One-year outcomes following operative or non-operative management of adhesional small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: A trial of initial non-operative management is recommended in stable patients with adhesional small bowel obstruction. However, recent retrospective studies have suggested that early operative management may be of benefit in reducing subsequent recurrences. This study aimed to compare recurrence rates and survival in patients with adhesional small bowel obstruction treated operatively or non-operatively. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study conducted at six acute hospitals in Denmark, including consecutive patients admitted with adhesional small bowel obstruction over a 4-month interval. Patients were stratified into two groups according to their treatment (operative versus non-operative) and followed up for 1 year after their index admission. Primary outcomes were recurrence of small bowel obstruction and overall survival within 1 year of index admission. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients were included, 118 (58.7 per cent) of whom were treated operatively during their index admission. Patients undergoing operative treatment had significantly better 1-year recurrence-free survival compared with patients managed non-operatively (operative 92.5 per cent versus non-operative 66.6 per cent, P <0.001). However, when the length of index admission was taken into account, patients treated non-operatively spent significantly less time admitted to hospital in the first year (median 3 days non-operative versus 6 days operative, P <0.001). On multivariable analysis, operative treatment was associated with decreased risks of recurrence (HR 0.22 (95 per cent c.i. 0.10-0.48), P <0.001) but an increased all-cause mortality rate (HR 2.48 (95 per cent c.i. 1.13-5.46), P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Operative treatment of adhesional small bowel obstruction is associated with reduced risks of recurrence but increased risk of death in the first year after admission. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04750811 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).prior (registration date: 11 February 2021).

Inter-hospital variation in management of patients with small bowel obstruction in Denmark.

INTRODUCTION: Inter-hospital variation in the management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) has been described in other countries, but the extent to which similar variations exist in Denmark remains unknown. This study aimed to compare the management of SBO between hospitals in Denmark and identify potential areas for improvement METHODS. This was a multicentre prospective study performed at six emergency hospitals. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of SBO were eligible for inclusion. The primary study endpoints were the proportion of patients undergoing operative versus non-operative management, laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery and the success rate of non-operative management. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients were included. No differences were noted in diagnostic pathways or operative versus non-operative management. However, variations were noted in compliance with peri-operative care bundles, ranging from 63.2% to 95.8%. The surgical approach also varied, with the use of laparoscopic surgery ranging from 20.7% to 71.0% (p less-than 0.001). Variations were also noted in duration of surgery (63-124 minutes, p less-than 0.001), time to re-introduction of normal diet and length of hospital stay (3-8.5 days, p less-than 0.001). No differences were observed in 30-day or 90-day mortality rates. CONCLUSION: The management of SBO in Denmark is relatively standardised. Future efforts should focus on improving adherence to multidisciplinary peri-operative protocols, optimising patient selection for laparoscopic surgery and standardising nutritional therapy. FUNDING: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04750811.

Inadvertent Splenectomy During Resection for Colorectal Cancer Does Not Increase Long-term Mortality in a Propensity Score Model: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that long-term mortality is increased in patients who undergo splenectomy during surgery for colorectal cancer. The reason for this association remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between inadvertent splenectomy attributed to iatrogenic lesion to the spleen during colorectal cancer resections and long-term mortality in a national cohort of unselected patients. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, nationwide cohort study. SETTINGS: Data were collected from the database of the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group and merged with data from the National Patient Registry and the National Pathology Databank. PATIENTS: Danish patients with colorectal cancer undergoing curatively intended resection between 2001 and 2011 were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was long-term mortality for patients surviving 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and risk factors for inadvertent splenectomy. Multivariable and propensity-score matched Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for potential confounding. RESULTS: In total, 23,727 patients were included, of which 277 (1.2%) underwent inadvertent splenectomy. There was no association between inadvertent splenectomy and long-term mortality (adjusted HR = 1.15 (95% CI, 0.95-1.40); p = 0.16) in the propensity score-matched model, whereas 30-day mortality was significantly increased (adjusted HR = 2.31 (95% CI, 1.71-3.11); p < 0.001). Inadvertent splenectomy was most often seen during left hemicolectomy (left hemicolectomy vs right hemicolectomy: OR = 24.76 (95% CI, 15.30-40.06); p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective study design and lack of detailed information on postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Inadvertent splenectomy during resection for colorectal cancer does not seem to increase long-term mortality. The previously reported reduced overall survival after inadvertent splenectomy may be explained by excess mortality in the immediate postoperative period.

Association between ulcer site and outcome in complicated peptic ulcer disease: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Mortality rates in complicated peptic ulcer disease are high. This study aimed to examine the prognostic importance of ulcer site in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) and perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). DESIGN: a nationwide cohort study with prospective and consecutive data collection. POPULATION: all patients treated for PUB and PPU at Danish hospitals between 2003 and 2014. DATA: demographic and clinical data reported to the Danish Clinical Registry of Emergency Surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: 90- and 30-d mortality and re-intervention. STATISTICS: the crude and adjusted association between ulcer site (gastric and duodenal) and the outcome measures of interest were assessed by binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Some 20,059 patients with PUB and 4273 patients with PPU were included; 90-d mortality was 15.3% for PUB and 29.8% for PPU; 30-d mortality was 10.2% and 24.7%, respectively. Duodenal bleeding ulcer, as compared to gastric ulcer (GU), was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality within 90 and 30 d, and with re-intervention: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.47 (95% confidence interval 1.30-1.67); p < 0.001, OR 1.60 (1.43-1.77); p < 0.001, and OR 1.86 (1.68-2.06); p < 0.001, respectively. There was no difference in outcomes between gastric and duodenal ulcers (DUs) in PPU patients: adjusted OR 0.99 (0.84-1.16); p = 0.698, OR 0.93 (0.78 to 1.10); p = 0.409, and OR 0.97 (0.80-1.19); p = 0.799, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: DU site is a significant predictor of death and re-intervention in patients with PUB, as compared to GU site. This does not seem to be the case for patients with PPU.

Single-port laparoscopic rectal surgery - a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) for colonic disease has been widely described, whereas data for SPLS rectal resection are sparse. This review aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and complication profile of SPLS for rectal diseases. METHODS: A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase was performed in September 2013 according to the PRISMA guidelines. Original reports on the use of SPLS in high and low anterior resection, Hartmann's operation and abdominoperineal resection were included. Outcome measures were intra-operative details and complications, short-term oncological outcome and early complication profile. RESULTS: No randomised studies or controlled clinical studies were identified. All studies were case series or case reports. Only five studies included more than ten patients operated with SPLS, comprising a total of 120 patients. These studies formed the basis for the final analyses of outcome. Operative times ranged from 79 to 280 min. Conversion rates to conventional laparoscopic surgery and to open surgery were 12% and 2.5%, respectively. The number of harvested lymph nodes in malignant cases was 13-18. The post-operative complication rate was 25.5%. Length of hospital stay was 1-16 days. No 30-day mortality was reported. CONCLUSION: Short-term results suggest that SPLS for rectal disease is feasible and safe with an acceptable complication rate when performed by experienced surgeons in selected patients. Oncological safety and the possible benefits remain to be proven. Future rectal SPLS procedures should be performed in a protocolled set-up.

Successful resuscitation after carbon dioxide embolism during laparoscopy.

Venous air embolism (VAE) is a rare life-threatening complication that can occur during laparoscopy. A 50-year-old previously healthy woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and liver cyst fenestration. Immediately after the surgeon had left the operating room, the patient became hypotensive and developed cardiac arrest. Resuscitation was initiated and a precordial ultrasound examination suspected VAE in the right cardiac chambers. The patient was positioned in Durant's position and air was aspirated through a central venous line. The patient was resuscitated and stabilized, and was transferred to another hospital, where she received hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The patient was discharged 14 days after surgery without any sequelae. It is important that the general surgeon suspects VAE during laparoscopy whenever the patient develops sudden and unexplained severe hypotension or cardiac arrest during or immediately after laparoscopy.