The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency general surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare systems worldwide. The effect of the pandemic on emergency general surgery patients remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To reveal the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and morbidity among emergency general surgery cases. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data on patients who were admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Samsun, Turkey, and had consultations at the general surgery clinic were analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: Our study included comparative analysis on two groups of patients who received emergency general surgery consultations in our hospital: during the COVID-19 pandemic period (Group 2); and on the same dates one year previously (Group 1). RESULTS: There were 195 patients in Group 1 and 132 in Group 2 (P < 0.001). While 113 (58%) of the patients in Group 1 were women, only 58 (44%) were women in Group 2 (P = 0.013). Considering all types of diagnosis, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.261). The rates of abscess and delayed abdominal emergency diseases were higher in Group 2: one case (0.5%) versus ten cases (8%); P < 0.001. The morbidity rate was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1: three cases (1.5%) versus nine cases (7%); P = 0.016. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the number of unnecessary nonemergency admissions to the emergency department, but has not delayed patients' urgent consultations. The pandemic has led surgeons to deal with more complicated cases and greater numbers of complications.

Significance of hemogram on diagnosis of acute appendicitis during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common emergency surgical condition during pregnancy after obstetric and gynecological pathologies. Urgent and accurate diagnosis of AA in pregnant patients reduces maternal and fetal morbidity/mortality rates. This study evaluated the significance of hemogram to diagnose AA during pregnancy. METHODS: Forty-seven pregnant patients operated for AA in the Ordu or Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School Hospitals between January 2007 and December 2017 were compared with 47 healthy pregnant women in terms of hemogram parameters, including the white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) values. The operated group was evaluated based on post-operative pathologic results and subclassified into appendicitis positive (Group A) and appendicitis negative (Group B) groups. The subgroups were compared to the control group. RESULTS: The WBC and neutrophil count and mean NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B and the control group (p<0.001). The mean lymphocyte count was significantly lower in Group A compared to other groups (p<0.001). The MPV and RDW values and mean platelet count showed no significant difference between groups (p>0.05). When cutoff values for WBC, neutrophil count, NLR, PLR, and lymphocyte counts were set to >10300, >7950, >5.50, >155.2, and ≤1330, respectively, the sensitivity rates were 72.5%, 80%, 90%, 77.5% and 85%, whereas specificity rates were 72.3%, 79.7%, 89.4%, 74.5%, and 82.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: When comparing pregnant women diagnosed with AA to patients operated for suspected AA and healthy pregnant women, the WBC and neutrophil count and NLR and PLR values were found to be significantly higher, whereas lymphocyte counts were lower. In addition to medical history, physical examination and imaging techniques, hemogram parameters should be considered to diagnose AA in pregnant women.

Comparison of limberg flap and oval flap techniques in sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Although many surgical techniques have been described for treatment of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD), the ideal treatment method remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare Limberg flap and oval flap techniques in patients with PSD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PSD who underwent surgery using either the Limberg flap or oval flap technique between January 2012 and January 2016 at the general surgery outpatient clinic were retrospectively reviewed from the database of our hospital; 142 patients (124 males and 18 females) were invited for examination. The demographic characteristics of the patients such as age and gender, hospital stays, seroma occurrence, surgical site infections, wound dehiscence, flap necrosis, loss of sensation, and recurrences were evaluated based on the information obtained from the database and from physical examinations as well as questioning of the patients. The results were statistically compared, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 27.5±7.8 years in the Limberg flap group and 26.5±7.2 years in the oval flap group. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding patients' mean age; gender distribution; postoperative hospital stay; recurrence; and complications, such as seroma, infection, wound dehiscence, and loss of sensation. Flap necrosis was not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: The Limberg flap and oval flap procedures both involve minimum morbidity and short hospital stay because they were not superior to one another regarding treatment effectiveness, complications, and recurrence in the pilonidal sinus surgery.

Early results of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy in comparison with the conventional: Does it have any impact on quality of life?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for gallbladder diseases. In recent times, single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy(SILC) has developed as a less invasive alternative technique to conventional laparoscopy. In the literature, many studies have compared SILC and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) procedures but a limited number of studies have compared the two techniques with regard to quality of life (QOL). The choice of surgical procedure was effected by QOL of the patients. The effects of SILC on QOL remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) and single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) procedures on the clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients by short-term follow-up evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 142 patients who underwent cholecystectomy operations with either technique underwent SILC and CLC were evaluated. The quality of life index in the patients was measured with short form 36 (SF 36) test. RESULTS: The results of mean operative time, length of stay and complication rate for SILC and CLC were similar. The postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores were not significantly different between the SILC and CLC patients but only physical functioning score were higher in SILC patients. CONCLUSIONS: SILC is a safe and effective alternative to CLC. To detect the effects of SILC on HRQOL, we need long-term prospective comparative studies.

Incarceration of the hepatic lobe in incisional hernia: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Incisional hernias are abnormal peritoneal outward pouch-like protrusions that develop due to defects that arise as a result of the disruption of the fascia's continuity after abdominal surgery. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 77-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department of our hospital with complaints of abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The patient was recommended for surgery. It was decided that the primary fascia closure and onlay patch was the most appropriate approach. DISCUSSION: When the defect in the abdominal wall grows, the functionality of the related abdominal wall is disrupted thereby eliminating the dynamic structure of the abdominal wall. Incisional hernias lead to a significant number of job losses and morbidity and negatively affect quality of life. Moreover, the formations in the hernia pouch might lead to higher risk of strangulation and dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous herniation of the left lobe of the liver passing through the abdominal wall is a very rare condition.

Rare tumors of the gallbladder: Clear cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer is a rare tumor in the gastrointestinal tract has poor prognosis, low survival and is difficult to diagnose. The most common type of gallbladder cancer is adenocarcinoma, and the incidence of clear cell carcinoma is low. Mostly, it is difficult to determine whether the isolated tumor is a primary tumor in the gallbladder or a metastatic tumor from another region. Before accepting a clear cell carcinoma as a primary gallbladder tumor, the kidneys and other possible secondary focuses are clinically considered in terms of metastases. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here, we present a rarely seen case of gallbladder clear cell carcinoma, which was diagnosed by pathological examination after the surgery. DISCUSSION: Prior to establishing that clear cell carcinoma is a primary gallbladder cancer, it is appropriate to clinically investigate possible secondary focuses, in particular the kidneys in terms of metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our goal in presenting this case was to emphasize the importance of taking an accurate medical history in patients with clear cell carcinoma, a rarely seen gallbladder cancer.

Is oval flap reconstruction a good modification for treating pilonidal sinuses?

BACKGROUND: Flap techniques are acceptable for the surgical treatment of pilonidal sinuses. This study assessed a new modification of the rhomboid flap technique. METHODS: The study included 133 patients with pilonidal disease who were treated between April 2004 and April 2009. The pilonidal sinus was removed with an oval excision, and an oval head rhomboid flap was prepared to reduce flap necrosis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 27.4 ± 4.6 years (range, 13-80). The rate of minor postoperative complications was 11.3%. The mean hospital stay was 2.3 ± .8 days (range, 1-6). The rate of recurrence was 1.5%. Regarding cosmetic results, 116 (87%) patients were very pleased, 15 (11.2%) were pleased, and 5 (3%) were displeased. The mean follow-up period was 22.5 ± 12.4 months (range, 5-57). CONCLUSIONS: The oval flap reconstruction method is a recommended procedure that produces fewer ischemic flaps with a low rate of recurrence and acceptable cosmesis.