Technological Advances Have Improved Surgical Outcome in Thyroid Surgery: Myth or Reality?

AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Ultrasonic Coagulation (UC), Bipolar Energy Sealing System (BESS), Intra Operative Nerve Monitoring (IONM) and surgical experience on the complications of thyroid surgery. METHOD: The data of 1627 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for various indications in our department between 2009 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively and the effects of different technological devices on complications were investigated. RESULTS: Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy was higher between 2009 and 2013, when IONM was not in routine use (p=0.029). There were no significant differences between two energy devices (UC and BESS) in terms of transient or permanent RLN palsy, bleeding, and transient or permanent hypocalcemia. Multivariate analysis showed that young age (0.006), female gender (0.016), surgery type (p<0.001), and lateral neck dissection (p=0.026) are independent risk factors for transient hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there is no superior hemostatic device. IONM and specific branching decrease transient RLN palsy. Female gender, young age, completion thyroidectomy, and lateral neck dissection were independent risk factors for the development of transient hypocalcemia.

Is sporadic colorectal cancer more aggressive in young people and should the age of colonoscopy screening be reduced?

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to report the incidence of colorectal cancer patients under 50 years of age and to compare its aggressiveness with colorectal cancer patients over 50 years of age. BACKGROUND: Recently, the incidence of colorectal cancer at younger ages has increased, and colorectal cancers in young people have a more aggressive course due to late screening programs. METHOD: The files of patients who were operated for colorectal cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Information on the patients such as gender, age, BMI, type and duration of symptoms, location of the tumor, TNM staging, pathology results, operative procedure, morbidity and mortality rates were recorded. Admission complaints, symptom onset time, tumor locations, pathological findings and tumor stages were compared between patients under and over the age of 50. RESULTS: The incidence of colorectal cancer under 50 was 21 % (56/267). The age group of 40‒49 was found to be the most common age range under the age of 50, with a colorectal cancer rate of 68%. In patients under the age of 50, higher invasion of the tumor to the serosa, low differentiation of the tumor in terms of histological findings in a higher number of patients and higher mucin component of the tumors and higher N2 lymph node involvement ratio and the tumor was located more in the lower rectum were statistically significant when compared to patients over the age of 50 (p=0.026, p=0.018, p=0.002, p=0.042, p=0.006; respectively). CONCLUSION: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased at younger ages and has a more aggressive course. Screening programs should be modified (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 45).

Emergency surgery of the abdominal wall hernias: risk factors that increase morbidity and mortality-a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Morbidity and mortality are higher in urgently operated abdominal hernia cases compared to elective surgeries. The present study aims to investigate the factors that cause increased morbidity and mortality in emergency surgical operations. METHODS: The files of a total of 426 patients who were operated for non-reducible abdominal hernia between 2015 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients' ages, genders, comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), ASA score, BMI, hernia types, duration of symptom, laboratory values, intestinal strangulations or necroses, whether intestinal resection was performed, whether mesh was preferred for hernia repair, and rates of morbidity and mortality were recorded. Factors affecting morbidity and mortality rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Factors such as gender, BMI (> 30), duration of symptom (> 24 h), presence of bowel necrosis and resection, type of hernia and prolonged operation time were found to cause an increase in morbidity. In the multivariate analysis, however, gender, duration of symptom and BMI (> 30) were statistically significant factors causing increased morbidity (p = 0.009, p < 0.001, p = 0.032, respectively). Advanced age, high ASA scores, CCI and duration of symptom were determined as factors affecting the increase in mortality. In the multivariate analysis, the effect of high ASA scores and advanced age on high mortality rate was statistically significant (p < 0.023, p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate is higher, especially in elderly patients with high comorbidity. Therefore, we argue that the cases of abdominal wall hernia should be operated under elective conditions even if they do not give any clinical findings to prevent problems in older ages.

Analysis of general surgery outpatient clinic admissions and operations during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: Reactions of 12728 patients.

Covid-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly in Turkey. We aimed to examine the numbers and demographic data of patients who applied to the general surgery outpatient clinics and operated in this process. Our primary outcome is to reveal the response of general surgery patients to the Covid-19 pandemic.The first Covid-19 case in Turkey has appeared in March 11, 2020. Patients who were operated on due to a surgical emergency or trauma were evaluated separately. Patients in 3 periods were compared with each other. A total of 12728 patients were examined in general surgery outpatient clinics in 26 working days. It is seen that patients come to the outpatient clinic after the first time the Covid-19 patient is seen. All patients reduced hospitalization after the first death due to Covid-19. Women had reduced going to the hospital earlier than men. There was no change in the number of emergency surgeries. Rapid decrease was observed in the number of elective surgeries.It is not easy to control the entrance and exit of these busy hospitals. The remote diagnosis (mail, phone or video-call) and treatment methods that can be expected in the near future may be even closer with the Corona virus (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 15). Keywords: general surgery, Covid-19, outpatient clinics, operation, reaction of patients.

Intermammary pilonidal sinus in women. Diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the term pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is most frequently used for lesions in the sacrococcygeal region. The inter-mammary sulcus is a rare location for pilonidal sinus abscesses. Our study examined the causes of inter-mammary PSD (IMPSD), which is rarely seen in the literature and our treatment approach. MATERIAL: We retrospectively analyzed patients referred to our hospital's general surgery clinic between 2012 and 2018. Twelve patients were operated on for IMPSD during these six years. An excision, including all sinus openings, was planned, and a D-shaped incision was performed. Sinus openings and tracts underlying the skin were excised in toto. Subcutaneous flaps were created to shift the incision from the midline plane to reduce the recurrence rate. The minimum duration for the follow-up was 24 months. Eight patients were suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome. Progesterone and testosterone levels of the patients were normal. Prior studies evaluating PSD and hormone levels of female patients showed no correlation. CONCLUSIONS: IMPSD is a disease that should be kept in mind if induration and abscess in the inter-mammary region are present. The risk of recurrence is high if no proper excision is planned. A D-shaped incision including all sinus tract openings and a midline shift prevented our series' possible recurrences. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(2): 84-87.