Could trauma laparoscopy be the standard of care for hemodynamically stable patients? A retrospective analysis of 165 cases.

BACKGROUND: Trauma laparoscopy may provide a less invasive alternative to laparotomy by providing accurate diagnosis and minimally invasive management of selected trauma patients. The risk of missing injuries during the laparoscopic evaluation still refrains surgeons from using this approach. Our aim was to evaluate feasibility and safety of trauma laparoscopy in selected patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of hemodynamically trauma patients who underwent laparoscopic management in a tertiary center in Brazil due to abdominal trauma. Patients were identified by searching through the institutional database. We collected demographic and clinical data, focusing on avoidance of exploratory laparotomy, and missed injury rate, morbidity, and length of stay. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square, while numerical comparisons were performed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: We evaluated 165 cases, of which 9.7% needed conversion to an exploratory laparotomy. One-hundred and twenty-one patients (73%) had at least one intrabdominal injury. Two missed injuries to retroperitoneal organs were identified (1.2%), of which only one was clinically relevant. Three patients died (1.8%), one of which was due to complications from an intestinal injury after conversion. No deaths were related to the laparoscopic approach. CONCLUSION: In selected hemodynamically stable trauma patients, the laparoscopic approach is feasible and safe, and reduces the need for exploratory laparotomy and its associated complications.

Multivisceral resection for retroperitoneal liposarcoma-is it worth it? A 20-year single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors. Liposarcoma constitutes the most frequent histological subtype of retroperitoneal sarcoma. The prognosis of soft tissue sarcomas depends on clinical and histologic characteristics. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate variables that may be related to the overall and local recurrence-free survival in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma and discuss the need for visceral resection en-bloc for tumors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the medical records of 60 patients seen between 1997 and 2017 who underwent surgical resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma. RESULTS: The overall survival rate at 5 years of follow-up was 75.22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.86). The probability of a local recurrence-free survival at 5 years of follow-up was 26.04% (95% CI 0.11-0.44). The multivariate analysis showed that dedifferentiated or pleomorphic tumors and R2/fragmented resection were associated with a shorter time to recurrence. No other characteristics markedly influenced the overall survival (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with dedifferentiated or pleomorphic tumors and incomplete resection were associated with higher local recurrence rates than others. This study reinforces the need for complete and en-bloc resection with organs when there is clear involvement or technical surgical difficulty to maintain the tumor integrity.

"Pop in a scope": attempt to decrease the rate of unnecessary nontherapeutic laparotomies in hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries.

BACKGROUND: Management of patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries is challenging. Thoracoabdominal penetrating trauma may harbor hollow viscus injuries in both thoracic and abdominal cavities and occult diaphragmatic lesions. While radiological tests show poor diagnostic performance in these situations, evaluation by laparoscopy is highly sensitive and specific. Furthermore, minimally invasive surgery may avoid unnecessary laparotomies, despite concerns regarding complication and missed injury rates. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic performance of laparoscopy in stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating injuries. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of hemodynamically stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating wounds was managed by laparoscopy. We collected data regarding the profile of the patients, the presence of diaphragmatic injury, perioperative complications, and the conversion rate. Preoperative imaging tests were compared to laparoscopy in terms of diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included, and 26 (84%) were victims of a stab wound. Mean age was 32 years. Ninety-three percent were male. Diaphragmatic lesions were present in 18 patients (58%), and 13 (42%) had associated injuries. There were no missed injuries and no conversions. Radiography and computerized tomography yielded an accuracy of 52% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in stable patients with thoracoabdominal penetrating wound, with low complication rate, and may avoid unnecessary laparotomies. The poor diagnostic performance of preoperative imaging exams supports routine laparoscopic evaluation of the diaphragm to exclude injuries in these patients.

Low-cost wound protector for laparoscopic surgeries.

The role of wound protectors in laparoscopic surgeries is highly controversial in the literature. Some studies demonstrate their benefit in reducing the rate of surgical site infections; however, these results are not reproducible across all procedures. In addition to protecting the operative wound, these devices can be used at sites of surgical specimen extraction in laparoscopic procedures. Several commercially available devices serve this purpose but are scarcely available in resource-limited settings. One of the reasons for this limitation is the cost of the device. In this technical note, we aim to provide a cost-effective option utilizing materials readily available in the operating room and with a simple fabrication process.

Comparing outcomes in patients with exsanguinating injuries: an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), multicenter, international trial evaluating prioritization of circulation over intubation (CAB over ABC).

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhage is a major cause of preventable trauma deaths, and the ABC approach is widely used during the primary survey. We hypothesize that prioritizing circulation over intubation (CAB) can improve outcomes in patients with exsanguinating injuries. METHODS: A prospective observational study involving international trauma centers was conducted. Patients with systolic blood pressure below 90 who were intubated within 30 min of arrival were included. Prioritizing circulation (CAB) was defined as delaying intubation until blood products were started, and/or bleeding control was performed before securing the airway. Demographics, clinical data, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The study included 278 eligible patients, with 61.5% falling within the "CAB" cohort and 38.5% in the "ABC" cohort. Demographic and disease characteristics, including age, sex, ISS, use of blood products, and other relevant factors, exhibited comparable distributions between the two cohorts. The CAB group had a higher proportion of penetrating injuries and more patients receiving intubation in the operating room. Notably, patients in the CAB group demonstrated higher GCS scores, lower SBP values before intubation but higher after intubation, and a significantly lower incidence of cardiac arrest and post-intubation hypotension. Key outcomes revealed significantly lower 24-hour mortality in the CAB group (11.1% vs. 69.2%), a lower rate of renal failure, and a higher rate of ARDS. Multivariable logistic regression models showed a 91% reduction in the odds of mortality within 24 h and an 89% reduction at 30 days for the CAB cohort compared to the ABC cohort. These findings suggest that prioritizing circulation before intubation is associated with improved outcomes in patients with exsanguinating injuries. CONCLUSION: Post-intubation hypotension is observed to be correlated with worse outcomes. The consideration of prioritizing circulation over intubation in patients with exsanguinating injuries, allowing for resuscitation, or bleeding control, appears to be associated with potential improvements in survival. Emphasizing the importance of circulation and resuscitation is crucial, and this approach might offer benefits for various bleeding-related conditions.

Challenges to implement laparoscopic appendectomy as the first-line treatment for acute appendicitis: a fifteen-year experience in a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: the barriers to implement emergency laparoscopy in public teaching hospitals involve issues such as resident learning curves and resource costs and availability. This study was designed to describe the issues facing the implementation of laparoscopic approach for acute appendicitis over 15 years in a single academic center in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: retrospective study of patients undergoing emergency appendectomy from 2004 to 2018. Clinical data were compared to four major actions implemented in the emergency surgical service: minimally invasive surgery training for residents (2007), laparoscopic stump closure using metal clips (2008), 24/7 availability of laparoscopic instruments for emergency surgeries (2010), and third-party contract for maintenance of the laparoscopic instruments and implementation of polymeric clips for stump closure (2013). We evaluated the increase in laparoscopic appendectomy after the implementation of those major changes. RESULTS: we identified 1168 appendectomies during the study period, of which 691 (59%), 465 (40%), and 12 (1%) were open, laparoscopic, and converted, respectively. The implementation of the major changes since 2004 resulted in an increase of laparoscopic appendectomies from 11% in 2007 to 80% in 2016. These actions were decisive in the widespread use of laparoscopy for acute appendicitis (p<0.001). The standardization of the hem-o-lok clip in the treatment of the appendiceal stump made the procedure more feasible, reducing the surgical time using laparoscopic access and increasing the team's adherence, so that this became the route of choice in about 85% of cases in the period from 2014 to 2018, 80% performed by 3rd year resident physicians. No intraoperative complications were noted related to laparoscopic access, even in more complicated appendicitis. There was no mortality reported, no reoperations or readmissions to hospital during a 30-day postoperative period. CONCLUSION: the development of a feasible, reproducible, and safe technical standardization, associated with continuous cost optimization, are the cornerstones for a consistent and viable change in the current practice for appendectomies in middle and lower-income countries.

Safe ultrasound-guided percutaneous tracheostomy in eight steps and necessary precautions in COVID-19 patients.

Percutaneous tracheostomy has been considered the standard method today, the bronchoscopy-guided technique being the most frequently performed. A safe alternative is ultrasound-guided percutaneous tracheostomy, which can be carried out by the surgeon, avoiding the logistical difficulties of having a specialist in bronchoscopy. Studies prove that the efficacy and safety of the ultrasound-guided technique are similar when compared to the bronchoscopy-guided one. Thus, it is of paramount importance that surgeons have ultrasound-guided percutaneous tracheostomy as a viable and beneficial alternative to the open procedure. In this article, we describe eight main steps in performing ultrasound-guided percutaneous tracheostomy, highlighting essential technical points that can reduce the risk of complications from the procedure. Furthermore, we detail some precautions that one must observe to reduce the risk of aerosolization and contamination of the team when percutaneous tracheostomy is indicated in patients with COVID-19.

Predictive factors of mortality in patients with pelvic fracture and shock submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing.

INTRODUCTION: in recent decades, the extraperitoneal pelvic packing technique has been disseminated, but there are still few studies. Thus, it was decided to analyze the results of extraperitoneal pelvic tamponade, in patients with pelvic fracture and shock, in order to identify predictive factors for mortality. METHODS: a retrospective review of medical records of patients submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing was conduced. We analyzed their characteristics, prehospital and emergency room data, pelvic fracture classification, associated and severity injuries, laboratory and imaging exams, data on packing, arteriography, and other procedures performed, complications, hemodynamic parameters, and amount of transfused blood products before and after packing. RESULTS: data were analyzed from 51 patients, who showed signs of shock from prehospital care, presence of acidosis, with high base deficit and arterial lactate levels. Most patients underwent multiple surgical procedures due to severe associated injuries. The incidence of coagulopathy was 70.58%, and overall mortality was 56.86%. The group of non-surviving patients presented significantly higher age, prehospital endotracheal intubation, and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p<0.05). The same group presented, before and after extraperitoneal pelvic packing, significantly worse hemodynamic parameters of mean arterial pressure, pH, base deficit, hemoglobin, and arterial lactate (p<0.05). The non-surviving group received significantly more units of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets within 24 hours following extraperitoneal pelvic packing (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: age and base deficit are independent predictors of mortality in patients submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing.

Outcomes of Early Versus Late Tracheostomy in Patients With COVID-19: A Multinational Cohort Study.

Timing of tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 has attracted substantial attention. Initial guidelines recommended delaying or avoiding tracheostomy due to the potential for particle aerosolization and theoretical risk to providers. However, early tracheostomy could improve patient outcomes and alleviate resource shortages. This study compares outcomes in a diverse population of hospitalized COVID-19 patients who underwent tracheostomy either "early" (within 14 d of intubation) or "late" (more than 14 d after intubation). DESIGN: International multi-institute retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Thirteen hospitals in Bolivia, Brazil, Spain, and the United States. PATIENTS: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 undergoing early or late tracheostomy between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 549 patients from 13 hospitals in four countries were included in the final analysis. Multivariable regression analysis showed that early tracheostomy was associated with a 12-day decrease in time on mechanical ventilation (95% CI, -16 to -8; p < 0.001). Further, ICU and hospital lengths of stay in patients undergoing early tracheostomy were 15 days (95% CI, -23 to -9 d; p < 0.001) and 22 days (95% CI, -31 to -12 d) shorter, respectively. In contrast, early tracheostomy patients experienced lower risk-adjusted survival at 30-day post-admission (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.8-5.2). Differences in 90-day post-admission survival were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy within 14 days of intubation have reduced ventilator dependence as well as reduced lengths of stay. However, early tracheostomy patients experienced lower 30-day survival. Future efforts should identify patients most likely to benefit from early tracheostomy while accounting for location-specific capacity.

Non-operative management of blunt splenic trauma: evolution, results and controversies.

The spleen is one of the most frequently affected organs in blunt abdominal trauma. Since Upadhyaya, the treatment of splenic trauma has undergone important changes. Currently, the consensus is that every splenic trauma presenting with hemodynamic stability should be initially treated nonoperatively, provided that the hospital has adequate structure and the patient does not present other conditions that indicate abdominal exploration. However, several topics regarding the nonoperative management (NOM) of splenic trauma are still controversial. Splenic angioembolization is a very useful tool for NOM, but there is no consensus on its precise indications. There is no definition in the literature as to how NOM should be conducted, neither about the periodicity of hematimetric control, the transfusion threshold that defines NOM failure, when to start venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, the need for control imaging, the duration of bed rest, and when it is safe to discharge the patient. The aim of this review is to make a critical analysis of the most recent literature on this topic, exposing the state of the art in the NOM of splenic trauma.

Outcomes after emergency abdominal surgery in COVID-19 patients at a referral center in Brazil.

PURPOSE: COVID-19 is associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery. Contrary to elective procedures, emergency operations should not be postponed. We aim to evaluate the profile and outcomes of COVID-19 patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of perioperative data of COVID-19 patients undergoing emergency surgery from April 2020 to August 2020. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were evaluated due to abdominal complaints, yielding 22 emergency surgeries. The mean APACHE II and SAPS were 18.7 and 68, respectively. Six patients had a PaO2/FiO2 lower than 200 and more than 50% of parenchymal compromise on chest tomography. The most common indications for emergency surgery were hernias (6; 27.2%). The median length of stay was 30 days, and only two patients required reoperation. Postoperatively, 10 (43.3%) patients needed mechanical ventilation for a mean of 6 days. The overall mortality rate was 31.8%. CONCLUSION: Both postoperative morbidity and mortality are high in COVID-19 patients with respiratory compromise and abdominal emergencies.

Standardization of elective tracheostomies at the Central Institute of the Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in a high number of hospital admissions and some of those patients need ventilatory support in intensive care units. The viral pneumonia secondary to Sars-cov-2 infection may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and longer mechanical ventilation needs, resulting in a higher demand for tracheostomies. Due to the high aerosolization potential of such procedure, and the associated risks of staff and envoirenment contamination, it is necesseray to develop a specific standardization of the of the whole process involving tracheostomies. This manuscript aims to demonstrate the main steps of the standardization created by a tracheostomy team in a tertiary hospital dedicated to providing care for patients with COVID-19.

Can ultrasound be used as an adjunct for tube thoracostomy? A systematic review of potential application to reduce procedure-related complications.

BACKGROUND: chest tube insertions are commonly performed in various scenarios. Although frequent, these procedures result in a significant complication rate, especially in the acute care setting. Ultrasonography has been incorporated to interventional procedures aiming to reduce the incidence of complications. However, little is known about the applications of ultrasound in tube thoracostomies. The aim of this systematic review is to present the potential applications of ultrasonography as an adjunct to the procedure. METHODS: we searched Medline/Pubmed, EMBASE and Scopus databases. Out of 3012 articles, we selected 19 for further analysis. Thirteen of those were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Ultimately, 6 articles were thoroughly evaluated and included in the review. RESULTS: The included articles show that ultrasound can be used to correctly identify a safe insertion site, to accurately find a vulnerable intercostal artery, and is reliable for timely diagnosis of drain malpositioning. CONCLUSION: this systematic review highlights the potential benefits of incorporating ultrasonography in tube thoracostomies. No randomized clinical trials are available. However, it is reasonable to assume that proper use of ultrasound may reduce procedure-related complications.

Prospective Analysis of Short- and Mid-term Knowledge Retention after a Brief Ultrasound Course for Undergraduate Medical Students.

OBJECTIVES: The benefits of implementing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the emergency department are well established. Ideally, physicians should be taught POCUS during medical school. Several different courses have been designed for that purpose and have yielded good results. However, medical students need specifically designed courses that address the main objectives of knowledge acquisition and retention. Despite that, there is limited evidence to support knowledge retention, especially in the mid-term. The purpose of this study is to evaluate short- and mid-term knowledge retention after a student-aimed ultrasound course. METHODS: Medical students participating in a medical student trauma symposium (SIMPALT) in 2017 were included. Their profiles and baseline ultrasound knowledge were assessed by a precourse questionnaire (PRT). The same questionnaire was used one week (1POT) and three months (3POT) after the course. RESULTS: Most of the participants were 1st- to 4th- year medical students. None had prior ultrasound knowledge. They reported costs as the major barrier (65%) to enrollment in an ultrasound course. A comparison between the PRT and 1POT results showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.02), while no difference was found between 1POT and 3POT (p>0.09). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of a tailored ultrasound course for medical students. Knowledge acquisition and mid-term retention may be achieved by this specific population.

Outcomes of Elderly Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery for Complicated Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent types of malignant neoplasms. Age is a risk factor for this disease, with 75% of cases diagnosed in patients older than 65 years. Complications such as obstruction, hemorrhage, and perforation are present in more than one-third of cases and require emergency treatment. We aim to analyze the profile of elderly patients undergoing surgery for complicated colorectal cancer, and to evaluate factors related to worse short-term prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent emergency surgical treatment for complicated colorectal cancer was performed. Demographics, clinical, radiological and histological data were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were analyzed. The median age was 72 years, and almost half (46%) of the patients were female. Obstruction was the most prevalent complication at initial presentation (72%). The most common sites of neoplasia were the left and sigmoid colon in 22 patients (32.8%), and the right colon in 17 patients (25.4%). Resection was performed in 88% of cases, followed by primary anastomosis in almost half. The most frequent clinical stages were II (48%) and III (22%). Forty-three patients (65.7%) had some form of postoperative complication. Clavien-Dindo grades 1, 2, and 4, were the most frequent. Complete oncologic resection was observed in 80% of the cases. The thirty-day mortality rate was 10.4%. Advanced age was associated with worse morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with complicated colorectal cancer undergoing emergency surgery have high morbidity and mortality rates. Advanced age is significantly associated with worse outcomes.

Low-cost wound protector for laparoscopic surgeries / Protetor de ferida operatória de baixo custo para cirurgias laparoscópicas

ABSTRACT The role of wound protectors in laparoscopic surgeries is highly controversial in the literature. Some studies demonstrate their benefit in reducing the rate of surgical site infections; however, these results are not reproducible across all procedures. In addition to protecting the operative wound, these devices can be used at sites of surgical specimen extraction in laparoscopic procedures. Several commercially available devices serve this purpose but are scarcely available in resource-limited settings. One of the reasons for this limitation is the cost of the device. In this technical note, we aim to provide a cost-effective option utilizing materials readily available in the operating room and with a simple fabrication process.

RESUMO O papel dos protetores de ferida operatória em cirurgias laparoscópicas é bastante controverso na literatura. Alguns estudos demonstram seu benefício na redução da taxa de infeções de sítio cirúrgico, porém esses resultados não são reprodutíveis em todos os procedimentos. Além da proteção da ferida operatória, esses dispositivos podem ser utilizados nos sítios de extração de peças cirúrgicas em procedimentos laparoscópicos. Há vários dispositivos comercialmente disponíveis para esse fim, entretanto são pouco disponíveis nos serviços com menos recursos. Um dos motivos dessa limitação é o custo do dispositivo. Nesta nota, buscamos oferecer uma opção barata que utiliza materiais amplamente disponíveis no centro cirúrgico e cuja confecção é simples.

Steering the wheel towards the standard of care: Proposal of a step-by-step ultrasound-guided emergency chest tube drainage and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Chest tube drainage is a common procedure performed by physicians in the emergency setting. Complications may arise in up to 25% of the cases. These vary from drain misplacement to lethal iatrogenic injuries. Ultrasound provides adequate visualization and correct identification of the insertion site, allows the exclusion of a vulnerable intercostal artery, and enables timely diagnosis of drain malpositioning. Although feasible, ultrasound-guided techniques are underused and seldom applied during chest drainage. One reason for that is the lack of a comprehensive step-by-step description incorporating these techniques. This article aims to describe a standardized ultrasound-guided chest tube drainage technique, and also review the evidence supporting its potential benefits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we conducted a thorough literature search on ultrasound techniques regarding the identification of the diaphragm, the neurovascular intercostal bundle, and the position of the chest drain. Also, we analyzed published articles about complications of chest drainage. RESULTS: we propose a feasible step-by-step ultrasound-guided technique of chest drainage and discuss why this technique should be incorporated in the routine practice. CONCLUSION: ultrasound guidance should be incorporated in chest drainage in a stepwise fashion. Although intuitively safer, future randomized studies are warranted to support this technique.