Emergency surgery and trauma care during COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations of the Spanish Association of Surgeons / Atención de la urgencia quirúrgica durante la pandemia COVID-19. Recomendaciones de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos

New coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) has determined the necessity of reorganization in many centers all over the world. Spain, as an epicenter of the disease, has been forced to assume health policy changes in all the territory. However, and from the beginning of the pandemic, every center attending surgical urgencies had to guarantee the continuous coverage adopting correct measures to maintain the excellence of quality of care. This document resumes general guidelines for emergency surgery and trauma care, obtained from the available bibliography and evaluated by a subgroup of professionals designated from the general group of investigators Cirugía-AEC-COVID-19 from the Spanish Association of Surgeons, directed to minimize professional exposure, to contemplate pandemic implications over different urgent perioperative scenarios and to adjust decision making to the occupational pressure caused by COVID-19 patients

La infección por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 [COVID-19]) ha determinado la necesidad de la reorganización de muchos centros hospitalarios en el mundo. España, como uno de los epicentros de la enfermedad, ha debido asumir cambios en la práctica totalidad de su territorio. Sin embargo, y desde el inicio de la pandemia, en todos los centros que atienden urgencias quirúrgicas ha sido necesario el mantenimiento de su cobertura, aunque igualmente ha sido inevitable introducir directrices especiales de ajuste al nuevo escenario que permitan el mantenimiento de la excelencia en la calidad asistencial. Este documento desarrolla una serie de indicaciones generales para la cirugía de urgencias y la atención al politraumatizado desarrolladas desde la literatura disponible y consensuadas por un subgrupo de profesionales desde el grupo general Cirugía-AEC-COVID-19. Estas medidas van encaminadas a contemplar un riguroso control de la exposición en pacientes y profesionales, a tener en cuenta las implicaciones de la pandemia sobre diferentes escenarios perioperatorios relacionados con la urgencia y a una adaptación ajustada a la situación del centro en relación con la atención a pacientes infectados

Atención de la urgencia quirúrgica durante la pandemia COVID-19. Recomendaciones de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos / Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care During COVID-19 Pandemic. Recommendations of the Spanish Association of Surgeons

La infección por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 [COVID-19]) ha determinado la necesidad de la reorganización de muchos centros hospitalarios en el mundo. España, como uno de los epicentros de la enfermedad, ha debido asumir cambios en la práctica totalidad de su territorio. Sin embargo, y desde el inicio de la pandemia, en todos los centros que atienden urgencias quirúrgicas ha sido necesario el mantenimiento de su cobertura, aunque igualmente ha sido inevitable introducir directrices especiales de ajuste al nuevo escenario que permitan el mantenimiento de la excelencia en la calidad asistencial. Este documento desarrolla una serie de indicaciones generales para la cirugía de urgencias y la atención al politraumatizado desarrolladas desde la literatura disponible y consensuadas por un subgrupo de profesionales desde el grupo general Cirugía-AEC-COVID-19. Estas medidas van encaminadas a contemplar un riguroso control de la exposición en pacientes y profesionales, a tener en cuenta las implicaciones de la pandemia sobre diferentes escenarios perioperatorios relacionados con la urgencia y a una adaptación ajustada a la situación del centro en relación con la atención a pacientes infectados

New coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) has determined the necessity of reorganization in many centers all over the world. Spain, as an epicenter of the disease, has been forced to assume health policy changes in all the territory. However, and from the beginning of the pandemic, every center attending surgical urgencies had to guarantee the continuous coverage adopting correct measures to maintain the excellence of quality of care. This document resumes general guidelines for emergency surgery and trauma care, obtained from the available bibliography and evaluated by a subgroup of professionals designated from the general group of investigators Cirugía-AEC-COVID-19 from the Spanish Association of Surgeons, directed to minimize professional exposure, to contemplate pandemic implications over different urgent perioperative scenarios and to adjust decision making to the occupational pressure caused by COVID-19 patients

[Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care During COVID-19 Pandemic. Recommendations of the Spanish Association of Surgeons]. / Atención de la urgencia quirúrgica durante la pandemia COVID-19. Recomendaciones de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos.

New coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) has determined the necessity of reorganization in many centers all over the world. Spain, as an epicenter of the disease, has been forced to assume health policy changes in all the territory. However, and from the beginning of the pandemic, every center attending surgical urgencies had to guarantee the continuous coverage adopting correct measures to maintain the excellence of quality of care. This document resumes general guidelines for emergency surgery and trauma care, obtained from the available bibliography and evaluated by a subgroup of professionals designated from the general group of investigators Cirugía-AEC-COVID-19 from the Spanish Association of Surgeons, directed to minimize professional exposure, to contemplate pandemic implications over different urgent perioperative scenarios and to adjust decision making to the occupational pressure caused by COVID-19 patients.

A proposal for a CT driven classification of left colon acute diverticulitis.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is the most appropriate diagnostic tool to confirm suspected left colonic diverticulitis. However, the utility of CT imaging goes beyond accurate diagnosis of diverticulitis; the grade of severity on CT imaging may drive treatment planning of patients presenting with acute diverticulitis. The appropriate management of left colon acute diverticulitis remains still debated because of the vast spectrum of clinical presentations and different approaches to treatment proposed. The authors present a new simple classification system based on both CT scan results driving decisions making management of acute diverticulitis that may be universally accepted for day to day practice.

Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria y control del dolor postoperatorio: presentación de una serie de 100 casos / Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy and pain control: A series of 100 cases

INTRODUCCIÓN: Describimos la experiencia de nuestro grupo en la colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria en una serie de 100 casos consecutivos sometidos a un proceso protocolizado de anestesia y cirugía. Pacientes y método: Estudio prospectivo de 100 pacientes consecutivos remitidos a consultas externas de Cirugía General del Hospital de Torrevieja (septiembre de 2008 y septiembre de 2009). La técnica anestésica y quirúrgica fue protocolizada incluyendo el uso intraperitoneal y parietal de anestesia local. RESULTADOS: La media de edad fue de 53 años. El tiempo quirúrgico medio fue de 29 ± 12 min. La tasa de ambulatorización fue del 96%. La media del dolor postoperatorio en ningún caso superó el valor de 3 en la escala EVA. Seis pacientes sintieron náuseas que cedieron tras la administración de metoclopramida IV. La estancia media en el hospital de los pacientes ambulatorizados fue de 7,4 h (mínimo de 7 y máximo de 9,6). La morbilidad de la serie fue 0%, y la mortalidad de la misma también fue de 0%. La tasa de conversión a laparotomía de la serie fue del 0%. Ningún paciente requirió reingreso tras el alta. El seguimiento postoperatorio fue del 100%. El 97% de los pacientes ambulatorizados se encontraban muy satisfechos con el procedimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: La colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria en una técnica segura y fácilmente realizable. El dolor postoperatorio, principal causa de la no ambulatorización clásicamente, presenta un buen control tras el uso combinado de anaestesia local y suero fisiológico caliente intraperitoneal

INTRODUCTION: We present our experience of 100 consecutive cases that underwent ambulatory cholecystectomy using a standard protocol of anesthesia and surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective study of 100 consecutive patients assessed in the surgery outpatient clinic in Torrevieja Hospital (September 2008-september 2009). Both anesthetic and surgical techniques were protocolized, standardized. The protocol included the use of intraperitoneal and parietal anesthesia. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. Average age was 53 years and average surgical time was 29 ± 12 min. Day-case surgery rate was 96%. Postoperative pain (VAS scale) was less than 4 in all cases. Six patients complained of nausea that eased with the administration of ev metoclopramide. Average length of stay in the day-case surgery unit was 7.4 h (maximum 9.6, minimum 7). Morbidity and mortality rates were 0%. No re-admission was registered and conversion rate was 0%. Postoperative follow-up was 100%. A total of 97% of the cases were fully satisfied with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe technique. Postoperative pain has classically been the reason to not perform day-case surgery, but we achieved an excellent control by the combined use of local anesthetics and warm intraperitoneal saline solution

Réplica al comentario de la carta al director sobre la encuesta de sistemas de trauma en España / Reply to the comment of the letter to the Editor on the survey on trauma systems in Spain

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Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy and pain control: a series of 100 cases.

INTRODUCTION: We present our experience of 100 consecutive cases that underwent ambulatory cholecystectomy using a standard protocol of anesthesia and surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective study of 100 consecutive patients assessed in the surgery outpatient clinic in Torrevieja Hospital (September 2008-september 2009). Both anesthetic and surgical techniques were protocolized, standardized. The protocol included the use of intraperitoneal and parietal anesthesia. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. Average age was 53 years and average surgical time was 29±12 min. Day-case surgery rate was 96%. Postoperative pain (VAS scale) was less than 4 in all cases. Six patients complained of nausea that eased with the administration of ev metoclopramide. Average length of stay in the day-case surgery unit was 7.4h (maximum 9.6, minimum 7). Morbidity and mortality rates were 0%. No re-admission was registered and conversion rate was 0%. Postoperative follow-up was 100%. A total of 97% of the cases were fully satisfied with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe technique. Postoperative pain has classically been the reason to not perform day-case surgery, but we achieved an excellent control by the combined use of local anesthetics and warm intraperitoneal saline solution.

Distrofia quística de pared duodenal. De la incertidumbre diagnóstica a la confirmación anatomopatológica / Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall: From diagnostic uncertainty to pathological confirmation

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Laparoscopic appendectomy: quality care and cost-effectiveness for today's economy.

BACKGROUND: Open appendectomy (OA) has traditionally been the treatment for acute appendicitis (AA). Beneficial effects of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for the treatment of AA are still controversial. AIM: To present our technique for LA and to determine whether LA should be the technique of choice of any case of AA instead of OA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All cases operated for AA (February 2011 through February 2012) by means of LA or OA were prospectively evaluated. Data regarding length of stay, complications, emergency department consultation after discharge or readmission were collected. Patients were classified into four groups depending on the severity of the appendicitis. Economic data were obtained based on the cost of the disposable material. Cost of hospital stay was calculated based on the Ley de Tasas of the Generalitat Valenciana according to the DRG and the length of stay. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-two cases were included. Ninety-nine patients underwent OA and 43 LA. Average length of stay for LA group was 2,6 days and 3,8 for OA. Average cost of the stay for OA was 1.799 euros and 1.081 euros for LA. Global morbidity rate was 16%, 5% for LA and 20% for OA. CONCLUSIONS: LA is nowadays the technique of choice for the treatment of AA.

Traumatismo esplénico en España: ¿en qué punto estamos? / Spleen injuries in Spain: At what point are we?

IntroducciónAunque el tratamiento del traumatismo esplénico ha cambiado en las últimas décadas, no existen datos de la actitud que los cirujanos españoles adoptamos frente a este tipo de lesión tan frecuente. El propósito de este estudio es determinar el perfil del traumatismo esplénico en los adultos con traumatismo abdominal severo y el tratamiento que se realiza en nuestro medio.MétodoEstudio de datos de registros de trauma de 6 hospitales españoles: Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Hospital de Getafe, Hospital Doce de Octubre, Hospital Virgen de la Vega, Hospital de Torrevieja y Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí.ResultadosSe analizó a 566 pacientes con lesiones esplénicas (448 hombres y 118 mujeres). El tipo de traumatismo fue fundamentalmente cerrado (94%) y el mecanismo lesional más frecuente fue el accidente de tráfico El ISS medio de la serie fue de 25,2. El tratamiento fue inicialmente quirúrgico en el 56,6%, siendo en el 43,4% restante, conservador. De estos, el 6,5% de los pacientes requirió finalmente cirugía y en el 8,8% se realizó angioembolización esplénica. De los pacientes intervenidos al inicio, en el 85,3% de los casos se realizó esplenectomía, y cirugía conservadora de bazo en el 14,7%, de los que el 4,6% fracasaron y requirieron nueva intervención quirúrgica con esplenectomía.ConclusiónEl tratamiento en España para el traumatismo esplénico continúa siendo en su mayoría quirúrgico (fundamentalmente esplenectomía). La angioembolización y el tratamiento conservador continúan teniendo escasa presencia (AU)

IntroductionManagement of spleen trauma has changed over last decades, although there is no data on its treatment in Spain. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of spleen injuries in adults with severe abdominal injuries and how we manage them.MethodsA prospective study using the databases of six Spanish hospitals: Gregorio Marañón Hospital, Virgen de la Vega Hospital, Torrevieja Hospital, Getafe Hospital, Doce de Octubre Hospital and Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí.ResultsA total of 566 patients who had sustained spleen injuries were analyzed (448 males and 118 females), most of them were due to blunt trauma (94%), and the most frequent mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 25.2. The initial treatment was surgical in 56.6% of the patients (85.3% total splenectomy and 14.7% other conservative surgical procedures, of which 4.6% finally failed and required total splenectomy). The remaining 43.4% were initially managed conservatively, but 6.5% of them finally required surgical splenectomy, and in 8.8% angio-embolization was performed.ConclusionIn Spain, management of spleen trauma is mainly surgical (particularly splenectomy). Angio-embolization and conservative surgical procedures are now hardly used (AU)

Análisis de los resultados de una encuesta sobre los sistemas de trauma en España: la enfermedad abandonada de la sociedad moderna / Analysis of the resulto of survey on trauma systems: the neglected disease of the modern society

Introducción Las lesiones por trauma representan la principal causa de pérdida de años de vida en la población mundial. El objetivo es conocer qué grado de organización de la asistencia al paciente politraumatizado tenemos en España. Material y métodos Se confeccionó una encuesta con 14 preguntas acerca de la organización de la asistencia al trauma y sobre la formación en aspectos de la atención al politraumatizado y se colgó en la web de la AEC, notificándolo por e-mail a todos los asociados. Resultados Se recibieron un total de 190 respuestas de 110 hospitales diferentes. El 67,3% de los centros encuestados tiene una protocolización de la asistencia al politraumatizado basada en el 81,1% en las directrices del ATLS. El 72,6% de los encuestados ha realizado el curso ATLS y el 38,9% el curso DSTC. De los centros encuestados, el 24,5% tiene un sistema formativo para su personal, el 32,7% tiene un registro o base de datos de enfermos politraumatizados, el 35,5% posee un (..) (AU)

Background Trauma injuries are the main cause of death in the world. The aim of this study is to determine how trauma patients are treated in Spain at an organizational level. Material and methods A questionnaire was prepared consisting of 14 questions regarding aspects of the trauma care organization and trauma education. It was posted on the web site of the Spanish College of Surgeons and all members were encouraged to participate. Results One hundred and ninety questionnaires from 110 different hospitals were received. More than two-thirds (67.3%) of the centers had protocols for treating trauma patients, with 81% of them based on ATLS guidelines. Almost three-quarters (72.6%) of the doctors had completed the ATLS course, and 38.9% the DSTC course. There was a specific education program in trauma in 24.5% of the centers, and 35.5% had a Trauma Committee. There was a rehabilitation program in 24.5% of the centers. Conclusion Very few of the participating centers would fulfill the requirements of the American College of Surgeons accreditation for trauma centers. Trauma care in Spain has improved a lot in the recent years, but there is still a lot to do to reach the level of that in the United States of America (AU)

[Analysis of the results [corrected] of survey on trauma systems: The neglected disease of the modern society]. / Análisis de los resultados de una encuesta sobre los sistemas de trauma en España: la enfermedad abandonada de la sociedad moderna.

BACKGROUND: Trauma injuries are the main cause of death in the world. The aim of this study is to determine how trauma patients are treated in Spain at an organizational level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was prepared consisting of 14 questions regarding aspects of the trauma care organization and trauma education. It was posted on the web site of the Spanish College of Surgeons and all members were encouraged to participate. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety questionnaires from 110 different hospitals were received. More than two-thirds (67.3%) of the centers had protocols for treating trauma patients, with 81% of them based on ATLS guidelines. Almost three-quarters (72.6%) of the doctors had completed the ATLS course, and 38.9% the DSTC course. There was a specific education program in trauma in 24.5% of the centers, and 35.5% had a Trauma Committee. There was a rehabilitation program in 24.5% of the centers. CONCLUSION: Very few of the participating centers would fulfill the requirements of the American College of Surgeons accreditation for trauma centers. Trauma care in Spain has improved a lot in the recent years, but there is still a lot to do to reach the level of that in the United States of America.

[Spleen injuries in Spain: at what point are we?]. / Traumatismo esplénico en España: ¿en qué punto estamos?

INTRODUCTION: Management of spleen trauma has changed over last decades, although there is no data on its treatment in Spain. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of spleen injuries in adults with severe abdominal injuries and how we manage them. METHODS: A prospective study using the databases of six Spanish hospitals: Gregorio Marañón Hospital, Virgen de la Vega Hospital, Torrevieja Hospital, Getafe Hospital, Doce de Octubre Hospital and Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí. RESULTS: A total of 566 patients who had sustained spleen injuries were analyzed (448 males and 118 females), most of them were due to blunt trauma (94%), and the most frequent mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 25.2. The initial treatment was surgical in 56.6% of the patients (85.3% total splenectomy and 14.7% other conservative surgical procedures, of which 4.6% finally failed and required total splenectomy). The remaining 43.4% were initially managed conservatively, but 6.5% of them finally required surgical splenectomy, and in 8.8% angio-embolization was performed. CONCLUSION: In Spain, management of spleen trauma is mainly surgical (particularly splenectomy). Angio-embolization and conservative surgical procedures are now hardly used.