[Omental torsion. Case Report]. / Torsión de epiplón. Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Omental torsion is an infrequent cause of acute abdomen and its symptoms are non-specific, often presenting with pain at the right iliac fossa as the only symptom. Its aetiology remains unknown, but different risk factors have been associated with the disease, including obesity, congenital malformations, and tumours. These risk factors have been classified as predisposing or triggering, primary or secondary, and external or internal. CLINICAL CASE: The is a case of a 24-year-old male who complained about pain in the right iliac fossa without any other symptoms. The diagnosis was acute appendicitis, but during the laparoscopic approach, omental torsion was found. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of omental torsion is is complex. However, computed tomography and ultrasound have been used successfully. The treatment for omental torsion is the resection of necrotised tissue by a laparoscopic approach.

[Assessment of antibiotic use and impact of an intervention intended to modify the prescribing behavior in surgical prophylaxis in 6hospitals in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico]. / Evaluación del uso de antibióticos e impacto de una intervención dirigida a modificar la conducta prescriptiva en profilaxis quirúrgica en 6hospitales del área metropolitana de Monterrey.

BACKGROUND: Improper use of antibiotics increases antimicrobial resistance. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the use of antibiotics and the impact of an intervention designed to improve antibiotic prescription for surgical prophylaxis in 6 hospitals of Monterrey, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Design: A prospective multicenter survey and a pretest-postest experimental study. Phase 1: Survey to evaluate the use of antibiotics through an especially designed guide. Phase 2: Intervention designed to improve antibiotic prescription for surgical prophylaxis by the medical staff by using printed, audiovisual and electronic messages. Phase 3: Survey to evaluate the impact of the intervention. ANALYSIS: Frequencies, percentages, medians, ranges and X2 test. RESULTS: Phase 1: We evaluated 358 surgical patients, 274 prophylactic antibiotic regimens. A total of 96% of antibiotics regimens began with inappropriate timing (290/302), 82.8% were inappropriate regimens (274/331), 77.7% were in inappropriate dosage (230/296), 86% of inadequate length (241/280), and in 17.4% restricted antibiotics were used (52/299). Phase 2: 9 sessions including 189 physicians (14 department chairs, 58 general practitioners and 117 residents). Phase 3: We evaluated 303 surgical patients, 218 prophylactic antibiotics regimens. Inappropriate treatment commencement was reduced to 84.1% (180/214) (P<0.001), inappropriate regimens to 75.3% (162/215) (P=0.03), inappropriate dosages to 51.2% (110/215) (P<0.001), and use of restricted antibiotics to 8.3% (18/215) (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery is a frequent problem in Monterrey. The intervention improved the antibiotic prescription for surgical prophylaxis by reducing inappropriate treatment commencement, regimens, dosages, and overuse of restricted antibiotics. It is necessary to strengthen strategies to improve the prescription of antibiotics in surgical prophylaxis.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy: Twelve-year experience in two private institutions]. / Esplenectomía laparoscópica. Experiencia de 12 años en dos instituciones privadas.

BACKGROUND: In 1991, Delaitre et al. reported the first successful laparoscopic splenectomy. This procedure has become the best option in patients with hematological diseases and who require surgical treatment. The potential advantages of the laparoscopic approach over the conventional surgery are shorter length of hospital stay, shorter time to resume normal diet and decreased rates of morbidity and mortality. METHODS: From June 1993 to December 2004, 42 patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in our two surgical care centers: Texas Endosurgery Institute and Hospital San José-TEC de Monterrey. The measured variables to evaluate efficacy and safety were operating time, length of hospital stay, time to resume normal diet, conversion to open procedure, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Hematological diseases were the most common diagnosis. The procedure was technically successful in 95% of the patients. There were two conversions to open surgery. The mean operating time was 120 min. Mortality rate was 2.3%. The mean length of hospital stay and time to resume normal diet were 4 and 2 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We regard that our series contributes to supporting laparoscopic splenectomy as a safe and effective method, retaining some advantages of minimally invasive techniques.

Esplenectomía laparoscópica: experiencia de 12 años en dos instituciones privadas / Laparoscopic splenectomy: twelve-year experience in two private institutions

Introducción: en 1991, Delaitre y colaboradores reportaron la primera esplenectomía laparoscópica exitosa. Ésta se ha convertido en el procedimiento de elección en pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas que requieren tratamiento quirúrgico. Las ventajas potenciales del abordaje laparoscópico sobre el convencional son menor estancia intrahospitalaria, retorno más rápido a la vía oral y disminución en las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. Material y métodos: de junio de 1993 a diciembre de 2004, 42 pacientes fueron sometidos a esplenectomía laparoscópica tanto en el Texas Endosurgery Institute como en el Hospital “San José” del Tecnológico de Monterrey. Las variables utilizadas para valorar eficacia y seguridad fueron tiempo quirúrgico, estancia intrahospitalaria, inicio de la vía oral, conversión a procedimiento abierto, morbilidad y mortalidad. Resultados: las enfermedades hematológicas representaron el diagnóstico más común. El procedimiento fue técnicamente exitoso en 95 % de los casos. Solamente hubo dos conversiones a cirugía convencional. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 120 minutos. La tasa de mortalidad fue de 2.3 % y la estancia intrahospitalaria y el inicio de la vía oral promedios, de cuatro y dos días, respectivamente. Conclusiones: nuestra serie contribuye a reafirmar que actualmente la esplenectomía laparoscópica representa un método seguro y efectivo, conservando además algunas de las ventajas de los procedimientos mínimamente invasivos.

BACKGROUND: In 1991, Delaitre et al. reported the first successful laparoscopic splenectomy. This procedure has become the best option in patients with hematological diseases and who require surgical treatment. The potential advantages of the laparoscopic approach over the conventional surgery are shorter length of hospital stay, shorter time to resume normal diet and decreased rates of morbidity and mortality. METHODS: From June 1993 to December 2004, 42 patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in our two surgical care centers: Texas Endosurgery Institute and Hospital San José-TEC de Monterrey. The measured variables to evaluate efficacy and safety were operating time, length of hospital stay, time to resume normal diet, conversion to open procedure, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Hematological diseases were the most common diagnosis. The procedure was technically successful in 95% of the patients. There were two conversions to open surgery. The mean operating time was 120 min. Mortality rate was 2.3%. The mean length of hospital stay and time to resume normal diet were 4 and 2 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We regard that our series contributes to supporting laparoscopic splenectomy as a safe and effective method, retaining some advantages of minimally invasive techniques.