Trauma registry -- a necessity of modern clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Traumas represent the cause of 10 % of deaths in the entire world. The successful development of trauma systems, including the use of trauma registries, played a significant part in lowering the mortality and the disabilities due to injuries resulted from trauma. METHOD: Review of the literature using computerized database of National Library of Medicine and the International Institutes of Health MEDLINE using PubMed interface. There were selected the articles that address the issue of trauma registry from the different world trauma systems. RESULTS: Trauma registries have developed once they were introduced in centers and trauma systems in the United States of America in 1970. First trauma database processed on computers was created in 1969 in Cook County Hospital in Chicago. This database became the prototype of trauma registry in Illinois which started gathering information from 50 designated hospitals across the entire state in 1971.Countries with limited resources were able to start useful trauma registers. Continuous financing and dedicated personnel inside the team are two essential factors in the success of a trauma registry. NISS (New Injury Severity Score) higher than 15 is a widely used inclusion criteria in the trauma register. Exclusion is represented by patients admitted at over 24 hours after the accident, those declared dead before hospital arrival or with no signs of life on arrival in hospital. In addition, it is recommended that asphyxia,drowning and burns to be excluded. CONCLUSION: The improvements regarding the treatment of multi-traumatized people in developing countries depend on establishing and performance of trauma systems, where trauma registry represents a part of these systems infrastructure.

Laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer -- a multicenter study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of the laparoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer performed in 6 Romanian surgical centres with experience in the field of laparoscopic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1996 and 2005, 186 patients with perforated duodenal ulcer were operated on in the centers participating in this retrospective study, all patients being ASA I-II. Thirty-nine patients (20.0%) presented mild peritonitis, 120 (64.5%) medium peritonitis and 27 (15.5%) severe (20.0%) simple suture was performed, in 110 (59.1%) suture with epiplonoplasty, for 1 (0.5%) only epiplonoplasty and 1 (0.5%) underwent excision of the perforation and suture. RESULTS: The operative time was between 30-120 minutes, with an average of 75 minutes. No death was noted. Average hospitalization time was 6 days, with periods varying between 3 and 18 days. Postoperative complications included: 5 patients (2,6%) presented infections of the abdominal walls, 1 patient (0.5%) duodenal fistula, 1 patient (0.5%) intra-abdominal abscess, 1 patient (0.5%) a superior digestive hemorrhage by "mirrored ulcer" and 1 patient (0.5%) duodenal stenosis 6 months after operation. The patients were administered 50% less analgesics, used 70% less dressings, 30% less antibiotics and had 60% less complications in comparison with those operated by the classical approach. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach of perforated duodenal ulcer constitutes the first choice for patients without important co-morbidities, allowing a quick recovery and a significant reduction in the consumption of analgesics, antibiotics and dressing materials.

A clinical case of Fournier gangrene.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of Fournier gangrene and the specific surgical therapy CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year old patient with a two days history of pain in the perineal region, swelling, developing necrosis and foul-smelling lesions was examined in emergency settings. The swelling of subcutaneous plane involved the flank regions, mainly on the left side. The investigations were performed (full blood count, blood urea, electrolytes, coagulation profile). A Fournier gangrene was diagnosed and surgery performed under general anesthesia. Broad spectrum antibiotics were given concomitantly. The first surgical procedure consisted in surgical debridement and excision of all the necrotic tissue. Cultures were taken. We performed counter incisions bilaterally on both flanks. The communication through the fascial planes was clearly demonstrated, especially on the left side. A loop colostomy was also performed. Multiple re-excisions were further employed. Due to a precarious evolution, the patient were on mechanical ventilation for 13 days. Inotrope medication was given for a total of 19 days and, the antibiotherapy adapted to the antibiogram (Bacterioides eggerthii was identified). The reconstruction of the perineum was later performed and, after 3 months, the colostomy was closed in good conditions without further complications. CONCLUSION: Early recognition and aggressive surgical excision are mandatory for success in patients with Fournier gangrene. Colonic diversion can be very useful if employed from the beginning.

Complicated diverticular disease--our recent experience.

Diverticular disease is more frequently seen in our practice. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate our experience with complicated diverticular disease in our surgical emergency unit. Between 2004-2007 46 cases with complicated diverticular disease were registered in Surgical Emergency Clinical Hospital of Bucharest. A male preponderance (sex ratio M: F 1:1.4) and a medium age of 62.9 +/- 15 years were recorded. Perforation was the main complication encountered and sigmoid colon was the most frequent involved segment (71.7%). Diagnostic procedures relayed especially on CT-scan. Three cases were operated laparoscopically. Failure of conservative measures was the main cause for interventions. A Hartmann procedure was performed in 7 patients (15.2%). Global mortality was 8.1% (4 cases). There were no significant differences among the surgical procedures employed. Diverticular disease is more frequently encountered in our practice. CT-scan is the most efficient diagnostic tool but there are limitations. Conservative measures are not always successful and urgent operative treatment is the only choice. Hartmann procedure is still frequently employed in our practice.