UBC Reticulum: a province-wide network promoting surgical excellence and continuous improvement of general surgery in British Columbia.

The University of British Columbia's (UBC) Division of General Surgery is a diverse group, including both academic and community surgeons. Since its launch in 2019, the UBC Reticulum website has been a transformative tool in engaging general surgeons, fellows, residents, students and researchers through its many features and user-created content, such as its messaging board, Netter, and Connect feature, which connects members based on their specialty, location, procedures and interests. Reticulum also serves as a valuable repository of educational resources and is instrumental in the division's goal of improving continuing medical education; the Reticulum mentorship grant program provides financial support for practising surgeons pursuing peer-mentorship projects. UBC Reticulum serves as a model for how to coordinate surgical education, research and quality improvement within diverse provincial divisions.

The unrestricted global effort to complete the COOL trial.

BACKGROUND: Severe complicated intra-abdominal sepsis (SCIAS) has an increasing incidence with mortality rates over 80% in some settings. Mortality typically results from disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, progressive and self-perpetuating bio-mediator generation, systemic inflammation, and multiple organ failure. A further therapeutic option may be open abdomen (OA) management with negative peritoneal pressure therapy (NPPT) to remove inflammatory ascites and attenuate the systemic damage from SCIAS, although there are definite risks of leaving the abdomen open whenever it might possibly be closed. This potential therapeutic paradigm is the rationale being assessed in the Closed Or Open after Laparotomy (COOL trial) ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03163095 ). Initially, the COOL trial received Industry sponsorship; however, this funding mandated the use of a specific trademarked and expensive NPPT device in half of the patients allocated to the intervention (open) arm. In August 2022, the 3 M/Acelity Corporation without consultation but within the terms of the contract canceled the financial support of the trial. Although creating financial difficulty, there is now no restriction on specific NPPT devices and removing a cost-prohibitive intervention creates an opportunity to expand the COOL trial to a truly global basis. This document describes the evolution of the COOL trial, with a focus on future opportunities for global growth of the study. METHODS: The COOL trial is the largest prospective randomized controlled trial examining the random allocation of SCIAS patients intra-operatively to either formal closure of the fascia or the use of the OA with an application of an NPPT dressing. Patients are eligible if they have free uncontained intraperitoneal contamination and physiologic derangements exemplified by septic shock OR severely adverse predicted clinical outcomes. The primary outcome is intended to definitively inform global practice by conclusively evaluating 90-day survival. Initial recruitment has been lower than hoped but satisfactory, and the COOL steering committee and trial investigators intend with increased global support to continue enrollment until recruitment ensures a definitive answer. DISCUSSION: OA is mandated in many cases of SCIAS such as the risk of abdominal compartment syndrome associated with closure, or a planned second look as for example part of "damage control"; however, improved source control (locally and systemically) is the most uncertain indication for an OA. The COOL trial seeks to expand potential sites and proceed with the evaluation of NPPT agnostic to device, to properly examine the hypothesis that this treatment attenuates systemic damage and improves survival. This approach will not affect internal validity and should improve the external validity of any observed results of the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: National Institutes of Health ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03163095 ).

Factors associated with recurrent appendicitis after nonoperative management.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to identify predictors for recurrent appendicitis in patients with appendicitis previously treated nonoperatively. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of all adult patients with appendicitis treated at a tertiary care hospital. Patient demographics, radiographic information, management, and clinical outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome was recurrent appendicitis within 6 months after discharge from the index admission. Given the competing risk of interval appendectomy, a time-to-event competing-risk analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of the 699 patients presenting with appendicitis, 74 were treated nonoperatively (35 [47%] were women; median [IQR] age, 48 [33,64] years), and 21 patients (29%) had recurrent appendicitis. On univariate and multivariate analysis, presence of an appendicolith on imaging was the only factor associated with a higher risk of recurrent appendicitis (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of appendicolith was associated with an increased risk of developing recurrent appendicitis within 6 months.

Penetrating cardiac trauma.

This chapter summarizes approaches to hemorrhage control in penetrating cardiac trauma, an injury that is a true test of trauma systems integration, trauma center readiness, teamwork, decision-making, technical excellence, and multidisciplinary trauma care.

Technical considerations in the management of penetrating cardiac injury.

Penetrating cardiac injuries require rapid diagnosis, efficient exposure and nuanced technical approaches, within a framework of highly coordinated and integrated multidisciplinary care. Acute care surgeons, with both strategic and technical expertise, are ideally positioned to address the potentially devastating consequences of these injuries. The aim of this narrative review is to offer a technical approach to the rapid evaluation, exposure, operative repair and postoperative care of penetrating cardiac injuries. A comprehensive review of the cardiac trauma literature, dating back to 1970, has provided a detailed toolbox of approaches to subxiphoid pericardial windows, resuscitative thoracotomy, median sternotomy, pericardiotomy, aortic clamping, cardiac hemorrhage control, cardiac repair, coronary artery injuries, pericardial closure, drain placement, chest wall closures, damage control thoracic procedures and immediate postoperative cardiac care, all based on fundamental physiological principles and anatomical considerations.

A framework for role allocation in education, research and leadership services in Canadian academic divisions of general surgery: a modified Delphi consensus.

BACKGROUND: Moving toward a funding standard similar to that for clinical services for roles essential to the functioning of education, research and leadership services within divisions of general surgery is necessary to strengthen divisional resilience. We aimed to identify roles and underlying tasks in these services central to sustainable functioning of Canadian academic divisions of general surgery. METHODS: Between June 2018 and October 2020, we used a 4-step modified Delphi method (online survey, face-to-face nominal group technique [n = 12], semistructured telephone interview [n = 8] and nominal group technique [n = 12]) to achieve national consensus from an expert panel of all 17 heads of academic divisions of general surgery in Canada on the roles and accompanying tasks essential to education, research and leadership services within an academic division of general surgery. We used 70% agreement to determine consensus. RESULTS: The expert panel agreed that a framework for role allocation in education, research and leadership services was relevant and necessary. Consensus was reached for 7 roles within the educational service, 3 roles within the research service and 5 roles within the leadership service. CONCLUSION: Our framework represents a national consensus that defines role standards for education, research and leadership services in Canadian academic divisions of general surgery. The framework can help divisions build resiliency, and enable sustained and deliberate advances in these services.

Does drainage or resection predict subsequent interventions and long-term quality of life in patients with Grade IV pancreatic injuries: A population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Clinical equipoise remains significant for the treatment of Grade IV pancreatic injuries in stable patients (i.e., drainage vs. resection). The literature is poor in regards to experience, confirmed main pancreatic ductal injury, nuanced multidisciplinary treatment, and long-term patient quality of life (QOL). The primary aim was to evaluate the management and outcomes (including long-term QOL) associated with Grade IV pancreatic injuries. METHODS: All severely injured adult patients with pancreatic trauma (1995-2020) were evaluated (Grade IV injuries compared). Concordance of perioperative imaging, intraoperative exploration, and pathological reporting with a main pancreatic ductal injury was required. Patients with resection of Grade IV injuries were compared with drainage alone. Long-term QOL was evaluated (Standard Short Form-36). RESULTS: Of 475 pancreatic injuries, 36(8%) were confirmed as Grade IV. Twenty-four (67%) underwent a pancreatic resection (29% pancreatoduodenectomy; 71% extended distal pancreatectomy [EDP]). Patient, injury and procedure demographics were similar between resection and drainage groups (p > 0.05). Pancreas-specific complications in the drainage group included 92% pancreatic leaks, 8% pseudocyst, and 8% walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Among patients with controlled pancreatic fistulas beyond 90 days, 67% required subsequent pancreatic operations (fistulo-jejunostomy or EDP). Among patients whose fistulas closed, 75% suffered from recurrent pancreatitis (67% eventually undergoing a Frey or EDP). All patients in the resection group had fistula closure by 64 days after injury. The median number of pancreas-related health care encounters following discharge was higher in the drainage group (9 vs. 5; p = 0.012). Long-term (median follow-up = 9 years) total QOL, mental and physical health scores were higher in the initial resection group (p = 0.031, 0.022 and 0.017 respectively). CONCLUSION: The immediate, intermediate and long-term experiences for patients who sustain Grade IV pancreatic injuries indicate that resection is the preferred option, when possible. The majority of drainage patients will require additional, delayed pancreas-targeted surgical interventions and report poorer long-term QOL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiology/Prognostic, Level III.

VA-ECMO as a salvage strategy for blunt cardiac injury in the context of multisystem trauma.

A 47-year-old man sustained multisystem injuries after being struck by a vehicle travelling at high speeds. Shortly after admission to the emergency department he suffered a ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest lasting 30 min. Investigations following return of spontaneous circulation raised suspicion for an anterolateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Despite his major traumatic injuries the patient was transferred for percutaneous coronary intervention uncovering a complete thrombosis of the ostium of the left anterior descending artery. Immediately following coronary revascularisation, the patient developed cardiogenic shock resulting in a multidisciplinary decision to place the patient on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). The management of cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction with VA-ECMO and multiple traumatic injuries were often at odds with each other, resulting in a series of challenging decisions on timing of surgery and anticoagulation. The patient was liberated from VA-ECMO after 72 hours and continues rehabilitation in hospital.

Transport Time and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

PURPOSE: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Pre-hospital care and transportation time may impact their outcomes. METHODS: Using the British Columbia Trauma Registry, we included 2,860 adult (≥18 years) patients with severe TBI (abbreviated injury scale head score ≥4), who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in a centre with neurosurgical services from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2013. We evaluated the impact of transportation time (time of injury to time of arrival at a neurosurgical trauma centre) on in-hospital mortality and discharge disposition, adjusting for age, sex, year of injury, injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score at the scene, location of injury, socio-economic status and direct versus indirect transfer. RESULTS: Patients had a median age of 43 years (interquartile range [IQR] 26-59) and 676 (23.6%) were female. They had a median ISS of 33 (IQR 26-43). Median transportation time was 80 minutes (IQR 40-315). ICU and hospital length of stay were 6 days (IQR 2-12) and 20 days (IQR 7-42), respectively. Six hundred and ninety-six (24.3%) patients died in hospital. After adjustment, there was no significant impact of transportation time on in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.01). There was also no significant effect on discharge disposition. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between pre-hospital transportation time and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with severe TBI.

Optimal treatments for hepato-pancreato-biliary trauma in severely injured patients: a narrative scoping review.

SUMMARY: Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) injuries can be extremely challenging to manage. This scoping review (8438 citations) offers a number of recommendations. If diagnosis and therapy are rapid, patients with major hepatic injuries who present in physiologic extremis have high survival rates despite prolonged hospital stays. Nonoperative management of major liver injuries, as diagnosed using computed tomography, is typically successful. Adjuncts (e.g., angioembolization, laparoscopic washouts, biliary stents) are essential in managing high-grade injuries. Injury to the extrahepatic biliary tree is rare. Cholecystectomy is indicated for all gallbladder trauma. Full-thickness common bile duct injuries require a hepaticojejunostomy, although damage control remains closed suction drainage. Injuries to the pancreatic head often involve concurrent trauma to regional vasculature. Damage control necessitates drainage after stopping hemorrhage. Injury to the left pancreas commonly requires a distal pancreatectomy. Outcomes for high-grade pancreatic and liver injuries are improved by involving an HPB team. Complications are multidisciplinary and should be managed without delay.

Patterns of complex emergency general surgery in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Most of the literature on emergency general surgery (EGS) has investigated appendiceal and biliary disease; however, EGS surgeons manage many other complex conditions. This study aimed to describe the operative burden of these conditions throughout Canada. METHODS: This multicentre retrospective cohort study evaluated EGS patients at 7 centres across Canada in 2014. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 yr) undergoing nonelective operative interventions for nonbiliary, nonappendiceal diseases were included. Data collected included information on patients' demographic characteristics, diagnosis, procedure details, complications and hospital length of stay. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 2595 patients were included, with a median age of 60 years (interquartile range 46-73 yr). The most common principal diagnoses were small bowel obstruction (16%), hernia (15%), malignancy (11%) and perianal disease (9%). The most commonly performed procedures were bowel resection (30%), hernia repair (15%), adhesiolysis (11%) and débridement of skin and soft tissue infections (10%). A total of 47% of cases were completed overnight (between 5 pm and 8 am). The overall inhospital mortality rate was 8%. Thirty-three percent of patients had a complication, with independent predictors including increasing age (p = 0.001), increasing American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.02) and transfer from another centre (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study characterizes the epidemiology of nonbiliary, nonappendiceal EGS operative interventions across Canada. Canadian surgeons are performing a large volume of EGS, and conditions treated by EGS services are associated with a substantial risk of morbidity and mortality. Results of this study will be used to guide future research efforts and set benchmarks for quality improvement.

CONTEXTE: La plupart des études sur les services de chirurgie générale d'urgence (CGU) s'intéressent seulement aux atteintes de l'appendice et de la vésicule biliaire. Pourtant, les chirurgiens du domaine traitent beaucoup d'autres problèmes complexes. L'objectif de l'étude était de décrire le travail chirurgical associé à ces problèmes dans l'ensemble du Canada. MÉTHODES: Notre étude de cohorte rétrospective multicentrique inclut les patients adultes (≥ 18 ans) qui ont subi en 2014 une opération non planifiée pour une atteinte qui ne touchait ni l'appendice ni la vésicule biliaire dans 1 des 7 centres sélectionnés, répartis un peu partout au pays. Nous avons recueilli les données suivantes : renseignements de base des patients, diagnostic, détails de l'intervention, nature des complications et durée d'hospitalisation. Puis nous avons dégagé les facteurs prédictifs de morbidité et de mortalité en appliquant un modèle de régression logistique. RÉSULTATS: L'échantillon totalisait 2595 patients, pour un âge médian de 60 ans (écart interquartile 46­73 ans). Les diagnostics principaux les plus courants étaient l'occlusion de l'intestin grêle (16 %), la hernie (15 %), la tumeur maligne (11 %) et les lésions périanales (9 %). Les interventions les plus fréquentes étaient la résection de l'intestin (30 %), la réparation d'une hernie (15 %), le débridement (11 %) et le débridement de tissus mous ou cutanés infectés (10 %). L'opération a eu lieu le soir ou la nuit (entre 17 h et 8 h) dans 47 % des cas. Le taux global de mortalité à l'hôpital était de 8 %. Des complications sont survenues chez 33 % des patients, dont les facteurs prédictifs indépendants étaient l'âge avancé (p = 0,001), un score ASA (de l'American Society of Anesthesiologists) élevé (p = 0,02) et le transfert à partir d'un autre centre (p = 0,001). CONCLUSION: Cette étude dresse le profil épidémiologique des interventions effectuées par les services de CGU du Canada en présence d'atteintes autres que celles de l'appendice et de la vésicule biliaire. Les chirurgiens du pays font beaucoup d'interventions générales urgentes, pour traiter des affections associées à un risque élevé de morbidité et de mortalité. Les résultats de l'étude guideront les prochaines recherches et serviront de points de référence en matière d'amélioration de la qualité.

Strategies aimed at preventing chronic opioid use in trauma and acute care surgery: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Globally every year, millions of patients sustain traumatic injuries and require acute care surgeries. A high incidence of chronic opioid use (up to 58%) has been documented in these populations with significant negative individual and societal impacts. Despite the importance of this public health issue, optimal strategies to limit the chronic use of opioids after trauma and acute care surgery are not clear. We aim to identify existing strategies to prevent chronic opioid use in these populations. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will perform a scoping review of peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature to identify studies, reviews, recommendations and guidelines on strategies aimed at preventing chronic opioid use in patients after trauma and acute care surgery. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, ProQuest and websites of trauma and acute care surgery, pain, government and professional organisations. Databases will be searched for papers published from 1 January 2005 to a maximum of 6 months before submission of the final manuscript. Two reviewers will independently evaluate studies for eligibility and extract data from included studies using a standardised data abstraction form. Preventive strategies will be classified according to their types and targeted trauma populations and acute care surgery procedures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Research ethics approval is not required as this study is based on the secondary use of published data. This work will inform research and clinical stakeholders on the required next steps towards the uptake of effective strategies aimed at preventing chronic opioid use in trauma and acute care surgery patients.

A 30-day prospective audit of all inpatient complications following acute care surgery: How well do we really perform?

Background: Acute care surgery (ACS) and emergency general surgery (EGS) services must provide timely care and intervention for patients who have some of the most challenging needs. Patients treated by ACS services are often critically ill and have both substantial comorbidities and poor physiologic reserve. Despite the widespread implemention of ACS/EGS services across North America, the true postoperative morbidity rates remain largely unknown. Methods: In this prospective study, inpatients at 8 high-volume ACS/EGS centres in geographically diverse locations in Canada who underwent operative interventions were followed for 30 days or until they were discharged. Readmissions during the 30-day window were also captured. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were tracked. Standard statistical methodology was employed. Results: A total of 601 ACS/EGS patients were followed for up to 30 inpatient or readmission days after their index emergent operation. Fifty-one percent of patients were female, and the median age was 51 years. They frequently had substantial medical comorbidities (42%) and morbid obesity (15%). The majority of procedures were minimally invasive (66% laparoscopic). Median length of stay was 3.3 days and the early readmission (< 30 d) rate was 6%. Six percent of patients were admitted to the critical care unit. The overall complication and mortality rates were 34% and 2%, respectively. Cholecystitis (31%), appendicitis (21%), bowel obstruction (18%), incarcerated hernia (12%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (7%) and soft tissue infections (7%) were the most common diagnoses. The morbidity and mortality rates for open surgical procedures were 73% and 5%, respectively. Conclusion: Nontrauma ACS/EGS procedures are associated with a high postoperative morbidity rate. This study will serve as a prospective benchmark for postoperative complications among ACS/EGS patients and subsequent quality improvement across Canada.

Contexte: Les services de chirurgie dans les unités de soins actifs (CSA) et de chirurgie générale dans les services d'urgence (CGSU) doivent fournir rapidement des soins et des interventions à des patients dont les besoins sont parmi les plus complexes. En effet, les patients pris en charge par les services de CSA sont souvent gravement malades et présentent des comorbidités sur fond de faible réserve physiologique. Même si les services de CSA/CGSU se sont répandus en Amérique du Nord, les taux réels de morbidité postopératoire demeurent pour une bonne part inconnus. Méthodes: Dans cette étude prospective, on a suivi pendant 30 jours ou jusqu'à leur congé, les patients hospitalisés pour des interventions chirurgicales dans 8 centres de CSA/CGSU achalandés de divers endroits au Canada. On a également tenu compte des réadmissions dans les 30 jours. Les paramètres pré-, per- et postopératoires ont été enregistrés. Une méthodologie statistique standard a été appliquée. Résultats: En tout, 601 patients de CSA/CGSU ont ainsi été suivis pendant une durée allant jusqu'à 30 jours d'hospitalisation ou de réadmission après leur intervention urgente initiale. Cinquante et un pour cent étaient de sexe féminin et l'âge moyen était de 51 ans. Ces patients étaient nombreux à présenter des comorbidités de nature médicale substantielles (42 %) et une obésité morbide (15 %). La majorité des interventions ont été minimalement effractives (66 % laparoscopiques). La durée médiane des séjours a été de 3,3 jours et le taux de réadmission précoce (< 30 j) a été de 6 %. Six pour cent des patients ont été admis aux soins intensifs. Les taux globaux de complications et de mortalité ont été respectivement de 34 % et de 2 %. Cholécystite (31 %), appendicite (21 %), obstruction intestinale (18 %), hernie incarcérée (12 %), hémorragie digestive (7 %) et infections des tissus mous (7 %) comptent parmi les diagnostics les plus fréquents. Les taux de morbidité et de mortalité dans les cas de chirurgies ouvertes ont été respectivement de 73 % et 5 %. Conclusion: Les interventions de CSA/CGSU non liées à la traumatologie sont associées à un taux de morbidité postopératoire élevé. Cette étude fournira un ensemble de valeurs de références pour l'étude prospective des complications chez les patients pris en charge par les services de CSA/CGSU et l'amélioration subséquente des soins partout au Canada.

A Prospective Evaluation of the Utility of a Hybrid Operating Suite for Severely Injured Patients: Overstated or Underutilized?

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the utility, clinical impact, and work flow of a new trauma hybrid operating theater. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The potential utility and clinical benefit of hybrid operating theaters are increasingly postulated. Unfortunately, the clinical outcomes and efficiencies of these environments remain unclear. METHODS: All severely injured patients who were transferred to the hybrid suite for emergent intervention between 2013 and 2017 were compared to consecutive prehybrid patients. Standard statistical methodology was employed (P < 0.05 = significant). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine patients with severe injuries (mean ISS = 23; hemodynamic instability = 70%; hospital/ICU stay = 12 d; mortality = 14%) were transferred urgently to the hybrid suite. Most were young (38 yrs) males (84%) with blunt injuries (51%). Combined hybrid trauma procedures occurred in 18% of cases (surgery (82%) and angiography (11%) alone). Procedures within the hybrid suite included: laparotomy (57%), extremity (14%), thoracotomy/sternotomy (12%), angioembolization of the spleen/pelvis/liver/other (9%), neck (9%), craniotomy (4%), and aortic endostenting (6%). Compared with historical controls, use of the hybrid suite resulted in shorter arrival to intervention and total procedure times (P < 0.05). A clear benefit for survival was evident (42% vs. 22%). CONCLUSIONS: Availability of a hybrid environment for severely injured patients reduces time to intervention, total procedural duration, blood product transfusion and salvages a small subset of patients who would not otherwise survive. The cost associated with a hybrid suite remains prohibitive for many centers.

Multidisciplinary in-situ simulation to evaluate a rare but high-risk process at a level 1 trauma centre: the "Mega-Sim" approach

Summary: Multidisciplinary simulation has been used to successfully teach crisis resource management in operating room and emergency department settings. This article describes a "Mega-Sim" approach using an in-situ simulation that moves among multiple hospital departments to enhance multidisciplinary training and assess institutional response to a rare but high-risk event: trauma in a pregnant patient. It appears that a Mega-Sim can be used to identify systems issues, increase medical knowledge and improve perceptions of teamwork and communication within and among hospital departments.

A day in the life of emergency general surgery in Canada: a multicentre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency general surgery (EGS) services are gaining popularity in Canada as systems-based approaches to surgical emergencies. Despite the high volume, acuity and complexity of the patient populations served by EGS services, little has been reported about the services' structure, processes, case mix or outcomes. This study begins a national surveillance effort to define and advance surgical quality in an important and diverse surgical population. METHODS: A national cross-sectional study of EGS services was conducted during a 24-hour period in January 2017 at 14 hospitals across 7 Canadian provinces recruited through the Canadian Association of General Surgeons Acute Care Committee. Patients admitted to the EGS service, new consultations and off-service patients being followed by the EGS service during the study period were included. Patient demographic information and data on operations, procedures and complications were collected. RESULTS: Twelve sites reported resident coverage. Most services did not include trauma. Ten sites had protected operating room time. Overall, 393 patient encounters occurred during the study period (195/386 [50.5%] operative and 191/386 [49.5%] nonoperative), with a mean of 3.8 operations per service. The patient population was complex, with 136 patients (34.6%) having more than 3 comorbidities. There was a wide case mix, including gallbladder disease (69 cases [17.8%]) and appendiceal disease (31 [8.0%]) as well as complex emergencies, such as obstruction (56 [14.5%]) and perforation (23 [5.9%]). CONCLUSION: The characteristics and case mix of these Canadian EGS services are heterogeneous, but all services are busy and provide comprehensive operative and nonoperative care to acutely ill patients with high levels of comorbidity.

CONTEXTE: Les services de chirurgie générale d'urgence (CGU) gagnent en popularité au Canada en tant qu'approches systémiques aux urgences chirurgicales. Malgré le volume élevé, le caractère urgent et la complexité des populations de patients desservies en CGU, peu de rapports ont porté sur la structure, les processus, les clientèles ou les résultats de ces services. La présente étude instaure une démarche de surveillance nationale qui servira à définir et à améliorer la qualité des chirurgies destinées à cette population importante et hétérogène. MÉTHODES: Une étude transversale nationale sur les services de CGU a été réalisée sur une période de 24 heures en janvier 2017 dans 14 hôpitaux de 7 provinces canadiennes recrutés par l'entremise du comité pour les soins aigus de l'Association canadienne des chirurgiens généraux. On y a inclus les patients admis dans les services de CGU, les nouvelles consultations et les patients de l'extérieur suivis par les services de CGU pendant la période de l'étude. On a recueilli les caractéristiques démographiques des patients et les données sur les interventions, les procédures et les complications. RÉSULTATS: Douze sites ont fait état de la couverture assurée par les résidents. La plupart des services ont exclu la traumatologie. Dix sites disposaient de temps protégé au bloc opératoire. En tout, 393 rencontres avec des patients ont eu lieu pendant la période de l'étude (195/386 [50,4 %] chirurgicales, 191/386 [49,5 %] non chirurgicales), avec une moyenne de 3,8 chirurgies par service. La population regroupait des cas complexes : 136 patients (34,6 %) présentaient plus de 3 comorbidités. La clientèle était diversifiée et comprenait des cas de maladie de la vésicule biliaire (69 cas [17,8 %]) et de l'appendice (31 [8,0 %]), de même que des situations d'urgence délicates, telle qu'obstruction (56 [14,5 %]) et perforation (23 [5,9 %]). CONCLUSION: Leurs caractéristiques et leurs clientèles sont hétérogènes, mais les services de CGU sont tous achalandés et ils offrent tous des soins chirurgicaux et non chirurgicaux complets à des patients gravement malades porteurs d'importantes comorbidités.