Establishing a South African national framework for COVID-19 surgical prioritisation.

BACKGROUND: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical operations have been drastically reduced in South Africa (SA). Guidelines on surgical prioritisation during COVID-19 have been published, but are specific to high-income countries. There is a pressing need for context-specific guidelines and a validated tool for prioritising surgical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the South African National Surgical Obstetric Anaesthesia Plan Task Team was asked by the National Department of Health to establish a national framework for COVID-19 surgical prioritisation. OBJECTIVES: To develop a national framework for COVID-19 surgical prioritisation, including a set of recommendations and a risk calculatorfor operative care. METHODS: The surgical prioritisation framework was developed in three stages: (i) a literature review of international, national and local recommendations on COVID-19 and surgical care was conducted; (ii) a set of recommendations was drawn up based on the available literature and through consensus of the COVID-19 Task Team; and (iii) a COVID-19 surgical risk calculator was developed and evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 30 documents were identified from which recommendations around prioritisation of surgical care were used to draw up six recommendations for preoperative COVID-19 screening and testing as well as the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Ninety-nine perioperative practitioners from eight SA provinces evaluated the COVID-19 surgical risk calculator, which had high acceptability and a high level of concordance (81%) with current clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This national framework on COVID-19 surgical prioritisation can help hospital teams make ethical, equitable and personalised decisions whether to proceed with or delay surgical operations during this unprecedented epidemic.

Produção de corpos generificados em um bloco cirúrgico: uma análise pelo trabalho como atividade / Production of bodies generated in a surgical ward: an analysis by work as an activity / Producción de cuerpos generados en uma unidad quirúrgica: una análisis por trabajo como actividad

Neste artigo, analisamos o trabalho em saúde em um bloco cirúrgico a partir do referencialteóricoda Clínica da Atividade, atentando para a especificidade da performatividade do gênero por entre esta experiência. Para tanto, produzimos um percurso transverso do ponto devista do método, operando por entre Clínica da Atividade e pistas do Método Cartográfico, realizando, ainda, articulações com a proposta praxiográfica. As análises apontam que, apesar das fortes prescrições que compõem o trabalho em um bloco cirúrgico, ostrabalhadores e trabalhadoras problematizam as normas de trabalho e de gênero nas situações laborais, produzindo estilizações. É na atividade que as normas de trabalho, e também de gênero, são colocadas em questão abrindo brechas e críticas a modelos regulatórios, e também violentos, que ancoram, por vezes, as práticas em saúde. A partir dessa pesquisa, apontamos a importância de produzir estudos relativos à produção do gênero em meio aos processos operativos do trabalho. (AU)

In this article, we analyzed the health work in surgical ward based on the theoretical references of the Clinic of Activity, taking into account specificity of gender performativity among this experience. For this purpose, we produced a transversal path from the point of view of the method, operating methodologically between the Clinic of Activity and clues from the Cartographic Method, also performing articulations with the praxiographic. The analyzes point out that, despite the strong prescriptions that make up the work in surgical ward, the workers problematize labor and gender norms in work situations, producing stylizations. It's in the activity that work norms, as well as gender, they are called into question, opening loopholes and criticisms of regulatory models, and also violent, that sometimes anchor health practices. This research indicates the importance of further studies towards the production involving gender and labor processes. (AU)

En este artículo analizamos el trabajo em salud en una Unidad Quirúrgica de un Hospitala partir de los referentes teóricos de la Clínica de Actividad, prestando atención a la especificidad del performatividad de género em esta experiencia.Para eso, producimos un recorrido transversal desde el punto de vista del método, operando entre la Clínica de Actividad y las pistas del Método Cartográfico, realizando también articulaciones com la propuesta praxiográfica. Los análisis muestran que, a pesar de lãs fuertes prescripciones que conforman el trabajo en una unidad quirúrgica, los trabajadores y trabajadoras problematizan las normas laborales y de género em lãs situaciones laborales, produciendo estilizaciones. Es em la actividad donde se cuestionan las normas laborales, así como el género, abriendo lagunas y críticas a modelos regulatorios, y también violentos, que en ocasiones anclanlas prácticas de salud. A partir de esta investigación, señalamos la importancia de producir estudios relacionados com la producción de género em medio de los procesos operativos del trabajo. (AU)

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-elective otolaryngology admissions and a positive change in clinical practice.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed across the UK and Northern Ireland in March 2020, our otolaryngology department began to make preparations and changes in practice to accommodate for potentially large numbers of patients with COVID-19 related respiratory illness in the hospital. We retrospectively reviewed the number of non-elective admissions to our department between the months of January and May in 2019 and 2020. A significant reduction in admissions of up to 94% during the months of the pandemic was observed. Our practice shifted to manage patients with epistaxis and peritonsillar abscess on an outpatient basis, and while prospectively collecting data on this, we did not observe any significant adverse events. We view this as a positive learning point and change in our practice as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adapting an emergency general surgery service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our emergency general surgery (EGS) service underwent significant restructuring, including establishing an enhanced ambulatory service and undertaking nonoperative management of selected pathologies. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of our EGS service before and after these changes. METHODS: Patients referred by the emergency department were identified prospectively over a 4-week period beginning from the date our EGS service was reconfigured (COVID) and compared with patients identified retrospectively from the same period the previous year (Pre-COVID), and followed up for 30 days. Data were extracted from handover documents and electronic care records. The primary outcomes were the rate of admission, ambulation and discharge. RESULTS: There were 281 and 283 patients during the Pre-COVID and COVID periods respectively. Admission rate decreased from 78.7% to 41.7%, while there were increased rates of ambulation from 7.1% to 17.3% and discharge from 6% to 22.6% (all p<0.001). For inpatients, mean duration of admission decreased (6.9 to 4.8 days), and there were fewer operative or endoscopic interventions (78 to 40). There were increased ambulatory investigations (11 to 39) and telephone reviews (0 to 39), while early computed tomography scan was increasingly used to facilitate discharge (5% vs 34.7%). There were no differences in 30-day readmission or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Restructuring of our EGS service in response to COVID-19 facilitated an increased use of ambulatory services and imaging, achieving a decrease of 952 inpatient bed days in this critical period, while maintaining patient safety.

Safety and feasibility of resuming bariatric surgery under the cloud of COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous bariatric surgical units globally have halted weight loss surgery. Obesity itself has been shown to be a predictor of poor outcome in people infected with the virus. The aim of this study was to report our experience as a high-volume bariatric institution resuming elective weight loss surgery safely amidst emergency admissions of COVID-19-positive patients. METHODS: A standard operating procedure based on national guidance and altered to accommodate local considerations was initiated across the hospital. Data were collected prospectively for 50 consecutive patients undergoing bariatric surgery following recommencement of elective surgery after the first national lockdown in the UK. RESULTS: Between 28 June and 5 August 2020, a total of 50 patients underwent bariatric surgery of whom 94% were female. Median age was 41 years and median body mass index was 43.8 (interquartile range 40.0-48.8)kg/m2. Half of the patients (n = 25/50) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and half underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Of these 50 patients, 9 (18%) had revisional bariatric surgery. Overall median length of hospital stay was 1 day, with 96% of the study population being discharged within 24h of surgery. The overall rate of readmission was 6% and one patient (2%) returned to theatre with an obstruction proximal to jejuno-jejunal anastomosis. None of the patients exhibited symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. CONCLUSION: With appropriately implemented measures and precautions, resumption of bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic appears feasible and safe with no increased risk to patients.

Mortalidad operatoria en cirugía mayor. Análisis retrospectivo en un Servicio de Cirugía / Operative mortality in major surgery. Retrospective analysis in a Surgery Service

RESUMEN Introducción: la propia asistencia médica provoca, en determinadas situaciones, problemas de salud que pueden llegar a ser importantes para el enfermo. El análisis de la mortalidad es uno de los parámetros utilizados para investigar la seguridad en la realización de procederes de cirugía mayor. Objetivo: determinar los factores asociados a la mortalidad operatoria en cirugías mayores. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo, de los pacientes que fallecieron tras la realización de una cirugía mayor, en el Hospital Militar Docente Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy, de Matanzas, en el período comprendido de enero de 2011 a diciembre de 2019. Resultados: la tercera edad aportó 77,3 % de los fallecidos. La hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus y cardiopatía isquémica fueron las principales comorbilidades. El abdomen agudo fue el diagnóstico operatorio más frecuente con 98 (58,3 %). Las complicaciones aportaron el 11,9 % de los fallecidos; los eventos adversos, 29,7 %, y por el curso natural de la enfermedad, murió un 58,3 %. El síndrome de disfunción múltiple de órganos y el shock séptico resultaron las principales causas de muerte (62 %). Conclusiones: la mortalidad operatoria estuvo asociada a factores de riesgo como edad avanzada, enfermedades crónicas y cirugía de urgencia. Los eventos adversos elevan la incidencia de mortalidad en cirugía mayor. Las infecciones son la principal causa de mortalidad operatoria (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: medical care itself causes, in certain situations, health problems that could be very important for the patient. The mortality analysis is one of the parameters used to study safety performing procedures of major surgery. Objective: to determine the factors associated to operatory mortality in major surgeries. Materials and methods: a retrospective, descriptive and observational study was carried out of the patients who passed away after undergoing a major surgery in the Military Hospital Dr. Mario Munoz Monroy in the period between January 2011 and December 2019. Results: 77.3 % of the deceased were elder people. The main co-morbidities were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. The most frequent surgery diagnosis was acute abdomen with 98 patients (58.3 %). Complications yielded 11.9 % of the deceases, adverse events 29.7 % and 58.3 % died due to the natural course of the disease. The organs multiple dysfunction syndrome and septic shock were the main causes of dead (62 %). Conclusions: operatory mortality was associated to risk factors like advanced age, chronic diseases and emergency surgery. The adverse events increase mortality incidence in major surgery. Infections are the main causes of operatory mortality (AU).

Dissecting a department of surgery: Exploring organizational culture and competency expectations.

INTRODUCTION: In order to recruit high-potential trainees, surgery residency and fellowship programs must first understand what competencies and attributes are required for success in their respective programs. This study performed a systematic analysis to define organizational culture and competency expectations across training programs within one academic surgery department. METHODS: Subject matter experts rated the importance and frequency of 22 competencies and completed a 44-item organizational culture inventory along 1 to 5 Likert-type scales. RESULTS: Importance and frequency attributions of competencies varied significantly among programs (p < .05 by ANOVA), but there was substantial agreement on organizational culture; self-directed (x̄ = 3.8), perfectionist (x̄ = 3.7) and social (x̄ = 3.7) attributes were most representative of the program, while oppositional (x̄ = 1.8), competitive (x̄ = 2.5) and hierarchical (x̄ = 2.7) characteristics were least representative. CONCLUSIONS: Residency and fellowship programs within the same department have shared perceptions of the culture and values of their institution, but seek different competencies among entering trainees.

Communication Chaos from Discrepancies in Personal Protective Equipment and Preoperative Guidelines.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To compare personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines, specifically respirator use, among international public health agencies, academic hospitals, and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) departments in the United States for the care of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. METHODS: Review of publicly available public health and academic hospitals guidelines along with review of communication among otolaryngology departments. RESULTS: Among 114 academic institutions affiliated with OHNS residencies, 20 (17.5%) institutions provided public access to some form of guidance on PPE and 73 (64%) provided information on screening or diagnostic testing. PPE guidelines were uniquely described based on several variables: location of care, COVID-19 status, involvement of aerosol generating or high-risk procedures, and physical distance from the patient. Six hospital guidelines were highlighted. Across these six institutions, there was agreement that N95 respirators were needed for high-risk patients undergoing high-risk procedures. Variations existed among institutions for scenarios with low-risk patients. Definitions of the low-risk patient and high-risk procedures were inconsistent among institutions. Three of the highlighted institutions had OHNS departments recommending higher level of airway protection than the institution. CONCLUSIONS: OHNS departments typically had more stringent PPE guidance than their institution. Discrepancies in communicating PPE use were frequent and provide inconsistent information on how healthcare workers should protect themselves in the COVID-19 pandemic. Identification of these inconsistencies serves as an opportunity to standardize communication and develop evidence-based guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V Laryngoscope, 131:E746-E754, 2021.

[Nosocomial infection control committee's role in a nosocomial infection at an East Algiers hospital]. / Rôle du CLIN lors d'une infection nosocomiale dans un hôpital d'Alger Est.

Nosocomial infections remain a serious public health problem with serious consequences. Hospital hygiene surveys are a basic tool in the surveillance and control of nosocomial infections. These surveys are also a tool for raising the awareness and information of the nursing staff. The nosocomial infection control committee was asked to carry out an epidemiological survey within a general surgery department following a nosocomial infection outbreak. During this survey, 100 samples taken from surfaces, small equipment and medical devices were collected. The results showed that 80 samples (80%) were positive. The most isolated bacteria were: 27,50% Micrococcus spp., 27,50% Corynebacterium spp.,25% Staphylococcus spp., 21,25% Bacillus spp., 20% Enterococcus spp., 10% Enterobacter cloacae, 5% Klebsiella pneumoniae and 3,75% Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following this investigation, corrective and preventive measures were taken for the biocleaning of surfaces and the disinfection and sterilization of equipments. The nosocomial infection control committee plays a key role in the epidemiological surveillance and control of nosocomial infections, prevention can only be conceived as a global and multidisciplinary action.

Association between hospital surgical volume and perioperative outcomes of fertility-sparing trachelectomy for cervical cancer: A national study in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between hospital surgical volume and perioperative outcomes for fertility-sparing trachelectomy performed for cervical cancer. METHODS: This is a population-based retrospective observational study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2001 to 2011. Women aged ≤45 years with cervical cancer who underwent trachelectomy were included. Annualized hospital surgical volume was defined as the average number of trachelectomies a hospital performed per year in which at least one case was performed. Perioperative outcomes were assessed based on hospital surgical volume in a weighted model, specifically comparing the top-decile centers to the lower volume centers. RESULTS: There were a total of 815 trachelectomies performed at 89 centers, and 76.4% of the trachelectomy-performing centers had a minimum surgical volume of one trachelectomy per year. The top-decile group had a higher rate of lymphadenectomy performance compared to the lower volume group (96.4% versus 82.4%, odds ratio [OR] 5.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.81-11.4, P < 0.001). There was a significant inverse linear association between annualized surgical volume and the number of perioperative complications (P = 0.020). The top-decile group also had a lower rate of perioperative complications (9.7% versus 21.0%, P < 0.001) and prolonged hospital stay ≥7 days (2.0% versus 6.5%, P = 0.006) compared to the lower volume group. In a multivariable analysis, the top-decile group had a 65% relative decrease in perioperative complication risk compared to the lower volume group (adjusted-OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.20-0.59, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fertility-sparing trachelectomy for young women with cervical cancer is a rare surgical procedure; <90 centers performed this procedure from 2001 to 2011 and most hospitals perform a small number of cases annually. Higher hospital surgical volume for trachelectomy may be associated with reduced perioperative morbidity.

A Prospective Assessment of Adverse Events in 3 Digestive Surgery Departments From Central Tunisia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to prospectively assess the incidence, the preventability, and the factors contributing to adverse events (AEs) in surgical departments of Tunisian hospitals. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study evaluated the incidence of AEs in surgical departments of three university hospitals in central Tunisia. The study followed 1687 admitted patients until their discharge from the hospitals based on a standard two-stage method that first included staff interviews and review of medical records based on 18 criteria and later was followed by an expert review to confirm or reject the presence of an AE. RESULTS: The overall incidence of AEs was 18.1% (95% confidence interval = 16.26-19.94), with an incidence density of 21.6 events per 1000 patient-days. The most frequent AEs were those related to operative procedures (34.9%) and to hospital-acquired infections (30.3%).The multivariate analysis shows that the proportion of AEs increased significantly with intrinsic risk factors (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51, P < 0.001), extrinsic risk factors (OR = 1.38, P = 0.02), length of stay of greater than 7 days (OR = 2.27, P < 0.001), and unplanned admissions (OR = 2.59, P < 0.01). Overall, the major consequences of suffering an AE were that 90% had a prolonged hospital stay, 6% had a permanent disability, and 4% encountered death. More than 60% of the identified AEs were considered to be preventable. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical AEs have a significant impact on patient outcomes in terms of length of stay, disability, and mortality, and a considerable proportion of them are preventable. Prospective studies provide better insight regarding AEs under circumstances where hospital records are not optimal. Patient safety programs led by qualified health professionals can reduce patient harm in surgical departments of hospitals in most situations.