Urgent care practice in anorectal abscess. Still a pending task.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate urgent care practice with regard to anorectal abscesses (AA) in a tertiary-level referral hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: this was retrospective and unicentric study. Patients who underwent surgery for AA between 2016 and 2017 were included in the study. Demographic variables were analyzed as well as the treatment performed, the need for hospitalization, use of antibiotics, and referral to the coloproctology outpatient department (COD). The recurrence risk factors were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 220 evaluations under anesthesia were performed, corresponding to 190 patients, 129 males (mean age 46 ± 14.9 years). The most frequent treatment in the emergency department (ED) was simple drainage (75.8%). Antibiotic therapy was prescribed in 62.9% of the cases. A total of 41.1% of the patients were referred to a specialized COD. The only risk factor associated with recurrence was the presence of an associated anal fistula. CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal abscesses are very frequent in the ED. There is great clinical variability regarding the taking of cultures, prescription of antibiotics, and referral criteria to a specialized coloproctology outpatient department, without clear impact of any of them on the recurrence of the abscess.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el manejo de los abscesos perianales por parte del servicio de cirugía de urgencias. MÉTODO: Estudio unicéntrico retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes que requirieron manejo quirúrgico de abscesos perianales de 2016 a 2017. Se analizaron variables demográficas, tratamientos realizados, necesidad de ingreso hospitalario, uso de antibióticos y necesidad de derivación a la consulta externa de coloproctología. Así mismo, se evaluaron los factores relacionados con la recurrencia del absceso. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo de estudio se realizaron 220 exploraciones, correspondientes a 190 pacientes (129 hombres) con una edad media de 46 ± 14.9 años. El tratamiento quirúrgico más frecuentemente realizado fue el drenaje simple (75.8%). Se prescribieron antibióticos en el 62.9% de los casos. El 41.1% de los pacientes fueron remitidos a consulta externa de coloproctología. El único factor de riesgo asociado a la recurrencia fue la presencia de una fístula perianal asociada. CONCLUSIONES: Los abscesos perianales son frecuentes en los servicios de urgencias. Hay una gran variabilidad clínica en su manejo, sobre todo en lo relativo a la realización de cultivos, la prescripción de antibióticos y la derivación a unidades de coloproctología especializadas, sin que ninguna de estas medidas tenga un claro impacto en la recurrencia.

Desgaste profesional o burnout en los residentes de Cirugía General. Encuesta de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos / Burnout in General Surgery Residents. Survey From the Spanish Association of Surgeons

INTRODUCCIÓN: El desgaste profesional o burnout afecta significativamente a los médicos y, concretamente, a los cirujanos. El exceso de horas de trabajo, así como la discriminación, abuso y acoso sexual, pueden contribuir al desgaste profesional. Recientemente se ha publicado un estudio sobre este tema en residentes de Estados Unidos que demuestra una elevada incidencia de burnout. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer cuál es la situación en España y compararla con lo que sucede en aquel país. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, transversal, efectuado en enero-febrero del 2020, a través de una encuesta validada remitida a todos los residentes de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo (CGAD) de España. RESULTADOS: De los 931 residentes de CGAD, 739 accedieron a la encuesta y 452 (61,2%) la cumplimentaron. En alguna ocasión durante la residencia, el 55,1% de los residentes se han sentido discriminados por su género, el 8,8% por su país de origen, el 73,9% afirman haber experimentado abuso verbal/psicológico, el 7,1% abuso físico y el 16,4% acoso sexual. Los cirujanos adjuntos son la causa más frecuente de acoso sexual, abuso físico y verbal. Los pacientes son el origen más común de la discriminación por género. El 47,6% ha tenido síntomas de desgaste profesional y el 4,6% ha presentado ideas suicidas. El 98% ha excedido su jornada laboral y el 47% no libra las guardias. Estos dos últimos puntos son factores predictivos de desgaste profesional. CONCLUSIONES: Durante el periodo de residencia en nuestro país, los residentes de CGAD han sufrido episodios de maltrato en forma de discriminación, abuso y acoso. Todos los tipos de maltrato son más frecuentes en España que en Estados Unidos, excepto la discriminación racial. Con ello se asocia el incumplimiento significativo en las horas de trabajo semanal. Es necesario reconocer estas anomalías y evitarlas para favorecer un ambiente adecuado para la formación profesional especializada en CGAD

INTRODUCTION: Physicians, especially surgeons, are significatively affected by burnout. Duty-hour violation, as well as discrimination, abuse and sexual harassment may contribute to burnout. A study about this topic has been published in residents from United States, demonstrating a high incidence of burnout. Our objective is to know which is the situation in Spain and to compare it with United States. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study carried out in January-February 2020, based on the responses to a validated survey administered to General Surgery residents in Spain. RESULTS: There are 931 General Surgery Residents. 739 have entered in the survey and 452 (61.2%) eventually responded to it. In any occasion during the training period, 55.1% reported discrimination based on their gender, 8.8% reported racial discrimination, 73.9% reported verbal/psychological abuse, 7.1% reported physical abuse and 16.4% reported sexual harassment. Attending surgeons are the most frequent source of sexual harassment and physical and verbal abuse, whereas patients are the most frequent cause of gender discrimination. Burnout symptoms were reported by 47.6% of residents and 4.6% reported suicidal thoughts. 98% of residents reported duty-hour violations and 47% of them do not have the day off after to be on call. Both of these issues are burnout predictive factors. CONCLUSIONS: Mistreatment (discrimination, abuse and harassment) occurs among General Surgery residents during their training period in our country. Every kind of mistreatment is more frequent in Spain than in the United States, with the exception of racial discrimination. It is associated with exceeding weekly duty-hour. It is necessary to know these problems and to avoid them in order to improve work environment of General Surgery training period

Burnout in General Surgery Residents. Survey From the Spanish Association of Surgeons. / Desgaste profesional o burnout en los residentes de Cirugía General. Encuesta de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos.

INTRODUCTION: Physicians, especially surgeons, are significatively affected by burnout. Duty-hour violation, as well as discrimination, abuse and sexual harassment may contribute to burnout. A study about this topic has been published in residents from United States, demonstrating a high incidence of burnout. Our objective is to know which is the situation in Spain and to compare it with United States. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study carried out in January-February 2020, based on the responses to a validated survey administered to General Surgery residents in Spain. RESULTS: There are 931 General Surgery Residents. 739 have entered in the survey and 452 (61.2%) eventually responded to it. In any occasion during the training period, 55.1% reported discrimination based on their gender, 8.8% reported racial discrimination, 73.9% reported verbal/psychological abuse, 7.1% reported physical abuse and 16.4% reported sexual harassment. Attending surgeons are the most frequent source of sexual harassment and physical and verbal abuse, whereas patients are the most frequent cause of gender discrimination. Burnout symptoms were reported by 47.6% of residents and 4.6% reported suicidal thoughts. 98% of residents reported duty-hour violations and 47% of them do not have the day off after to be on call. Both of these issues are burnout predictive factors. CONCLUSIONS: Mistreatment (discrimination, abuse and harassment) occurs among General Surgery residents during their training period in our country. Every kind of mistreatment is more frequent in Spain than in the United States, with the exception of racial discrimination. It is associated with exceeding weekly duty-hour. It is necessary to know these problems and to avoid them in order to improve work environment of General Surgery training period.