The impact of comorbidities on mortality in patients with non-traumatic major lower extremity amputation.

OBJECTIVE: Major lower limb amputation is generally associated with a high risk of early and late-term mortality. In this study, 30-day, one-year and three-year mortality of non-traumatic major lower extremity amputations and comorbidities affecting the mortality rate were investigated. METHOD: Patients who underwent a major lower limb amputation secondary to diabetes or peripheral artery disease between the years 2010-2015 were retrospectively evaluated. Additional to patient demographic data and comorbidities, amputation level, survival and mortality time were extracted. Mortality rates after 30 days, one year and three years were analysed. The associations of the survival to different parameters were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test, while the impact of the risk factors on mortality was evaluated with the Cox regression test. RESULTS: A total of 193 patients were enrolled in the study. Approximately 60% of patients were aged ≥65 years, and 65.8% were male. Below-knee amputation was performed in 64.8% of patients and above-knee amputation in 35.2% of patients. The mean follow-up of patients was 29.48 months (range: 0-101 months). After non-traumatic major lower extremity amputation, 30-day, one-year and three-year mortality were 16.6%, 38.3% and 60.1%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, age ≥65 years was the only variable that had significant impact on the 30-day mortality (hazard ratio (HR): 3.4; p=0.012), while age ≥65 years (HR: 2.5, p=0.000), diabetes (HR: 2, p=0.006) and renal failure (HR: 2, p=0.001) were found to have significant impacts on three-year mortality. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that >50% of patients with non-traumatic major lower limb amputations died within three years. Advanced age, diabetes and renal failure were the risk factors that increased the mortality. The high mortality rates revealed the importance of employing all hard-to-heal wound treatment options before making an amputation decision. Further, prospective studies are needed to determine the effects of primary disease status and timing of amputation on mortality.

Complicated or non-complicated appendicitis? That is the question.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common disease that includes all age groups and both genders in societies and is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. It is important to distinguish between complicated and non-complicated appendicitis before surgery. This study aims to determine laboratory parameters that can be used to determine whether the disease is complicated or non-complicated in patients admitted to the emergency department with AA. METHODS: Female and male patients admitted to the Emergency General Surgery Department between May 2019 and November 2020 and diagnosed with appendicitis were included in the study. Demographic data (age, gender, and protocol numbers), complete blood counts (Delta neutrophil index [DNI], hemoglobin, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, platelet, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, reticulocyte distribution width), biochemical parameters (amylase, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, albumin, calcium, and lactate dehydrogenase), and examination information were obtained from the hospital automation system and recorded via SPSS software. Parameters of patients were divided into two groups as complicated and non-complicated appendicitis groups were compared. RESULTS: White blood cell (WBC), monocyte, neutrophil, DNI, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin values were found to be statisti-cally significantly higher in the complicated appendicitis group compared to the non-complicated appendicitis group (p-values; <0.001, 0.003, <0.001, <0.001 and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: DNI, bilirubin values, WBC, monocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil can be used as laboratory parameters to distin-guish between complicated and non-complicated AA.

Kidney transplantation from elderly donors: single-center experience / Trasplante renal de donantes añosos: experiencia de un centro

ABSTRACT Introduction: The shortage of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation has forced the re-evaluation of the limits on donor age acceptability. Thus, marginal donors such as elderly donors have been progressively increasing in recent years for organ transplantation around the world. Aim: In this study, it was aimed to contribute to the elimination of question marks about the using elderly donors for kidney transplantation. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, prospectively recorded data of patients who underwent kidney transplantation between January 1996 and January 2020 were evaluated. The inclusion criteria for the study were deceased or living donor, donor aged 55 years and older. Results: Of the total 392 kidney transplantation, 64 donors met the study criteria. The mean age of the donors was 59 ± 3.86 years (range, 55-69). Twenty-one (87.5%) out of 24 deceased donors and 1 (2.5%) living related recipients presented DGF. There was no mortality in the living donors. Overall, 1, 5, 10 years of recipient and graft survivals for this study 91%, 88%, 81% and 84%, 82%, 75%, respectively. Same rates for living donor 96%, 96%, 96% and 90%, 88%, 80%, respectively, and for deceased donor 81%, 74%, 70% and 78%, 74%, 67%, respectively. Conclusion: Transplantation from the donors with age 55 and up, might be related to decreased kidney function and graft survival, compared to the transplantations from the standard donors. However, when the long-term graft survival and patient survival is observed, the group of elderly donors cannot be subject to exclusion.

RESUMEN Introducción: La escasez de riñones de donantes fallecidos para trasplante ha obligado a reevaluar los límites de aceptabilidad de la edad de los donantes. Así, los donantes marginales como los donantes de edad avanzada han ido aumentando progresivamente en los últimos años para el trasplante de órganos en todo el mundo. Objetivo: En este estudio se buscó contribuir a la eliminación de interrogantes sobre el uso de donantes ancianos para trasplante renal. Material y métodos: En este estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, se evaluaron datos registrados prospectivamente de pacientes que se sometieron a trasplante renal entre enero de 1996 y enero de 2020. Como criterio de inclusión para el estudio se tomó la edad de los donantes y se incluyeron aquellos donantes mayores de 55 años tanto fallecidos como vivos relacionados. Resultados: Del total de 392 trasplantes renales, 64 donantes cumplieron con los criterios del estudio. La edad media de los donantes fue de 59 ± 3,86 años (rango, 55-69). Veinte y un receptorde 24 donantes fallecidos (87,5%) y solo un receptor de donante vivo relacionado (2,5%)presentaron DGF. No hubo mortalidad en los donantes vivos. En términos generales, la supervivencia del receptor y del injerto a 1, 5 y 10 años en este estudio fue de 91 % - 88 %, 81 % - 84 % y 82 % - 75 %, respectivamente. Se observaron las tasas similares para donante vivo 96%- 96%, 96% - 90% y 88% - 80%, respectivamente, y para donante fallecido 81% - 74%, 70% - 78%y 74% - 67%, respectivamente. Conclusión: El trasplante de riñones provenientes de donantes de 55 años en adelante, podría estar relacionado con la disminución de la función renal y la supervivencia del injerto, en comparación con los trasplantes de los donantes estándar. Sin embargo, cuando se observa la supervivencia del injerto a largo plazo y la supervivencia del paciente, el grupo de donantes de edad avanzada no puede ser objeto de exclusión.

Risk factors for conversion to open surgery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A single center experience.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to demonstrate the demographic characteristics for laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries performed in the general surgery clinics of our hospital and to identify the rate of conversion to open surgery and the main reasons for convert to open surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of a total of 1.294 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our hospital between October 2013 and May 2017 were retrospectively reviewed, and the rates of conversion to open surgery based on age groups were recorded. RESULTS: Of these patients, 1191 were females (92.0%) and 103 (7.9%) were males. Mean age was 48.6 ± 13.2 (range: 18 to 89) years. Indications for surgery were cholelithiasis in 1195 patients (92.4%), acute cholecystitis in 56 patients (4.4%), and gallbladder polyps in 43 patients (3.3%). The procedure was conversion to open surgery in 41 patients (3.16%), while 12 (0.9%) developed intraoperative complications. There was no mortality. Mean length of hospital stay was 1.2 (range: 1 to 6) days. The main reasons for conversation to open surgery were as follows: adhesions in the Calot's triangle (n= 3), acute cholecystitis (n= 29), choledocholithiasis (n= 2), adhesions due to previous surgery (n= 1), dissection difficulty (n= 2), organ damage (n= 2), anatomic variation (n= 1), and stone expulsion (n= 1). CONCLUSION: Acute cholecystitis appears to be the significant factor increasing the rate of conversation to open surgery during LC procedures. Male sex and older age are the other factors increasing the risk of con- vert to open surgery. However, LC should be still the first choice of intervention.

Surgical Complications After Deceased Donor Renal Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Deceased donor renal transplant is an accepted treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. We retrospectively analyzed urological and surgical complications and outcomes in our series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 2016, we have performed 263 renal transplants at the Gazi University Transplantation Center, Ankara, and 92 of these were from deceased donors. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of these 92 deceased donor transplants from our database records. There were 45 female and 47 male recipients, and 20 were pediatric recipients. Mean recipient and donor ages were 36 ± 14 and 38 ± 18 years old, respectively. Immunosuppression therapy consisted of steroids, mycophenolate, and calcineurin inhibitors. Induction therapy was 20 mg basiliximab (Simulect) on day 0 and day 4. Antithymocyte globulin (2 mg∕kg) was used in steroid-resistant acute rejection cases. RESULTS: There were 13 surgical complications (14.1%) after 92 consecutive deceased donor renal transplants, and 4 of these were classified as miscellaneous surgical complications. Four of 9 cases were early, and the rest were classified as late complications. Postoperative early complications were bleeding (n = 2), urine leak (n = 1), and renal artery thrombosis (n = 1). Lymphoceles (n = 4) and urine leak (n = 1) occurred as late complications. Postoperative median follow-up was 78 months, during which 11 grafts (12%) were lost and 7 patients (7.6%) died from sepsis (n = 4), myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and fungal pneumonia. No patients died from any surgical complications. The 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates of patients were 98%, 94%, and 94% and for grafts were 97%, 94%, and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the limited number of deceased donor organs, improvements of surgical techniques at our center have facilitated success with deceased donor renal transplant at rates similar to other successful centers in the world.

Is Youtube a potential training source for total extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of the most commonly viewed total extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TEP) videos on Youtube, which is the largest social and medical media broadcasting service, concerning educational purposes. METHOD: A search with the keyword "total extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair" was performed on Youtube. The first 120 videos among the search results were downloaded and 55 of them were included in the study. A scoring system developed by the authors according to the recent literature was utilized for evaluation of the videos. Video demographics were evaluated for the quality and upload source. RESULTS: Among the enrolled videos, video quality was rated as good in 13 (23.6%), as moderate in 22 (40%), and as poor in 20 (36.4%). Video length, presence of narration, number of likes, and comments were significantly higher in the good group. Upload source was an academic center in 14 (25.5%), a community hospital in 22 (40.0%), and a physician in 19 (34.5%). The mean video score of the academic center group (8 ± 4.095) and community hospital group (8.64 ± 3.259) was significantly higher than the physician group (5.47 ± 2.632) (p = 0.010). Video quality was not correlated with total views or views per day. CONCLUSION: Total extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair procedure videos uploaded to Youtube demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in terms of educational quality and the number of good quality videos is significantly low. This heterogeneity is attributed to the lack of peer review process for the evaluation of educational quality of the videos. Therefore, a physician intending to learn and practice a surgical procedure properly (TEP repair in this situation) should not consider a broadcasting service without a peer review process as a reliable training source.

Evaluation of patients with lympocele after renal transplantation / Evaluación de pacientes con linfocele luego de trasplante renal

Abstract Introduction: The lymphocele is a common complication following renal transplantation and may cause significant clinical problems especially when reachs to big volumes. The aim of this study is to present the clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies of lymphocele formations in a group of Turkish patients. Methods: A total of 244 renal transplantations were included in this retrospective study. Data of patients who were diagnosed with lymphocele during the postoperative period were analyzed. Results: Ten (2.4%) patients have been diagnosed with lymphocele. There were six males and 4 females, with a mean age of 46 years. The median onset was 19 days posttransplantation. The median size of the lymphoceles was 53 mm. All lymphoceles were localizated between the lower pole of the transplanted kidney and urine bladder. On presentation, one patient had hydronephrosis and three patients had elevated serum creatinine while the remaining six ones were asymptomatic. Five patients were successfully treated by percutaneous aspiration whereas two patients required surgery. Three patients' lymphoceles dissolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Preventive strategies including preserving the lymphatics of the recipient, careful organ retrieval and 'back table' work are of great importance to reduce the incidence of lymphocele. Early decision of radiological or surgical intervention should be considered in patients with symptomatic lymphoceles in order to prevent further complications.

Resumen Introducción: El linfocele es una complicación frecuente luego de un trasplante renal y puede ocasionar problemas clínicos importantes, especialmente, cuando alcanza volúmenes elevados. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar las características clínicas, métodos de diagnóstico y estrategias para el tratamiento del linfocele en un grupo de pacientes turcos. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron 244 pacientes en este estudio retrospectivo. Se analizaron los datos de pacientes diagnosticados con linfocele durante el período postoperatorio. Resultados: Se diagnosticó linfocele a diez pacientes (2,4%). Eran seis hombres y cuatro mujeres con una edad promedio de 46 años. El comienzo promedio fue 19 días luego del trasplante. El tamaño medio de los linfoceles fue de 53 mm. Todos se encontraban entre el polo inferior del riñón trasplantado y la vejiga urinaria. En la consulta, un paciente presentó hidronefrosis, y tres pacientes, creatinina sérica elevada, mientras que los seis restantes eran asintomáticos. Cinco pacientes fueron tratados con éxito por aspiración percutánea; en cambio, otros dos pacientes requirieron cirugía. Tres pacientes mostraron disolución espontánea de los linfoceles. Conclusión: Las estrategias preventivas, que incluyen la preservación de los vasos linfáticos del receptor, la extracción cuidadosa de los órganos y la preparación de estos antes de realizar el trasplante, son de gran importancia para reducir la incidencia de linfocele. Debe considerarse tempranamente la intervención radiológica o quirúrgica en pacientes con linfoceles sintomáticos para prevenir complicaciones adicionales.

Predictable and Unusual Adverse Effects of Immunosuppression in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine potentially adverse effects of immunosuppressive protocols after liver transplantation in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 60 children who underwent liver transplant retrospectively analyzed. Corticosteroid, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil were the primary immunosuppressive agents used in our center. RESULTS: The mean age of children was 6.1 years, ranging from 3 months to 17 years (34 boys, 26 girls). The most common indication for liver transplant was biliary atresia (26.7%). Thirty-nine patients (65%) received livers from living donors, and 21 patients (35%) received from livers from deceased donors. The main complications of immunosuppressive therapy were diarrhea associated with mycophenolate mofetil, hyperglycemia and hypertension associated with corticosteroid, and seizures and tremors associated with tacrolimus. Two patients developed post transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The diagnosis was based on histologic findings of cervical lymphadenopathy and duodenal biopsy. One patient was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. In addition to these predictable adverse effects, unusual adverse effects of immunosuppression were also observed. Hemolytic anemia (n = 3) (one was also diagnosed with Evans syndrome), eosinophilic gastroenteritis (n = 2), de novo food allergy (n = 2), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (n = 2), Burkitt lymphoma (n = 1), and renal tubular acidosis (n = 1) were thought to be related to tacrolimus therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse effects of immunosuppression represent a major cause of postoperative morbidity. The common effects of immunosuppression are recognized easily by clinicians. It should be kept in mind that unexpected symptoms and signs may be related to immunosuppression in pediatric liver transplant patients.

Conversion Surgery for Failed Adjustable Gastric Banding: Outcomes with Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) was once a preferred method of obesity treatment featuring a straightforward technique, removability, and good early results. In a significant proportion of patients, however, it was not a durable weight-loss procedure and has been associated with a high longer-term complication rate. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the results of conversion to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) after failed LAGB. METHODS: Post-LAGB complications and weight outcomes of conversion (absolute weight, excess weight loss [%EWL], total weight loss [%TWL]) to LSG vs LRYGB were retrospectively reviewed and statistically compared using Fisher's exact test and the independent samples t test. RESULTS: Over a 6-year period, 74/272 (27.2%) morbidly obese LAGB patients experienced marked complications requiring band removal. Forty-nine of these patients underwent conversion by LRYGB (n = 29) or LSG (n = 20). There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between converted procedures and no significant difference in respective EWL and TWL (6-month EWL: LRYGB, 53.6% vs LSG, 51.3% and respective TWL, 22.8 vs 21.3%; 12-month EWL, 70.1 vs 56.1%; and TWL, 30.7 vs 23.2%; p > 0.05). All conversion patients were present at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes for LSG vs LRYGB following failed LAGB were equally safe and effective.

Predictive factors of neoplastic gallbladder polyps: Outcomes of 278 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Distinguishing between neoplastic and nonneoplastic gallbladder polyps (GBPs) in the preoperative workup is of great importance for appropriate treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of GBPs and to determine potential predictive factors of neoplastic polyps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 278 patients who were confirmed to have GBPs through laparoscopic cholecystectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Polyps were classified as nonneoplastic and neoplastic GBPs, according to histopathological diagnoses. All clinicopathological characteristics were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: There were 264 (95%) nonneoplastic GBPs and 14 (5%) neoplastic GBPs. In univariate analysis, there were significant differences in age with a cutoff value of 60 years (p=0.002), polyp size (p<0.001), number of polyps (p=0.014), and polyp morphology (p<0.001) between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that solitary polyp (p<0.001) and sessile morphology (p<0.001) were the independent predictors of neoplastic GBPs. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis of three cut-off values of polyp sizes (6, 10, and 15 mm) indicated that a polyp size of 10 mm had the highest area under curve (0.942). CONCLUSION: Age above 60 years, solitary polyps larger than 1 cm, and sessile morphology are associated with an increased risk of neoplasia in GBP. Therefore, these characteristics should be considered in the management of GBPs to reduce the incidence of unnecessary surgeries and to prevent delays in the treatment of a possible cancer.

Effects of postoperative parenteral nutrition with different lipid emulsions in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of total parenteral nutrition (PN) using different lipid emulsions in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were randomized to receive soybean oil + medium chain triglycerides (MCT) (group I), soybean oil + olive oil (group II), soybean oil + olive oil + fish oil (group III) as a lipid source. PN was started on postoperative day 1 and patients were maintained on PN for a minimum period of 4 days. Laboratory variables (CRP, prealbumin, transferrin) were measured before surgery and on postoperative days. RESULTS: Three treatment groups were included in the study. Patients in group I received long chain triglycerides (LCT) + LCT/MCT emulsion (%75 LCT + %25 LCT/MCT); Patients in group II received olive oil based emulsion (80% olive oil + 20% soybean oil, ClinOleic); Patients in group III received fish oil in addition to olive oil based emulsion (%85 ClinOleic + %15 Omegaven; Fresenius Kabi). The following 14 parameters were assessed: body weight, CRP, prealbumin, transferrin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, total antioxidant status, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, oxidized low density lipoprotein-2, complete blood cell, international normalized ratio, D-dimer, activated partially thromboplastin time, prothrombin time. All other parameters showed no differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our trial demonstrate a potential beneficial effect of soybean oil/olive oil based lipid emulsions for use in PN regarding inflammatory response and oxidant capacity in the treatment of patients.

Which type of conditioning method protects the spinal cord from the ischemia-reperfusion injury in 24 hours?

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to test the effects of different types of preconditioning and postconditioning methods on spinal cord protection following aortic clamping. METHODS: The animals (rabbits) were divided into sham-operated, ischemic preconditioning, remote ischemic preconditioning, simultaneous aortic and ischemic remote preconditioning, and ischemic postconditioning groups. After neurological evaluations, ultrastructural analysis and immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 were evaluated after 24 h following ischemia. RESULTS: The neurological outcomes of the remote ischemic preconditioning (4.2 ± 0.4) and ischemic postconditioning (4.6 ± 0.8) groups were significantly improved when compared with the ischemia group (2.2 ± 04). The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the lowest percentage of apoptosis was in-group ischemic preconditioning at 12.5 ± 30.6%. In the comparison of intracellular edema in an ultrastructural analysis, the ischemic preconditioning and ischemic postconditioning groups had significantly lower values than the ischemia group. CONCLUSION: The conditioning methods attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury for spinal cord injury. Ischemic and remote preconditioning and also postconditioning methods are simple to perform and inexpensive.

Effect of conditioning on visceral organs during indirect ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: The mortality and morbidity rates of even extensive thoracoabdominal replacement have improved markedly in recent years. We investigated the effects of a temporary occlusion of the aorta as a direct precondition and temporary occlusion of the axillary artery for remote preconditioning to determine any effects that preconditioning may have on indirect (nonischemic) injuries to visceral organs (indirect effects of remote ischemia/reperfusion injury). METHODS: Thirty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups: controls (sham-operated; group 1); direct ischemia to the infrarenal aorta without preconditioning (group 2); direct ischemic preconditioning to the infrarenal aorta (group 3); remote ischemic preconditioning before clamping the infrarenal aorta (group 4); and simultaneous direct aortic and remote ischemic preconditioning before the clamping and during clamping of the infrarenal aorta (group 5). We used a 30-minute ischemia period for aortic occlusion for spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion. The axillary artery was used for remote preconditioning. After 24 hours, tissue specimens of the internal organs were obtained. RESULTS: Myocardial congestion was the main pathology detected in all groups. Histopathologic evaluation of tissue samples taken from the hearts showed no significant differences in terms of the degree of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration and edema between the groups. Lung congestion and pneumonic cell infiltration were detected in all the groups. Pneumonic cell infiltration was significantly high in groups 2 and 3. Cell infiltration was lowest in group 4 at 71.4% of normal values, which differed from the normal values of 25-33.3% in the other groups (P < 0.05). Although there is a difference between the groups in case of renal congestion, there is not any difference as tubular damage and PMN. There was a significant difference with regard to renal congestion between groups 2 and 3. Renal congestion was normal in 80% of the kidneys in group 3. This differed from the normal values observed in the other groups (14.3-57.1%, P < 0.05). Liver congestion was detected in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Different preconditioning methods may play an important role in distinct organ injuries during aortic cross-clamping. The visceral organs that exhibited positive and constructive results with direct and remote preconditioning included the lungs and kidneys during indirect ischemia/reperfusion injury. Remote ischemic conditioning was determined to be especially advantageous as a protection method, due to the fact that it is easy to use and effective for indirect ischemia/reperfusion injury.