The Cost of Postoperative Complications and Economic Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index: Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) via an assessment of its relation to postoperative costs. BACKGROUND: The CCI summarizes all the postoperative complications graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) on a numerical scale. Its relation to hospital costs has not been validated to date. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study, including all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery service during the 1-year study period. All complications graded with the CDC and CCI and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. The surgeries were classified according to their Operative Severity Score (OSS) and in 4 groups of homogeneous surgeries. All postoperative costs were recorded. RESULTS: In all, 1850 patients were included, of whom 513 presented complications (27.7%). The CDC and the CCI were moderately to strongly correlated with overall postoperative costs (OPCs) in all OSS groups (rs = 0.444-0.810 vs 0.445-0.820; P < 0.001), homogeneous surgeries (rs = 0.364-0.802 vs 0.364-0.813; P < 0.001), prolongation of postoperative stay (rs = 0.802 vs 0.830; P < 0.001), and initial operating room costs (rs = 0.448 vs 0.451; P < 0.001). This correlation was higher in emergency surgery. With higher CDC grades, the OPC tended to increase an upward trend. In the multivariate analysis, CDC, CCI, age, and duration of surgery were all associated with OPC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, the CCI presented associations with OPC. This demonstration of its economic validity enhances its clinical validity.

Jaundice as a clinical presentation in liver hydatidosis increases the risk of postoperative biliary fistula.

PURPOSE: Echinococcosis, also known as hydatidosis, is a zoonosis that is endemic in many countries worldwide. Liver hydatid cysts have a wide variety of clinical manifestations, among which obstructive jaundice is one of the rarer forms. The aims of the study were to analyze the preoperative management of these patients and to record the kind of surgical treatment performed and the short- and long-term postoperative results. METHODS: A retrospective two-center observational study of patients operated upon for liver hydatidosis with initial symptoms of obstructive jaundice. Preoperative characteristics, surgical data, and postoperative complications, including biliary fistula, were recorded. RESULTS: Of 353 patients operated upon for liver hydatidosis, 44 were included in the study. Thirty-five patients (79.6%) were defined as CE2 or CE3 in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 25 patients (56.8%) and identified intrabiliary communication in 29. Radical surgery was carried out in 29 of the total sample (65.9%). Severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIA or higher) were recorded in 25% of patients. The factors associated with greater postoperative morbidity were age above 65 (HR 8.76 [95% CI 0.78-97.85]), cyst location (HR 4.77 [95% CI 0.93-24.42]), multiple cysts (HR 14.58 [95% CI 1.42-149.96]), and cyst size greater than 5 cm (HR 6.88 [95% CI 0.95-50]). CONCLUSION: The presentation as obstructive jaundice causes greater postoperative morbidity. The main postoperative complication in these cases, despite radical surgery, is biliary fistula. In our series, routine preoperative ERCP did not show any benefit.

Radical surgery in hepatic hydatidosis: analysis of results in an endemic area.

INTRODUCTION: radical surgery in hepatic hydatidosis is associated with less morbidity and recurrence than conservative surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a retrospective observational study of patients with liver hydatid cyst surgery was performed. Seventy-one patients with 90 cysts were included between 2007 and 2017, and radical surgery was performed in 69.01 %. RESULTS: there was no difference in morbidity, mortality, biliary leakage or recurrence according to surgery. Complicated cysts were associated with a longer hospital stay and morbidity. CONCLUSION: decision-making should consider age, comorbidity, cyst characteristics and available resources. Radical surgery should be applied whenever feasible as it achieves better results with an adequate selection of patients.

Influence of sarcopenia in major pancreatic surgery. A systematic review of the literature.

Post-operative morbidity of pancreatectomies occurs in up to 40-50% of patients, even in modern series. There is a need to find a simple scale in order to identify patients with increased risk of developing major post-operative complications after pancreatic resections. Many studies have been published on sarcopenia and surgical outcomes. Aspects of sarcopenia are presented, along with a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines, in order to search for articles about sarcopenia and pancreatic surgery. The impact of sarcopenia on morbidity and mortality in pancreatic resections is still unclear. The studies presented have been carried out over long periods of time, and many of them compare patients with different diseases. There are also different definitions of sarcopenia, and this can influence the results, as some of the reviewed articles have already shown. It is necessary to unify criteria, both in the definition and in the cut-off values. Prospective studies and consensus on sarcopenia diagnosis should be achieved.

Pelvic hydatidosis: an exceptional location.

Hydatid disease is a zoonosis, still endemic in some Spanish geographical areas. Extrahepatic-extrapulmonary lesions account for only 10%, with pelvic lesions being exceptional. We present two patients with pelvic hydatidosis, with or without concomitant liver injury. Treatment depends on the cyst, location and symptoms. Surgery is mandatory if there is any complication.

Readmission rates after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: are they affected by ERCP prior to surgery?

AIM: the aim of this study was to assess the reasons for and the time of hospital readmissions after cholecystectomy, according to whether an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed. METHOD: all patients that underwent cholecystectomy at the Service of Digestive Diseases and General Surgery of the Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara between January 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy and were readmitted to any hospital service within 90 days of surgery were included. The following cases were excluded: patients that underwent cholecystectomy in combination with other procedures, an active oncological pathology at the time of cholecystectomy, admissions previously scheduled for another unrelated pathology and those with tumor histology in the cholecystectomy specimen. RESULTS: of a total of 1,714 patients, 80 were readmitted within 90 days of discharge after cholecystectomy, which equates to a readmission rate of 4.6%. The performance of an ERCP prior to surgery was associated with an increase in postoperative morbidity (40% vs 21.54%). A prior ERCP reduced the rate of biliary complications during the 90 days after cholecystectomy. Furthermore, there was an increase in the number of days prior to readmission in these cases, with a mean period of 22 days with ERCP vs seven days without ERCP. CONCLUSION: patients in our series who required an ERCP prior to cholecystectomy had a greater postoperative morbidity. However, those that did not require ERCP had more biliary complications and were readmitted earlier.

Elevated parathyroid hormone levels after successful parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: a clinical review.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is traditionally deemed to be successful if serum calcium levels return to normal 6 months after parathyroidectomy. Regular monitoring of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the follow-up of patients after parathyroidectomy for PHPT has drawn attention to the presence of a normocalcemic group of patients with elevated PTH (NCePTH) during the post-operative period. The etiological factors and mechanisms underlying this condition, its consequences, and the possibility of treatment are the object of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an unlimited PubMed search updated on March 31, 2017, which yielded 1628 results. We selected 37 articles, 33 of which included cases of NCePTH in their series and 23 performed statistical studies to assess factors associated with NCePTH. RESULTS: The maximum mean prevalence of NCePTH in the various series was 23.5%, ranging from 3 to 46%. Many factors were associated with NCePTH. The most important were higher pre-operative PTH, low pre-operative 25 (OH) D3, lower pre-operative creatinine clearance and greater adenoma weight. The origin of NCePTH may be multifactorial, since several factors were implicated in the etiology. NCePTH does not seem to be related to an increase in PHPT recurrence, although this possibility should not be dismissed. Vitamin D deficiency should be corrected. Treatment with calcium supplements seems to be clearly beneficial. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NCePTH is high. The causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism should be investigated carefully. Patients require treatment and long-term follow-up.

Comparison and combination of three data sources from patient medical records to determine optimal quantification of postoperative morbidity according to the Clavien Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index. A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: It is currently unknown which data sources from the clinical history, or combination thereof, should be evaluated to achieve the most complete calculation of postoperative complications (PC). The objectives of this study were: to analyze the morbidity and mortality of 200 consecutive patients undergoing major surgery, to determine which data sources or combination collect the maximum morbidity, and to determine the accuracy of the morbidity reflected in the discharge report. METHODS: Observational and prospective cohort study. The sum of all PC found in the combined review of medical notes, nursing notes, and a specific form was considered the gold standard. PC were classified according to the Clavien Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). RESULTS: The percentage of patients who presented PC according to the gold standard, medical notes, nursing notes and form were: 43.5%, 37.5%, 35% and 18.7% respectively. The combination of sources improved CCI agreement by 8%-40% in the overall series and 39.1-89.7 % in patients with PC. The correct recording of PC was inversely proportional to the complexity of the surgery, and the combination of sources increased the degree of agreement with the gold standard by 35 %-67.5% in operations of greater complexity. The CDC and CCI of the discharge report coincided with the gold-standard values in patients with PC by 46.8% and 18.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of data sources, particularly medical and nursing notes, considerably increases the quantification of PC in general, most notably in complex interventions.

Quality-adjusted life years and surgical waiting list: Systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is a metric that is increasingly used today in the field of health economics to evaluate the value of different medical treatments and procedures. Surgical waiting lists (SWLs) represent a pressing problem in public healthcare. The QALY measure has rarely been used in the context of surgery. It would be interesting to know how many QALYs are lost by patients on SWLs. AIM: To investigate the relationship between QALYs and SWLs in a systematic review of the scientific literature. METHODS: The study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. An unlimited search was carried out in PubMed, updated on January 19, 2024. Data on the following variables were investigated and analyzed: Specialty, country of study, procedure under study, scale used to measure QALYs, the use of a theoretical or real-life model, objectives of the study and items measured, the economic value assigned to the QALY in the country in question, and the results and conclusions published. RESULTS: Forty-eight articles were selected for the study. No data were found regarding QALYs lost on SWLs. The specialties in which QALYs were studied the most in relation to the waiting list were urology and general surgery, with 15 articles each. The country in which the most studies of QALYs were carried out was the United States (n = 21), followed by the United Kingdom (n = 9) and Canada (n = 7). The most studied procedure was organ transplantation (n = 39), including 15 kidney, 14 liver, 5 heart, 4 lung, and 1 intestinal. Arthroplasty (n = 4), cataract surgery (n = 2), bariatric surgery (n = 1), mosaicplasty (n = 1), and septoplasty (n = 1) completed the surgical interventions included. Thirty-nine of the models used were theoretical (the most frequently applied being the Markov model, n = 34), and nine were real-life. The survey used to measure quality of life in 11 articles was the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions, but in 32 articles the survey was not specified. The willingness-to-pay per QALY gained ranged from $100000 in the United States to €20000 in Spain. CONCLUSION: The relationship between QALYs and SWLs has only rarely been studied in the literature. The rate of QALYs lost on SWLs has not been determined. Future research is warranted to address this issue.

Reaching a consensus on the definition of "difficult" cholecystectomy among Spanish experts. A Delphi project. A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Being able to predict preoperatively the difficulty of a cholecystectomy can increase safety and improve results. However, there is a need to reach a consensus on the definition of a cholecystectomy as "difficult". The aim of this study is to achieve a national expert consensus on this issue. METHODS: A two-round Delphi study was performed. Based on the previous literature, history of biliary pathology, preoperative clinical, analytical, and radiological data, and intraoperative findings were selected as variables of interest and rated on a Likert scale. Inter-rater agreement was defined as "unanimous" when 100% of the participants gave an item the same rating on the Likert scale; as "consensus" when ≥80% agreed; as "majority" when the agreement was ≥70%. The delta of change between the two rounds was calculated. RESULTS: After the two rounds, the criteria that reached "consensus" were bile duct injury (96.77%), non-evident anatomy (93.55%), Mirizzi syndrome (93.55%), severe inflammation of Calot's triangle (90.32%), conversion to laparotomy (87.10%), time since last acute cholecystitis (83.87%), scleroatrophic gallbladder (80.65%) and pericholecystic abscess (80.65%). CONCLUSION: The ability to predict difficulty in cholecystectomy offers important advantages in terms of surgical safety. As a preliminary step, the items that define a surgical procedure as difficult should be established. Standardization of the criteria can provide scores to predict difficulty both preoperatively and intraoperatively, and thus allow the comparison of groups of similar difficulty.

Heridas por asta de toro, análisis de 138 casos.

OBJECTIVE: Bull-horn injuries (BHI) are unique and there is reduced published literature about it. We present an analysis of a 11-year BHI case series. METHOD: Study of 138 cases developed during a 11-year period with hospitalization admission greater than 24 hours with diagnosis of BHI/contusion. We classified patients in two groups: group A, patients undergoing procedures under general anaesthesia and group B undergoing procedures under local anaesthesia. Variables: age, sex, date, hospitalization length, main region affected, Comprehensive complication index (CCI, ISS, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, stay and mortality. Statistical analysis: t-Student test, ANOVA, χ2 and linear or logistic regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: ISS was related to hospital stay, CCI, ICU admission and type of treatment applied. The comparative statistical analysis of variables between both groups determined a significant difference in age, ISS and hospitalization length, being greater in those belonging to group A. There is a more risk of undergoing surgery by increasing age, ISS and presenting the wounds in thorax-abdomen-pelvis area. CCI may be a good method of quantifying postoperatory morbidity in polytraumatized patients or in other areas besides the abdomen.

OBJETIVO: Las heridas por asta de toro (HAT) poseen características únicas y existe literatura escasa en esta área. Presentamos un análisis de 11 años de pacientes con HAT. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo y analítico de 138 casos durante un periodo de 11 años, de pacientes ingresados durante más de 24 horas por HAT. Clasificamos a los pacientes en dos grupos: grupo A, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia general, y grupo B, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia local. Variables recogidas: edad, sexo, mes del suceso, hospitalización (días), región afectada, Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), ingreso y estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y mortalidad. Análisis estadístico: t de Student, ANOVA, χ2, regresión lineal y logística. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: El ISS se relaciona directamente con la estancia hospitalaria, el CCI, el ingreso en UCI y el tratamiento recibido. Entre ambos grupos se evidenció una diferencia significativa en edad, ISS y estancia hospitalaria, siendo mayores en el grupo A. Existe un mayor riesgo de necesitar cirugía conforme aumentan la edad, el ISS y las heridas en tórax, abdomen o pelvis. El CCI puede ser un buen método para cuantificar la morbilidad posoperatoria en pacientes politraumatizados o con lesiones en otras áreas distintas del abdomen.

The top 100. Review of the most cited articles on pancreas and laparoscopy. / Top 100. Revisión de los artículos más citados sobre cirugía laparoscópica del páncreas.

INTRODUCTION: The number of citations is considered as an indirect indicator of the merit of an article, journal or researcher, although it is not an infallible method to determine scientific quality. Our goal is to determine the characteristics of the articles most cited about pancreas and laparoscopy. METHODS: We performed a search of all articles published in any journal about pancreas and laparoscopy until September 2019 and selected the 100 most cited papers. We recorded number of citations, journal, year of publication, quartil, impact factor, institution, country, authors type of paper, type of surgery, topic and area. RESULTS: The top 100 citations account 10,970 citations in total. The journal with the most articles is Surgical Endoscopy and 2007 is the year with the highest number of articles in the top 100 citations. The percentage of publications from America and Europe are similar. Case series is the most frequently paper, outcomes/morbidity is the most frequently discussed topic, and distal pancreatectomy is the most frequently type of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric study on pancreas and laparoscopy is conditioned by the time factor, since laparoscopy has arrived later at pancreatic surgery, probably due to the morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic surgery and the need for a high specialization in this field. The literature is recent and scarce. More and better-quality studies are needed in this field.

[Parastomal hernia in Bricker urinary diversion as a reversible cause of obstructive uropathy: An exceptional complication.] / Hernia paraestomal en derivación urinaria tipo Bricker como causa reversible de uropatía obstructiva: una complicación excepcional.

OBJECTIVE: Parastomal hernia in patientswith ileal urinary diversion is insufficiently described in theliterature, and among its complications, the presence ofurinary obstruction is not usually reported. METHODS: We present a 74-year-old male with a Brickertype urinary diversion. He presented urinary infections withCT scan showing hydronephrosis with obstruction of theileal conduit probably related to a parastomal hernia. Thehernia growth runs in parallel to the ureterohydronephrosis,so we performed a hernioplasty to solve the obstruction. CTat 6 months shows no urinary obstruction and no hernia recurrence.No hydronephrosis in the follow-up at 14 months. RESULTS: We reviewed the literature and we only foundthree articles that related parastomal hernia in Bricker toureterohydronephrosis, although none of them proved thisrelationship with the correction of the urinary obstructionafter hernia surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Parastomal hernia should be consideredin the differential diagnosis of obstructive uropathy in patientswith ileal urinary diversion.

OBJETIVO: La hernia paraestomal en pacientescon derivación urinaria ileal está insuficientementedescrita en la literatura, y entre sus complicaciones no semenciona la presencia de uropatía obstructiva. MÉTODO: Presentamos caso de varón de 74 años conreconstrucción tipo Bricker. Presenta infecciones urinariascon TAC que muestra dilatación urinaria, con obstrucción anivel de la derivación en probable relación con una herniaparaestomal. La hernia progresa de forma paralela a laureterohidronefrosis, por lo que se realiza eventroplastiaparaestomal. En TAC a los 6 meses: ausencia de dilataciónde vía urinaria y de recidiva herniaria. No hidronefrosisa los 14 meses. RESULTADOS: Se realiza revisión de la literatura, encontrándosesólo tres artículos que relacionen hernia paraestomalen Bricker con ureterohidronefrosis, aunque ningunodemuestra esta relación causal con la corrección de laobstrucción tras la cirugía de la hernia. CONCLUSIONES: La hernia paraestomal debe ser tenidaen cuenta en el diagnóstico diferencial de la uropatía obstructivaen paciente con derivación tipo Bricker.

[Acute cholecystitis: is it still justified to delay surgery?]. / Colecistitis agudas: ¿está justificado hoy en día diferir la cirugía?

INTRODUCTION: Acute cholecystitis treatment may initially be surgical or conservative with subsequent surgery; we reviewed the cases found in our centre, including their treatment and outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of treatment in 178 patients with acute cholecystitis during one year. We evaluated variables associated with patient characteristics, as well as clinical data, diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: The majority (70.2%) was treated conservatively (group A), and 29.8% were operated on in the first 72 h (group B). In group A, 96 patients were treated with antibiotics, 15 with antibiotic therapy and cholecystectomy, and 12 with antibiotics and ERCP. In group B urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 60.4%, and 35.8% had open cholecystectomy. In group A, admission time was 11 days, with satisfactory progress in 79.2%, mortality rate of 5.6% and 10.7% of readmissions. In group B, operation time was 111 +/- 43 min, a mean of 8.7 days hospital stay, and 68% of cases did not require further treatment after surgery. Outcome was satisfactory in all but 7, there was no mortality in this group. We had a return rate of 2%. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of conservative treatment was carried out at the expense of emergency surgery, although in absolute numbers conservative treatment seems to have a higher rate of complications, mortality and hospitalisation time.

Intrabiliary metastases in colorectal cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Liver metastases emerge during the course of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 25-50% of patients. A small proportion of patients present intrabiliary growth. The absence of large series means that little is known about intrabiliary metastasis (IBM), its radiological diagnosis, the most suitable surgical techniques, and its prognostic implications. METHODS: A systematic search without limits was performed. The studies selected included patients with a diagnosis of CRC and associated IBM, either synchronous or metachronous. RESULTS: Of 40 studies selected, 30 were case reports and 10 case series. The median time between diagnosis and IBM was 46.7 months (range 0-180). Most CRC metastases are CK7-/CK20+. Surgical treatment performed ranged from endoscopic resection to major hepatic resections combined with pancreatectomies. It seems that patients with IBM have a better survival than patients without this metastasis. CONCLUSION: In a patient with a history of CRC presenting dilatation of the bile duct, IBM should be considered. More studies are needed to determine the most appropriate type of liver resection. It is also necessary to standardize the definition and terminology of this pathology, since the existing definitions may cause confusion and make it difficult to carry out case studies and case series.

The top 100: A review of the most cited articles in Surgery. / Los top 100. Revisión de los artículos más citados en cirugía.

INTRODUCTION: We performed a study of the top 100 most cited articles in the five general surgery journals with the highest impact according to Journal Citation Report. METHODS: We selected the five journals with the highest impact in 2015: Annals of Surgery, British Journal of Surgery, JAMA Surgery, Surgery, and Journal of the American College of Surgeons. In January 2017, using the Web of Science application, we performed a search of all articles published by these journals and identified the 100 most cited articles (top 100). We evaluated the number of citations, year of publication, type of article, country and hospital of the article, area of interest and number of authors. RESULTS: The median number of citations per top 100 paper was 490. Twenty percent of the top 100 papers have been published since 2000. Overall, 70% are original papers, 8% randomized control trials, 11% reviews, 1% meta-analyses and 11% other subtypes. There are 13% proceedings papers. Sixty-one percent are from the US. The most frequently discussed topic is hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery (33%). CONCLUSIONS: The top 100 most cited articles tend to be original articles describing studies carried out in the US, reporting significant surgical breakthroughs. Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery is the most common subject area. Annals of Surgery had twice as many citations as the other journals studied. The archetypal article of the Top15 most cited is an original paper published in the twentieth century, with an average of 2000 citations.