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OBJECTIVES: To inform national planning, six indicators posed by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery were collected for the Mongolian surgical system. This situational analysis shows one lower middle-income country's ability to collect the indicators aided by a well-developed health information system. DESIGN: An 11-year retrospective analysis of the Mongolian surgical system using data from the Health Development Center, National Statistics Office and Household Socio-Economic Survey. Access estimates were based on travel time to capable hospitals. Provider density, surgical volume and postoperative mortality were calculated at national and regional levels. Protection against impoverishing and catastrophic expenditures was assessed against standard out-of-pocket expenditure at government hospitals for individual operations. SETTING: Mongolia's 81 public hospitals with surgical capability, including tertiary, secondary and primary/secondary facilities. PARTICIPANTS: All operative patients in Mongolia's public hospitals, 2006-2016. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were national-level results of the indicators. Secondary outcomes include regional access; surgeons, anaesthesiologists and obstetricians (SAO) density; surgical volume; and perioperative mortality. RESULTS: In 2016, 80.1% of the population had 2-hour access to essential surgery, including 60% of those outside the capital. SAO density was 47.4/100 000 population. A coding change increased surgical volume to 5784/100 000 population, and in-hospital mortality decreased from 0.27% to 0.14%. All households were financially protected from caesarean section. Appendectomy carried 99.4% and 98.4% protection, external femur fixation carried 75.4% and 50.7% protection from impoverishing and catastrophic expenditures, respectively. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy carried 42.9% protection from both. CONCLUSIONS: Mongolia meets national benchmarks for access, provider density, surgical volume and postoperative mortality with notable limitations. Significant disparities exist between regions. Unequal access may be efficiently addressed by strengthening or building key district hospitals in population-dense areas. Increased financial protections are needed for operations involving hardware or technology. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will support the development of context-specific interventions to improve surgical care in Mongolia.
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Cesárea , Gastos em Saúde , Feminino , Hospitais de Distrito , Humanos , Mongólia , Gravidez , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld, battery-powered vaporizing devices. It is estimated that more than 25% of youth have used these devices recreationally. While vaping-associated lung injury is an increasingly recognized risk, little is known about the risk of traumatic injuries associated with e-cigarette malfunction. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective study was performed by querying the electronic health records at nine children's hospitals. Patients who sustained traumatic injuries while vaping from January 2016 through December 2019 were identified. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and the details of trauma management were reviewed. RESULTS: 15 children sustained traumatic injuries due to e-cigarette explosion. The median age was 17 y (range 13-18). The median injury severity score was 2 (range 1-5). Three patients reported that their injury coincided with their first vaping experience. Ten patients required hospital admission, three of whom required intensive care unit admission. Admitted patients had a median length of stay of 3 d (range 1-6). The injuries sustained were: facial burns (6), loss of multiple teeth (5), thigh and groin burns (5), hand burns (4), ocular burns (4), a radial nerve injury, a facial laceration, and a mandible fracture. Six children required operative intervention, one of whom required multiple operations for a severe hand injury. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to vaping-associated lung injury, vaping-associated traumatic injuries are an emerging and worrisome injury pattern sustained by adolescents in the United States. This report highlights another means by which e-cigarettes pose an increasing risk to a vulnerable youth population.
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Sistemas Eletrônicos de Liberação de Nicotina , Lesão Pulmonar , Vaping , Adolescente , Criança , Hospitalização , Humanos , Lesão Pulmonar/etiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Vaping/efeitos adversos , Vaping/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between having government health insurance and the timeliness and outcome of care, and catastrophic health expenditure in injured patients requiring surgery at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of injured patients who required surgery at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in 2015-2016 and extracted data on sociodemographic and injury characteristics, outcomes and out-of-pocket payments. We defined catastrophic health expenditure as ≥ 10% of the ratio of patients' out-of-pocket payments to household annual income. We used multivariable regression analyses to assess the association between having insurance through the national health insurance scheme compared with no insurance and time to surgery, in-hospital mortality and experience of catastrophic health expenditure, adjusted for potentially confounding variables. FINDINGS: Of 1396 patients included in our study, 834 (60%) were insured through the national health insurance scheme. Time to surgery and mortality were not statistically different between insured and uninsured patients. Insured patients made smaller median out-of-pocket payments (309 United States dollars, US$) than uninsured patients (US$ 503; P < 0.001). Overall, 45% (443/993) of patients faced catastrophic health expenditure. A smaller proportion of insured patients (33%, 184/558) experienced catastrophic health expenditure than uninsured patients (60%, 259/435; P < 0.001). Insurance through the national health insurance scheme reduced the likelihood of catastrophic health expenditure (adjusted odds ratio: 0.27; 95% confidence interval: 0.20 to 0.35). CONCLUSION: The national health insurance scheme needs strengthening to provide better financial risk protection and improve quality of care for patients presenting with injuries that require surgery.
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Pessoas sem Cobertura de Seguro de Saúde , Programas Nacionais de Saúde , Gana , Gastos em Saúde , Humanos , Seguro SaúdeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Access to safe and effective surgery is limited in low and middle-income countries. Short-term surgical missions are a common platform to provide care, but the few published outcomes suggest unacceptable morbidity and mortality. We sought to study the safety and effectiveness of the ApriDec Medical Outreach Group (AMOG). METHODS: Data from the December 2017 and April 2018 outreaches were prospectively collected. Patient demographics, characteristics of surgery, complications of surgery, and patient quality of life were collected preoperatively and on postoperative days 15 and 30. Data were analyzed to determine complication rates and trends in quality of life. RESULTS: 260/278 (93.5%) of patients completed a 30-day follow-up. Of these, surgical site infection was the most common complication (8.0%), followed by hematoma (4.1%). Rates of urinary tract infection were 1.2% while all other complications occurred in less than 1% of patients. There were no mortalities. With increasing time after surgery (0 to 15 days to 30 days), there was a significant improvement across each of the dimensions of quality of life (p < 0.001). All patients reported satisfaction with their procedure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the care provided by AMOG group to the underserved populations of northern Ghana, yielded complication rates similar to others in low-resourced communities, leading to improved quality of life.
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Missões Médicas , Qualidade de Vida , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Operatórios/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Gana/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Área Carente de Assistência Médica , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Patient safety event reporting systems are a mainstay in non-punitive reporting of near misses and adverse events. We hypothesized that an upgraded reporting system that included the ability to report positive behaviors would increase behavioral reports in the perioperative environment. METHODS: We performed a retrospective assessment of prospectively collected reports from the Patient Safety Net (PSN) event reporting system (2/2010-2/2015) and the RL Solutions RL6 system (8/2015-4/2018). RESULTS: Under the PSN system, 0.8 behavioral events per quarter were submitted, compared to 7.4 behavioral events per quarter with the RL6 system. The average length of reports increased from 61 to 185 words. Reports were most often submitted by nursing staff (66%), and about attending physicians (36%). 22% of reports under the RL6 system were positive; 46% of these positive reports were about physicians. CONCLUSION: After implementation of an upgraded reporting system that includes an option for positive reporting, the number and length of reports increased. We believe that a robust reporting system has contributed to a culture of safety at our institution.
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Segurança do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Comportamento Problema , Gestão de Riscos/estatística & dados numéricos , Gestão de Riscos/normas , Humanos , Estudos RetrospectivosAssuntos
Traumatismos por Explosões/etiologia , Sistemas Eletrônicos de Liberação de Nicotina , Explosões , Fraturas Mandibulares/etiologia , Traumatismos Dentários/etiologia , Adolescente , Traumatismos por Explosões/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador , Masculino , Fraturas Mandibulares/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Traumatismos Dentários/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Nonoperative management of blunt solid organ injuries continues to progress and improve cost-effective utilization of resources while maximizing patient safety. The purpose of this study is to compare resource utilization and patient outcomes after changing admission criteria from a grade-based protocol to one based on hemodynamic stability. METHODS: A retrospective review of isolated liver and spleen injuries was done using prospectively collected trauma registry data from 2013 to 2017. The 2â¯years preceding the change were compared to the 2â¯years after protocol change. All analyses were performed using SAS 9.4. RESULTS: There were 121 patients in the preprotocol cohort and 125 patients in the postprotocol cohort. Baseline demographics were similar along with injury mechanisms and severity. The ICU admission rate decreased from 40% to 22% (pâ¯=â¯0.002). There were no adverse events on the floor and no patient needed to be transferred to the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: A protocol for ICU admission based on physiologic derangement versus solely on radiologic grade significantly reduced admission rates to the ICU in children with solid organ injury. The protocol was safe and effectively reduced resource utilization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective comparison study.
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Hemodinâmica , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva/estatística & dados numéricos , Fígado/lesões , Admissão do Paciente/normas , Baço/lesões , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/fisiopatologia , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Recursos em Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Lactente , Escala de Gravidade do Ferimento , Masculino , Sistema de Registros , Estudos Retrospectivos , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/diagnóstico por imagem , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/terapiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Recreation on longboards is gaining in popularity. The purpose of this study is to detail the injury patterns, treatment and management of children with longboarding injuries seen at a level 1 pediatric trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective review using our trauma registry from 2006 to 2016 of pediatric patients who sustained injuries while riding a longboard. RESULTS: Of 12,920 injured children, 64 (0.5%) were treated for injuries that occurred while riding a longboard. Median age was 14.5 years (IQR 13.6, 15.4) and 84% were male. Fifty-one (80%) suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) including 32 intracranial hemorrhages (ICH), 17 concussions, and 31 skull fractures. Seven (11%) were wearing helmets. Three patients required neurosurgical intervention. Extremity fractures were the most common reason for surgery. Ninety-six percent of patients were admitted to the hospital with a median length of stay of 1 day (IQR 1, 3). All children survived to discharge. Compared with skateboard injuries during the same period, TBI, ICH, concussion, and skull fractures were all greater. CONCLUSIONS: TBI ranging from concussion to ICH requiring craniotomy is common in children injured while riding a longboard, and greater than rates after skateboarding injuries. Extremity fracture was the most common reason for operative intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
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Traumatismos em Atletas/epidemiologia , Patinação/lesões , Centros de Traumatologia/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Traumatismos em Atletas/mortalidade , Traumatismos em Atletas/terapia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Dispositivos de Proteção da Cabeça/estatística & dados numéricos , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Lactente , Escala de Gravidade do Ferimento , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Prevalência , Sistema de Registros , Estudos Retrospectivos , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Trauma is the leading cause of death among Mongolians aged 24-44. To improve initial management of injured patients, the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) implemented the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training program in 2015. Cost analysis demonstrates that such programs can have clear pathways to self-sufficiency. METHODS: Costs associated with an ACS Mongolian ATLS program were quantified based on discussions with the Mongolian government, MNUMS, ATLS Australasia headquarters, and existing pricing data. Costs were then classified as either essential or contingencies. These classifications determined budgetary items for each program. Savings projections for contingencies included training Mongolian instructors and educators. Scenarios for funding the budget were then assessed. RESULTS: The minimum annual cost of ATLS in Mongolia, which includes 3 ATLS student courses/1 instructor course, is $10,709. A budget of $19,900 includes additional contingencies. The scenario that involves foreign instructors is the most expensive one. An initial investment of $85,000 to train Mongolian instructors reduces annual costs by $48,305 (71% reduction). An investment of $4050 to train a Mongolian educator will reduce costs by $1750 annually. ATLS can be sustained with 0.04% of Mongolia's current spending on public health and preventative services. CONCLUSIONS: Initial investment to train Mongolian ATLS instructors leads to substantial savings. Training a Mongolian educator lowers long-term costs. When minimum costs for ATLS courses are understood, these can be scaled up and supported with different contingencies and minimal funding by government or third-party stakeholders.
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Cuidados de Suporte Avançado de Vida no Trauma/economia , Custos e Análise de Custo , Adulto , Redução de Custos , Feminino , Humanos , Renda , Masculino , Mongólia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Improving access to surgical services and understanding the barriers to receiving timely care are necessary to save lives. The aim of this study was to assess barriers to timely presentation to an appropriate medical facility using the Three-Delay model, for patients presenting to Tamale Teaching Hospital, in northern Ghana. METHODS: In 2013, patients with delays in seeking surgical care were prospectively identified. Pairwise correlation coefficients between delay in presentation and factors associated with delay were conducted and served as a foundation for a multivariate log-linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 718 patients presented with an average delay of 22.1 months. Delays in receiving care were most common (56.4%), while delays in seeking care were seen in 52.3% of patients. "Initially seeking treatment at the nearest facility, but appropriate care was unavailable" was reported by 56.4% and predicted longer delays (p < 0.001). 42.9% of patients had delays secondary to treatment from a traditional or religious healer, which also predicted longer delays (p < 0.001). On multivariate regression, emergent presentation was the strongest predictor of shorter delays (OR 0.058, p = 0.002), while treatment from a traditional or religious healer and initially seeking treatment at another hospital predicted longer delays (OR 7.6, p = 0.008, and OR 4.3, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to care leading to long delays in presentation are common in northern Ghana. Interventions should focus on educating traditional and religious healers in addition to building surgical capacity at district hospitals.
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Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Operatórios , Adulto , Feminino , Gana , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Hospitais de Ensino , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Inguinal hernia repair is a common procedure and a priority for public health efforts in Ghana. It is essential that inguinal hernia repair be performed in a safe, efficient manner to justify its widespread use. Local anesthesia has many favorable properties and has been shown to be superior, compared to regional or general anesthesia, in terms of pain control, safety profile, cost-effectiveness, resources required, and time to discharge. Local anesthesia is recommended for open repair of reducible hernias, provided clinician experience, by multiple international guidelines. Regional anesthesia is associated with myocardial infarction and other complications, and its use is discouraged by multiple guidelines, especially in older patients. This study aims to assess the current state of anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair in the northern and transitional zone of Ghana. In addition we will assess the perceptions of different types of anesthesia along with understanding of evidence-based guidelines among clinicians participating in inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all inguinal hernia repairs for male patients, 18 and older, in over 90% of hospitals in northern Ghana. All 41 hospitals were visited and caselogs and patient charts were manually reviewed to extract data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of local anesthesia use. We designed a survey instrument to assess the perceptions of physicians and anesthetists regarding different types of anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. The survey was designed by a Ghanaian surgeon, reviewed by all co-authors, and tested prior to implementation using a sample (n = 8) of clinicians having similar practices to those of the survey population. Of 70 clinicians, 66 responded, yielding a response rate of 94%. RESULTS: 8080 patients underwent hernia repair of which 37% were performed under local anesthesia, while the majority, 60%, were performed under regional anesthesia. Negative predictors of local anesthesia were emergent repair (OR = 0.258, p < 0.001), surgery performed at a teaching hospital (OR = 0.105, p < 0.001), and bilateral hernia repair (OR = 0.374, p < 0.001). 1,839 (22.8%) of IH repairs were done on patients age 65 or older and RA was most frequently used among the elderly population (57.8%), while local anesthesia was used 39.5% of the time. Sixty-six clinicians participated in the survey with the majority reporting that local anesthesia requires fewer staff, less equipment, has a shorter recovery, is more cost-effective, and might be safer for patients. However 66% were unfamiliar with or incorrectly perceived international guidelines. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study is the largest assessment of anesthesia use for inguinal hernia repair in an LMIC. Although the selection of anesthetic technique should be guided by a patient's general health, the anatomy of the hernia, and clinician judgment, local anesthesia appears to be underutilized in northern Ghana. Survey responses demonstrate high rates of unfamiliarity or incorrectly perceived evidence-based guidelines. Future research should assess how education on the benefits and technique of local anesthesia administration may further increase rates for inguinal hernia repair, especially for older patients.
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Anestesia Local/estatística & dados numéricos , Hérnia Inguinal/cirurgia , Idoso , Feminino , Gana , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Despite the recognition that inguinal hernia (IH) repair is cost-effective, repair rates in low- and middle-income countries remain low. Estimated use of mesh in low- and middle-income countries also remains low despite publications about low-cost, noncommercial mesh. The purpose of our study was to assess the current state of IH repair in the northern and transitional zone of Ghana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of surgical case logs of IH repairs from 2013 to 2017 in 41 hospitals was performed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of mesh use. RESULTS: Eight thousand eighty male patients underwent IH repair. The range of IH repair in each region was 96 to 295 (overall 123) per 100,000 population. Most cases were performed at district hospitals (84%) and repaired nonurgently (93%) by nonsurgeon physicians (66%). Suture repair was most common (85%) although mesh was used in 15%. The strongest predictor of mesh use was when a surgeon performed surgery (odds ratio [OR] 3.13, P <0.001), followed by surgery being performed in a teaching hospital (OR 2.31, P <0.001). Repair at a regional hospital was a negative predictor of mesh use (OR 0.08, P <0.001) as was the use of general anesthesia (OR 0.40, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most IH repairs are performed in district hospitals, by nonsurgeon physicians, and without mesh. Rates of repair and the use of mesh are higher than previous estimates in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa but not as high as high-income countries.
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Hérnia Inguinal/cirurgia , Herniorrafia/instrumentação , Próteses e Implantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Telas Cirúrgicas/estatística & dados numéricos , Gana , Hérnia Inguinal/economia , Herniorrafia/economia , Herniorrafia/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Próteses e Implantes/economia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Telas Cirúrgicas/economiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: To examine surgical outcomes of children with pancreaticoduodenal injuries at a Quaternary Level I pediatric trauma center. METHODS: We queried a prospectively maintained trauma database of a level one pediatric trauma center for all cases of pancreatic and/or duodenal injury from 2002 to 2017. Analysis was conducted using JMP 13.1.0. RESULTS: 170 children presented with pancreatic and/or duodenal injury. 13 (7.7%) suffered a combined injury and this group forms the basis for this report with mean ISS of 22.8 (± 15.1), RTS2 of 6.4(± 2.1), and median age of 6.6 (1.3-13.5) years. Child abuse (31%) and bicycle injuries (23%) were the most common mechanisms. 8/13 (61.5%) required operative intervention. Higher AAST pancreatic and duodenal injury grade (2.9 vs. 1.2, p = 0.05 and 3.6 vs. 1.4, p = < 0.01), lower RTS2 (7.84 vs. 5.49, p < 0.01), and lower GCS (9.6 vs. 15, p = 0.03) predicted operative intervention. 6/8 (75%) undergoing surgery survived to discharge with only (2/6) survivors suffering postoperative complications. Both mortalities were secondary to severe traumatic brain injury. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of complex pancreaticoduodenal injury is an uncommon traumatic event that is associated with high injury severity, but survival occurs in most scenarios.
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Duodeno/lesões , Duodeno/cirurgia , Pâncreas/lesões , Pâncreas/cirurgia , Acidentes de Trânsito/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Traumatismos em Atletas/epidemiologia , Ciclismo/lesões , Lesões Encefálicas Traumáticas/mortalidade , Criança , Maus-Tratos Infantis/estatística & dados numéricos , Pré-Escolar , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Escala de Coma de Glasgow , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Centros de Traumatologia , Índices de Gravidade do Trauma , Utah/epidemiologiaRESUMO
In 2015 the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) argued that surgical care is important to national health systems along with the economic viability of countries. Gajewski and colleagues outlined how the Commission's blueprint has been implemented in sub-Saharan Africa, including two funded research projects that were integrated into national surgical plans. Here, we outline how the five processes proposed by Gajewski and colleagues are critical to integrate research, policy, and on-the-ground implementation. We also propose that, moving forward, the most pressing adjunct in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may be a better characterization of rural surgical practices through rigorous research along with models that enable lessons to inform national policy.
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Atenção à Saúde , Pesquisa , África Subsaariana , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The utilization of thyroidectomy for Graves' disease remains controversial; we aim to evaluate the indications for and complications of thyroidectomy for Graves' in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all Graves' patients who underwent thyroidectomy from 2009 to 2013 at a high volume academic center. Pediatric patients were <18years old, and a comparative analysis of indications for surgery and complications was performed. RESULTS: 167 patients underwent thyroidectomy: 31 pediatric patients and 136 adults. Failure of antithyroid medications was the indication for surgery in 55% of the children vs 36% of adults (p=0.05). Mean duration of medications prior to surgery was similar. No children had failed RAI therapy prior to surgery, but 12.5% of the adult population had (p=0.04). Surgical outcomes were similar. CONCLUSION: Clinicians may be more likely to refer children who fail medical treatment to surgery over RAI. Thyroidectomy at a high volume hospital should be discussed as a treatment option for children with Graves'.
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Doença de Graves/cirurgia , Tireoidectomia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Hospitais com Alto Volume de Atendimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Obesity is common after solid organ transplantation and is associated with worse transplantation-related outcomes. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) may be the preferred bariatric operation in transplantation patients over other techniques, such as gastric bypass, given the concerns about medication absorption. However, little is known about LSG outcomes in post-transplantation patients. OBJECTIVES: We report the outcomes in 10 consecutive patients who underwent solid organ transplantation followed by LSG. SETTING: An academic medical center. METHODS: Primary outcomes studied were weight loss, perioperative complications, resolution or improvement of obesity-related co-morbidities, and markers of graft function following LSG. RESULTS: The types of transplantation before LSG were as follows: liver = 5, kidney = 4, and heart = 1. Mean body mass index (BMI) at LSG was 44.7 ± 1.7 kg/m(2). All patients had hypertension, and 6 had type 2 diabetes. Perioperative complications occurred in 2 patients, and there were no deaths. Excess weight loss at 12 and 24 months after LSG was 45.7% and 42.5%, respectively. At 1 year after LSG, there was a significant reduction in the number of antihypertensive medications (2.4 to 1.5; P = .02). Three patients achieved complete remission of type 2 diabetes, and the other 3 significantly reduced their dosages of insulin. Graft function remained preserved in liver transplantation patients; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased by 10% in the heart transplantation subject, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased significantly in kidney transplantation patients (53 ± 3 to 82 ± 3 mL/min; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that LSG, in selected patients with severe obesity after solid organ transplantation, results in significant weight loss, improvement or resolution of obesity-related conditions, and preservation or improvement of graft function. Larger studies are needed to determine tolerability standards.