RESUMO
RESUMEN Antecedentes: las cirugías abdominales mayores pueden presentar complicaciones posoperatorias graves cuya detección temprana resulta importante para su tratamiento. Objetivo: determinar la utilidad del uso de la tomografía computarizada (TC) para el diagnóstico temprano de las complicaciones de cirugía abdominal mayor. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo observacional descriptivo, mediante revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes operados de cirugía abdominal mayor en un Hospital Privado. Se agruparon los pacientes según presentaban o no síntomas sospechosos de complicación posoperatoria. Los primeros se clasificaron en 3 grupos: sin TC, con TC con hallazgos positivos y con TC sin hallazgos patológicos. Resultados: se analizaron 154 pacientes, con un promedio de edad de 61,3 ± 12,5 años; 83 (54%) fueron varones. Sobre 48 pacientes (31%) con síntomas sospechosos de complicaciones, fueron reoperados 6 sin TC, pero con síntomas muy evidentes, 7 con signos tomográficos positivos y 14/41 del grupo con TC negativa. Todos tuvieron hallazgos que justificaron la intervención. Hubo 27 casos (17,5%) con complicaciones IIIb según Clavien-Dindo y 3 pacientes (2%) fallecieron. Conclusión: la tomografía computarizada tuvo valor para confirmar una complicación, pero no para descartarla. Los parámetros clínicos cobran especial importancia en los pacientes sintomáticos sin hallazgos patológicos en la TC posoperatoria.
ABSTRACT Background: Major abdominal surgeries may present serious postoperative complications that require early diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for the early diagnosis of major abdominal surgery complications. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational and descriptive study using data obtained from the medical records of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery in a private hospital. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of symptoms suggesting a postoperative complication. Patients with symptoms were classified into 3 groups: without CT, with CT with positive findings and with CT without abnormal findings. Results: A total of 154 patients were analyzed; mean age was 61.3 ± 12.5 years and 83 (54%) were male. Of 48 patients (31%) with symptoms suggestive of complications, 6 had very evident symptoms and were re-operated without CT, 7 had positive findings on CT and CT was negative in 14/41. All the patients had findings that supported the decision to re-operate. There were 27 cases (17.5%) with grade 3b complications of the Clavien-Dindo classification and 3 patients (2%) died. Conclusion: Computed tomography was useful to confirm a complication, but not to rule it out. Clinical parameters remain of utmost importance in patients with symptoms and absence of abnormal findings in post-operative CT.