Selective nonoperative management of pharyngoesophageal injuries secondary to penetrating neck trauma: A single-center review of 86 cases.

BACKGROUND: This article describes our experience with penetrating pharyngoesophageal injuries (PEI) in the light of a selective conservative approach, and has the objective to define criteria for nonoperative management (NOM). METHODS: This retrospective single-center review of patients with penetrating neck injury treated for confirmed PEI over a 6-year period aimed to test our proposed hypothesis that NOM is safe for hemodynamically stable patients with PEI, who have no competing indications for exploration, have no established sepsis, and who have a water-soluble contrast swallow either showing no- or a contained extravasation. RESULTS: Eighty-six (9%) patients with PEI (oropharynx, 17; hypopharynx, 40; esophagus, 29) of 948 patients with penetrating neck injury were included. Of the cohort 38 (44%) underwent NOM (oropharynx, 15 [88%]; hypopharynx, 18 [45%]; esophagus, 5 [17%]), and 48 (56%) were managed operatively. The median length of stay was 12 days (interquartile range, 19-8). Fifteen (17%) had a persistent leak and six (7%) mediastinitis. Five (6%) patients died but only one (1%) had isolated PEI. Retrospectively, 27 patients fulfilled our proposed criteria for NOM of which 23 had been treated actively by NOM (oropharynx, 8; hypopharynx, 12; esophagus, 3). For these patients, the length of stay was 10.0 days (interquartile range, 13-6), and none developed deep wound sepsis, mediastinitis, persistent leaks, or died. Of the remaining patients treated by NOM without fulfilling the proposed criteria, two were palliated (esophagus) and 13 were managed actively (oropharynx, 7; hypopharynx, 6). Only four of these patients (oropharynx, 1; hypopharynx, 3) were assessed with water-soluble contrast swallow, which showed noncontained extravasation, and three complicated with persistent leaks. CONCLUSION: Nonoperative management of PEI is safe for a carefully selected subgroup of patients. However, most injuries to the caudal part of the cervical digestive tract mandate urgent exploration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Clinical Management Study, Level V evidence.

The Selective Non-operative Management of Penetrating Cervical Venous Trauma is Safe and Effective.

BACKGROUND: This paper reviews our experience with penetrating cervical venous trauma and aims to validate the selective non-operative management (SNOM) of these injuries. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained registry. All patients presenting alive with an injury to the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein or innominate vein following a PNI were reviewed for a 6-year period. RESULTS: Among 817 patients admitted for the management of PNI, 76 (9.3%) had a venous injury. Of these, 37 (48.7%) patients were managed non-surgically, 20 (26.3%) required immediate surgical exploration, seven of whom had an associated arterial injury, and 19 (25%) underwent surgery following a diagnostic CTA, 16 of whom had an associated arterial or aero-digestive injury. In total, only 16 (21.1%) of the 76 patients required exploration for venous injury alone. The majority (63.2%) of patients had a history of severe bleeding or hemodynamic instability prior to arrival, but only 20 (26.3%) required immediate exploration. Two (2.6%) patients died as a result of venous injury. No patients developed complications related to the venous injury. CONCLUSIONS: SNOM is applicable to a well-defined subset of patients with isolated penetrating cervical venous trauma to the IJV and SCV identified on CTA.

Correlation between ATLS training and junior doctors' anatomical knowledge of intercostal chest drain insertion.

OBJECTIVE: To review the ability of junior doctors (JDs) in identifying the correct anatomical site for intercostal chest drain insertion and whether prior Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training influences this. DESIGN: We performed a prospective, observational study using a structured survey and asked a group of JDs (postgraduate year 1 [PGY1] or year 2 [PGY2]) to indicate on a photograph the exact preferred site for intercostal chest drain insertion. SETTING: This study was conducted in a large metropolitan university hospital in South Africa. RESULTS: A total of 152 JDs participated in the study. Among them, 63 (41%) were men, and the mean age was 24 years. There were 90 (59%) PGY1 doctors and 62 (41%) PGY2 doctors. Overall, 28% (42/152) of all JDs correctly identified the site that was located within the accepted safe triangle. A significantly higher proportion of PGY2 doctors selected the correct site when compared with PGY1 doctors (39% vs 20%, p = 0.026). Those who had prior ATLS provider training were 6.8 times more likely to be able to identify the correct site (RR = 6.8, 95% CI: 3.7-12.5). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the JDs do not have sufficient anatomical knowledge to identify the safe insertion site for intercostal chest drain. Those who had undergone ATLS training were more likely to be able to identify the safe insertion site.

Prophylactic antibiotics for tube thoracostomy may not be appropriate in the developing world setting.

INTRODUCTION: Prophylactic antibiotics for tube thoracostomy (TT) for the prevention of post-traumatic empyema (PTE) remain controversial. Literature specifically focusing on the developing world setting is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted over a four-year period on patients managed with TT alone in which prophylactic antibiotics was not utilised. We documented the actual incidence of PTE in a high volume trauma service in South Africa. RESULTS: A total of 1002 patients who had TT in the trauma room were eligible for inclusion. Ninety-one percent (912/1002) were males and the mean age for all patients was 26 years (SD 7). Seventy-five percent (755/1002) sustained penetrating trauma (PT), while the remaining 25% (247/1002) sustained blunt trauma (BT). Six hundred and twenty patients (62%) sustained HTXs and the remaining 382 patients (38%) had PTXs. Of the 1002 patients who underwent TT, 15 (1.5%, 95% CI: 0.8-2.5%) developed PTE. The incidence of empyema in those with PT was 1.9% (14/755) and 0.4% (1/247) for BT. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.166). All 15 patients who developed PTE were males, with a mean age of 31 years (SD 6). All 15 patients had HTX as the initial thoracic pathology. This difference was highly statistically significant when compared to PTX (p=0.002). The mean length of hospital stay was 11 days (SD 7). There were no mortalities in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our setting where prophylactic antibiotics are not routinely used, the actual incidence of PTE in our population is extremely low. In the absence of further definitive evidence to support its use, routine prophylactic antibiotics for TT is difficult to justify in a developing world setting at present.

Isolated free intra-abdominal fluid on CT in blunt trauma: The continued diagnostic dilemma.

PURPOSE: The clinical significance of isolated free fluid (FF) without solid organ injury on computed to- mography (CT) continues to pose significant dilemma in the management of patients with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). METHODS: We reviewed the incidence of FF and the clinical outcome amongst patients with blunt abdominal trauma in a metropolitan trauma service in South Africa. We performed a retrospective study of 121 consecutive CT scans over a period of 12 months to determine the incidence of isolated FF and the clinical outcome of patients managed in a large metropolitan trauma service. RESULTS: Of the 121 CTs, FF was identified in 36 patients (30%). Seven patients (6%) had isolated FF. Of the 29 patients who had free fluid and associated organ injuries, 33 organ injuries were identified. 86% (25/ 29) of all 29 patients had a single organ injury and 14% had multiple organ injuries. There were 26 solid organ injuries and 7 hollow organ injuries. The 33 organs injured were: spleen, 12; liver, 8; kidney, 5; pancreas, 2; small bowel, 4; duodenum, 1. Six (21%) patients required operative management for small bowel perforations in 4 cases and pancreatic tail injury in 2 cases. All 7 patients with isolated FF were initially observed, and 3 (43%) were eventually subjected to operative intervention. They were found to have an intra-peritoneal bladder rupture in 1 case, a non-expanding zone 3 haematoma in 1 case, and a negative laparotomy in 1 case. Four (57%) patients were successfully managed without surgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated FF is uncommon and the clinical significance remains unclear. Provided that reli- able serial physical examination can be performed by experienced surgeons, an initial non-operative approach should be considered.

What is the yield of routine chest radiography following tube thoracostomy for trauma?

INTRODUCTION: Routine chest radiography (CXR) following tube thoracostomy (TT) is a standard practice in most trauma centres worldwide. Evidence supporting this routine practice is lacking and the actual yield is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 1042 patients over a 4-year period who had a routine post-insertion CXR performed in accordance with current ATLS® recommendations. RESULTS: A total 1042 TTs were performed on 1004 patients. Ninety-one per cent of patients (913/1004) were males, and the median age for all patients was 24 years. Seventy-five per cent of all injuries (756/1004) were from penetrating trauma, and the remaining 25% (248/1004) were from blunt. The initial pathologies requiring TT were: haemopneumothorax: 34% (339/1042), haemothroax: 31% (314/1042), simple pneumothorax: 25% (256/1042), tension pneumothorax: 8% (77/1042) and open pneumothorax: 5% (54/1042). One hundred and three patients had TTs performed on clinical grounds alone without a pre-insertion CXR [Group A]. One hundred and ninety-one patients had a pre-insertion CXR but had persistent clinical concerns following insertion [Group B]. Seven hundred and ten patients had pre-insertion CXR but no clinical concerns following insertion [Group C]. Overall, 15% (152/1004) [9 from Group A, 111 from Group B and 32 from Group C] of all patients had their clinical management influenced as a direct result of the post-insertion CXR. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the widely accepted practice of routine CXR following tube thoracostomy, the yield is relatively low. In many cases, good clinical examination post tube insertion will provide warnings as to whether problems are likely to result. However, in the more rural setting, and in resource challenged environments, there is a relatively high yield from the CXR, which alters management. Further prospective studies are needed to establish or refute the role of the existing ATLS® guidelines in these specific environments.

Introducing video-assisted thoracoscopy for trauma into a South African township hospital.

BACKGROUND: The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is well established in trauma practice. This modality is readily available to centers with well-equipped operating facilities but may be challenging to introduce into resource-constrained institutions such as many South African township hospitals. We implemented VATS for retained post-traumatic pleural collections in our institution in 2007, and we have now performed an audit of the first 3 years of our experience. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who had undergone VATS from June 2007 to May 2010, and statistical analysis was performed to elucidate the findings. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were examined, 40 of whom (93 %) were male. The mean age was 32 years (range: 15-52 years). Thirty-five patients (81 %) had stab injuries, 6 (14 %) had blunt injuries, and 2 (4 %) had gunshot wounds. Mean time from injury to VATS was 12.4 days (range: 3-31 days). Thirteen patients (30 %) had empyema at the time of VATS. The mean time from VATS to discharge was 9 days (range: 3-30 days). The postoperative complication rate was 14 % and included pneumonia (n = 3) and re-collections (n = 3, two of which were managed by reinsertion of a chest drain, and one cleared without further intervention). Further analysis revealed a longer postoperative length of stay when empyema was present at VATS (8 days for no empyema vs. 11 days when empyema was present; p = 0.027). The incidence of empyema increased progressively the longer the delay between injury and VATS (0 % for VATS performed in week 1, 32 % for VATS in week 2, 50 % for VATS in week 3, and 60 % for VATS beyond week 3; p = 0.019). The incidence of empyema increased when >1 chest drain was inserted prior to VATS (15 % for 0-1 chest drain vs. 43 % for >1 chest drain; p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Introducing VATS for retained post-traumatic collections into a relatively resource-constrained township hospital in South Africa is safe and effective. Consideration should be given to performing VATS early and avoiding the use of a second and third chest drain for retained collections. This approach may lead to decreased incidence of empyema and shorter overall hospital stay.

A randomized trial evaluating a cognitive simulator for laparoscopic appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: The Integrated Cognitive Simulator (ICS) is a software application that integrates text, anatomy, video and simulation for training clinical procedures. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the usability of the ICS laparoscopic appendectomy module, and to determine its effectiveness in training the cognitive skills required for the procedure. METHODS: Junior surgical trainees were randomized into control and intervention groups. The latter had access to the ICS. Participants had three assessments: a pre-study questionnaire to determine demographics, 20 multiple choice questions to assess procedural knowledge (training effectiveness) after 2 weeks, and a questionnaire to assess usability after 4 months. RESULTS: Fifty-eight trainees were randomized. The overall response rate was 57%. The median scores for interface, functionality, usefulness and likelihood of utilization (usability) were 5/7 or higher. In the multiple choice questions (training effectiveness), first-year trainees in the intervention group scored higher than the control group (14.9 versus 12.1, P= 0.04), but second-year trainees did not. Use of the ICS did not alter the participants' perceived need for intra-operative guidance. CONCLUSIONS: The ICS is considered highly usable by trainees. The ICS is effective for training cognitive skills for laparoscopic appendectomy among first-year surgical trainees. Training cognitive skills alone does not increase confidence in the ability to perform motor tasks.