), Web sites, textbooks, and bibliographies for articles relating to trauma DC. The innovation of DC was then classified according to the Innovation, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term study model of surgical innovation. RESULTS: The "innovation" of DC originated from the use of therapeutic liver packing, a practice that had previously been abandoned after World War II because of adverse events. It then "developed" into abbreviated laparotomy using "rapid conservative operative techniques." Subsequent "exploration" resulted in the application of DC to increasingly complex abdominal injuries and thoracic, peripheral vascular, and orthopedic injuries. Increasing use of DC laparotomy was followed by growing reports of postinjury abdominal compartment syndrome and prophylactic use of the open abdomen to prevent intra-abdominal hypertension after DC laparotomy. By the year 2000, DC surgery had been widely adopted and was recommended for use in surgical journals, textbooks, and teaching courses ("assessment" stage of innovation). "Long-term study" of DC is raising questions about whether the procedure should be used more selectively in the context of improving resuscitation practices. CONCLUSIONS: The history of the innovation of DC illustrates how a previously abandoned surgical technique was adapted and readopted in response to an increased understanding of trauma patient physiology and changing injury patterns and trauma resuscitation practices.

Trauma Registry of the Pan-American Trauma Society: One year of experience in two hospitals in southwest Colombia / Registro de Trauma de la Sociedad Panamericana de Trauma: Un año de experiencia en dos hospitales en el suroccidente colombiano

Abstract Background: Trauma information systems are needed to improve decision making and to identify potential areas of intervention. Objective: To describe the first year of experience with a trauma registry in two referral centers in southwest Colombia. Methods: The study was performed in two referral centers in Cali. Patients with traumatic injuries seen between January 1 and December 31, 2012, were included. The collected information included demographics, mechanism of trauma, injury severity score (ISS), and mortality. A descriptive analysis was carried out. Results: A total of 17,431 patients were registered, of which 67.8% were male with an average age of 30 (±20) years. Workplace injuries were the cause of emergency consultations in 28.2% of cases, and falls were the most common mechanism of trauma (37.3%). Patients with an ISS ≥15 were mostly found in the 18-35-year age range (6.4%). Most patients who suffered a gunshot wound presented an ISS ≥15. A total of 2.5% of all patients died, whereas the mortality rate was 54% among patients with an ISS ≥15 and a gunshot wound. Conclusion: Once the trauma registry was successfully implemented in two institutions in Cali, the primary causes of admission were identified as falls and workplace injuries. The most severely compromised patients were in the population range between 18 and 35 years of age. The highest mortality was caused by gunshot wounds.

Resumen Introducción: Los sistemas de información en trauma son requeridos para mejorar la toma de decisiones e identificar potenciales áreas de intervención. Objetivo: Describir el primer año de experiencia del registro de trauma en dos centros de referencia de trauma del suroccidente Colombiano. Métodos: Estudio realizado en dos centros de referencia de Cali. Se incluyeron pacientes con trauma o lesiones externas entre el 1-Ene y el 31-Dic-2012. Se recolectó información demográfica, relacionada con mecanismos de trauma, severidad (ISS) y mortalidad. Se presenta un análisis descriptivo. Resultados: Se registraron 17,431 pacientes. El 67.8% de los pacientes eran de género masculino con edad promedio de 30 (±20) años. Las lesiones laborales fueron causa de consulta a urgencias en un 28.2%, y las caídas el mecanismo de trauma más frecuente (37.3%). Los pacientes con ISS ≥15 en su mayoría se encontraban en el rango de edad de 18-35 años (6.4%). El 28% de los pacientes que sufrieron lesión por arma de fuego presentaron un ISS ≥15. El 2.5% de los pacientes murieron y aquellos pacientes con ISS ≥15 y lesión por arma de fuego presentaron mortalidad del 54%. Conclusión: una vez se logró implementar el registro de trauma en dos instituciones en Cali, se identificó que la principal causa de ingreso fue secundaria a caídas y las lesiones laborales. Los pacientes más severamente comprometidos están en el rango de población entre 18 a 35 años. La mayor mortalidad se presentó secundario a lesiones de causa externa por arma de fuego.

WSES Guidelines for the management of acute left sided colonic diverticulitis in the emergency setting.

Acute left sided colonic diverticulitis is one of the most common clinical conditions encountered by surgeons in acute setting. A World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) Consensus Conference on acute diverticulitis was held during the 3rd World Congress of the WSES in Jerusalem, Israel, on July 7th, 2015. During this consensus conference the guidelines for the management of acute left sided colonic diverticulitis in the emergency setting were presented and discussed. This document represents the executive summary of the final guidelines approved by the consensus conference.

Defining the cervical spine clearance algorithm: A single-institution prospective study of more than 9,000 patients.

BACKGROUND: Variability exists in the approach to cervical spine (c-spine) clearance after significant trauma. Using concurrently gathered data on more than 9,000 such patients, the current study develops an evidence-based and readily adoptable algorithm for c-spine clearance aimed at timely removal of collar, optimal use of imaging, and appropriate spine consultations. METHODS: Prospective study of adult blunt trauma team alert (TTA) patients presenting at a Level I trauma center who underwent screening computed tomography (CT) to diagnose/rule out c-spine injury (January 2008 to May 2014). Regression analysis comparing patients with and without c-spine injury-fracture and/or ligament-was used to identify significant predictors of injury. The predictors with the highest odds ratio were used to develop the algorithm. RESULTS: Among 9,227 patients meeting inclusion criteria, c-spine injury was identified in 553 patients (5.99%). All 553 patients had a c-spine fracture, and of these, 57 patients (0.6% of entire population and 10.31% of patients with injury) also had a ligamentous injury. No patient with a normal CT result was found to have an injury. The five greatest predictors of ligament injury that follow were used to develop the algorithm: (1) CT evidence of ligament injury; (2) fracture pattern "not" isolated transverse/spinous process; (3) neurologic symptoms; (4) midline tenderness; and (5) Glasgow Coma Scale score <15. CONCLUSION: TTA patients should undergo screening c-spine CT to rule out injury. Most patients will have a negative CT and can have their collars removed. A select group of patients will require collars and spine consultation and a smaller subset of magnetic resonance imaging to rule out ligament injury. LEVEL OF EVEDINCE: Therapeutic study, level III.

Penetrating extremity trauma.

Penetrating extremity trauma (PET) usually becomes less important when present along with multiple truncal injuries. The middle eastern wars documented the terrible mortality and morbidity resulting from PET. Even in civilian trauma, PET can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. There are now well-established principles in the evaluation and management of vascular, bony, soft tissue, and neurologic lesions that will lead to a reduction of the poor outcomes. This review will summarize some of these recent concepts.

DVT surveillance program in the ICU: analysis of cost-effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Venous Thrombo-embolism (VTE--Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE)--in traumatized patients causes significant morbidity and mortality. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of DVT surveillance in reducing PE, and performs a cost-effectiveness analysis. METHODS: All traumatized patients admitted to the adult ICU underwent twice weekly DVT surveillance by bilateral lower extremity venous Duplex examination (48-month surveillance period--SP). The rates of DVT and PE were recorded and compared to the rates observed in the 36-month pre-surveillance period (PSP). All patients in both periods received mechanical and pharmacologic prophylaxis unless contraindicated. Total costs--diagnostic, therapeutic and surveillance--for both periods were recorded and the incremental cost for each Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained was calculated. RESULTS: 4234 patients were eligible (PSP--1422 and SP--2812). Rate of DVT in SP (2.8%) was significantly higher than in PSP (1.3%) - p<0.05, and rate of PE in SP (0.7%) was significantly lower than that in PSP (1.5%) - p<0.05. Logistic regression demonstrated that surveillance was an independent predictor of increased DVT detection (OR: 2.53 - CI: 1.462-4.378) and decreased PE incidence (OR: 0.487 - CI: 0.262-0.904). The incremental cost was $509,091/life saved in the base case, translating to $29,102/QALY gained. A sensitivity analysis over four of the parameters used in the model indicated that the incremental cost ranged from $18,661 to $48,821/QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance of traumatized ICU patients increases DVT detection and reduces PE incidence. Costs in terms of QALY gained compares favorably with other interventions accepted by society.

Trauma surgery associations and societies: which organizations match your goals?

This focused summary is a multi-institutional, multi-national, and multi-generational project designed to briefly summarize current academic trauma societies for both trainees and faculty alike. The co-authorship is composed of former and/or current presidents from most major trauma organizations. It has particular relevance to trainees and/or recent graduates attempting to navigate the multitude of available trauma organizations.

Open extremity fractures: impact of delay in operative debridement and irrigation.

BACKGROUND: Early (<8 hours) operative debridement and irrigation (D&I) of open fractures are considered essential to reduce the risk of deep infection. With the advent of powerful antimicrobials, this axiom has been challenged. The current study evaluates the rates of deep infections of open fractures in relation to the time to the first D&I. METHODS: A list of all blunt open fractures during a 6-year period was obtained from the trauma registry. Patients were evaluated for age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), physiologic derangement (systolic blood pressure, lactate, Revised Trauma Score [RTS]), and fracture type (Gustilo). Time to the first D&I was calculated. All patients received appropriate prophylactic antimicrobials. Infection rates were calculated and correlated to the time to the first D&I (<8 hours vs. >8 hours). Regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of infection. RESULTS: During the 72-month study period, 404 patients met entry criteria, with 415 open extremity fractures (upper, 129; lower, 287). Early (<8 hours) and delayed (>8 hours) groups were well matched, although the age was lower and ISS was higher in the group with greater than 8 hours. The rates of infection were 35 (11%) of 328 (<8 hour) and 17 (19%) of 87 (>8 hours) (p < 0.05). When fractures were subgrouped by extremity, for the lower extremity, both a delay of greater than 8 hours and higher Gustilo type correlated with the development of infection. In the upper extremity, only higher Gustilo type correlated, and a delay to the first D&I did not increase the incidence of infection. Regression analysis revealed that higher ISS (odd ratio [OR], 1.052; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.019-1.086), Gustilo grade, and a delay of greater than 8 hours (OR, 2.035; 95% CI, 1.022-4.054) were independent predictors of infection for the all-extremity model. Separate models for upper and lower extremities showed that the same three parameters were independent predictors for the lower extremity (ISS: OR, 1.045; 95% CI, 1.004-1.087; Gustilo type and >8-hour delay: OR, 3.006; 95% CI, 1.280-7.059), but none for the upper extremity. CONCLUSION: Delay of greater than 8 hours to the first D&I for open fractures of the lower extremity increases the likelihood of infection but not for the upper extremity. Higher Gustilo type open fractures have a higher incidence of infection for both upper and lower extremities. The results have important implications in an era of decreasing surgeon availability, especially in off hours. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV.

Oesophageal injuries: Position paper, WSES, 2013.

The oesophagus is a difficult challenge for the surgeon because of its lack of serosal covering, the tenuous, segmental blood supply and the common delay in the diagnosis of injury. Early diagnosis is the key to successful management. Recent introduction of newer, minimally invasive techniques have provided management alternatives for both the normal and the diseased organ that is injured with both early and delayed diagnosis.

Findings of a randomized controlled trial using limited transthoracic echocardiogram (LTTE) as a hemodynamic monitoring tool in the trauma bay.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesize that limited transthoracic echocardiogram (LTTE) is a useful tool to guide therapy during the initial phase of resuscitation in trauma patients. METHODS: All highest-level alert patients with at least one measurement of systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg, a mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg, and/or a heart rate greater than 120 beats per minute who arrived to the trauma bay (TB) were randomized to have either LTTE performed (LTTEp) or not performed (non-LTTE) as part of their initial evaluation. Images were stored, and results were reported regarding contractility (good vs. poor), fluid status (empty inferior vena cava [hypovolemic] vs. full inferior vena cava [not hypovolemic]), and pericardial effusion (present vs. absent). Time from TB to operating room, intravenous fluid administration, blood product requirement, intensive care unit admission, and mortality were examined in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients were randomized. Twenty-five patients were excluded since they died upon arrival to the TB, leaving 215 patients in the study. Ninety-two patients were in the LTTEp group with 123 patients in the non-LTTE group. The LTTEp and non-LTTE groups were similar in age (38 years vs. 38.8 years, p = 0.75), Injury Severity Score (ISS) (19.2 vs. 19.0, p = 0.94), Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (5.5 vs. 6.0, p = 0.09), lactate (4.2 vs. 3.6, p = 0.14), and mechanism of injury (p = 0.44). Strikingly, LTTEp had significantly less intravenous fluid than non-LTTE patients (1.5 L vs. 2.5 L, p < 0.0001), less time from TB to operating room (35.6 minutes vs. 79.1 min, p = 0.0006), higher rate of intensive care unit admission (80.4% vs. 67.2%, p = 0.04), and a lower mortality rate (11% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.09). Mortality differences were particularly evident in the traumatic brain injury patients (14.7% in LTTEp vs. 39.5% in non-LTTE, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: LTTE is a useful guide for therapy in hypotensive trauma patients during the early phase of resuscitation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level II.

Independent predictors of enteric fistula and abdominal sepsis after damage control laparotomy: results from the prospective AAST Open Abdomen registry.

IMPORTANCE: Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF), enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF), and intra-abdominal sepsis/abscess (IAS) are major challenges for surgeons caring for patients undergoing damage control laparotomy after trauma. OBJECTIVE: To determine independent predictors of ECF, EAF, or IAS in patients undergoing damage control laparotomy after trauma, using the AAST Open Abdomen Registry. DESIGN: The AAST Open Abdomen registry of patients with an open abdomen following damage control laparotomy was used to identify patients who developed ECF, EAF, or IAS and to compare these patients with those without these complications. Univariate analyses were performed to compare these groups of patients. Variables from univariate analyses differing at P < .20 were entered into a stepwise logistic regression model to identify independent risk factors for ECF, EAF, or IAS. SETTING: Fourteen level I trauma centers. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 517 patients with an open abdomen following damage control laparotomy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Complication of ECF, EAF, or IAS. RESULTS: More patients in the ECF/EAF/IAS group than in the group without these complications underwent bowel resection (63 of 111 patients [57%] vs 133 of 406 patients [33%]; P < .001). Within the first 48 hours after surgery, the ECF/EAF/IAS group received more colloids (P < .03) and total fluids (P < .03) than did the group without these complications. The ECF/EAF/IAS group underwent almost twice as many abdominal reexplorations as did the group without these complications (mean [SD] number, 4.1 [4.1] vs 2.2 [3.4]; P < .001). After multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of ECF/EAF/IAS were a large bowel resection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.56 [95% CI, 1.88-6.76]; P < .001), a total fluid intake at 48 hours of between 5 and 10 L (AOR, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.15-3.88]; P = .02) or more than 10 L (AOR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.04-3.57]; P = .04), and an increasing number of reexplorations (AOR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.06-1.21]; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Large bowel resection, large-volume fluid resuscitation, and an increasing number of abdominal reexplorations were statistically significant predictors of ECF, EAF, or IAS in patients with an open abdomen after damage control laparotomy.