Surgical complications in the first and second semesters of the general surgery medical residence. A study of 14063 cases

Abstract Objective: To evaluate whether the rate of surgical complications is higher during the first semester of the General Surgery residency in the largest hospital complex in Latin America. During this period, students are expected to have less experience in carrying out procedures. Methods: During a period of two years, all General Surgery resident doctors at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, made a notification of all the procedures they performed (n = 14.063), containing information such as name of the procedure, date, who participated, complications, among others. These data were analyzed with the purpose of evaluating the variation in the rate of complications throughout the year. Results: There was a 52 % increase in the rate of complications in the first academic semester when compared to the second semester. This phenomenon was observed in resident doctors in the first and second years of residency. Furthermore, it was observed that second-year residents remain with high rates of complications, in some procedures, for a longer time than first-year residents. Furthermore, the first three months (March, April and May) seem to have the highest complication rates of the entire year. Conclusion The impact of these complications can affect several health services and the increase in surgical complications in the first half of the year must be monitored by institutions, in order to control this phenomenon.

Open abdomen management: single institution experience.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the outcome of abdominal wall integrity of both techniques. METHODS: a retrospective study was carried out at the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, identifying the patients undergoing temporary abdominal closure (TAC) from January 2005 to December 2011. Data were collected through the review of clinical charts. Inclusion criteria were indication of TAC and survival to definitive abdominal closure. In the post-operative period only a group of three surgeons followed all patients and performed the reoperations. RESULTS: Twenty eightpatients were included. The difference in primary closure rates and mean time for fascial closure did not reach statistical significance (p=0.98 and p=0.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: VAC and Bogota Bag do not differ significantly regarding the outcome of abdominal wall integrity, due to the monitoring of a specific team and the adoption of progressive closure.

Open abdomen management: single institution experience / Abdômen aberto: experiência em uma única instituição

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of abdominal wall integrity of both techniques. METHODS: a retrospective study was carried out at the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, identifying the patients undergoing temporary abdominal closure (TAC) from January 2005 to December 2011. Data were collected through the review of clinical charts. Inclusion criteria were indication of TAC and survival to definitive abdominal closure. In the post-operative period only a group of three surgeons followed all patients and performed the reoperations. RESULTS: Twenty eightpatients were included. The difference in primary closure rates and mean time for fascial closure did not reach statistical significance (p=0.98 and p=0.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: VAC and Bogota Bag do not differ significantly regarding the outcome of abdominal wall integrity, due to the monitoring of a specific team and the adoption of progressive closure.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o resultado da integridade da parede abdominal após utilização do fechamento assistido a vácuo e da bolsa de Bogotá. MÉTODOS: um estudo retrospectivo foi realizado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), identificando os pacientes submetidos à técnica de fechamento abdominal temporário (FAT) entre janeiro de 2005 e dezembro de 2011. Os dados foram coletados por meio de revisão de prontuários. Os critérios de inclusão foram indicação de FAT e sobrevivência até o fechamento definitivo da parede abdominal. No período pós-operatório, apenas um grupo de três cirurgiões, seguiu todos os pacientes e realizou as reoperações. Além disso, independente da técnica de FAT utilizada, foi aplicada a tática de fechamento fascial progressivo durante as reoperações. RESULTADOS: Vinte e oito pacientes foram incluídos. Não houve diferença estatística nas taxas de fechamento primário e tempo médio de fechamento fascial. CONCLUSÃO: O fechamento assistido a vácuo e a bolsa de Bogotá não diferem significativamente em relação ao resultado da integridade da parede abdominal após as reoperações. Isso se deve ao acompanhamento de uma equipe específica e a adoção de técnica de fechamento fascial progressivo.

A rare intestinal manifestation in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency and strongyloidiasis.

We report an immunodeficient patient with a rare gastrointestinal manifestation. A 26-year-old male with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and bronchiolitis obliterans, who was on intravenous gamma-globulin and prednisone, presented diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation of 3 days' duration. He reported 5 years of recurrent respiratory infections and diarrhea with negative stool tests, including tests for Strongyloides stercoralis. A physical exam revealed a poor general condition, anemia, dehydration and a distended painful abdomen with guarding, without abdominal sounds. The radiological study showed marked dilation of the small bowel that was edematous. Resection of the affected loop was performed and the histopathologic study showed transmural infection with S. stercoralis and hemorrhagic necrosis of the muscular layer, without mucosal destruction. The patient developed malabsorption syndrome and septic shock; he was treated with antibiotics and thiabendazole and was finally discharged in a good general condition. CVID is a rare disease and its association with systemic strongyloidiasis is very uncommon, but it has been reported in patients on corticosteroids. Hemorrhagic necrosis of the muscular layer without mucosal destruction was not found in the literature studied.

Gangrena gasosa - uma rara complicaçäo da apendicite aguda / Gas gangrene - a rare complication of acute appendicitis

The author present a case of acute appendicitis complicated by gas gangrene of the abdominal wall. A right hemicolectomy, and debridement of abdominal wall and thigh were done. The patient diet. Gas gangrene of the abdominal wall is a rare complication of anaerobic germs, with high mortality (88 per cent). Hyperbaric therapy may be used in these cases