Factors necessary for entrustment decision-making in surgical operating rooms: A modified Delphi study.

Objective: Resident autonomy in an operation theatre has been directly linked with patient safety in healthcare. The objective of this study was to identify the factors necessary for making resident-entrustment decisions from the perspective of a supervisor/consultant viewpoint. The second objective was to develop a checklist for assessing resident readiness for independent work. Materials and methods: This study employed a mixed-method Delphi approach. In the first stage, a comprehensive literature review and a qualitative exploratory study produced a list of factors related to residents. The second phase involved content validation by a panel of experts, followed by a two-round Delphi study with 20 expert panelists. Results: A total of 49 resident-related factors for entrustment were identified, which were reduced to 46 after content validation. During Delphi Round I, 17 factors were fully accepted, 7 were rejected and 22 items were partially accepted. Out of the 39 items sent to Delphi Round II, 23 items were accepted and 16 were rejected. A final 23-item checklist was formed based on the following factors; 6 Cognitive (knowledgeable, risk manager, safe doctor, general manager, field of interest, communicator), 5 Psychomotor (past performer, competent, ability to pick critical findings, ability to act situationally, decision maker) and 12 affective (responsible, leader, honest, empathetic, ethical, receptive, humble, emotionally intelligent, motivated, accountable, team player, disciplined) factors. Conclusion: The study resulted in the formation of a checklist based on the factors necessary for entrustment decision-making in surgical operating rooms. Some of the novel contextual factors were 'general manager', 'field of interest', 'ability to pick critical findings', 'accountable', 'risk manager', and 'past performer'. This framework offers a guideline for supervisors and residents to evaluate progress throughout the residency program. The developed tool demonstrates good content validity and is suitable for entrustment assessment following construct validation.

Outcomes in High Perianal Fistula Repair Using Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment Compared With Seton Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Anal fistula, or fistula-in-ano, is a chronic abnormal communication between the epithelialized surface of the anal canal and the perianal skin. Video-assisted anal fistula treatment (VAAFT) is a novel, minimally invasive, and sphincter-saving alternative to traditional seton use. This study aimed to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes of VAAFT compared with seton treatment. Material and methods This randomized control trial was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Services Hospital, Lahore, from August 2014 to July 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to either the VAAFT group or the seton group, and postoperative outcomes were assessed for up to three years. Results The study included 80 patients (64 men and 16 women) with a mean age of 39.1 ± 11.2 years. The most common type of fistula was a transsphincteric fistula (n=36, 45%). The mean duration of surgery was significantly longer in the VAAFT group (78.6 minutes) compared with the seton group (36.97 minutes; p=0.000). The mean pain score was significantly higher in the VAAFT group (4.22) compared to the seton group (2.82, p=0.000). The mean time to return to work was shorter in the VAAFT group (7.4 days) than in the seton group (9.2 days, p=0.000). The mean healing time was significantly shorter for patients treated with VAAFT (5.75 weeks) than for those treated with a seton (9.7 weeks; p=0.000). Fistula recurrence after one, two, or three years was not significantly different between groups, and neither group had incidences of anal incontinence. Conclusions VAAFT is associated with earlier healing time and earlier return to work than the traditional seton technique, with no significant difference in fistula recurrence. VAAFT is minimally invasive and, when used in patients where indicated, allows for a prompter return to routine life for the patients, which is an optimal outcome for both patients and physicians.

Impact of Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Patients With COVID-19 Requiring V-V ECMO.

The impact of the duration of noninvasive respiratory support (RS) including high-flow nasal cannula and noninvasive ventilation before the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is unknown. We reviewed data of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated with V-V ECMO at two high-volume tertiary care centers. Survival analysis was used to compare the effect of duration of RS on liberation from ECMO. A total of 78 patients required ECMO and the median duration of RS and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) before ECMO was 2 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 0, 6) and 2.5 days (IQR: 1, 5), respectively. The median duration of ECMO support was 24 days (IQR: 11, 73) and 59.0% (N = 46) remained alive at the time of censure. Patients that received RS for ≥3 days were significantly less likely to be liberated from ECMO (HR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.83), IMV (HR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20-0.89) or be discharged from the hospital (HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27-0.99) compared to patients that received RS for <3 days. There was no difference in hospital mortality between the groups (HR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.56-2.26). These relationships persisted after adjustment for age, gender, and duration of IMV. Prolonged duration of RS before ECMO may result in lung injury and worse subsequent outcomes.

Role of Laparoscopy in Diagnosing and Treating Acute Nonspecific Abdominal Pain.

Background Nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP) is a pain for which no immediate cause is evident on acute admission and does not necessitate emergency surgical intervention. NSAP is a frequent reason for presentation in the emergency department (ED). Laparoscopy is a well-established technique that allows a surgeon to visualize the abdominal cavity after insufflation through a few small incision ports. Despite the increasing availability of laparoscopic investigation, the availability of a laparoscope in the ED settings in Pakistan is low due to the expense and maintenance needs of the system. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the role of laparoscopy in diagnosing the cause of acute NSAP and its role in treating the pathology of disease in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of Services Hospital, which is a government sector hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Materials and methods This study was conducted in Services Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. The study included patients aged 12 to 70 years of either sex who presented to the ED with abdominal pain for whom no diagnosis could be achieved on clinical assessment, laboratory findings, and radiological findings (x-ray abdomen, ultrasonography, and computed tomography scan). All study participants underwent diagnostic laparoscopy under general anesthesia. Patients were monitored weekly via follow-up postoperatively for the first month and then monthly for 12 months. All study data were recorded on a predesigned proforma. The data were analyzed using IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Results A total of 122 patients diagnosed with acute NSAP were enrolled in our study (mean age, 46.4 ± 20.3 years). The study population consisted of 52 male patients (42.6%) and 70 female patients (57.4%). Our study participants had a mean body mass index of 24.2 ± 3.3 kg/m2. The most common ED presentation was lower abdominal pain. One hundred sixteen patients (95.1%) had positive findings on laparoscopy, while six patients (4.9%) had no identified pathology on laparoscopy. The most frequent pathology was appendicular in origin, followed by pelvic inflammatory disease. Surgical management of patients through laparoscopy was performed in 97 patients (79.5%). Conversion to laparotomy was done in 12 patients (9.8%). Definite diagnosis was established in 118 patients (96.7%). Port site infection occurred in four patients (3.3%), chest infection in five patients (4.1%), deep venous thrombosis in one patient (0.8%), and anastomotic leakage in one (0.8%) patient. Four patients (3.3%) developed recurrence of symptoms. Conclusions This study explored the role of laparoscopy in diagnosing and treating patients presenting to the ED with acute NSAP. According to our results, laparoscopy is a safe and effective method for diagnosing and treating acute NSAP with low postoperative morbidity and potentially decreased risk of postoperative complications. Physicians should consider laparoscopy as a first-line invasive investigation for patients presenting with undiagnosed acute abdominal pain.

Diagnostic role of technitium-99m bone scan in severe COVID-19-associated myositis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), initially appreciated as a respiratory illness, is now known to affect many organs in the human body. Significant data has become available on muscle involvement, with creatinine kinase elevations present in a significant percentage of patients. For those with suspected COVID-19-associated myositis, the imaging modality of choice has been gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; however, the use of technitium-99 m bone scan has not been previously reported. Here, we report two cases of COVID-19 patients with severe elevation in creatinine kinase who underwent technitium-99 m bone scan. The resulting images showed diffuse symmetrical muscle involvement. Both patients developed acute renal injury due to rhabdomyolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bone scan as a diagnostic imaging modality for COVID-19-associated myositis.

Gender-based disparities in COVID-19 patient outcomes.

Studies reported to date suggest that men with COVID-19 have more severe disease and worse outcomes when compared with women. The explanation for this finding is not entirely clear. The goal of this study was to compare clinical characteristics, inflammatory biomarkers and clinical outcome between men and women. This retrospective study included patients with COVID-19 admitted to 10 Virginia hospitals from January 1, 2020, to June 15, 2020. Demographic data, comorbidities, and inflammatory markers, including C reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin, and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, as well as patient outcomes, were compared between men and women. During the study period, 701 patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection were admitted. The patient's mean age was 61±17 years. There were 370 men (52.8%). There was no difference in age, racial distribution, and comorbidities in the male patients compared with the female patients. However, both the baseline and peak levels of CRP and ferritin were significantly higher in men as compared with women. While the baseline D-dimer was similar between the sexes, men had a significantly higher maximal D-dimer. Men had evidence of greater disease severity, with a significantly greater admission to the intensive care unit and borderline higher hospital mortality. Our study supports the observation that COVID-19 causes more severe disease in men. The greater disease severity in men was not due to the effect of age or comorbidities; however, in keeping with experimental studies, men had evidence of a heightened inflammatory response, likely contributing to disease severity.

Neurectomy versus Nerve Sparing in Open Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE:  To determine the effect of neurectomy in reducing the frequency of chronic inguinodynia after mesh hernioplasty in open inguinal hernia repair. STUDY DESIGN: Single blind randomised controlled-trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Surgical Unit-I, Department of General Surgery, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from September 2018 to September 2019. METHODOLOGY: All male patients undergoing open groin hernia surgery were included in the study. A total of 100 patients were randomly categorised into group A (neurectomy group) and group B (nerve sparing group). Patients were followed up for three months for the development of chronic inguinodynia. Signifiance was determined at p <0.05 using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Out of 100 patients, 50 patients were enrolled in group A, while 50 were enrolled in group B. Mean age of patients was 42.1 ± 17.5 years. The median (IQR) acute pain score in neurectomy group was 3.0 (2.0-4.0), while median (IQR) acute pain score was 4.0 (3.0-6.0) in nerve sparing group with statistically significant difference (z = -3.256, p = 0.001). The frequency of chronic inguinodynia was significantly less in group A compared to group B [3 (6%) vs. 13 (26%), p = 0.012]. CONCLUSION: Excision of ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve in inguinal mesh hernioplasty reduces the frequency of chronic inguinodynia. Ilioinguinal neurectomy may be practised routinely in patients undergoing Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty.   Key Words: Inguinal neurectomy, Inguinal hernia, Chronic inguinodynia, Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty.

Acute Presentation and Management of Abdominal Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopatholgical profile and outcomes of surgical management of abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Surgery, Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from May 2008 to April 2018. METHODOLOGY: All patients who underwent emergency laparotomy during the study period due to abdominal tuberculosis, and consented to participate in the study were included. Demographic variables and type of surgical procedure performed were recorded. Patients were followed-up for histopathology, recurrence, or any anti-tuberculous therapy related complications at 1, 4, 6, and 12 months. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Out of the 80 patients, 36 were males and 44 were females. The median age was 23.5 years (range = 11-90 years). Mean weight of the patients was 48.7 ±12.2 kg. Commonest presenting symptom was abdominal pain 72 (90%). On exploration, ileocecal region was most commonly involved segment 68 (85%). Stoma formation was the most common surgical procedure performed in 59 (73.8%) patients. Complications and mortality rate were 48 (60%) and 7 (8.7%), respectively. A significant relationship of complications was found with prolonged hospital stay (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Abdominal tuberculosis is a major public health concern. Vague symptoms lead to diagnostic delay so patients present late with intestinal obstruction. Ileocecal tuberculosis is the most common site of involvement.

Treatment Bias in Management of HIV Patients Admitted for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Does It Still Exist?

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have reported lower rates of coronary angiography and revascularization, and significantly higher mortality among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This observational study was designed to evaluate characteristics and inpatient outcomes of patients with seropositive HIV infection presenting with AMI. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we identified patients (admissions) with a primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction and a co-occurring HIV. We described baseline characteristics and outcomes. Our primary outcomes of interest were prevalence of coronary angiography, revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or CABG), and mortality. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2014, of about 2,977,387 patients with a primary diagnosis of AMI, 10,907 (0.4%) were HIV seropositive. Patients with HIV were younger and more likely to be African American or Hispanic. Coronary angiography and revascularization were performed more frequently in the HIV population. The higher prevalence of revascularization was driven by a higher incidence of PCI. In a multivariable model, patients with HIV were no more likely to undergo revascularization than the general population. This was also the case for PCI. Unadjusted all-cause mortality was lower among patients with HIV. After controlling for confounders, this finding was not significant (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.75-1.25, p = 0.79). The length of stay between both groups was comparable. CONCLUSION: In this current analysis, we did not note any treatment bias or difference in the rate of in-hospital total mortality for HIV-seropositive patients presenting with AMI compared with the general population.

Stone in the distal jejunum presenting as small bowel obstruction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Gallstone ileus is a rare presentation of cholelithiasis accounting for around 4% of cases of small bowel obstruction under 65 years of age but rises to 25% in those more than 65 years of age. Most gall stones, if impact in the bowel, are seen to lodge at the ileocecal valve as this is the most narrow part of the bowel. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a case of small intestinal obstruction because of a gallstone stuck in the distal jejunum. Patient was explored and one-stage surgery was done i.e. cholecystectomy, enterotomy and stone retrieval, and fistula repair. Our patient had uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged after a week. DISCUSSION: Gallstone ileus is a rare entity presenting a significant diagnostic challenge to surgeons due to lack of specific findings. Moreover, the surgical management options to be adopted are diverse and depend upon the condition of the patient. Stable patients can be managed with two-stage procedures i.e. enterotomy and stone retrieval earlier with cholecystectomy in an elective setting. Our patient was managed with one-stage procedure i.e. cholecystectomy was done in the same setting and our patient did well. CONCLUSION: Gallstone ileus needs to be kept in the differential diagnosis list of intestinal obstruction in middle aged patients even in the absence of history of gallstones as this may be the first presentation of gallstone disease.

Angry bowels breaking hearts: a case series.

Stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is transient left ventricular apical akinesis in the absence of angiographic evidence of corresponding obstructive coronary artery disease. A classic presentation is of chest pain following intense emotional or physical stress. Reports of stress-inducing triggers include acute respiratory failure, sudden death of a loved one, sympathomimetic drugs, pheochromocytoma crisis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and even earthquakes. We report three cases of intra-abdominal etiologies precipitating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: two with small bowel obstruction, and one with Clostridium difficile colitis.

An unfortunate failure: multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma in a non-cirrhotic patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and is the third highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Risk factors include chronic liver disease and cirrhosis of various causes including chronic hepatitis B and C. In cases of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCC usually does not manifest unless the liver has become cirrhotic. Fortunately, novel treatments for hepatitis C including ledipasvir/sofosbuvir can cure patients from their disease and as a result, may never develop cirrhosis and therefore, be at much lower risk of developing HCC. We present a patient with chronic HCV genotype 1a who was successfully treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with documented sustained viral response, but 6 months later was found to have multifocal HCC with virus reactivation with no evidence of cirrhosis on imaging or biochemical testing. While novel antiviral agents for HCV lead to >90% cure rate, cure is defined as sustained viral response of only 12 weeks. This brings to light a new patient population who may require further follow-up than 3 months to ensure viral clearance. Furthermore, this patient developed HCC despite initial viral clearance and no evidence of cirrhosis, indicating possible oncogenic potential of HCV that is independent of cirrhosis that necessitates further investigation.

In-hospital outcomes of percutaneous ventricular assist devices versus intra-aortic balloon pumps in non-ischemia related cardiogenic shock.

INTRODUCTION: This study compared inpatient outcomes related to the use of these two devices among patients who developed cardiogenic shock not due to acute myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. METHODS: We extracted admission-level records of patients with a diagnosis of cardiogenic shock who underwent either PVAD or IABP implantation from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2014. Our outcomes of interest were mortality and length of stay. RESULTS: Inpatient mortality was significantly higher in the PVAD cohort. In multivariate analysis, PVAD use in these patients was associated with higher mortality. There was no difference in the length of stay between both groups among patients that survived to discharge. CONCLUSION: In our analysis of the NIS database, the use of PVADs in patients with cardiogenic shock of non-ischemic origin was associated with higher mortality when compared to IABP use.

Knowledge, attitude and practices amongst the Pakistani females towards breast cancer screening programme.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices amongst Pakistani females towards breast screening programmes. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2013 to July2014 at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, and comprised attendants and patients who visited out-patients department and/or were treated as in-patients. The questionnaire contained 25 open and close-ended questions regarding knowledge and attitude, along with 7 questions regarding practices. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. RESULTS: There were 1184 women with a mean age of 32.7±8.6 years. The mean score was 12.7±4.9. Positive family history of breast cancer was reported by 156(13.2%) women; 420(35.5%) believed advancing age was a risk factor; 1041(87.9%) never had breast self-examination; 1106(93.4%) never had a clinical breast examination; and 1171(98.9%) never had screening mammogram. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and practices regarding breast cancer screening, breast self-examination and mammogram among women were not good. The knowledge about breast cancer risk factors was very poor and showed an alarming attitude towards practices.