Hemorragia digestiva baja: factores de riesgo de gravedad, necesidad de cirugía de urgencia y mortalidad hospitalaria / Lower gastrointestinal bleeding: risk factors of severity, need for emergency surgery and in-hospital Mortality

RESUMEN Antecedentes: Últimamente creció el interés en poder determinar, en etapas tempranas de las hemorragias digestivas bajas (HDB), aquellos factores de riesgo relacionados con la posibilidad de presentar resultados evolutivos adversos. Objectivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados a sangrados graves, cirugía de urgencia y mortalidad hospitalaria. Material y métodos: Realizamos un estudio observacional y retrospectivo sobre 1.850 pacientes, atendidos en forma consecutiva entre enero de 1999 y diciembre de 2018 por HDB. Para evaluar el riesgo de gravedad analizamos trece variables en las primeras cuatro horas desde la admisión. Para determinar los factores relacionados con la cirugía de urgencia, agregamos la enfermedad diverticular y, para evaluar mortalidad, la cirugía de urgencia y el puntaje (score) preoperatorio de la Sociedad Americana de Anestesiología (ASA). Resultados: De los 1.850 casos, 194 fueron graves y 1656 leves/moderados. Resultaron estadísticamente significativos como factores de mayor gravedad: > 70 años, FC > 120 lat/min., TA < 90 mm Hg, oliguria, hematoquecia masiva, hematocrito < 30%, hemoglobina < 7 g/% y necesidad transfusional. Resultaron predictores significativos de cirugía de urgencia: > 70 años, anti-coagulación, hipotensión arterial, taquicardia, hemoglobina < 7 g/%, oliguria, transfusiones y hematoquecia masiva. Se construyó una fórmula pronóstica de requerimiento de cirugía (sensibilidad 94%, especificidad 74%, valor predictivo positivo 91% y valor predictivo negativo 81%). AUC: 0,89%. Fueron significativos para mortalidad: > 70 años, anticoagulados, hematoquecia masiva, transfusiones y cirugía urgente. De los dieciséis pacientes operados y fallecidos de la serie, quince presentaban un ASA ≥ IV. Conclusiones: Las variables utilizadas resultaron simples, fiables y estadísticamente significativas para predecir gravedad, cirugía de urgencia y mortalidad.

ABSTRACT Background: Background: There has been a growing interest in determining those risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in early stages of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the risk factors associated with severe bleeding, emergency surgery and in-hospital mortality. Material and methods: We conducted an observational and retrospective study on 1850 patients consecutive managed between January 1999 and December 2018 for LGIB. We analyzed thirteen variables within the first four hours of hospitalization to evaluate risk severity. Diverticular disease was considered to determine factors associated with emergency surgery, and the preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score was used to assess mortality and emergency surgery. Results: Out of 1850 cases, 194 were severe and 1656 were mild/moderate, Patients > 70 years, with HR > 120 beats/min, BP < 90 mm Hg, oliguria, massive hematochezia, hematocrit < 30%, hemoglobin < 7 g% and need for transfusions presented statistically significant associations with severe bleeding. Age > 70 years, anticoagulation, hypotension, tachycardia, hemoglobin < 7 g%, oliguria, need for transfusion and massive hematochezia were significant predictors of emergency surgery. A prognostic formula was constructed to predict the need for surgery (sensitivity 94%, specificity 74%, positive predictive value 91% and negative predictive value 81%). AUC-ROC: 0,89%. Age > 70 years, anticoagulation, massive hematochezia transfusions and emergency surgery were identified as predictors of mortality. Fifteen of the sixteen patients who underwent surgery and died had ASA ≥ grade 4. Conclusions: The variables analyzed are simple, reliable and statistically significant to estimate the risk of severe bleeding, need for emergency surgery and mortality.

COVID-19 y cirugía. Impacto en los volúmenes de atención, complicaciones posoperatorias y mortalidad. Resultados después de un año de pandemia / COVID-19 and surgery. Impact on volumes of care, postoperative complications and mortality. Results after one year of the pandemic

RESUMEN Antecedentes: la pandemia por COVID-19 generó importantes cambios en la atención y tratamiento de los pacientes quirúrgicos. Objetivo: los objetivos de este estudio fueron comparar los volúmenes de prestaciones realizadas durante un año de pandemia con un período igual sin pandemia, proyectar su impacto asistencial e institucional, y comparar pacientes COVID+ versus COVID- para determinar complicaciones posoperatorias, mortalidad y los factores de riesgo asociados a estos eventos. Material y métodos: estudio observacional y retrospectivo. Comparamos el volumen de prestaciones realizadas entre el 19/3/20 y el 18/3/21 con idéntico período de 2019/20. Efectuamos un estudio de cohorte emparejada (2:1) entre los pacientes con COVID-19 y sin él y se analizaron las complicaciones posoperatorias, la mortalidad, y doce variables objetivas como factores de riesgo asociados. Resultados: todas las variables prestacionales analizadas disminuyeron, pero solo las internaciones programadas y las cirugías y endoscopias no urgentes cayeron significativamente. De los 979 ingresos, 41 casos fueron COVID+ (4,1%). La mortalidad fue del 29,2% en COVID+ (12/41) vs. 7,3% en COVID- (6/82) P = 0,021. Los factores de riesgo significativos asociados a mortalidad fueron: edad ≥ 75 años, hombres, COVID+, urgencias, neumonía, requerimiento de UTI y ARM. Los pacientes operados presentaron una tasa significativamente mayor de neumonías. El análisis de regresión logística (COVID+ vs. -) mostró que por ser COVID+ y registrar la necesidad de ARM, como variables determinantes, en los COVID+ solo la ARM fue determinante en la mortalidad. Conclusión: la pandemia por COVID-19 disminuyó la actividad prestacional y aumentó la mortalidad de los afectados por la virosis.

ABSTRACT Background: The COVID-19 pandemic produced significant changes in the care and treatment of surgical patients. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the volume of services provided during a year of pandemic with an equal period without pandemic, estimate its impact on health care and institutional care, and compare COVID-positive versus COVID-negative patients to determine postoperative complications, mortality and risk factors associated with these events. Material and methods: We conducted an observational and retrospective study, comparing the volume of services performed between March 19, 2020, and March 18, 2021, with the same period in 2019/2020. We performed a matched cohort study (in a 2:1 ratio) between patients with and without COVID-19 and analyzed the postoperative complications, mortality, and twelve objective variables as associated risk factors. Results: There was a significant decrease in planned hospitalizations and non-urgent surgeries and endoscopies, while all the other variables showed a non-significant reduction. Of the 979 admissions, 41 corresponded to COVID-positive patients (4.1%). Mortality was 29.2% in COVID-positive patients (12/41) vs. 7.3%% in those COVID negative (p = 0.021). The significant risk factors associated with mortality were age ≥75 years, male sex, COVID+, emergencies, pneumonia, requirement of ICU and MV. Patients operated on had a significantly higher rate of pneumonia. Logistic regression analysis between COVID+ patients and COVID- patients showed that COVID+ and need for MV were predictors of mortality. In COVID+ patients, only MV was a determinant of mortality. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced healthcare services and increased mortality in patients infected with the virus.

Use of absorbable meshes in laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair.

Paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair is one of the most challenging upper gastrointestinal operations. Its high rate of recurrence is due mostly to the low quality of the crura and size of the hiatal defect. In an attempt to diminish the recurrence rates, some clinical investigators have begun performing mesh-reinforced cruroplasty with nonabsorbable meshes like polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. The main problem with these materials is the occurrence, in some patients, of serious mesh-related morbidities, such as erosions into the stomach and the esophagus, some of which necessitate subsequent esophagectomy or gastrectomy. Absorbable meshes can be synthetic or biological and were introduced in recent years for PEH repair with the intent of diminishing the recurrence rates observed after primary repair alone but, theoretically, without the risks of morbidities presented by the nonabsorbable meshes. The current role of absorbable meshes in PEH repair is still under debate, since there are few data regarding their long-term efficacy, particularly in terms of recurrence rates, morbidity, need for revision, and quality of life. In this opinion review, we analyze all the presently available evidence of reinforced cruroplasty for PEH repair using nonabsorbable meshes (synthetic or biological), focusing particularly on recurrence rates, mesh-related morbidity, and long-term quality of life.

Entrenamiento en Cirugía Bariátrica. Importancia de las Carreras de posgrado Universitarias / Training in bariatric surgery: Importance of University Postgraduate Careers

Bariatric surgery is performed usually in a videolaparoscopic form. This involves that surgeons must have the abilities of advanced laparascopy. The learning curve was previously analyzed in numerous reports. This curriculums for the fellowships include the development of cognitive abilities and clinicotechnical training. Through the Course of Specialists for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery from the Buenos Aires University, four fellows have been formed. In this study, the training modality is described

La cirugía bariátrica se realiza generalmente de forma videolaparoscópica. Esto implica que los cirujanos tengan habilidades de laparoscopía avanzada. La curva de aprendizaje se ha analizado en numerosos trabajos. Las currículas para los fellowship incluyen el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas y clínico-técnicas. A través de la Carrera de Especialista en Cirugía Bariátrica y Metabólica de la UBA se han formado cuatro fellows. En este trabajo se describe la modalidad de aprendizaje

(18)F-FDG uptake by rectal cancer is similar in mucinous and nonmucinous histological subtypes.

PURPOSE: PET/CT has been considered limited for the evaluation of mucinous colorectal tumors due to low (18)F-FDG uptake. The aim of our study was to compare PET/CT variables in mucinous (MC) and nonmucinous (NMC) rectal adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Consecutive patients with cT2-4N0-2M0 rectal cancer included in a prospective clinical trial were reviewed. PET/CT was performed for primary baseline staging. Visual and quantitative analysis included SUVmax and SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). PET/CT parameters were compared according to histological subtypes. RESULTS: Overall, 73 patients were included (18 mucinous and 55 nonmucinous). SUVmax values were similar between MC and NMC (19.7 vs. 16.6; p = 0.5). MTV and TLG values were greater in the MC group (103.9 vs. 54.1; p = 0.007 and 892.5 vs. 358.8; p = 0.020) due to larger tumor volumes of MC. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic parameters at baseline PET/CT for patients with rectal cancer are similar in mucinous and nonmucinous histological subtypes.

Laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy for palliative treatment of pancreatic head cancer in 48 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 80% of patients with pancreatic cancer are not candidates for curative resection at the time of diagnosis. The objective of this study is to show that although endoscopic treatment is the standard palliation, surgical laparoscopic treatment is both feasible and effective for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative resectability was evaluated by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. Endoscopic palliation was the first choice for patients with metastatic disease and for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer with bad performance status. Laparoscopic surgical palliation was indicated for patients with jaundice and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (elective palliation) and for patients with jaundice with metastatic disease and failure in the endoscopic/percutaneous treatment (necessary palliation). Elective palliation consisted of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy and necessary palliation consisted of laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy alone. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients received laparoscopic surgical palliation. Morbidity rate was 33.3% and mortality was 2.08%. There was no need for late surgeries in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: Surgical laparoscopic palliation is a feasible treatment option for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Even though metallic stents are still the best palliation method for patients with systemic disease, if stents fail, the laparoscopic approach is a viable treatment.