Variables affecting mortality rates in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients operated under emergency conditions have a higher risk of death and complications than those per-formed under elective conditions. Especially the patient group with high comorbidity needs to be evaluated more specifically. Accord-ing to the surgical risk and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scoring, the perioperative risk should be determined quickly, and the relatives of the patients should be informed. This study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. METHODS: A total of 1065 patients aged 18 years and older who underwent emergency abdominal surgery in 1 year were included in the study. The primary aim of this study was to determine the mortality rates in the first 30 days and 1 year and the variables af-fecting these rates. RESULTS: Of 1065 patients, 385 (36.2%) were female and 680 (63.8%) were male. The most common procedure was appendectomy (70.8%), followed by diagnostic laparotomy (10.2%), peptic ulcus perforation (6.7%), herniography (5.5%), colon resection (3.6%), and small bowel resection (3.2%). There was a significant difference between the age of the patients and mortality (p<0.05). There is no statistically significant relationship between gender and mortality. A statistically significant correlation was found between ASA scores, perioperative complication, perioperative blood product use, reoperation, intensive care unit admission, hospitalization time, periop-erative complication, and 30-day mortality and 1-year mortality. There is a significant relationship between trauma and only 30-day mortality (p=0.030). CONCLUSION: The morbidity and mortality of patients operated on under emergency conditions increased compared to elective surgical operations, especially those over age 70. The 30-day mortality rate of patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery is 3%, while the 1-year mortality rate is 5.5%. Mortality rates are higher in patients with a high ASA risk score. However, mortality rates in our study were found to be higher than the mortality rates in ASA risk scoring.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory nutrients in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: Glutamine and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease infection rates, antibiotic use, and hospital length of stay. However, whether giving immunonutrients to critically ill patients is beneficial remains controversial. In our study, we aimed to look at the effectiveness of parenteral unsaturated (omega-3) fatty acids and amino acid glutamine in patients with serious conditions in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The data of patients, who received parenteral amino acid glutamine and unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3) in the ICU, were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty-four patients were classified with regard to the length of the immune modulatory nutrient treatment. Groups were constructed according to the length of the treatment in days: 9 days or more (Group I), 3-9 days (Group II), and <3 days (Group III). Demographic data, Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II Scores (APACHE-II), ICU and hospitalization periods, inotropic medication, 60th-day mortality, serum biochemistry, and bacterial culture results were recorded. 60th-day mortality, bacterial culture results, and number of days stayed in ICU were primary outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Demographic data of the patients and APACHE-II scores among the groups were not significantly different from each other. ICU stay length, hospitalization length, positivity in bacterial cultures, and use of inotropic agents were significantly higher in Group I compare with other groups. CONCLUSION: In the ICU, it was observed that patients with multiorgan failure using parenteral unsaturated fatty acids and amino acid glutamine had longer hospital and intensive care stay. It can be said that long-term use of antioxidants and immunonutrition does not have a beneficial effect in patients with multiple organ failure with high APACHE-II scores.

The role of video-based multimedia information in reduction of anxiety before dilatation and curettage.

OBJECTIVE: Considerable amount of women undergoing dilatation and curettage (D&C) are subject to preoperative anxiety. We hypothesized that the implementation of video-based multimedia information (MMI) before the D&C might facilitate patients' education and provide clear information regarding the procedure. This study aimed to compare the impact of video-based MMI and conventional written information on anxiety, pain severity, and satisfaction in patients undergoing D&C. METHODS: Seventy four women scheduled for D&C for abnormal uterine bleeding were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Subjects were assigned to receive a video-based MMI or conventional written information (controls). The trait and state anxiety were assessed using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the MMI or written information. STAI-state (STAI-S) was repeated after the application of the MMI or written information. All patients underwent D&C by the same gynecologist. Following D&C, patient satisfaction and procedural pain were ranked using a Likert scale and Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS: Post-informational STAI-S score was significantly lower than the pre-informational STAI-S score in the video group (p<0.001), whereas no significant change occurred in STAI-S score in the control group (p=0.210). The satisfaction rate of the patients receiving MMI before the D&C was significantly higher than the satisfaction rate of the controls (75% vs. 50%, p=0.027). CONCLUSION: Implementation of MMI before the D&C procedure is associated with less anxiety, less severe postoperative pain and improved patients satisfaction, compared to the conventional written information.

Semi-Fowler positioning in addition to the pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre reduces shoulder pain following gynaecologic laparoscopic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The semi-Fowler position, defined as a body position at 30° head-of-bed elevation, has been shown to increase intra-abdominal pressure. AIM: To investigate the impact of semi-Fowler positioning in addition to the pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre (PRM) on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and six patients (mean age: 43 ±12 years) undergoing gynaecologic laparoscopic surgery (LS) were included. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of patients receiving PRM in the neutral position, group 2 comprised patients receiving PRM in the semi-Fowler position, and patients in the control group received neither PRM nor additional positioning. Information concerning wound and shoulder pain (post-laparoscopic shoulder pain - PLSP) at postoperative 6, 12 and 24 h was recorded using a visual analogue scale (VAS) for each patient. RESULTS: The PLSP scores at postoperative 6 h (5.71 ±0.86, 5.28 ±0.84 and 6.61 ±0.91, respectively, p < 0.001), 12 h (4.41 ±0.83, 4.01 ±0.82 and 5.32 ±0.97, respectively, p < 0.001), and 24 h (3.24 ±0.78, 2.44 ±0.73 and 4.34 ±0.85, respectively, p < 0.001) were significantly different among the groups, the lowest being in those who received PRM in addition to semi-Fowler positioning. CONCLUSIONS: Semi-Fowler positioning in addition to PRM significantly reduces post-laparoscopic shoulder pain. We assume that the benefit gained using the semi-Fowler positioning is mainly derived from its potential to better evacuate the remaining abdominal gas following LS.

Analgesic effects of ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block using different volumes and concentrations of local analgesics after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective To evaluate the effects of an ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane (US-TAP) block used for postoperative pain relief by comparing the efficacy of two different volumes/concentrations of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Methods This randomized study enrolled patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. They were randomized to two groups: group A received a 20 ml US-TAP block (50 mg bupivacaine +10 ml saline solution) and group B received a 30 ml US-TAP block (50 mg bupivacaine + 20 ml saline solution). The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil, the requirement for postoperative rescue analgesics, patient satisfaction scores, postoperative complications, and postoperative pain as measured by a visual analogue scale at 20 min, 12 h, and 24 h were recorded. Results A total of 60 patients enrolled in the study. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to demographic characteristics, duration of anaesthesia and patient satisfaction scores. The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil, postoperative VAS scores (20 min, 12 h and 24 h) and the requirement for postoperative analgesics were all significantly lower in group B who received a larger volume but a lower concentration of local anaesthetic solution compared with group A. Conclusion A US-TAP block can form part of a balanced postoperative analgesic regimen following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.