Should Oral Contrast Be Omitted in Patients with Suspected Appendicitis?

Background

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Our study evaluated patients given the diagnosis of appendicitis and reviewed their workup and clinical outcomes. We specifically focused on the use of oral contrast followed by appendectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients given an ICD-9 code for appendicitis at Northwestern Memorial Hospital between January 2000 and September 2010. Complication rates, time to the operating room, and length of hospital stay were compared between patients who received a CT scan and those who did not during the hospitalization for appendicitis.

Results

Average time from Emergency Department to the operating room was found to be statistically longer for patients who underwent a CT scan (10 h: 3, 1548) versus those who did not (6 h: 2, 262) (p?<?0.0001). There were 19 patients who had the complication of pneumonia and 4 patients who were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome postoperatively. Patients who underwent a CT scan and received oral contrast had a statistically higher number of both complications (p?<?0.0001).

Conclusions

The use of oral contrast is not necessary for an accurate diagnosis of appendicitis and may be associated with higher complication rates, longer hospital stays, and poor outcomes.

     

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Impact of Pre-Consultation Information on Patients’ Perception of Information Conveyed and Satisfaction with the Decision-Making Process

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Patient participation in treatment decision-making is a health care priority. This study hypothesized that providing a decision aid before surgical consultation would...     

The Effect of 1α-Hydroxycholecalciferol on the Healing of Experimental Fractures in Adult Rats

Unilateral tibial fractures were produced in adult, 1-year-old, male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were then treated for 6 weeks with daily doses of 2.5 μg, 1.25 μg or 0.125 μg 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol (1α-OH-D³). The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of this treatment on the healing process of the fracture and on the composition of the fractured bone.

The general effect of 2.5 μg of 1α-OH-D³ was a significant loss of body weight (20 per cent) and hypercalcaemia. The lower close levels, however, did not affect the body weight, and with a dose of 0.125 μg the serum calcium level did not increase significantly.

The healing rate of the fractures increased in all treatment groups as compared with the controls. The water content of the fractured tibias increased in the rats treated with 2.5 μg doses but decreased in the other groups. On the other hand the mineral content increased in the groups treated with 1.25 μg and 0.125 μg doses and decreased in the largest dose group. Furthermore the amount of organic material per wet weight increased with the 2.5 μg dose and was mainly unchanged in the other groups. The hydrated bone density and the conical thickness of the tibia increased most significantly in the group treated with 0.125 μg but the trabecular bone area of the periosteal callus did not increase significantly.

The conclusion is drawn that treatment with small doses of 1α-OH-D³ has a beneficial effect on the healing rate and on the mineralization of the fracture callus, and on cortical bone formation.     

Surgeons’ experience of venous risk with CPA surgery

Neurosurgical Review - The study aims to systematize neurosurgeons’ practical knowledge of venous sacrifice as applied to the posterior fossa region and to analyze the collected data to...     

The Significance of Meckel’s Diverticulum in Appendicitis — A Retrospective Analysis of 233 Cases

Conflicting reports are found in the literature concerning whether to remove an incidentally discovered Meckel’s diverticulum (MD). Between 1.1.1974 and 31.12.2000, at a single center, the perioperative data associated with appendectomy (AE) were recorded consecutively and analyzed retrospectively. All patients in whom an MD was discovered during an AE were included in the study. The clinical presentation, postoperative course, and follow-up in all MDs left in place were analyzed. During the course of 7927 AE, 233 MD (2.9%) were detected. Of these 80.7% (n = 188) were removed and 19.3% (n = 45) were left untouched. In 9% (n = 21) of all detected diverticula pathological changes were found. Ectopic tissue was seen in 12.2% (n = 23) of the MDs removed. The postoperative complication rates did not differ significantly between patients in whom the MD was removed (9.5%; n = l8) and those in whom it was not (17.7%; n = 8); in the latter group the appendicitis was of the more acute type (gangrenous or perforated) (24.4% vs. 4.3%). In 18 patients (40.0%) with non-removed MDs, a follow-up period of 14.1 ± 5.8 years was achieved. Complications associated with a non-removed MD were not observed. If during the course of an AE a MD is detected, the present data, as well as those in the literature, suggest that an individualized approach should be taken. Meckel’s diverticulum with obvious pathology should always be removed. In cases of gangrenous or perforated appendicitis, an incidentally discovered MD should be left in place, whereas in an only mildly inflamed appendix it should be removed.     

Effect of pretreatment with compound cyproterone acetate-metformin combination on the outcome of ovulation induction in the infertility women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Objective: To observe the effects of compound cyproterone acetate (Daine-35) in combination with metformin on the endocrinologic, metabolic changes and the outcomes of ovulation induction in the infertility women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A prospective study recruited 65 PCOS patients and 30 non-PCOS infertility women. The body mass index (BMI), waist: hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman-Gallwey score, gonadotrophin, testosterone (T), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, apoA, apoB and HDL-cholesterol were determined in all patients before the treatment and served as the baseline. At the end of 12-week therapy, these parameters were re-measured. 50 PCOS infertile patients as study group were treated with combination of Daine-35 with metformin for three months. Clomiphene citrate (CC) and human menopause gonadotrophin (hMG) were added for three cycles to induce ovulation. Other 15 PCOS cases as control group directly underwent ovulation induction with CC and hMG for three cycles. Results: The PCOS patients had higher levels of LH, T, E2, fasting insulin, FG/FI, total cholesterol and triglyceride, and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol when compared with the non-PCOS women (P<0.001-P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of LH, T, E2 were significantly decreased (58.9%, 38% and 30.1%, respectively) and the levels of apoB and HDL-C were significantly increased (17.2% and 20%, respectively) in the study group (P<0.001-P<0.05). FI and FG/FI showed a slight change in the study group, but no significant difference was found. The rates of ovulation and pregnancy were higher than those in control group (71% vs 60.5% and 38% vs 13.3%, respectively).Conclusions: Metformin in combination with compound cyproterone acetate (Daine-35) therapy may normalize the endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, and improve the ovarian response to ovulation induction drugs and increase the pregnancy rate of infertility patients with PCOS.     

Surgeons’ risk perception in ASD surgery: The value of objective risk assessment on decision making and patient counselling

Background

Surgeons often rely on their intuition, experience and published data for surgical decision making and informed consent. Literature provides average values that do not allow for individualized assessments. Accurate validated machine learning (ML) risk calculators for adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients, based on 10 year multicentric prospective data, are currently available. The objective of this study is to assess surgeon ASD risk perception and compare it to validated risk calculator estimates.

Methods

Nine ASD complete (demographics, HRQL, radiology, surgical plan) preoperative cases were distributed online to 100 surgeons from 22 countries. Surgeons were asked to determine the risk of major complications and reoperations at 72 h, 90 d and 2 years postop, using a 0–100% risk scale. The same preoperative parameters circulated to surgeons were used to obtain ML risk calculator estimates. Concordance between surgeons’ responses was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) (poor < 0.5/excellent > 0.85). Distance between surgeons’ and risk calculator predictions was assessed using the mean index of agreement (MIA) (poor < 0.5/excellent > 0.85).

Results

Thirty-nine surgeons (74.4% with > 10 years’ experience), from 12 countries answered the survey. Surgeons’ risk perception concordance was very low and heterogeneous. ICC ranged from 0.104 (reintervention risk at 72 h) to 0.316 (reintervention risk at 2 years). Distance between calculator and surgeon prediction was very large. MIA ranged from 0.122 to 0.416. Surgeons tended to overestimate the risk of major complications and reintervention in the first 72 h and underestimated the same risks at 2 years postop.

Conclusions

This study shows that expert surgeon ASD risk perception is heterogeneous and highly discordant. Available validated ML ASD risk calculators can enable surgeons to provide more accurate and objective prognosis to adjust patient expectations, in real time, at the point of care.

     

Surgeons’ Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Resections Against Standard HPE Protocol—Auditing the Surgeons

The survival of Colorectal Cancer patients is very much dependent on complete tumor resection and multimodality adjuvant treatment. However, the main determinants for management plan of these patients rely heavily on accurate staging through histopathological examination (HPE). A reliable standard HPE protocol will be a significant impact in determining best surgical outcome. We evaluate surgeons’ intra-operative judgment and the quality of resected specimens in the treatment of colorectal cancers. To quantify the quality of surgery by applying standard HPE protocol in colorectal cancer specimens and to assess the use of new format for pathological reporting in Colorectal Cancer using a formulated standard proforma. We perform a prospective observation of all colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgical resection over 8 month duration. Surgeons are required to make self-assessment about completion of tumor excision and possible lymph nodes or adjacent organ involvement while all pathologists followed standard reporting protocol for examination of the specimens. We evaluate the accuracy of surgeons judgment against HPE. The study involved 44 colorectal cancers comprising of 23 male and 21 female patients. The majority of these patients were Malay (50%) followed by Chinese (43%) and Indian (7%). The main presenting symptoms were bleeding (32%), intestinal obstruction (29%) and perforation (7%). Sixteen (36%) patients underwent emergency surgery.Rectal tumor was the commonest (53%) followed by sigmoid colon (22.7%). Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation were given to 8 patients and complete pathological response was observed in 1 (12.5%) of these. The final TNM classification for staging were; stage I (22.7%), stage IIa (18.2%), stage IIb (11.4%), stage IIIa (2.3%), stage IIIb (25%), stage IIIc (13.6%) and stage IV (6.8%).The commonest surgery performed was anterior resection with mesorectal excision (43.2%). Ten patients (22.7%) had laparoscopic surgery with 3 (30%) patients converted to open surgery. The surgeons claimed to have performed a curative resection with complete excision and clear margin in 40 (90%) patients. Of these, only 1 (2.5%) patient had a positive resection margin. Meanwhile, the surgeons reported involvement of resection margins in 4 cases but this was disputed by the HPE in all 4 cases. Lymph nodes involvement was detected intra-operatively in 13 (29.5%) of the cases and all were proven positive for metastases through HPE. On the other hand, of the remaining 31 patients who were reported as no obvious lymphadenopathy by the surgeons, lymph nodes positvity was found in 7 (22.5%) cases. Using standard HPE reporting protocol brings suitable evaluation of surgery in colorectal cancer treatment. Although surgeons’ judgment is fairly accurate in predicting margin clearance and complete specimen excision, complete mesocolic and mesorectal excision is of utmost importance since lymph nodes metastatic involvement may not be obvious at surgery.     

Surgeons’ Opinions on Lymphadenectomy in Melanoma Patients with Positive Sentinel Nodes: A Worldwide Web-Based Survey

Purpose

A worldwide web-based survey was conducted among melanoma surgeons to investigate opinions about completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in patients with positive sentinel nodes (SN).

Methods

A questionnaire was designed following input from a group of melanoma surgeons. Cognitive interviews and pilot testing were performed. Surgeons identified through a systematic-review of the SN and CLND literature were invited by email.

Results

Of 337 surgeons, 193 (57.2?%) from 25 countries responded (January?CJuly 2011). Most respondents work in melanoma (30.1?%) and surgical oncology (44.6?%) units. In patients with a positive SN, 169 (91.8?%) recommend CLND; the strength of the recommendation is mostly influenced by patient comorbidities (64.7?%) and SN tumor burden (59.2?%). Seventy-one responders enroll patients in the second Multicenter Selective-Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-2), and 64 of them (76?%) suggest entering the trial to majority of patients. In cases requiring neck CLND, level 1?C5 dissection is recommended by 35?% of responders, whereas 62?% base the extent of dissection on primary site and lymphatic mapping patterns. Only inguinal dissection or ilioinguinal dissection is performed by 36 and 30?% of surgeons, respectively. The remaining 34?% select either procedure according to number of positive SNs, node of Cloquet status, and lymphatic drainage patterns. Most surgeons (81?%) perform full axillary dissections in positive SN cases.

Conclusions

The majority of melanoma surgeons recommend CLND in SN-positive patients. Surgeons participating in the MSLT-2 suggest entering the trial to the majority of patients. More evidence is needed to standardize the extent of neck and groin CLND surgeries.     

Surgeons’ Non-technical Skills in the Operating Room: Reliability Testing of the NOTSS Behavior Rating System

Background Previous research has shown that surgeons’ intraoperative non-technical skills are related to surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the NOTSS (Non-technical Skills for Surgeons) behavior rating system. Based on task analysis, the system incorporates five categories of skills for safe surgical practice (Situation Awareness, Decision Making, Task Management, Communication & Teamwork, and Leadership). Methods Consultant (attending) surgeons (n = 44) from five Scottish hospitals attended one of six experimental sessions and were trained to use the NOTSS system. They then used the system to rate consultant surgeons’ behaviors in six simulated operating room scenarios that were presented using video. Surgeons’ ratings of the behaviors demonstrated in each scenario were compared to expert ratings (“accuracy”), and assessed for inter-rater reliability and internal consistency. Results The NOTSS system had a consistent internal structure. Although raters had minimal training, rating “accuracy” for acceptable/unacceptable behavior was above 60% for all categories, with mean of 0.67 scale points difference from reference (expert) ratings (on 4-point scale). For inter-rater reliability, the mean values of within-group agreement (r _wg) were acceptable for the categories Communication & Teamwork (.70), and Leadership (.72), but below a priori criteria for other categories. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) indicated high agreement using average measures (values were .95–.99). Conclusions With the requisite training, the prototype NOTSS system could be used reliably by surgeons to observe and rate surgeons’ behaviors. The instrument should now be tested for usability in the operating room.     

The anaesthetic management of the child with Eisenmenger’s syndrome

There is little clinical data in the literature on the anaesthetic management of paediatric patients with Eisenmenger’s syndrome undergoing non-cardiac surgery. This paper reviews our experiences with eight such patients who underwent a total of 11 surgical procedures. Of the eight children, six had Down’s syndrome and an atrio-ventricular septal defect, one had a ventricular septal defect and one an atrial septal defect. Nine of the eleven operations consisted of minor dental, plastic or ENT procedures, while one patient underwent two laparotomies. Premedication (trimeprazine/meperidine combination or midazolam) was administered on three occasions. Induction of anaesthesia was achieved by either inhalation of halothane (2), or intravenously with thiopentone (6), ketamine (2) or propofol (1). Muscle relaxation and mechanical ventilation were employed only for both intra-abdominal procedures, otherwise patients were allowed to breathe spontaneously with, or without, manual assistance. Halothane (8), isoflurane (2) and enflurane (1) were all used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Non-invasive monitoring was applied intraoperatively for minor procedures, and arterial and central venous catheters inserted for the laparotomies. Postoperative analgesia for both these cases was provided by an epidural infusion of bupivacaine 0.125% and fentanyl 5 μg · ml^{? 1}. A single im bolus of morphine was required following a dental clearance, otherwise pain relief for the rest of the cases was achieved by local anaesthetic infiltration and NSAIDS. With the exception of a single episode of bradycardia, induction, maintenance and recovery from anaesthesia were well tolerated in all cases. In conclusion, our experience suggests that despite theoretical risks, children with Eisenmenger’s syndrome appear to tolerate a variety of anaesthetic techniques.