Use of polysaccharide hemostatic agent (HaemoCer™) in breast cancer surgery to reduce postoperative complications: A randomised controlled trial.

Postoperative wound-site bleeding, tissue inflammation and seroma formation are well-known complications in the field of breast surgery. Hemostatic agents consisting of polysaccharides may be used intra-operatively to minimise postoperative complications. We conducted a prospective randomised-controlled, single-centre study including 136 patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery for invasive or intraductal breast cancer. Of these, 68 patients were randomised to receive an absorbable polysaccharide hemostatic agent into the wound site during surgery, while 68 patients were randomised to the control group and did not receive any hemostatic agent. Primary outcome was the total volume of postoperative drained fluid from the surgical site. Secondary outcomes were the number of days until drain removal and rate of immediate postoperative surgical site infection Patients in the intervention group had significantly higher drainage output volumes compared with the control group 85 mL (IQR 46.25-110) versus 50 mL (IQR 30-75), respectively; (P = .003). Univariable linear regression analyses showed a significant association between the surgical specimen and the primary outcome (P < .001). After multivariable analysis, the use of absorbable polysaccharide hemostatic product was no longer significantly associated with a higher drainage output and only the size of the surgical specimen remained a significant predictor. The number of days until drainage removal and the postoperative seroma formation were higher in the intervention group (P = .004) and (P = .003), respectively. In our study, intraoperative application of polysaccharide hemostatic agent during breast-conserving surgery did not decrease postoperative fluid production. Only the size of the surgical specimen was significantly associated with postoperative drainage volume.

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery versus video-assisted thoracic surgery for lung lobectomy or segmentectomy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: It remains no clear conclusion about which is better between robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the short-term and long-term efficacy between RATS and VATS for NSCLC. METHODS: Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Medline, and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched for studies published before December 2020. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the data analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 software. Fixed or random effect models were applied according to heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies including 11,247 patients were included in the meta-analyses, of which 5114 patients were in the RATS group and 6133 in the VATS group. Compared with VATS, RATS was associated with less blood loss (WMD = - 50.40, 95% CI -90.32 ~ - 10.48, P = 0.010), lower conversion rate (OR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.43 ~ 0.60, P < 0.001), more harvested lymph nodes (WMD = 1.72, 95% CI 0.63 ~ 2.81, P = 0.002) and stations (WMD = 0.51, 95% CI 0.15 ~ 0.86, P = 0.005), shorter duration of postoperative chest tube drainage (WMD = - 0.61, 95% CI -0.78 ~ - 0.44, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (WMD = - 1.12, 95% CI -1.58 ~ - 0.66, P < 0.001), lower overall complication rate (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.83 ~ 0.99, P = 0.020), lower recurrence rate (OR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.36 ~ 0.72, P < 0.001), and higher cost (WMD = 3909.87 USD, 95% CI 3706.90 ~ 4112.84, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between RATS and VATS in operative time, mortality, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Sensitivity analysis showed that no significant differences were found between the two techniques in conversion rate, number of harvested lymph nodes and stations, and overall complication. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that RATS is a feasible and safe technique compared with VATS in terms of short-term and long-term outcomes. Moreover, more randomized controlled trials comparing the two techniques with rigorous study designs are still essential to evaluate the value of robotic surgery for NSCLC.

Characterization of Pediatric Breast Abscesses and Optimal Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Literature on pediatric breast abscesses is sparse; therefore, treatment is based on adult literature which has shifted from incision and drainage (I&D) to needle aspiration. However, children may require different treatment due to different risk factors and the presence of a developing breast bud. We sought to characterize pediatric breast abscesses and compare outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients presenting with a primary breast abscess from January 2008 to December 2018 was conducted. Primary outcome was persistent disease. Antibiotic utilization, treatment required, and risk factors for abscess and recurrence were also assessed. A follow-up survey regarding scarring, deformity, and further procedures was administered. Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests for group comparisons and multivariable regression to determine associations with recurrence were performed. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included. The median age was 12.8 y [IQR 4.9, 14.3], 81% were women, and 51% were African-American. Most commonly, patients were treated with antibiotics alone (47%), followed by I&D (27%), and aspiration (26%). Twelve patients (13%) had persistent disease. There was no difference in demographic or clinical characteristics between those with persistent disease and those who responded to initial treatment. The success rates of primary treatment were 80% with antibiotics alone, 90% with aspiration, and 96% with I&D (P = 0.35). The median time to follow-up survey was 6.5 y [IQR 4.4, 8.5]. Four patients who underwent I&D initially reported significant scarring. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment modality was not associated with persistent disease. A trial of antibiotics alone may be considered to minimize the risk of breast bud damage and adverse cosmetic outcomes with invasive intervention.

Pediatric Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Does Initial Treatment Affect Outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) commonly occurs in adolescents, most commonly in males, and has recurrence rates between 20% and 60%. Surgical therapy has long been debated regarding its role in preventing recurrence, with no current consensus on guidelines for care. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of treatment type on recurrence rates in pediatric PSP. METHODS: This is a single-institution, institutional review board-approved retrospective analysis of patients aged 1 to 18 diagnosed with their first occurrence of PSP between 2009 and 2017. Patient demographics, hospital course, and outcomes over a 2-y period were collected. Patients were divided into nonoperative (oxygen therapy only) management, chest tube placement, and surgical management. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients diagnosed with PSP met inclusive criteria. The mean age was 15.5, and 48 (75%) of patients were men. Twenty-one patients (33%) underwent nonoperative treatment, 24 patients (37.5%) underwent operative treatment with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or open thoracotomy, and 19 patients (30%) underwent chest tube or pigtail placement alone. Fifteen patients (23.4%) experienced a recurrence within 2 y: 6 patients (29%) from the nonoperative treatment group, 4 (21%) who were treated with the chest tube only, and 5 (21%) who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or open thoracotomy. No statistically significant difference in recurrence rates was found between treatment groups. Pneumothorax size was found to differ between treatment type; larger pneumothoraces were more likely to undergo surgical intervention (P = 0.0003). Smaller pneumothoraces were associated with higher rates of recurrence on multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of PSP in adolescents was found to be 23.4% after 2-y follow-up. Smaller-sized pneumothoraces were associated with higher rates of recurrence, but treatment type did not significantly affect recurrence rates.

The duration of mediastinal chest tube drainage is not associated with postoperative pain or opioid consumption after cardiac surgery.

Objectives. Mediastinal chest tubes are considered to be a significant factor causing postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the duration of mediastinal drainage is associated with postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Design. A total of 468 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the Tampere University Hospital between December 2015 and August 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The first 252 patients were treated according to short and the following 216 patients according to extended drainage protocol, in which the mediastinal chest tubes were habitually removed on the first and second postoperative day, respectively. The oxycodone hydrochloride consumption, as well as daily mean pain scores assessed by numeric/visual rating scales, were compared between the groups. Results. The mean daily pain scores and cumulative opioid consumption were similar in both groups. Patients with reduced ejection fraction, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease reported lower initial pain scores. The median cumulative oxycodone hydrochloride consumption did not differ according to the drainage protocol but was higher in males, smokers, and after aortic surgery. In contrast, patients with advanced age, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease had lower consumption. In multivariable analysis, male sex and aortic surgery were associated with higher and advanced age with lower opioid use. Conclusions. The length of mediastinal chest tube drainage is not associated with the amount of postoperative pain or need for opioids after cardiac surgery. Male sex and aortic surgery were associated with higher and advanced age with lower overall opioid consumption.

Risk Factors for Early Readmission After Acute Pancreatitis: Importance of Timely Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in the diagnosis and care of acute pancreatitis, the mortality, morbidity, and long-term complications of this disease currently account for an annual cost of $10 billion in the United States. Lack of high-quality consolidated clinical data about this ever-increasing national and global burden makes it challenging to be able to recognize at-risk populations and intervene to avoid early readmission (ER) (i.e., readmission within 30 d of hospital discharge or ER). METHODS: We reviewed the National Readmission Database for 2016. We retrieved 25,476 ER out of a total of 188,757 patients admitted with acute pancreatitis (ICD-10 diagnosis of K85), alive at discharge. Patients younger than 18 at the time of initial admission were excluded. Diagnostic characteristics and procedures performed were extracted from ICD-10 data. Based on patient demographics and the diagnostic and procedural profiles from their initial admission, we identified clusters of risk factors for ER using agglomerative hierarchical clustering. These are depicted in a correlation matrix. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis is associated with a 13.5% overall ER rate. Certain pre-existing chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease diagnoses and interventions at initial presentation increase the odds of ER. In contrast to interventions on the pancreas, interventions on the biliary system correlated with lower odds of ER. Furthermore, the earlier the biliary system intervention was performed during the initial hospitalization, the lower the odds of ER. We identified five clusters of interrelationships: age/comorbidity cluster, cirrhosis cluster, sepsis/pulmonary complication cluster, biliary intervention cluster, and high-risk of mortality cluster. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several potentially modifiable risk factors for ER of patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis, which included timing of biliary interventions. Furthermore, we identified clusters of interrelationships that further illuminate which complications tend to occur concomitantly and ultimately contribute to ER. By identifying risk factors and elucidating their interactions, we have improved our understanding of this highly morbid disease and offer potential points of intervention to reduce ER.

Pyogenic liver abscess in liver transplant recipient: A warning signal for the risk of recurrence and retransplantation.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic liver abscesses in liver transplant recipients (PLA-LTR) are a rare disease whose specificities compared with PLA in non-transplanted patients (PLA-C) are unknown. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in a French academic hospital from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. RESULTS: Among 176 patients diagnosed with PLA, 14 were LTR; each case was matched with 3 PLA-C controls by date of PLA diagnosis and pathophysiological mechanism of PLA. Median time from liver transplantation to PLA diagnosis was 34.5 months. Among 14 PLA-LTR, 8/14 (57.1%) had bacteremia and 10/14 (71.4%) had positive PLA cultures. Most commonly isolated bacteria were Enterobacteriaceae (9/14; 64.3%), Enterococcus spp. (4/14; 28.6%), and anaerobic bacteria (3/14; 21.4%). Clinical, radiological, and microbiological characteristics did not significantly differ between PLA-LTR and PLA-C but there was a tendency toward more diabetic patients and a less acute presentation. All but one PLA-LTR were associated with ischemic cholangitis, whereas this was a rare cause among PLA-C (13/14 vs 3/42, respectively, P < .001) among patients with PLA-LTR. In contrast, hepatobiliary neoplasia was rare in PLA-LTR but frequent in PLA-C (1/14 vs 24/42, P = .001). No significant difference was found between PLA-LTR and PLA-C in terms of duration of antibiotic therapy (6.5 and 6 weeks, respectively), PLA drainage rates (10/14 and 26/42, respectively), or mortality at 12 months after PLA diagnosis (2/14 and 5/42, respectively). Recurrence rates within the first year were observed in 6/14 patients (42.9%), and retransplantation was needed in 5/14 (35.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence of PLA in LTR is a severe event leading to high risk of recurrence and retransplantation.

Pleural Effusion Outcomes in Intensive Care: Analysis of a Large Clinical Database.

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusions are common in critically ill patients. However, the management of pleural fluid on relevant clinical outcomes is poorly studied. We evaluated the impact of pleural effusion in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A large observational ICU database Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III was utilized. Analyses used matched patients with the same admission diagnosis, age, gender, and disease severity. RESULTS: Of 50 765, 3897 (7.7%) of critically ill adult patients had pleural effusions. Compared to patients without effusion, patients with effusion had higher in-hospital (38.7% vs 31.3%, P < .0001), 1-month (43.1% vs 36.1%, P < .0001), 6-month (63.6% vs 55.7%, P < .0001), and 1-year mortality (73.8% vs 66.1%, P < .0001), as well as increased length of hospital stay (17.6 vs 12.7 days, P < .0001), ICU stay (7.3 vs 5.1 days, P < .0001), need for mechanical ventilation (63.1% vs 55.7%, P < .0001), and duration of mechanical ventilation (8.7 vs 6.3 days, P < .0001). A total of 1503 patients (38.6%) underwent pleural fluid drainage. Patients in the drainage group had higher in-hospital (43.9% vs 35.4%, P = .0002), 1-month (47.7% vs 39.7%, P = .0005), 6-month (67.1% vs 61.8%, P = .0161), and 1-year mortality (77.1% vs 72.1%, P = .0147), as well as increased lengths of hospital stay (22.1 vs 16.0 days, P < .0001), ICU stay (9.2d vs 6.4 days, P < .0001), and duration of mechanical ventilation (11.7 vs 7.1 days, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a pleural effusion was associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients regardless of disease severity. Drainage of pleural effusion was associated with worse outcomes in a large, heterogeneous cohort of ICU patients.

Risk factors associated with recurrent referral to the emergency room following surgical treatment of Bartholin's gland abscess.

There is no consensus regarding the best surgical modality for the treatment of Bartholin's gland abscess. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with the recurrent referral of the emergency room (ER) following surgical treatment for a Bartholin's gland abscess. A retrospective cohort study was done. Clinical and microbiological characteristics were retrieved from the patients' hospital records. A univariate analysis was followed using multiple logistic regression model. During the study period, 320 women were managed surgically, of those 54 (37.0%) had had a recurrent referral to the ER. The rate of positive previous cultured abscesses was significantly higher among patients with a recurrent referral to the ER (66.7% vs. 51.3%, p value < .05). The mode of a previous abscess drainage (Word catheterisation or marsupialisation) was not associated with recurrent referral to the ER or with recurrent hospitalisation. The possible association between positive cultures and recurrence warrants re-consideration of routine antimicrobial administration for Bartholin's gland abscess.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? A recurrence of a Bartholin's gland abscess following surgical treatment varies greatly and there is no consensus regarding the best surgical modality for treatment. None of the studies have examined a recurrent referral to the emergency room (ER) as a primary outcome.What do the results of this study add? Our study strengthens previous studies and reassures that recurrence is not associated with surgical modality. Specifically, a recurrent referral to the ER and hospitalisation were not found to be associated with surgical modality, both which may be attributed to various reasons other than the recurrence of the abscess. An association was found between positive culture results and a recurrent referral to the ER.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The association found that positive results warrant further larger studies in order to determine which of the patients may benefit from antibiotic treatment in addition to the surgical treatment.

Effect of topical microporous polysaccharide hemospheres on the duration and amount of fluid drainage following mastectomy: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Seroma formation is the most common complication after mastectomy and places patients at risk of associated morbidities. Microporous polysaccharide hemospheres (MPH) consists of hydrophilic, plant based, polysaccharide particles and is currently used as an absorbable hemostatic agent. An animal model evaluating MPH and seroma formation after mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection showed a significant decrease in seroma volume. Study aim was to evaluate topical MPH on the risk of post-mastectomy seroma formation as measured by total drain output and total drain days. METHODS: Prospective randomized single-blinded clinical trial of patients undergoing mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. MPH was applied to the surgical site in the study group and no application in the control group. RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled; eight were excluded due to missing data. Forty-two patients were evaluated, control (n = 21) vs. MPH (n = 21). No difference was identified between the two groups regarding demographics, tumor stage, total drain days, total drain output, number of clinic visits, or complication rates. On a subset analysis, body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 was identified as an independent risk factor for high drain output. Post hoc analyses of MPH controlling for BMI also revealed no statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike the data presented in an animal model, no difference was demonstrated in the duration and quantity of serosanguinous drainage related to the use of MPH in patients undergoing mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. BMI greater than 30 was identified as an independent risk factor for high drain output and this risk was not affected by MPH use. NCT03647930, retrospectively registered 08/2018.

Non-Operative Management is More Cost-Effective than Immediate Operation in Perforated Appendicitis Patients with Seven or More Days of Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Management of perforated appendicitis in children remains controversial. Nonoperative (NO) and immediate operative (IO) strategies are used with varying outcomes. We hypothesized that IO intervention for patients with perforated appendicitis would be more cost-effective than NO management. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with appendicitis from 2012 to 2015 was performed. Patients with perforated appendicitis were defined by evidence of perforation on imaging. We excluded patients who presented with sepsis, organ failure, and ventriculoperitoneal shunts. NO management was determined by surgeon preference. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: IO was performed on 145 patients with perforated appendicitis, whereas 83 were treated with NO management. Compared to IO patients, NO patients incurred higher overall costs, greater length of stay, more readmissions, complications, peripherally inserted central venous catheter lines, interventional radiology drains, and unplanned clinic and emergency department visits (P < 0.0001 for all). Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, days of symptoms, admission C-reactive protein and white blood cell count revealed that NO management was independently associated with increased costs (OR 1.35, 1.12-1.62, 95% CI). Cost curves demonstrated that total cost for IO surpasses that of NO management when patients present with greater than 6.3 d of symptoms (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that IO is more cost-effective than NO management for patients with perforated appendicitis who present with less than 6.3 d of symptoms, after which point, NO management is more cost-effective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

International Variation in Surgical Practices in Units Performing Oesophagectomy for Oesophageal Cancer: A Unit Survey from the Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Audit (OGAA).

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leaks are associated with significant risk of morbidity, mortality and treatment costs after oesophagectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate international variation in unit-level clinical practice and resource availability for the prevention and management of anastomotic leak following oesophagectomy. METHOD: The Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Audit (OGAA) is an international research collaboration focussed on improving the care and outcomes of patients undergoing oesophagectomy. Any unit performing oesophagectomy worldwide can register to participate in OGAA studies. An online unit survey was developed and disseminated to lead surgeons at each unit registered to participate in OGAA. High-income country (HIC) and low/middle-income country (LMIC) were defined according to the World Bank whilst unit volume were defined as < 20 versus 20-59 versus ≥60 cases/year in the unit. RESULTS: Responses were received from 141 units, a 77% (141/182) response rate. Median annual oesophagectomy caseload was reported to be 26 (inter-quartile range 12-50). Only 48% (68/141) and 22% (31/141) of units had an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program and ERAS nurse, respectively. HIC units had significantly higher rates of stapled anastomosis compared to LMIC units (66 vs 31%, p = 0.005). Routine post-operative contrast-swallow anastomotic assessment was performed in 52% (73/141) units. Stent placement and interventional radiology drainage for anastomotic leak management were more commonly available in HICs than LMICs (99 vs 59%, p < 0.001 and 99 vs 83%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This international survey highlighted variation in surgical technique and management of anastomotic leak based on case volume and country income level. Further research is needed to understand the impact of this variation on patient outcomes.

Role of closed drain after multi-level posterior spinal surgery in adults: a randomised open-label superiority trial.

PURPOSE: To explore the role of closed suction drain in multi-level posterior spinal surgery. METHODS: We performed prospective, open-label, randomised control, superiority trial with parallel design and 1:1 allocation. A total of 161 patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery involving more than one motion segment at a dedicated spine surgery department were randomly allocated into "drain" or "no-drain" groups, based on which surgical drain was employed at the end of surgery. After excluding six cases with intraoperative dural tear, the data of 80 patients in "drain" and 75 patients in "no-drain" group were analysed. Primary outcome was total perioperative blood loss (sum of intraoperative blood loss, volume of drain if present and volume aspirated if patient developed collection in relation to surgical wound). The secondary outcomes were transfusion requirements, wound healing and complications. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable with respect to baseline characteristics. Total perioperative blood loss was significantly higher in "drain" group (716 ± 312.97 ml vs 377.9 ± 295.72 ml, p < 0.0001). Number and volume of post-operative aspirations were significantly higher in "no-drain" group whereas transfusion requirements were significantly higher in "drain" group. Except for one case of superficial wound inflammation in either group, there were no complications. Subgroup analysis revealed that the results were applicable for surgeries involving "two/three" levels and "more than three" levels. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of not using closed surgical drains after multi-level posterior spinal surgery reduces post-operative blood loss and transfusion requirements. But this comes with the disadvantage of increased wound soakage and need for post-operative wound aspirations. The risks of benefits of "drain" and "no drain" must be carefully weighed and an informed choice be taken. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy with and without prophylactic drains in gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients who are undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer is increasing. Although prophylactic drains have been widely employed following the procedure, there are few studies reporting the efficacy of prophylactic drainage. Therefore, this study assessed the efficacy of prophylactic drains following laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: Data of patients who received laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer in our institution between April 2011 and March 2017 were reviewed, and the outcomes of patients with and without a prophylactic drainage were compared. Propensity score matching was used to minimize potential selection bias. RESULTS: A total of 779 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer were reviewed; of these, 628 patients who received elective laparoscopic gastrectomy were included in this study. After propensity score matching, data of 145 pairs of patients were extracted. No significant differences were noted in the incidence of postoperative complications between the drain and no-drain groups (19.3% vs 11.0%, P = 0.071). The days after the surgery until the initiation of soft diet (6.3 ± 7.4 vs 4.9 ± 2.9 days, P = 0.036) and the length of postoperative hospital stay (15.7 ± 12.9 vs 13.0 ± 6.3 days, P = 0.023) were greater in the drain group than those in the no-drain group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that routinely using prophylactic drainage following laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer is not obligatory.

Hospital admissions for acute throat and deep neck infections versus tonsillectomy rates in Germany.

PURPOSE: To evaluate trends in hospital admissions in Germany for acute infections of the upper airway and deep neck in the context of the number of tonsil-related surgical procedures between 2005 and 2017. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal population-based cohort study was performed including all unplanned admissions for acute pharyngitis/tonsillitis, abscess formation of the peritonsillar or retropharyngeal/parapharyngeal space. Elective procedures included tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy), secondary tonsillectomy, and tonsillotomy. Emergency operations encompassed abscess-tonsillectomy and transoral drainage procedures of the peritonsillar/parapharyngeal/retropharyngeal space. RESULTS: 553.600 admissions were registered in total with a significant, stepwise increase between 2005 and 2017, including retropharyngeal/parapharyngeal abscess (47.0%), acute tonsillitis (30.8%), acute pharyngitis (26.5%) and peritonsillar abscess (7.9%). There were 1.323.984 elective operations with a significant decrease during the study period. A total of 188.316 emergency operations were done, a significant decrease in the number of abscess-tonsillectomies was compensated by the increased number of transoral peritonsillar abscess drainages. The number of transoral parapharyngeal and retropharygeal abscess drainage procedures did not change significantly (p = 0.846; p = 0.846). Negative correlation was significant between admissions for chronic tonsillitis and emergency admissions (Pearson correlation coefficient = - 0.879, p < 0.001) and also between elective and emergency operations (r = - 0.667; p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Concerning infections of the upper airway and deep neck spaces, German Hospitals have to prepare strategies for the increasing challenge by unplanned admissions and emergency operations. Further research is required to clarify whether this phenomenon is caused by the significant decrease in the number of elective operations.

An An Open-Label, Single Center, Retrospective Study to Evaluate Clinical Outcomes with Surgical Sealant in Bentall Procedures: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular surgery is associated with substantial risk for postoperative bleeding with increased patient morbidity and mortality. Numerous intraoperative techniques have been utilized to reduce this risk. This study was to assess postoperative bleeding-related parameters following Bentall procedures and to examine the impact of intraoperative surgical sealant application. METHOD: The medical/surgical records of 100 consecutive Bentall procedure cases were examined retrospectively for perioperative surgical sealant use and postoperative bleeding-related outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 100 patient cases, three died during the postoperative period, and 97 were evaluable. Surgical sealant was utilized in 56 patient cases (57.8%). The utilization versus no utilization of surgical sealant was associated with significant reductions in most postoperative bleeding-related parameters, including less drainage (P = .028), resternotomy for hemorrhage (P = .036), transfusion of red blood cells (P = .022 at 48 hours; P = .027 total in-hospital), transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (P = .04 at 48 hours; P = .004 total in-hospital), and a higher percentage of cases not needing blood transfusion (P = .002). The surgical sealant group had longer cardiopulmonary bypass circuit (P = .016) and aortic cross-clamp time (P = .001), with no significant between-group differences in intubation time (P = .636) or intensive care unit duration (P = .294). When excluding urgent cases or Stanford type A aortic dissections, intensive care unit duration significantly was shorter in the surgical sealant group (P = .017). Surgical sealant use was not associated with any adverse events. CONCLUSION: The application of surgical sealant to the anastomosis suture line in Bentall procedures reduces postoperative drainage, bleeding, and transfusion utilization. Further studies are warranted to investigate these benefits in prospective, randomized clinical trials.

Factors Related to Surgical Treatment and Outcomes of Thai Patients With Septic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the surgical treatment of Thai patients with septic arthritis. METHODS: This cohort study used a university hospital database in Thailand to identify 450 adult patients with confirmed septic arthritis. Data related to baseline characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment, and outcomes were collected. A multivariate analysis identified the factors related to surgical treatment. RESULTS: The patients had a mean age (±SD) of 53.6 (±17.8) years, and 51% were male. Surgical drainage was performed on 332 patients (74%). The factors identifed as relating to the need for surgical drainage included preexisting joint disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.9), hip involvement (OR, 36.3; 95% CI, 4.1-320.5), abscess formation (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.1-27.1), osteomyelitis (OR, 4; 95% CI, 1.1-14.9), and positive synovial fluid culture (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2-7.2). In contrast, patients who were treated with steroids (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.4) or had septic shock (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13-0.83) were less likely to undergo surgery. This model correctly predicted 35% of cases. Patients treated with surgical drainage had a significant longer length of stay (median [interquartile range], 21 [11-34] days vs 14 [7-24] days; p < 0.0001) and were less likely to achieve complete recovery (26% vs 53%, p < 0.0001). However, the mortality rate was lower (2.4% vs 10.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with septic arthritis who had underlying joint disease, hip involvement, abscess formation, osteomyelitis, and organisms in their synovial fluid were more likely to undergo surgical intervention with a significantly prolonged length of stay but had a lower mortality rate.

Non-randomized comparative study on the efficacy of a trauma protocol in the emergency department.

PURPOSE: Trauma is a major health problem in developing countries and worldwide which requires many resources and much time in an emergency department (ED). Although Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is the gold standard, operator dependence can affect the quality of care. The objective was to identify differences in numbers and time to lifesaving interventions, investigation, ED length of stay, and mortality between an in-house protocol and conventional practice. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective non-randomized study for adult trauma patients in the ED. The trauma protocol was developed from the recent ATLS guideline. RESULTS: Thirty-two and 41 cases were in the in-house protocol group and conventional practice group, respectively. Endotracheal intubation was done more frequently in the in-house protocol group (84% vs. 59%, p = 0.03). Intercostal drainage tube insertion was done faster (6-26 min, median 11 min vs. 15-84 min, median 35 min, p = 0.02) and pre-arrival notification by emergency medical service increased in the in-house protocol group (66% vs. 30%, p = 0.01). Hypothermia in the operating room was found only in the conventional practice group (62% vs. 0, p = 0.007) and a warm blanket was used significantly more often in the in-house protocol group (25% vs. 0, p < 0.001). A directed acyclic graph with multivariate analysis was used to identify confounders. Time to Focused Assessment Sonography in Trauma was significantly shorter in the in-house protocol group (6.5-15.6 min, median 11 min, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: In addition to the ATLS guideline, the trauma protocol could improve trauma care by reduced time to investigation, early notification of the trauma team in pre-hospital situations, reduced incidence of hypothermia in the operating room, and increased use of a warm blanket.

Primary External Ventricular Drains in the Management of Open Myelomeningocele Repairs in the Neonatal Setting in Ireland

Aim The aim of this study is to outline the role of primary external ventricular drains (EVD) in the management of open myelomeningoceles in the neonatal setting in Ireland. Methods Retrospective cohort study involving all infants who underwent open myelomeningocele repair in a teritary centre in Ireland between January 2009 and April 2016. Medical charts and laboratory data was reviewed on all infants meeting the inclusion criteria. Results One hundred and forty-three neonates underwent open myelomeningocele repair in the 6.5 year period. EVD were inserted at the time of primary wound closure in 19 cases (13%). EVD were used to aid in wound closure and as a primary method of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. They remained in place for a median of 8 days, ranging from 1-22 days. All EVD, apart from one, in our series were replaced by a ventricular-peritoneal (VP) shunt at some stage. Conclusion EVD were used in 13% of cases of open myelomeningocele repairs from Jan 2009-Apr 2016 as a primary measure to aid in management. Compared to the cohort in whom an EVD was not inserted at the time of surgery, there was a decrease in the rate of infections. However, there was an increased rate of wound dehiscence/leak and a later need for VP shunt insertion.

Pancreatectomy and body mass index: an international evaluation of cumulative postoperative complications using the comprehensive complications index.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obese patients undergoing pancreatectomy are at increased risk for postoperative complications and readmission. We examined the association between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications following major pancreatectomy using the novel Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI), which analyzes the impact of multiple surgical complications rather than just the most severe. METHODS: We performed a retrospective dual institutional international review of 500 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic resection and assessed the association of BMI with postoperative complications using the CCI and Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) with uni- and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Overweight and obese patients undergoing pancreatic resection demonstrated a higher incidence and severity of CCI-measured complications (29.3 vs. 21.1, P < 0.001), more pancreatic fistulae (15.4 vs. 8.8%, 95% CI 1.005 -1.902), and an increased 30-day readmission rate (21.1 vs. 12.1%, 95% CI 1.067 -1.852) (all p < 0.05) than normal-BMI patients. The CCI was a more sensitive marker of post-pancreatectomy complications relative to the CDC, with a higher multicomplication rate in overweight/obese patients (54.8% vs. 44.5%). CONCLUSION: Patients with overweight and obese body mass index undergoing major pancreatectomy demonstrated higher rates of postoperative complications, pancreatic fistulae, and readmissions. The CCI is a more robust and sensitive tool to assess post-pancreatectomy complications than the CDC.