Endoscopic technique for closure of enterocutaneous fistulas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic over the scope clip (OTSC) closure represents a new technique for endoscopic management of enteric bleeding and tissue defects such as anastomotic leaks and enterocutaneous (EC) fistulas. We aim to describe our technical approach for OTSC closure of EC fistulas and convey our outcomes. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This retrospective review includes ten patients who underwent OTSC application for EC fistulas by surgical endoscopists at a US tertiary care hospital from July 2015 to October 2017. Demographic data, along with type of defect, location, duration of lesion, success or failure of OTSC, and nutritional status were compiled. The ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator was used to project the risk of mortality, complications, length of stay, and risk of readmission had our patients undergone surgical correction of their fistula. RESULTS: Overall success for EC fistula closure was 70%. Acute fistulas were closed with a success rate of 86%. Chronic fistulas were closed successfully in only 33% of cases. Of patients successfully closed, NSQIP-predicted rates of mortality, any complication, and median length of stay were 21.1%, 34.5%, and 9.5 days, respectively. With OTSC, these patients experienced 0 mortalities, 0 complications, and had a median length of stay of 4 days. CONCLUSION: OTSC is an effective adjunctive measure to improving rates of successful closure of EC fistulas and compromised anastomosis. OTSC conveys a markedly improved procedural risk profile as compared to standard surgical correction.

The Combination of SAT and SBT Protocols May Help Reduce the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Burn Intensive Care Unit.

There are few published reports on the unique nature of burn patients using a paired spontaneous awakening and spontaneous breathing protocol. A combined protocol was implemented in our burn intensive care unit (ICU) on January 1, 2012. This study evaluates the impact of this protocol on patient outcomes in a burn ICU. We performed a retrospective review of our burn registry over 4 years, including all patients placed on mechanical ventilation. In the latter 2 years, patients meeting criteria underwent daily spontaneous awakening trial; if successful, spontaneous breathing trial was performed. Patient data included age, burn size, percent full-thickness burn, tracheostomy, and inhalation injury. Outcome measures included ventilator days, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, pneumonia, and disposition. Data were analyzed using Graphpad Prism and IBM SPSS software, with statistical significance defined as P < .05. There were 171 admissions in the preprotocol period and 136 after protocol implementation. Protocol patients had greater percent full-thickness burns, but did not differ in other characteristics. The protocol group had significantly shorter ICU length of stay, fewer ventilator days, and lower pneumonia incidence. Hospital length of stay, disposition, and mortality were not significantly different. Among patients with inhalation injuries, the protocol group exhibited fewer ventilator and ICU days. Protocol implementation in a burn ICU was accompanied by decreased ventilator days and a reduced incidence of pneumonia. A combined spontaneous awakening and breathing protocol is safe and may improve clinical practice in the burn ICU.