Risk of conversion after intended total extraperitoneal hernia repair for inguinal hernia depends on type of previous abdominal surgery.

PURPOSE: Risk of total extraperitoneal hernia repair (TEP) in patients with previous lower abdominal surgery (PLAS) is still debated. The present study was designed to assess the rate of conversion in TEP for inguinal hernia stratified by type of PLAS. METHODS: Variables on patients undergoing TEP inguinal hernia repair at our center were prospectively collected between July 2012 and May 2018. Patients with PLAS were compared to patients without PLAS. Furthermore, the most frequent subtypes of PLAS were defined and TEP conversion rate was stratified according to type of PLAS. RESULTS: A total of 1589 patients with TEP inguinal hernia repair were identified including 152 (9.6%) patients with PLAS. Operative time was increased in patients with PLAS (70 vs. 60 min, p < 0.001). Conversion from TEP to transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty (TAPP) or Lichtenstein open inguinal hernia repair was eight-times more frequent after PLAS (8% vs. 1%, p < 0.001). Considering type of PLAS, open appendectomy was most frequently encountered, followed by multiple PLAS and surgery to the bladder and prostate (53%, 11% and 10%). After stratification for type of PLAS, conversions were most frequently found after previous surgery to the bladder or prostate and after multiple PLAS (conversion rate of 20% and 24%, p < 0.001). In contrast, conversion rate after open appendectomy was not increased. CONCLUSION: PLAS to the bladder and prostate is associated with TEP conversion. Selected patients might profit from a different operative approach for inguinal hernia repair.

Emergency repair and smoking predict recurrence in a large cohort of ventral hernia patients.

PURPOSE: Ventral hernias are frequent and hernia repair is regularly performed by general surgeons. Emergency repair is less frequent and can be challenging. Long-term data comparing outcomes of emergency- vs. elective ventral hernia repair are scarce. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing emergency and elective ventral hernia repair at our institution were prospectively entered in our HerniaMed database between August 2013 and February 2020. Patients were contacted after 1 and 5 years to assess long-term complications. Risk factors for emergency repair and hernia recurrence were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We included 1307 patients. Emergency and elective hernia repair were performed in 11% and 89% of patients with 1-year follow-up rates of 94% and 92%. Female gender, BMI > 40 kg/m2, ASA class 3 and 4, large size umbilical herniation (> 4 cm) and epigastric herniation were more frequent in emergency hernia repair. Binary logistic regression analysis identified emergency repair and smoking as predictors of recurrence (Odds ratio: 4.04 and 95% confidence interval: 1.67-14.21, p = 0.004; Odds ratio: 2.94 and 95% confidence interval: 1.33-9.15, p = 0.011). Furthermore, female gender and significant comorbidity (ASA class 3 and 4) were risk factors for emergency repair (Odds ratio: 1.98 and 95% confidence interval: 01.05-3.74, p = 0.034; Odds ratio: 3.54 and 95% confidence interval: 1.79-6.98, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency repair and smoking predicted hernia recurrence. Females and highly comorbid patients are at increased risk for emergency repair and should be prioritized for early elective hernia repair.

Mid-term quality of life after gastric band removal and single-stage conversion to gastric bypass: a single-center cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Revision surgeries in patients with failed gastric banding including band removal are increasingly necessary. However, long-term outcomes after band removal alone are unsatisfactory due to weight regain and limited improvement in quality of life. This study aimed to report mid-term quality of life outcomes after gastric band removal and single-stage conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. METHODS: Data of 108 patients who underwent conversion surgery from 2011 to 2017 were extracted from a prospective database and retrospectively analyzed. During follow-up visits, physical and laboratory data as well as quality of life questionnaires were obtained. RESULTS: Postoperative mean Moorehead score increased significantly after 1 year (1.62 ± 0.86, p < 0.001) and after 5 years (1.55 ± 0.84, p < 0.001) compared to baseline values (0.72 ± 1.1). The mean follow-up time was 53 months. Moorehead scores at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperative were available in 75% (n = 81), 71% (n = 77), and 42% (n = 45) of cases, respectively. Mixed ANOVA analysis showed a significantly superior increase in Moorehead score in males (p = 0.024). No other significant predictors were identified. Lasting BMI reduction (- 4.6 to 33.0 ± 6.7 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and weight loss (- 12.9% (- 13.6 kg), p < 0.001) 5 years after conversion surgery were seen. Postoperative complications occurred in 35% (n = 38) of patients with a re-operation rate of 30.5% (n = 33). CONCLUSION: The current study shows that band removal with single-stage gastric bypass in patients with failed gastric banding leads to a lasting improvement in quality of life and may be the rescue procedure of choice in this setting.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Urinary Retention After Endoscopic Hernia Repair: Age and Unilateral Operation make the Difference.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication after inguinal hernia repair that may result in catheter-related infections or injuries, longer hospital stays, and thus, higher overall costs. Our aim was to assess the incidence of POUR after endoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair and identify its risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all data that were included in a prospective Hernia Database for patients undergoing a TEP inguinal hernia repair at our institution between July 2012 and May 2018. POUR was defined as the inability to urinate spontaneously after surgery, thus requiring a bladder catheter. RESULTS: Data from 1570 patients were included. Sixty-five patients developed POUR, which was an incidence of 4.1%. In the univariate analysis, patients over 50 years of age (1.6% vs. 5.5%), patients with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (ASA-1 2.7% vs. ASA-3 12.5%), previous prostate surgery (3.9% vs. 10.9%), unilateral operation (1.9% vs. 6.0%), and intraoperative drain placement (2.1% vs. 4.9%) developed POUR more often than younger patients. After multivariate adjustment, advanced age and unilateral surgery remained risk factors for POUR. CONCLUSION: Advanced age and unilateral inguinal hernia repair, possibly due to a lack of catheterization, were risk factors for POUR. Due to increasing outpatient inguinal hernia repairs worldwide, it is imperative to identify patients who are at risk of POUR to apply prophylactic measures and reduce readmission, and thus, reduce health-care costs.

Short- and long-term outcomes of laser haemorrhoidoplasty for grade II-III haemorrhoidal disease.

AIM: Laser haemorrhoidoplasty is associated with minimal postoperative pain and good symptom improvement in the short-term. However, less is known about its long-term efficacy. This study aims to determine the short- and long-term outcomes of laser haemorrhoidoplasty. METHOD: Between October 2010 and May 2012, 50 consecutive patients with grade II-III haemorrhoids were treated with laser haemorrhoidoplasty. Short-term follow-up was assessed on days 1, 30 and 60 and long-term follow-up was at 5 years (haemorrhoidal stage reduction, pain, patient satisfaction, symptom improvement, incapacity for work, continence, complications, recurrence). RESULTS: Short-term follow-up was achieved for all patients and long-term follow-up for 44/50 patients (88%). At short-term follow-up, haemorrhoidal stage reduction was documented in 49 (98%) patients. Complete or good symptom improvement was reported by 36/50 (72%) and 10/50 patients (20%) at 60 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 9/50 patients (18%) with three Clavien-Dindo grade IIIb complications (two fistulas, one incontinence), one grade IIIa (perianal thrombosis) and five grade I (one perianal thrombosis, two perianal eczema, one local bleeding, one anal fissure). Postoperative pain was low (visual analogue scale 0-1) at day 1 in 37/50 (74%), at day 30 in 47/50 (94%) and at day 60 in 50/50 patients (100%). After a mean follow-up of 5.4 years (SD 5.4 months) the recurrence rate was 34% (15/44 patients) with a median time to recurrence of 21 months (range 0.2-6 years). CONCLUSION: Although laser haemorrhoidoplasty achieves a high short-term success rate with respect to stage reduction and symptom improvement, it is associated with a high rate of minor postoperative complications and long-term recurrence. Therefore, laser haemorrhoidoplasty should be used with caution.

Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica / Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice

Las VI Guías Europeas de Prevención Cardiovascular recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, con los cambios de estilo de vida como piedra angular de la prevención, y proponen la función SCORE para cuantificar el riesgo cardiovascular. Esta guía hace más hincapié en las intervenciones específicas de las enfermedades y las condiciones propias de las mujeres, las personas jóvenes y las minorías étnicas. No se recomienda el cribado de aterosclerosis subclínica con técnicas de imagen no invasivas. La guía establece cuatro niveles de riesgo (muy alto, alto, moderado y bajo), con objetivos terapéuticos de control lipídico según el riesgo. La diabetes mellitus confiere un riesgo alto, excepto en sujetos con diabetes tipo 2 con menos de 10 años de evolución, sin otros factores de riesgo ni complicaciones, o con diabetes tipo 1 de corta evolución sin complicaciones. La decisión de iniciar el tratamiento farmacológico de la hipertensión arterial dependerá del nivel de presión arterial y del riesgo cardiovascular, teniendo en cuenta la lesión de órganos diana. Siguen sin recomendarse los fármacos antiplaquetarios en prevención primaria por el riesgo de sangrado. La baja adherencia al tratamiento exige simplificar el régimen terapéutico e identificar y combatir sus causas. La guía destaca que los profesionales de la salud pueden ejercer un papel importante en la promoción de intervenciones poblacionales y propone medidas eficaces, tanto a nivel individual como poblacional, para promover una dieta saludable, la práctica de actividad física, el abandono del tabaquismo y la protección contra el abuso de alcohol

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don’t recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse

Cardiovascular safety of noninsulin antidiabetic drugs: facts and promises. / Seguridad cardiovascular de los antidiabéticos no insulínicos: hechos y promesas.

Non insulin antidiabetic drugs are widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the drugs' effect in terms of reducing cardiovascular risk has been the subject of controversy. In 2008, based on the evidence of cardiovascular risk resulting from the use of a number of non insulin antidiabetic drugs, the US Food and Drug Administration published directives on the need to perform cardiovascular safety studies. These directives have helped obtain more evidence, such that at present there are 2 families of drugs that can reduce cardiovascular risk. These recent data have helped us add the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality to the objective of controlling blood glucose. Nevertheless, research continues with the development of new long-term studies.

Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica / Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice

Las VI Guías Europeas de Prevención Cardiovascular recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, con los cambios de estilo de vida como piedra angular de la prevención, y proponen la función SCORE para cuantificar el riesgo cardiovascular. Esta guía hace más hincapié en las intervenciones específicas de las enfermedades y las condiciones propias de las mujeres, las personas jóvenes y las minorías étnicas. No se recomienda el cribado de aterosclerosis subclínica con técnicas de imagen no invasivas. La guía establece cuatro niveles de riesgo (muy alto, alto, moderado y bajo), con objetivos terapéuticos de control lipídico según el riesgo. La diabetes mellitus confiere un riesgo alto, excepto en sujetos con diabetes tipo 2 con menos de diez años de evolución, sin otros factores de riesgo ni complicaciones, o con diabetes tipo 1 de corta evolución sin complicaciones. La decisión de iniciar el tratamiento farmacológico de la hipertensión arterial dependerá del nivel de presión arterial y del riesgo cardiovascular, teniendo en cuenta la lesión de órganos diana. Siguen sin recomendarse los fármacos antiplaquetarios en prevención primaria por el riesgo de sangrado. La baja adherencia al tratamiento exige simplificar el régimen terapéutico e identificar y combatir sus causas. La guía destaca que los profesionales de la salud pueden ejercer un papel importante en la promoción de intervenciones poblacionales y propone medidas eficaces, tanto a nivel individual como poblacional, para promover una dieta saludable, la práctica de actividad física, el abandono del tabaquismo y la protección contra el abuso de alcohol (AU)

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions specific to women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than ten years of evolution, with no other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines do not recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased risk of bleeding. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and identifying and combating its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to play an active role in promoting evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, both at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse (AU)

Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica / Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice

Las VI Guías Europeas de Prevención Cardiovascular recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, con los cambios de estilo de vida como piedra angular de la prevención, y proponen la función SCORE para cuantificar el riesgo cardiovascular. Esta guía hace más hincapié en las intervenciones específicas de las enfermedades y las condiciones propias de las mujeres, las personas jóvenes y las minorías étnicas. No se recomienda el cribado de aterosclerosis subclínica con técnicas de imagen no invasivas. La guía establece cuatro niveles de riesgo (muy alto, alto, moderado y bajo), con objetivos terapéuticos de control lipídico según el riesgo. La diabetes mellitus confiere un riesgo alto, excepto en sujetos con diabetes tipo 2 con menos de 10 años de evolución, sin otros factores de riesgo ni complicaciones, o con diabetes tipo 1 de corta evolución sin complicaciones. La decisión de iniciar el tratamiento farmacológico de la hipertensión arterial dependerá del nivel de presión arterial y del riesgo cardiovascular, teniendo en cuenta la lesión de órganos diana. Siguen sin recomendarse los fármacos antiplaquetarios en prevención primaria por el riesgo de sangrado. La baja adherencia al tratamiento exige simplificar el régimen terapéutico e identificar y combatir sus causas. La guía destaca que los profesionales de la salud pueden ejercer un papel importante en la promoción de intervenciones poblacionales y propone medidas eficaces, tanto a nivel individual como poblacional, para promover una dieta saludable, la práctica de actividad física, el abandono del tabaquismo y la protección contra el abuso de alcohol

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don’t recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse

Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. / Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica.

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

[Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice]. / Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica.

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

Left-Sided Living Kidney Donation Leads to Transiently Reduced Adrenocortical Responsiveness.

Living kidney donation is safe and established, but can lead to long-term complications such as chronic fatigue. Since the adrenal vein is usually transected during left-sided donor nephrectomy-which is not necessary on the right-we hypothesized that venous congestion might lead to an impairment of adrenal function, offering a possible explanation. In this prospective open label, monocentric cohort study, adrenal function was compared in left- and right-sided living kidney donors. The primary endpoint was plasma cortisol response to low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. Secondary endpoints included plasma renin and ACTH concentration as well as adrenal volume in response to donor nephrectomy. A total of 30 healthy donors-20 left- and 10 right-sided donations-were included. On postoperative day 1, response to low-dose ACTH stimulation was intact, but significantly lower after left-sided donor nephrectomy. After 28 days, adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation did not differ any longer. Magnetic resonance imaging volumetry showed no significant adrenal volume change over 4 weeks, neither after left- nor after right-sided nephrectomy. In conclusion, left-sided living kidney donation entails a transiently reduced adrenocortical responsiveness, which returns to baseline after 28 days.

Comentarios del Comité Español Interdisciplinario de Prevención Cardiovascular (CEIPC) a las Guías Europeas de Prevención Cardiovascular 2012 / Statement of the Spanish Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Prevention Committee (CEIPC for its Spanish acronym) on the 2012 European Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines

Las guías europeas de prevención cardiovascular contemplan 2 sistemas de evaluación de la evidencia (SEC y GRADE) y recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, interviniendo en todas las etapas de la vida, con la dieta como piedra angular de la prevención. La valoración del riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) incorpora los niveles de HDL y los factores psicosociales, una categoría de muy alto riesgo y el concepto edad-riesgo. Se recomienda el uso de métodos cognitivo-conductuales (entrevista motivadora, intervenciones psicológicas), aplicados por profesionales sanitarios, con la participación de familiares de los pacientes, para contrarrestar el estrés psicosocial y reducir el RCV mediante dietas saludables, entrenamiento físico, abandono del tabaco y cumplimiento terapéutico. También se requieren medidas de salud pública, como la prohibición de fumar en lugares públicos o eliminar los ácidos grasostrans de la cadena alimentaria. Otras novedades consisten en desestimar el tratamiento antiagregante en prevención primaria y la recomendación de mantener la presión arterial dentro del rango 130-139/80-85 mmHg en pacientes diabéticos o con RCV alto. Se destaca el bajo cumplimiento terapéutico observado, porque influye en el pronóstico de los pacientes y en los costes sanitarios. Para mejorar la prevención cardiovascular se precisa una verdadera alianza entre políticos, administraciones, asociaciones científicas y profesionales de la salud, fundaciones de salud, asociaciones de consumidores, pacientes y sus familias, que impulse la estrategia tanto poblacional como individual mediante el uso de toda la evidencia científica disponible, desde ensayos clínicos hasta estudios observacionales y modelos matemáticos para evaluar intervenciones a nivel poblacional, incluyendo análisis de coste-efectividad

Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence (SEC and GRADE) European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions) led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions - such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain - are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure within the 130-139/80-85 mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses

Statement of the Spanish Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Prevention Committee (CEIPC for its Spanish acronym) on the 2012 European Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines.

Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence (SEC and GRADE) European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions) led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions - such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain - are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure within the 130-139/80-85 mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses.

Hartmann's procedure and laparoscopic reversal versus primary anastomosis and ileostomy closure for left colonic perforation.

PURPOSE: Emergency surgical strategies for acute left-sided colonic perforation are evolving preferring primary anastomosis (PA) with ileostomy to Hartmann's procedure (HP) based on the morbidity and reversal rates. However, HP is still commonly performed. Hartmann's reversal is associated with considerable morbidity. It is of interest whether laparoscopic reversal results in a lower morbidity as retrospective data suggest. Here, we compared the combined morbidity rates for two surgical strategies: strategy A, HP followed by laparoscopic reversal, and strategy B, sigmoid resection with PA followed by ileostomy closure. METHODS: Prospectively collected data of all consecutive patients undergoing HP for benign left-sided colonic perforation between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively compared to data of patients undergoing PA. Groups were matched for age and Charlson comorbidity index. Additionally, patients were analyzed for American Society of Anesthesiologists score, body mass index, and peritonitis stage. End points were morbidity, operation time, reversal rate, time to reversal, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The study included 32 patients for whom Hartmann's reversal was planned, along with 32 matched patients who underwent PA and diverting ileostomy. Median age was 75 and 72 years, Charlson score was 6 (4-9) and 6 (5-7), and patients classified by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) higher than III were 81 % in both groups. Combined major morbidity rates were 21 % for strategy A and 20 % for strategy B (p = 1.0). Combined comprehensive complication index was 16.4 ± 14.1 and 12.3 ± 19.1 (p = 0.08). HP reversal by laparoscopy was achieved in 71 %. The colostomy reversal rate was 75 % compared to ileostomy closure rate of 88 % (p = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal is achievable in a high proportion of patients. Strategy B tends to have lower overall morbidity; meanwhile, major morbidity seems to be similar. Yet, in critically ill patients and in the absence of expertise of the surgeon on call, HP followed by elective laparoscopic reversal represents a viable alternative.

Rectal enema is an alternative to full mechanical bowel preparation for primary rectal cancer surgery.

AIM: According to the French GRECCAR III randomized trial, full mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) for rectal surgery decreases the rate of postoperative morbidity, in particular postoperative infectious complications, but MBP is not well tolerated by the patient. The aim of the present study was to determine whether a preoperative rectal enema (RE) might be an alternative to MBP. METHODS: An analysis was performed of 96 matched cohort patients undergoing rectal resection with primary anastomosis and protective ileostomy at two different university teaching hospitals, whose rectal cancer management was comparable except for the choice of preoperative bowel preparation (MBP or RE). Prospective databases were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Patients were well matched for age, gender, body mass index and Charlson index. The surgical approach and cancer characteristics (level above anal verge, stage and use of neoadjuvant therapy) were comparable between the two groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 10% of patients having MBP and in 8% having RE (P = 1.00). Pelvic abscess formation (6% vs 2%, P = 0.63) and wound infection (8% vs 15%, P = 0.55) were also comparable. Extra-abdominal infection (13% vs 13%, P = 1.00) and non-infectious abdominal complications such as ileus and bleeding (27% and 31%, P = 0.83) were not significantly different. Overall morbidity was comparable in the two groups (50% vs 54%, P = 0.83). CONCLUSION: A simple RE before rectal surgery seems not to be associated with more postoperative infectious complications nor a higher overall morbidity than MBP.

An outcome and cost analysis of anal fistula plug insertion vs endorectal advancement flap for complex anal fistulae.

AIM: The study aimed to compare the rate of success and cost of anal fistula plug (AFP) insertion and endorectal advancement flap (ERAF) for anal fistula. METHOD: Patients receiving an AFP or ERAF for a complex single fistula tract, defined as involving more than a third of the longitudinal length of of the anal sphincter, were registered in a prospective database. A regression analysis was performed of factors predicting recurrence and contributing to cost. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients (AFP 31, ERAF 40) were analysed. Twelve (39%) recurrences occurred in the AFP and 17 (43%) in the ERAF group (P = 1.00). The median length of stay was 1.23 and 2.0 days (P < 0.001), respectively, and the mean cost of treatment was €5439 ± €2629 and €7957 ± €5905 (P = 0.021), respectively. On multivariable analysis, postoperative complications, underlying inflammatory bowel disease and fistula recurring after previous treatment were independent predictors of de novo recurrence. It also showed that length of hospital stay ≤ 1 day to be the most significant independent contributor to lower cost (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Anal fistula plug and ERAF were equally effective in treating fistula-in-ano, but AFP has a mean cost saving of €2518 per procedure compared with ERAF. The higher cost for ERAF is due to a longer median length of stay.

Intraoperative adverse events during laparoscopic colorectal resection--better laparoscopic treatment but unchanged incidence. Lessons learnt from a Swiss multi-institutional analysis of 3,928 patients.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative adverse events significantly influence morbidity and mortality of laparoscopic colorectal resections. Over an 11-year period, the changes of occurrence of such intraoperative adverse events were assessed in this study. METHODS: Analysis of 3,928 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection based on the prospective database of the Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 377 intraoperative adverse events occurred in 329 patients (overall incidence of 8.4 %). Of 377 events, 163 (43 %) were surgical complications and 214 (57 %) were nonsurgical adverse events. Surgical complications were iatrogenic injury to solid organs (n = 63; incidence of 1.6 %), bleeding (n = 62; 1.6 %), lesion by puncture (n = 25; 0.6 %), and intraoperative anastomotic leakage (n = 13; 0.3 %). Of note, 11 % of intraoperative organ/puncture lesions requiring re-intervention were missed intraoperatively. Nonsurgical adverse events were problems with equipment (n = 127; 3.2 %), anesthetic problems (n = 30; 0.8 %), and various (n = 57; 1.5 %). Over time, the rate of intraoperative adverse events decreased, but not significantly. Bleeding complications significantly decreased (p = 0.015), and equipment problems increased (p = 0.036). However, the rate of adverse events requiring conversion significantly decreased with time (p < 0.001). Patients with an intraoperative adverse event had a significantly higher rate of postoperative local and general morbidity (41.2 and 32.9 % vs. 18.0 and 17.2 %, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative surgical complications and adverse events in laparoscopic colorectal resections did not change significantly over time and are associated with an increased postoperative morbidity.

Comentarios del Comité Español Interdisciplinario de Prevención Cardiovascular (CEIPC) a las Guías Europeas de Prevención Cardiovascular 2012 / Statement of the Spanish Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Prevention Committee (CEIPC for its Spanish acronym) on the 2012 European Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines

Las guías europeas de prevención cardiovascular contemplan 2 sistemas de evaluación de la evidencia (SEC y GRADE) y recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, interviniendo en todas las etapas de la vida, con la dieta como piedra angular de la prevención. La valoración del riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) incorpora los niveles de HDL y los factores psicosociales, una categoría de muy alto riesgo y el concepto edad-riesgo. Se recomienda el uso de métodos cognitivo-conductuales (entrevista motivadora, intervenciones psicológicas), aplicados por profesionales sanitarios, con la participación de familiares de los pacientes, para contrarrestar el estrés psicosocial y reducir el RCV mediante dietas saludables, entrenamiento físico, abandono del tabaco y cumplimiento terapéutico. También se requieren medidas de salud pública, como la prohibición de fumar en lugares públicos o eliminar los ácidos grasos trans de la cadena alimentaria. Otras novedades consisten en desestimar el tratamiento antiagregante en prevención primaria y la recomendación de mantener la presión arterial dentro del rango 130-139/80-85 mmHg en pacientes diabéticos o con RCV alto. Se destaca el bajo cumplimiento terapéutico observado, porque influye en el pronóstico de los pacientes y en los costes sanitarios. Para mejorar la prevención cardiovascular se precisa una verdadera alianza entre políticos, administraciones, asociaciones científicas y profesionales de la salud, fundaciones de salud, asociaciones de consumidores, pacientes y sus familias, que impulse la estrategia tanto poblacional como individual mediante el uso de toda la evidencia científica disponible, desde ensayos clínicos hasta estudios observacionales y modelos matemáticos para evaluar intervenciones a nivel poblacional, incluyendo análisis de coste-efectividad (AU)

Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence (SEC and GRADE) European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions) led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions - such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain - are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure within the 130-139/80-85mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses

Perineal stapled prolapse resection for external rectal prolapse: is it worthwhile in the long-term?

BACKGROUND: Perineal stapled prolapse (PSP) resection is a novel operation for treating external rectal prolapse. However, no long-term results have been reported in the literature. This study analyses the long-term recurrence rate, functional outcome, and morbidity associated with PSP resection. METHODS: Nine consecutive patients undergoing PSP resection between 2007 and 2011 were prospectively followed. Surgery was performed by the same surgeons in a standardised technique. Recurrence rate, functional outcome, and complication grade were prospectively assessed. RESULTS: All 9 patients undergoing PSP resection were investigated. The median age was 72 years (range 25-88 years). No intraoperative complications occurred. Faecal incontinence, preoperatively present in 2 patients, worsened postoperatively in one patient (Vaizey 18-22). One patient developed new-onset faecal incontinence (Vaizey 18). The median obstructive defecation syndrome score decreased postoperatively significantly from 11 (median; range 8-13) to 5 (median; range 4-8) (p < 0.005). At a median follow-up of 40 months (range 14-58 months), the prolapse recurrence rate was 44 % (4/9 patients). CONCLUSIONS: The PSP resection is a fast and safe procedure associated with low morbidity. However, the poor long-term functional outcome and the recurrence rate of 44 % warrant a cautious patient selection.