What are the risk factors of failure of enhanced recovery after right colectomy? Results of a prospective study on 140 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: Nausea and vomiting is the main cause of failure of enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) after right hemicolectomy. METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2018, all patients undergoing right hemicolectomy were prospectively included. Patients undergoing emergency surgery, additional complex procedure or temporary stoma, nasogastric tube (NGT) maintenance, or abdominal drainage were excluded. Failure of ERP was defined as nausea/vomiting precluding oral feeding after POD3 and/or the occurrence of postoperative ileus requiring NGT and/or length of stay (LOS) ≥ 8 days except for patients awaiting admission in rehabilitation unit. Risk factors of failure of ERP were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among 306 patients undergoing right hemicolectomy, 140 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Postoperative morbidity was 31%, and the mortality rate was nil. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 7 days (range 2-30). Successful ERP was achieved in 83 patients (59%). Causes of failure were major nausea/vomiting precluding oral feeding after POD3 in 36, postoperative ileus requiring NGT in 16 and LOS ≥ 8 days in 36. On multivariate analysis, preoperative anemia (OR 5.2; CI 95%, 1.3-21.1, p = 0.02) and platelet anti-aggregant/anti-coagulant (OR 4.5; CI 95%, 1.7-12.1, p = 0.003) were associated with the risk of failure of ERP. CONCLUSION: This study shows that anemia and medication with antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy increase the risk of failure of ERP after right hemicolectomy that translates most of the time by nausea/vomiting and postoperative ileus. The presence of these factors should lead to adapt the strategy to improve outcome rather than be considered as contraindication to ERP.

The small height of an anastomotic colonic doughnut is an independent risk factor of anastomotic leakage following colorectal resection: results of a prospective study on 154 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the influence of morphological characteristics of anastomotic doughnuts on the risk of anastomotic leakage (AL) after double-stapled colorectal anastomosis. METHODS: This single-center prospective study enrolled all patients undergoing double-stapled colorectal anastomosis between December 2012 and December 2015. Maximal diameter and minimal and maximal heights and widths of both colonic and rectal doughnuts were measured by surgeons in the operating room. Their influence on the risk of AL was analyzed on uni- and multivariate models. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four patients were included; 92 (59.7%) were operated on for malignancy. Colorectal anastomoses > and <10 cm above the anal verge were performed in 96 (62.3%) and 58 (37.7%) patients, respectively. AL occurred in 17 (11.0%). The minimal height of the colonic doughnut (CD) was the only measurement significantly associated with an increased risk of AL (p = 0.026). A cutoff value of 4.5 mm for the CD determined on the ROC curve (AUC 0.685, p = 0.013) yielded the best sensitivity (61.4%) and specificity (82.4%) to predict AL. On multivariate analysis, a height of the CD <4.5 mm (OR 5.743, 95% IC 1.476-22.346, p = 0.012), malignant disease (OR 8.821, 95% IC 1.051-74.006, p = 0.045), and American Society of Anesthesiologists score >2 (OR 3.408, 95% IC 1.017-11.418, p = 0.047) were the only independent risk factors of AL. CONCLUSION: The CD's minimal height influences the risk of AL. Its routine measurement during operation, along with other risk factors, could help to decide which patients could benefit from a diverting stoma or the creation of a new anastomosis.

Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis and ileostomy versus laparoscopic lavage in purulent peritonitis from perforated diverticulitis: outcome analysis in a prospective cohort of 40 consecutive patients.

PURPOSE: This prospective study aimed to compare outcomes after laparoscopic peritoneal lavage (LPL) and sigmoid resection with primary colorectal anastomosis (RPA). METHODS: From June 2010 to June 2015, 40 patients presenting with Hinchey III peritonitis from perforated diverticulitis underwent LPL or RPA. Patients with Hinchey II or IV peritonitis and patients who underwent an upfront Hartmann procedure were excluded. Primary endpoint was overall 30-day or in-hospital postoperative morbidity after surgical treatment of peritonitis. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients underwent RPA and 15 LPL. Overall postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were not significantly different after RPA and LPL (40 vs 67 %, p = 0.19; 4 vs 6.7 %, p = 1, respectively). Intra-abdominal morbidity and reoperation rates were significantly higher after LPL compared to RPA (53 vs 12 %, p < 0.01; 40 vs 4 %, p = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that LPL (p = 0.028, HR = 18.936, CI 95 % = 1.369-261.886) was associated with an increased risk of postoperative intra-abdominal septic morbidity. Among 6 patients who underwent reoperation after LPL, 4 had a Hartmann procedure. All surviving patients who had a procedure requiring stoma creation underwent stoma reversal after a median delay of 92 days after LPL and 72 days after RPA (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: LPL for perforated diverticulitis is associated with a high risk of inadequate intra-abdominal sepsis control requiring a Hartmann procedure in up to 25 % of patients. RPA appears to be safer and more effective. It may represent the best option in this context.

Amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid versus appendicectomy for treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Researchers have suggested that antibiotics could cure acute appendicitis. We assessed the efficacy of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid by comparison with emergency appendicectomy for treatment of patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. METHODS: In this open-label, non-inferiority, randomised trial, adult patients (aged 18-68 years) with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, as assessed by CT scan, were enrolled at six university hospitals in France. A computer-generated randomisation sequence was used to allocate patients randomly in a 1:1 ratio to receive amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid (3 g per day) for 8-15 days or emergency appendicectomy. The primary endpoint was occurrence of postintervention peritonitis within 30 days of treatment initiation. Non-inferiority was shown if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI for the difference in rates was lower than 10 percentage points. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were done. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00135603. FINDINGS: Of 243 patients randomised, 123 were allocated to the antibiotic group and 120 to the appendicectomy group. Four were excluded from analysis because of early dropout before receiving the intervention, leaving 239 (antibiotic group, 120; appendicectomy group, 119) patients for intention-to-treat analysis. 30-day postintervention peritonitis was significantly more frequent in the antibiotic group (8%, n=9) than in the appendicectomy group (2%, n=2; treatment difference 5·8; 95% CI 0·3-12·1). In the appendicectomy group, despite CT-scan assessment, 21 (18%) of 119 patients were unexpectedly identified at surgery to have complicated appendicitis with peritonitis. In the antibiotic group, 14 (12% [7·1-18·6]) of 120 underwent an appendicectomy during the first 30 days and 30 (29% [21·4-38·9]) of 102 underwent appendicectomy between 1 month and 1 year, 26 of whom had acute appendicitis (recurrence rate 26%; 18·0-34·7). INTERPRETATION: Amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid was not non-inferior to emergency appendicectomy for treatment of acute appendicitis. Identification of predictive markers on CT scans might enable improved targeting of antibiotic treatment. FUNDING: French Ministry of Health, Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique 2002.

Prone positioning in acute respiratory distress syndrome after abdominal surgery: a multicenter retrospective study : SAPRONADONF (Study of Ards and PRONe position After abDOmiNal surgery in France).

BACKGROUND: The recent demonstration of prone position's strong benefit on patient survival has rendered proning a major therapeutic intervention in severe ARDS. Uncertainties remain as to whether or not ARDS patients in the postoperative period of abdominal surgery should be turned prone because of the risk of abdominal complications. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of surgical complications between patients with and without prone position after abdominal surgery. METHODS: This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort of patients with ARDS in a context of recent abdominal surgery. Primary outcome was the number of patients who had at least one surgical complication that could be induced or worsened by prone position. Secondary outcomes included effects of prone position on oxygenation. Data from the prone group were compared with those from the supine group (not having undergone at least a prone position session). RESULTS: Among 98 patients included, 36 (37%) had at least one prone position session. The rate of surgical complications induced or worsened by prone position did not differ between prone and supine groups [respectively, 14 (39%) vs 27 (44%); p = 0.65]. After propensity score application, there was no significant difference between the two groups (OR 0.72 [0.26-2.02], p = 0.54). Revision surgery did not differ between the groups. The first prone session significantly increased PaO2/FiO2 ratio from 95 ± 47 to 189 ± 92 mmHg, p < 0.0001. CONCLUSION: Prone position of ARDS patients after abdominal surgery was not associated with an increased rate of surgical complication. Intensivists should not refrain from proning these patients.

Management of surgical complications of small-bowel diverticulosis.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of complications of small bowel diverticulosis is difficult in the emergency setting and often delays surgical management. The aim of this study was to report our experience with seven patients presenting with a surgical complication of small-bowel diverticulosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1, 1995 to June 30, 2001, 7 patients presenting with a complication of small-bowel diverticulosis were included in this retrospective study. The mean age of the patients was 73.1 years. Complications were bleeding in 4 cases and diverticulitis with perforation and abscess formation in 3 cases. RESULTS: The time between complication onset and its management was 20.6 days. Among paraclinical examinations small-bowel barium opacification showed diverticulosis in 4 cases. Other investigations such as endoscopy or CT-Scan imaging studies were used to eliminate other causes of acute abdomen. Patients were operated on in all cases and a segmental small bowel resection was performed in all cases while in one patient, a diversion stomy was performed. One patient died following septic peritonitis treatment. CONCLUSION: Small-bowel diverticulosis is unfrequent. In cases of gastrointestinal haemorrhage or occlusion, diagnosis is performed by eliminating other more frequent causes. If emergency surgery is not required, barium opacification seems to be the most sensitive examination.

Does mechanical massage of the abdominal wall after colectomy reduce postoperative pain and shorten the duration of ileus? Results of a randomized study.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mechanical abdominal massage on postoperative pain and ileus after colectomy. We hypothesized that parietal abdominal stimulation could counteract induced pain and postoperative ileus, through common spinal-sensitive pathways, with nociceptive visceral messages. After preoperative randomization, 25 patients (age 52 +/- 5 years) underwent active mechanical massage by intermittent negative pressure on the abdominal wall resulting in aspiration (Cellu M50 device, LPG, Valence, France), and 25 patients (age 60 +/- 6 years) did not receive active mechanical massage (placebo group). Massage sessions began the first day after colectomy and were performed daily until the seventh postoperative day. In the active-massage group, amplitude and frequency were used, which have been shown to be effective in reducing muscular pain, whereas in the placebo group, ineffective parameters were used. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, doses of analgesics (propacetamol), and delay between surgery and the time to first passage of flatus were assessed. Types and dosages of the anesthetic drugs and the duration of the surgical procedure did not differ between groups. From the second and third postoperative days, respectively, VAS pain scores (P < 0.001) and doses of analgesics (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in patients receiving active massage compared to the placebo group. Time to first passage of flatus was also significantly shorter in the active-massage group (1.8 +/- 0.3 days vs. 3.6 +/- 0.4 days, P < 0.01). No adverse effects were observed. These results suggest that mechanical massage of the abdominal wall may decrease postoperative pain and ileus after colectomy.

Visceral vascular injuries.

This article deals with injuries to the celiac trunk, superior and inferior mesenteric arterial injuires. Surgical approaches and physiological implications of interruption of the mesenteric arterial circulation are addressed in detail. Surgical techniques for the management of these injuries and the need for second look operations are also examined.

Phlegmonous gastritis in a 32-week pregnant woman managed by conservative surgical treatment and antibiotics.

Phlegmonous gastritis is an extremely rare and life-threatening condition. We report the case of a 32-week pregnant women presenting a peritonitis owing to phlegmonous gastritis caused by a group A streptococcus and successfully managed by conservative surgical treatment and antibiotics. Multiple endoscopies with biopsies illustrate progressive and complete gastric recovery.

Artificial anal sphincter in severe fecal incontinence: outcome of prospective experience with 37 patients in one institution.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of artificial anal sphincter implantation for severe fecal incontinence in 37 consecutive patients operated on in a single institution from 1993 through 2001. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Implantation of an artificial anal sphincter is proposed in severe fecal incontinence when local treatment is unsuitable or has failed. The results of this technique have not been determined yet, and its place among the various operative procedures is still debated. METHODS: Artificial anal sphincters were implanted in 37 patients from 1993 through 2001. All patients had complete fecal incontinence and had failed to respond to medical treatment. Median duration of incontinence was 16 years. The causes of incontinence were sphincter disruption (19 patients), hereditary malformations (2 patients), and neurologic disease (16 patients). Six patients had had previous surgery for fecal incontinence. Assessment was made by physical examination (anal continence, rectal emptying) and anorectal manometry. RESULTS: In the first 12 patients, six devices had to be removed (50%); the cause of failure was found in all cases, and this allowed contraindications to be defined. Among the next 25 patients, 23 had an uncomplicated postoperative follow-up, and 5 developed seven complications: control pump change (n = 3), balloon migration (n = 1), and major rectal emptying difficulties in patients with obstructive internal rectal procidentia (n = 2). The artificial anal sphincter had to be removed definitively in three cases, representing the failure rate of this technique in the authors' experience (12%); two other devices had to be removed temporarily and the patients are awaiting reimplantation. In this latter group of 25 patients, 80% have an activated sphincter: continence for liquid stool is normal in 78.9%, continence for gas in 63.1%. Seven patients have rectal emptying difficulties, minor in five and major in two. Manometric studies showed mean pressures of 110 and 37 cm H(2)O with closed and open sphincter, respectively, with a mean duration of artificial sphincter opening of 128 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term functional outcome of artificial anal sphincter implantation for severe fecal incontinence is satisfactory; adequate sphincter function is recovered and the definitive removal rate is low. Good results are directly related to careful patient selection and appropriate surgical and perioperative management after a learning curve of the surgical team.