The use of drotrecogin alpha for necrotizing soft tissue infections.

The use of Drotrecogin alfa (DAA) (Xigris) in select patients with sepsis has had demonstrable improvement in survival, though its benefit in necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) is unclear. A retrospective review of NSTI patients receiving DAA at our institution from 2006 to 2009 was performed. Our previously derived mortality prediction model, based on classification and regression tree analysis, was applied to patients and the predicted mortality was compared with the actual mortality rate. Ten patients with severe NSTI received DAA. The median admission values were: white blood cell count of 27,000/mm3, serum lactate of 4.0 mmol/L, and serum sodium of 128 mEq/L. Four (40%) patients had systemic complications, five (50%) patients required amputation, and one died (10%). Median time to DAA administration was 12 hours after debridement. There were no bleeding complications attributed to DAA use. Mortality in this series of severe NSTI was only 10 per cent, which compares favorably with the predicted mortality of 18 per cent based on classification and regression tree analysis (P = 0.2). A prospective, randomized study is warranted to determine if the use of DAA should be part of the standard therapy for NSTI patients with a predicted high mortality.

Acute care surgery performed by sleep deprived residents: are outcomes affected?

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine recently recommended further reductions in resident duty hours, including a 5-h rest time for on-call residents after 16 h of work. This recommendation was purportedly intended to better protect patients against fatigue-related errors made by physician trainees. Yet no data are available regarding outcomes of operations performed by surgical trainees working without rest beyond 16 h in the current 80-h workweek era. METHODS: A retrospective review of all laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) and appendectomies performed by surgery residents at a public teaching hospital from July 2003 through March 2009. Operations after 10 PM were performed by residents who began their shift at 6 AM and had thus been working 16 or more hours. An outcomes comparison between time periods was conducted for operations performed between 6 AM and 10 PM (daytime) and 10 PM and 6 AM (nighttime). Outcome measures were rates of total complications, bile duct injury, conversion to open operation, length of surgery, and mortality. RESULTS: Over the 7-y study period, 2908 LC and 1726 appendectomies were performed. Appendectomies were performed laparoscopically in 73% of cases in patients for both time periods. There were no differences in rates of overall morbidity and mortality for operations when performed in nighttime compared with daytime. On multivariable analysis, there were no differences in outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The two most commonly performed general surgical operations performed at night by unrested residents have favorable outcomes similar to those performed during the day. Instituting a 5-h rest period at night is unlikely to improve the outcomes for these commonly performed operations.

Decreased bile duct injury rate during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the era of the 80-hour resident workweek.

BACKGROUND: Considerable concern has been raised about the effects of restricted duty hours on surgical training. However, to our knowledge, the effect of the 80-hour resident workweek on operative outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of bile duct injury and overall complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy before and after the institution of the duty-hour restriction. DESIGN: Retrospective review of patient medical records to determine morbidity and mortality before (January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2003; period 1) and after (July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2006; period 2) implementation of duty hour limitations. SETTING: Major public teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 2470 patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bile duct injury and overall complication rates as determined using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 2470 laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures were performed, including 1353 in period 1 and 1117 in period 2. In period 2, more patients had acute cholecystitis as the indication for surgery (49% vs 35% in period 1, P < .001), and a higher percentage of patients were male (22% vs 18%, P = .01). The incidence of bile duct injury and total complications decreased in period 2 from 1% to 0.4%(P = .04) and from 5% to 2% (P < .001), respectively. Mortality was unchanged. Multivariate analysis revealed that period 2 was protective for bile duct injury (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.96; P = .04). For complications, both female sex (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.9) and surgery during period 2 (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.75) were protective, whereas older age (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.05) was associated with complications. CONCLUSION: At a major public teaching hospital, the bile duct injury rate and the overall complication rate decreased after implementation of the 80-hour workweek.

Early cholecystectomy for mild to moderate gallstone pancreatitis shortens hospital stay.

BACKGROUND: The timing of cholecystectomy in gallstone pancreatitis remains controversial. We hypothesized that in patients with mild to moderate gallstone pancreatitis (three or fewer Ranson's criteria), performing early cholecystectomy before resolution of laboratory or physical examination abnormalities would result in shorter hospitalization, without adversely affecting outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study consisting of a retrospective and a prospective group was conducted. For the prospective group, a deliberate policy of early cholecystectomy (less than 48 hours from admission) was used. The primary end point was total length of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints were time from admission to definitive operation, need for endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, and major complications (organ failure and death). RESULTS: Group I consisted of 177 patients retrospectively reviewed, and Group II was composed of 43 patients prospectively followed. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to demographics. With respect to admission laboratory values, there was a significant difference in median serum amylase, but there were no differences in median serum levels of lipase, total bilirubin, albumin, white blood cell count, or Ranson's score. The median length of hospital stay was 7 days in Group I versus 4 days in Group II (p=or< 0.001). Median time from admission to cholecystectomy was 5 days in Group I versus 2 days in Group II (p=or< 0.0001). Complication rates were similar and there were no deaths in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with mild to moderate gallstone pancreatitis, a policy of early cholecystectomy resulted in a significantly reduced length of hospital stay with no increase in complications or mortality.

Cholangitis: analysis of admission prognostic indicators and outcomes.

Acute cholangitis is a life-threatening complication of biliary obstruction that is exacerbated by delays in diagnosis and treatment. Since the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic therapeutic modalities, few investigations have addressed admission prognostic indicators of adverse outcomes. A retrospective review of all patients with a diagnosis of acute cholangitis from 1995 to 2005 was performed. Primary endpoints were organ failure and death. One-hundred and seventeen patients met criteria for acute cholangitis. Only 49 (42%) had Charcot's triad and 3 (3%) had Reynolds' pentad. One-hundred and four (89%) patients underwent biliary decompression, of which 79 (76%) were treated by endoscopic methods. There were 29 (25%) cases of organ failure and 9 (8%) deaths. The admission white blood cell (WBC) count (P = 0.0003) and total bilirubin (TBili) (P = 0.04) were statistically significant predictors of organ failure or death. With an admission of WBC > or = 20,000 cells/mm3, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for organ failure and death were 50 per cent, 92 per cent, 63 per cent, and 88 per cent, respectively. A TBili of > or =10 mg/dL had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 56 per cent, 85 per cent, 21 per cent, and 96 per cent, respectively for predicting death. Admission WBC > or = 20,000 cells/mm3 and TBili > or =10 mg/dL are selective predictors of adverse outcomes in acute cholangitis.

En bloc resection of the duodenum for locally advanced right colon adenocarcinoma.

Direct invasion of colorectal adenocarcinoma into adjacent structures occurs frequently, but only rarely is the duodenum involved. This study was undertaken to assess the safety and efficacy of en bloc resection of locally advanced right colon carcinoma invading the duodenum. A retrospective review of 49 patients with locally advanced colon cancer, surgically managed between 2000 and 2005, was performed. Forty-six patients underwent en bloc resection of colon and adjacent organs not involving the duodenum. Three patients with duodenal invasion underwent en bloc partial duodenectomy. The mean operative blood loss, length of stay, postoperative morbidity, and mortality compare favorably between these two groups of patients. Of the 46 patients with en bloc resection of other organs, 27 are alive at 12 to 60 months follow up. Two patients with duodenal invasion are alive without recurrence at 15 and 20 months follow up. En bloc resection of colon cancer invading the duodenum can be performed safely because morbidity and mortality rates are comparable to those attending extended resections of other locally advanced colon carcinomas. Overall survival in patients who underwent surgery with curative intent justifies en bloc duodenal resection in selected patients.

Axillary regional recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.

The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging in breast cancer has been demonstrated in studies comparing it with axillary dissection. There is a 5 per cent false-negative rate, but this does not always correlate with axillary recurrence. Our purpose was to determine the rate of axillary lymphatic recurrence in breast cancer patients who had a negative SLNB. We conducted a cohort study of breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB between 2001 and 2005. Only patients who had a negative SLNB were included. Patient demographics and tumor factors were reviewed. Outcomes measured were axillary and systemic recurrence and survival. Eighty-nine patients with a mean age of 54.4 +/- 9.9 years were included. Eighty-nine per cent of cases had infiltrating ductal carcinoma histology. Mean tumor size was 19 +/- 14 mm. Breast conservation surgery was done in 65 cases and mastectomy in 24. A mean of 2.3 +/- 2.4 SLN were found. After a median follow-up of 2.15 years, 1 (1%) patient developed a lymphatic recurrence in the axilla. SLNB provides accurate staging of breast cancer. Patients with negative SLNB do not require axillary dissection.