Informed consent and a risk-based approach to oncologic surgery in a cancer center during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients configure a risk group for complications or death by COVID-19. For many of them, postponing or replacing their surgical treatments is not recommended. During this pandemic, surgeons must discuss the risks and benefits of treatment, and patients should sign a specific comprehensive Informed consent (IC). OBJECTIVES: To report an IC and an algorithm developed for oncologic surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: We developed an IC and a process flowchart containing a preoperative symptoms questionnaire and a PCR SARS-CoV-2 test and described all perioperative steps of this program. RESULTS: Patients with negative questionnaires and tests go to surgery, those with positive ones must wait 21 days and undergo a second test before surgery is scheduled. The IC focused both on risks and benefits inherent each surgery and on the risks of perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infections or related complications. Also, the IC discusses the possibility of sudden replacement of medical staff member(s) due to the pandemic; the possibility of unexpected complications demanding emergency procedures that cannot be specifically discussed in advance is addressed. CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic, specific tools must be developed to ensure safe experiences for surgical patients and prevent them from having misunderstandings concerning their care.

Perioperative blood transfusion decreases long-term survival in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The impact of perioperative blood transfusion on short- and long-term outcomes in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (PLDLT) must still be ascertained, mainly among young children. Clinical and surgical postoperative complications related to perioperative blood transfusion are well described up to three months after adult liver transplantation. AIM: To determine whether transfusion is associated with early and late postoperative complications and mortality in small patients undergoing PLDLT. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of perioperative transfusion on postoperative complications in recipients up to 20 kg of body weight, submitted to PLDLT. A total of 240 patients were retrospectively allocated into two groups according to postoperative complications: Minor complications (n = 109) and major complications (n = 131). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the volume of perioperative packed red blood cells (RBC) transfusion as the only independent risk factor for major postoperative complications. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to identify the optimal volume of the perioperative RBC transfusion related to the presence of major postoperative complications, defining a cutoff point of 27.5 mL/kg. Subsequently, patients were reallocated to a low-volume transfusion group (LTr; n = 103, RBC ≤ 27.5 mL/kg) and a high-volume transfusion group (HTr; n = 137, RBC > 27.5 mL/kg) so that the outcome could be analyzed. RESULTS: High-volume transfusion was associated with an increased number of major complications and mortality during hospitalization up to a 10-year follow-up period. During a short-term period, the HTr showed an increase in major infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, and bleeding complications, with a decrease in rejection complications compared to the LTr. Over a long-term period, the HTr showed an increase in major infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, and minor neoplastic complications, with a decrease in rejection complications. Additionally, Cox hazard regression found that high-volume RBC transfusion increased the mortality risk by 3.031-fold compared to low-volume transfusion. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the studied groups were compared using log-rank tests and the analysis showed significantly decreased graft survival, but with no impact in patient survival related to major complications. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in both graft and patient survival, with high-volume RBC transfusion. CONCLUSION: Transfusion of RBC volume higher than 27.5 mL/kg during the perioperative period is associated with a significant increase in short- and long-term postoperative morbidity and mortality after PLDLT.

Posicionamento cirúrgico em cirurgia robótica pediátrica: relato de experiência / Surgical Positioning in Pediatric Robotic Surgery: experience report / Posicionamiento quirúrgico en cirugía robótica pediátrica: relato de experiencia

Objetivo: Relatar a experiência dos primeiros seis casos de cirurgia robótica pediátrica e a atuação dos enfermeiros especialistas em cirurgia robótica em uma instituição oncológica. Método: Trata-se de um relato de experiência vivenciada na prática clínica que fomentou a discussão acerca dos primeiros seis casos de cirurgia robótica pediátrica, ocorridos entre 2017 e 2019. Resultados: O processo de implantação da cirurgia robótica pediátrica começou em 2017, com dois casos iniciais (adrenalectomia e nefrectomia). Todos os casos foram acompanhados e executados na presença do cirurgião urologista proctor para auxiliar a cirurgiã oncológica pediátrica. O posicionamento cirúrgico depende do local a ser abordado e do procedimento robótico que será realizado. Conclusão: Identificou-se a necessidade de uma simulação realística com a participação de todos os membros da equipe para melhoria dos processos assistenciais e da educação permanente na formação da equipe.

Objective: To report the experience of the first six cases of pediatric robotic surgery and the role of nurses who are specialists in robotic surgery in an oncology institution. Method: This is an account of experience report in clinical practice which encouraged the discussion about the first six cases of pediatric robotic surgery, which occurred between 2017 and 2019. Results: The process of implantation of pediatric robotic surgery started in 2017, with two initial cases (adrenalectomy and nephrectomy). All cases were followed up and performed in the presence of the proctor urologist surgeon to assist the pediatric oncology surgeon. Surgical positioning depends on the location to be approached and the robotic procedure that will be performed. Conclusion: The need for a realistic simulations with the participation of all team members to improve the care processes and permanent education in team formation was identified.

Objetivo: informar la experiencia de los primeros seis casos de cirugía robótica pediátrica y el papel de las enfermeras especialistas en cirugía robótica en una institución de oncología. Método: Este es un relato de la experiencia en la práctica clínica, que fomentó la discusión sobre los primeros seis casos de cirugía robótica pediátrica, que ocurrieron entre 2017 y 2019. Resultados: El proceso de implantación de cirugía robótica pediátrica comenzó en 2017, con dos casos iniciales (adrenalectomía y nefrectomía). Todos los casos fueron seguidos y realizados en presencia del cirujano urólogo supervisor para ayudar al cirujano oncólogo pediátrico. El posicionamiento quirúrgico depende de la ubicación a abordar y del procedimiento robótico que se realizará. Conclusión: Se identificó la necesidad de una simulación realista con la participación de todos los miembros del equipo para mejorar los procesos de atención y la educación permanente en la formación del equipo.

Efetividade do protocolo de prevenção de lesões de pele em cirurgias urológicas robóticas / Effectiveness of the protocol for the prevention of skin lesions in robotic urological surgeries / Efectividad del protocolo prevención de lesions de piel en cirugías urológicas robóticas

Objetivos: Verificar a efetividade do Protocolo Prevenção de Lesão de Pele, por meio do levantamento de ocorrências causadas pelo posicionamento cirúrgico em pacientes oncológicos submetidos às cirurgias urológicas robóticas e demonstrar a importância da simulação como estratégia educativa no treinamento da equipe de enfermagem. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, retrospectiva, abordagem quantitativa, referente ao ano de 2015. O estudo foi feito no centro cirúrgico de um hospital oncológico que realiza em média 1.000 cirurgias/mês. Resultados: Em 2015, foram realizados 359 procedimentos urológicos robóticos, sendo 298 casos de prostatectomia. Não houve nenhuma lesão de pele por posicionamento no período observado. Conclusão: A ocorrência de lesões de pele em pacientes oncológicos submetidos a cirurgias urológicas robóticas, associada ao posicionamento cirúrgico, neste estudo, foi zero. Esse resultado comprova a efetividade do protocolo institucional demonstrando a importância da simulação como estratégia educativa de melhoria para garantir o sucesso do posicionamento cirúrgico robótico.

Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of the Skin Lesion Prevention Protocol by analyzing the occurrence of lesions caused by surgical positioning in cancer patients undergoing robotic urological surgeries; to demonstrate the importance of simulations as educational strategies for training nursing teams. Method: This study includes a descriptive, retrospective, quantitative approach, and refers to the year of 2015. The study was performed at the surgery center of a cancer hospital that performs on average 1,000 surgeries per month. Results: In 2015, 359 robotic urological procedures were performed, of which 298 cases were prostatectomies. There were no skin lesions caused by positioning in the observed period. Conclusion: In this study, the occurrence of skin lesions associated with the surgical positioning of cancer patients undergoing robotic urological surgeries was zero. This result proves the effectiveness of the institutional protocol and demonstrates the importance of simulation as an educational improvement strategy to guarantee the success of robotic surgical positioning.

Objetivos: Verificar la efectividad del Protocolo Prevención de Lesión de Piel, por medio del levantamiento de ocurrencias causadas por el posicionamiento quirúrgico en pacientes oncológicos sometidos a las cirugías urológicas robóticas e demostrar la importancia de la simulación como estrategia educativa en la capacitación del equipo de enfermería. Método: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, abordaje cuantitativo, referente al año 2015. El estudio fue hecho en el centro quirúrgico de un hospital oncológico que realiza en promedio 1.000 cirugías/mes. Resultados: En 2015, fueron realizados 359 procedimientos urológicos robóticos, siendo 298 casos de prostatectomía. No hubo ninguna lesión de piel por posicionamiento en el período observado. Conclusión: La ocurrencia de lesiones de piel en pacientes oncológicos sometidos a cirugías urológicas robóticas, asociada al posicionamiento quirúrgico, en este estudio, fue cero. Ese resultado comprueba la efectividad del protocolo institucional demostrando la importancia de la simulación como estrategia educativa de mejoría para garantizar el éxito del posicionamiento quirúrgico robótico.

Reanimaçäo cárdio-respiratória e cerebral / Cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation

É fundamental que todo intensivista tenha conhecimento atualizado sobre reanimaçao cardiopulmonar. Estes procedimentos têm por finalidade manter a ventilaçao pulmonar e a circulaçao de sangue oxigenado para o cérebro e outros órgaos vitais. A reanimaçao cerebral inclui medidas destinadas a prevenir ou atenuar a lesao neurológica associada à interrupçao do fluxo sangüíneo. Os autores discutem os fatores etiológicos, os principais aspectos da fisiopatologia e o tratamento atual da parada cárdio-respiratória. Uma vez que a proteçao cerebral é o principal objetivo do tratamento prolongado da vida, os recentes progressos do conhecimento acerca dos mecanismos da lesao neurológica secundária enseja reavaliar as intervençoes realizadas com este objetivo.