Effect of a surgical care bundle on the incidence of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery: a quasi-experimental intervention

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) have an important impact on morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study, therefore, sought to assess the effect of a surgical care bundle on the incidence of SSI in colorectal surgery. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study with reference to the introduction of a surgical care bundle in 2011. Our study population, made up of patients who underwent colorectal surgery, was divided into the following two periods: 2007-2011 (pre-intervention) and 2012-2017 (post-intervention). The intervention's effect on SSI incidence was analyzed using adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: A total of 1,727 patients were included in the study. SSI incidence was 13.0% before versus 11.6% after implementation of the care bundle (OR: 0.88, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.17, p = 0.37). Multivariate analysis showed that cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neutropenia, and emergency surgery were independently associated with SSI. In contrast, laparoscopic surgery proved to be a protective factor against SSI. Conclusions: Care bundles have proven to be very important in reducing SSI incidence since the measures that constitute these protocols are mutually reinforcing. In our study, the implementation of a care bundle reduced SSI incidence from 13% to 11.6%, though the reduction was not statistically significant.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: deciding on the optimal strategy

ABSTRACT Background: Neoadjuvant therapy, followed by surgery, reduces the risk of local relapse in rectal cancer, but approximately 30% will relapse with distant metastases, highlighting the importance of adjuvant chemotherapy (aCT). Objective: The objective of the study was to study two regimens of adjuvant treatment in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and analyze their efficacy and toxicity. Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2016, 193 patients with Stage II-III rectal cancer who had received neoadjuvant therapy were included by consecutive non-probability sampling. The decision to administer aCT, as well as the specific regimen, was at the discretion of the medical oncologist. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Results: The mean DFS was 84.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 79-90) months in 164 patients receiving aCT, compared to 57.71 (95% CI: 40-74) months in 29 who did not receive aCT (p < 0.001). Then, mean OS was 92.7 (95% CI: 88-97) months and 66.18 (95% CI 51-81) months, respectively (p < 0.001). DFS was 83.6 (95% CI: 76-91) months in 74 patients receiving adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and 82.9 (95% CI: 75-90) months in 90 receiving 5-FU plus oxaliplatin (p = 0.49). OS was 87 (95% CI: 80-94) versus 93.65 (95% CI: 88-99) months, respectively (p = 0.76). The multivariate analysis identified aCT hazard ratio (HR) 0.30 (95% CI: 0.1-0.46), perineural invasion HR 3.36 (95% CI: 1.7-6.5), and pathological complete response HR 0.10 (95% CI; 0.01-0.75) as independent markers of DFS. Conclusions: In our study, aCT was associated with longer DFS and OS. 5-FU plus oxaliplatin showed greater toxicity with no added benefit in DFS or OS.

Obstrucción intestinal debido a hernia estrangulada en el espacio prevesical: presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Intestinal obstruction caused by strangulated hernia in the prevesical space: one case and revision of the literature

Resumen Introducción El espacio prevesical es una localización infrecuente de hernia. La hernia prevesical es causa infrecuente de obstrucción intestinal. Presentamos el caso de un paciente intervenido en nuestro centro y realizamos una revisión de la literatura. Caso clínico Varón de 67 años sin antecedentes médico- quirúrgicos de interés que acude a Urgencias por dolor suprapúbico de 24 h de evolución. A la exploración destacan distensión abdominal y dolor en la localización previamente descrita. Se realiza estudio analítico completo y TC abdominal, en el que se objetiva dilatación de asas del intestino delgado con cambio de calibre a nivel pélvico. Se decide realizar laparotomía exploradora: herniación de 25 cm de íleon de aspecto isquémico en el espacio prevesical. Se realiza resección intestinal y anastomosis enteroentérica L-L manual monoplano. El estudio anatomopatológico de la pieza quirúrgica no revela otros datos de interés. El paciente presenta buena evolución postoperatoria con tolerancia oral progresiva y es dado de alta al quinto día de la intervención. Conclusiones Las hernias del espacio prevesical son causa infrecuente de dolor abdominal y de obstrucción intestinal. Se localizan entre los ligamentos umbilicales laterales y el fundus de la vejiga, donde se forma un anillo peritoneal. Deben sospecharse ante dolor inguinal o supra-púbico sin tumoración palpable en el piso abdominal inferior. El diagnóstico es radiológico, mediante TC. El tratamiento es quirúrgico y ocasionalmente puede precisar resección intestinal.

Introduction Prevesical space is an infrequent location of hernias. Prevesical hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. We present a case operated at our institution and review the available evidence in literature. Case report A 67-years-old mail, without any relevant medical history, came to the Emergency Department complaining of suprapubic pain during the last 24 h. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension and suprapubic pain. A CT scan revealed small bowel dilation with a gauge change in the pelvis. Exploring laparotomy was performed, observing a hernia in the prevesical space and 25 cm of ileal loops incarcerated with ischemic aspect. A small bowel resection and latero-lateral manual running suture anastomosis was performed. Histological findings were not relevant. The patient presented an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged the 5th day after surgery. Conclusions Hernias in the prevesical space are infrequent causes of abdominal pain and bowel obstruction. They are located between lateral umbilical ligaments and bladder fundus, where a ring is located. They must be suspected in cases of inguinal or suprapubic pain without palpable lump in the lower abdominal quadrants. Diagnosis can be only radiologically achieved, by CT scan. Surgical treatment is mandatory, often requiring bowel resection.

Hernia del músculo tibial anterior: a propósito de un caso / Tibial anterior muscle hernia: one case report

Objetivo: Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura. Caso clínico: Varón de 59 años que acude a la consulta de cirugía general por tumoración en miembro inferior derecho. La exploración física revela una tumoración no dolorosa de 3 cm sugestiva de lipoma. Se realiza ecografía que informa de la existencia de una hernia del músculo tibial anterior. Dado que el paciente se encuentra asintomático, se decide tratamiento rehabilitador. Conclusiones: Las hernias musculares, habitualmente localizadas en los miembros inferiores, suponen una entidad a tener en cuenta en el diagnóstico diferencial de tumores de partes blandas. Su diagnóstico es clínico con confirmación ecográfica y su tratamiento habitualmente es conservador, aunque en casos sintomáticos puede requerir cirugía.

Objective: Presentation of a case report and review of literature. Case report: A 59-years old male came to the Outpatient Clinic complaining of a painless lump in right lower limb. Physical examination revealed a 3 cm diameter tender lump, suggestive of lipoma. Ultrasonography revealed a hernia in the tibial anterior muscle. Given that the patient was asymptomatic, rehabilitation treatment was decided. Conclusions: Muscular hernias, usually located in lower limbs, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue lumps. Diagnosis is usually confirmed with ultrasonography and conservative treatment is indicated, though symptomatic cases might require surgery.