Barriers and facilitators to answering clinical questions in the Americas: a cross-sectional study of surgical trauma care providers.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to understand how surgical trauma providers in the Americas acquire answers to clinical questions and what barriers and facilitators they face in efforts to practice according to recommendations for common surgical cases. We hypothesized that increased English proficiency and country income improved providers' acquisition and application of clinical knowledge. METHODS: A 23-question survey evaluated reported confidence in interpretation of evidence, perceived language fluency, and access to and application of recommendations on sepsis and appendicitis. Electronic surveys were distributed across the Americas to Pan American Trauma Society members. RESULTS: 108 participants from 21 countries completed this survey. 59% had ≥21 years of provider experience. 38% reported their English reading comprehension as less than or equal to "limited working proficiency." 44% endorsed using Google Translate; 35% reported they did not need translation tools to evaluate medical literature. 59% felt uncertainty regarding clinical care at least weekly. 65% reported inability to answer their clinical questions at least once per month. 86% felt confident in their ability to interpret and apply evidence for their practice. To answer clinical questions, participants listed guidelines (76%), full-text peer-reviewed journal articles (61%), and meta-analyses (49%) as their most used resources. 25% answered all five clinical questions correctly, whereas 43% answered three or fewer correctly. 79% felt they had adequate access to resources to answer the five clinical questions. When controlling for individual demographic characteristics, decreased age (p<0.01) and increased country income level (p=0.03) positively impacted correct answers to questions. DISCUSSION: Uncertainties in clinical care are unavoidable. Language, age, and country income level impacted provider acquisition and application of knowledge relevant to select clinical scenarios. These findings highlight disparities in access and training and add urgency to the movement for improved dissemination and implementation approaches for evidence-based practice in surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-World Society of Emergency Surgery guidelines on diagnosis and management of peripheral vascular injuries.

The peripheral arteries and veins of the extremities are among the most commonly injured vessels in both civilian and military vascular trauma. Blunt causes are more frequent than penetrating except during military conflicts and in certain geographic areas. Physical examination and simple bedside investigations of pulse pressures are key in early identification of these injuries. In stable patients with equivocal physical examinations, computed tomography angiograms have become the mainstay of screening and diagnosis. Immediate open surgical repair remains the first-line therapy in most patients. However, advances in endovascular therapies and more widespread availability of this technology have resulted in an increase in the range of injuries and frequency of utilization of minimally invasive treatments for vascular injuries in stable patients. Prevention of and early detection and treatment of compartment syndrome remain essential in the recovery of patients with significant peripheral vascular injuries. The decision to perform amputation in patients with mangled extremities remains difficult with few clear indicators. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma in conjunction with the World Society of Emergency Surgery seeks to summarize the literature to date and provide guidelines on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of peripheral vascular injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review study, level IV.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-World Society of Emergency Surgery guidelines on diagnosis and management of abdominal vascular injuries.

Abdominal vascular trauma accounts for a small percentage of military and a moderate percentage of civilian trauma, affecting all age ranges and impacting young adult men most frequently. Penetrating causes are more frequent than blunt in adults, while blunt mechanisms are more common among pediatric populations. High rates of associated injuries, bleeding, and hemorrhagic shock ensure that, despite advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, immediate open surgical repair remains the mainstay of treatment for traumatic abdominal vascular injuries. Because of their devastating nature, abdominal vascular injuries remain a significant source of morbidity and mortality among trauma patients. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma in conjunction with the World Society of Emergency Surgery seek to summarize the literature to date and provide guidelines on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of abdominal vascular injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review study, level IV.

Drugs, Violence, and Trauma in Mexico and the USA.

The impact of illicit drug markets on the occurrence of violence varies tremendously depending on many factors. Over the last years, Mexico and the USA have increased security border issues that included many aspects of drug-related trade and criminal activities. Mexico experienced only a small reduction in trauma deaths after the enforcement of severe crime reinforcement policies. This strategy in the war on drugs is shifting the drug market to other Central American countries. This phenomenon is called the ballooning effect, whereby the pressure to control illicit drug-related activities in one particular area forces a shift to other more vulnerable areas that leads to an increase in crime and violence. A human rights crisis characterized by suffering, injury, and death related to drug trafficking continues to expand, resulting in the exorbitant loss of lives and cost in productivity across the continent. The current climate of social violence in Central America and the illegal immigration to the USA may be partially related to this phenomenon of drug trafficking, gang violence, and crime. A health care initiative as an alternative to the current war approach may be one of the interventions needed to reduce this crisis.

Resección laparoscópica de linfangioma cavernoso retroperitoneal residual / Laparoscopic resection of a residual retroperitoneal cavernous lymphangioma

Objetivo: Presentar el caso de una paciente con linfangioma cavernoso diagnosticado incidentalmente y tratado quirúrgicamente, primero por laparotomía y después, para su resolución final, mediante laparoscopia. Se discuten las ventajas de la cirugía miniinvasiva como método adyuvante en la resección del linfangioma residual después de una laparotomía extensa. Sede: Hospital de tercer nivel. Diseño: Presentación del caso y revisión de la literatura. Descripción del caso: Mujer de 43 años, en la cual se documentó masa quística aparentemente dependiente del ovario derecho, con marcadores tumorales para cáncer ovárico normales. Se programó para salpingoclasia y resección de quiste ovárico, por incisión Pfannenstiel, encontrando un quiste gigante de origen retroperitoneal, que se extendía desde el hueco pélvico hasta el abdomen superior. Fue extirpado casi en su totalidad, debido a la extensión de la tumoración, excepto en la porción pancreatoduodenal y retrohepática, ya que al intentar abordar esta zona, inició con sangrado transoperatorio y se desconocían las relaciones del tumor con estos órganos. Se difirió la resección de esta porción residual para complementar su estudio por imágenes e histopatología y llevarlo a cabo en un segundo tiempo quirúrgico. La tomografía postoperatoria no mostró dependencia pancreatoduodenal, biliar o vascular. Al mes, se programó para la resección laparoscópica del tumor residual. El reporte histopatológico fue linfangioma cavernoso en ambos casos. Conclusiones: El tratamiento para los linfangiomas retroperitoneales es la resección completa. La cirugía miniinvasiva es una alternativa útil, ventajosa y mejor aceptada por los pacientes en algunas reoperaciones planeadas, donde inicialmente se realizó cirugía abierta.

Objective: To present the case of a woman with cavernous lymphangioma incidentally diagnosed and surgically treated, first through laparotomy and later, for its final resolution, through laparoscopy. We discuss the advantages of mini-invasive surgery as an adjuvant method for the resection of a residual lymphangioma after extensive laparotomy. Setting: Third level health care hospital. Design: Case presentation and review of the literature. Case description: A 43-year-old woman, in whom a cystic mass, apparently depending on the right ovary was documented; tumor markers for ovarian cancer were normal. She was programmed to undergo salpingoplasty and resection of the ovarian cyst, through Pfannenstiel incision. During surgery a giant cyst of retroperitoneal origin was found, which extended from the pelvic hole to the upper abdomen. It was resected almost totally due to the extension of the tumor, except for the pancreatoduodenal and retrohepatic region, because, when attempting to approach this area, transoperative bleeding started and we did not know the relations of the tumor with these organs. The resection of this residual portion was deferred to be able to complement the diagnosis with imaging and histopathology studies and perform the resection at a second surgical time. Postoperative tomography revealed no pancreatoduodenal, biliary, or vascular dependence. After 1 month, the patient was programmed for laparoscopic resection of the residual tumor. The histopathological report corresponded to cavernous lymphangioma in both situations. Conclusions: Treatment of retroperitoneal lymphangiomas consists of complete resection. Mini-invasive surgery is a useful, valuable option and a better accepted alternative by patients in some planned re-operations where initially open surgery had been performed.

[Case report. Post cesarean section laparoscopic cholecystectomy for hydrocholecystitis]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica poscesárea por hidrocolecisto. Reporte de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis is the second most common surgical emergency in pregnant women. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been described previously in these cases, there is still controversy regarding the most appropriate moment in which to perform the procedure. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and management of a female with 36.6 weeks of pregnancy and clinical signs of acute cholecystitis. Cesarean section to deliver a healthy newborn was immediately followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy without complications. A 10 year literature review complements the analysis and discussion of the case. CLINICAL CASE: A 33 year-old female with 36.6 weeks of gestation presented a history of 24 hours with right upper quadrant and epigastric abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms were precipitated by cholecystokinetics and did not subside after expectant and pharmacologic medical treatment. The medical group decided with the patient's consent to interrupt the pregnancy via Cesarean section immediately followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: After Cesarean section through a Pfannenstiel incision, laparoscopic trocars were placed and cholecystectomy performed without complications. The postsurgical course was favorable and both patient and newborn were discharged on day four. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery cholecystectomy during pregnancy and in the immediate puerperium is feasible and safe. These combined procedures: rapid pregnancy interruption followed by a minimal invasive approach gives the benefits of laparoscopic surgery in these patients.

[Pelvic solitary fibrous nodule, incidental finding and laparoscopic resection. Case report]. / Nódulo fibroso solitario pélvico, hallazgo incidental y resección laparoscópica. Reporte de un caso.

The solitary fibrous nodule is a rare clinical disease that mainly affects the pleura, but has been occasionally described in other anatomical sites. This type of tumors can have malignant components and therefore it is important to differentiate them from other retroperitoneal masses. We describe the case of a patient with ectopic pregnancy in whom a solitary fibrous nodule with laparoscopy was found. A peritoneal pelvic tumor with smooth surface, 20,2 g, firm was detected. The mass was independent of colon, uterus, ovaries or salpinx and was very near to the iliac vessels on the right side. A small fragment was biopsied and sent to trans surgical histopathology study and the rest of the mass was removed completely without complications. The histopathologic report described that the tumor contained sclerosed cells with collagenous bands and sings of hemorrhage and calcification, compatible with a benign pelvic solitary fibrous tumor. The solitary fibrous nodule is a rare, benign disease, but with malignant potential. These tumors must be resected when they are incidentally found during other surgical procedures or if diagnosed preoperatively. The laparoscopic approach has advantages in the identification and resection these tumors.

Evaluating trauma care capabilities in Mexico with the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care publication.

OBJECTIVE: To identify affordable, sustainable methods to strengthen trauma care capabilities in Mexico, using the standards in the Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care, a publication that was developed by the World Health Organization and the International Society of Surgery to provide recommendations on elements of trauma care that should be in place in the various levels of health facilities in all countries. METHODS: The Guidelines publication was used as a basis for needs assessments conducted in 2003 and 2004 in three Mexican states. The states were selected to represent the range of geographic and economic conditions in the country: Oaxaca (south, lower economic status), Puebla (center, middle economic status), and Nuevo León (north, higher economic status). The sixteen facilities that were assessed included rural clinics, small hospitals, and large hospitals. Site visits incorporated direct inspection of physical resources as well as interviews with key administrative and clinical staff. RESULTS: Human and physical resources for trauma care were adequate in the hospitals, especially the larger ones. The survey did identify some deficiencies, such as shortages of stiff suction tips, pulse oximetry equipment, and some trauma-related medications. All of the clinics had difficulties with basic supplies for resuscitation, even though some received substantial numbers of trauma patients. In all levels of facilities there was room for improvement in administrative functions to assure quality trauma care, including trauma registries, trauma-related quality improvement programs, and uniform in-service training. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified several low-cost ways to strengthen trauma care in Mexico. The study also highlighted the usefulness of the recommended norms in the Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care publication in providing a standardized template by which to assess trauma care capabilities in nations worldwide.

Evaluating trauma care capabilities in Mexico with the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care publication

OBJETIVO: Identificar formas asequibles y sustentables de reforzar los recursos para la atención de heridos en México aplicando las pautas contenidas en Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care [Pautas para el tratamiento básico de los heridos], publicación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y de la Sociedad Quirúrgica Internacional que contiene recomendaciones sobre los componentes de la atención de heridos que deben poseer los servicios de salud de distintos niveles en todos los países. MÉTODOS: Las pautas publicadas (Guidelines) sirvieron de base para llevar a cabo evaluaciones de las necesidades en tres estados mexicanos en 2003 y en 2004. Los estados se escogieron con la idea de que estuviese representada la amplia variedad de condiciones geográficas y económicas del país: Oaxaca (en el sur y de estrato económico inferior), Puebla (en el centro y con un estrato económico mediano) y Nuevo León (en el norte y con un estrato económico más alto). Se evaluaron dieciséis centros entre los cuales había puestos de salud rurales, hospitales pequeños y hospitales grandes. Se hicieron visitas a todos los centros para llevar a cabo la inspección directa de los recursos físicos en cada uno y entrevistar a miembros clave del personal administrativo y clínico. RESULTADOS: Los recursos humanos y físicos destinados a la atención de heridos eran de calidad satisfactoria en los hospitales, especialmente los más grandes. La encuesta reveló algunas deficiencias, tales como una escasez de succionadores rígidos, oxímetros de pulso y algunos medicamentos usados para tratar heridos. En todos los puestos se observaron dificultades con los equipos básicos de reanimación, a pesar de que algunos recibían un número bastante alto de heridos. En los centros de todos los niveles había margen para mejorar las funciones administrativas a fin de conseguir una atención de calidad que incluyese el mantenimiento de registros de heridos, programas para mejorar la atención de estos pacientes y uniformidad en el adiestramiento del personal durante el desempeño de sus funciones. CONCLUSIONES: En este estudio se identificaron varias formas baratas de reforzar la atención de pacientes heridos en México. También se subrayó la utilidad de las pautas recomendadas en la obra Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care como modelo estandarizado para evaluar los recursos para el tratamiento de heridos que poseen los países en cualquier parte del mundo.

Herida en cuello por proyectil de arma de fuego, transcervical en línea media sin evidencia de lesión. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Midline transcervical firearm related neck wound without evidence of lesion. Case report and review of the literature

Presentamos un caso sobre una herida por proyectil de arma de fuego transcervical en línea media, sin evidencia clínica ni imagenológica de lesión. Es sabido que las lesiones transcervicales son generalmente letales o devastadoras constituyendo así lesiones mortales en los tres picos de mortalidad por traumatismo. Este tipo de lesiones genera discusión en el gremio quirúrgico sobre la decisión operatoria obligada o el estudio selectivo de pacientes para manejo no operatorio, sin embargo, este tipo de heridas transcervicales (HTC) siempre dejan al cirujano traumatólogo más experimentado en una disyuntiva. No existen casos en la literatura con HTC en línea media sin evidencia de lesión, motivo por el cual presentamos este caso.