Surgical resources in advanced thyroid cancer treatment with aerodigestive tract invasion.

BACKGROUND: Despite papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) excellent prognosis, 10-15% of patients may present aggressive local behaviour. We present two cases with different aerodigestive tract invasion partners in which two reconstructions were used, out of all the surgical resources we have planned preoperatively [1-4]. METHODS: Case 1: 57-year-old woman with asymmetric goitre and a 60mm nodule (Bethesda-VI). CT showed suspected involvement of aero-digestive tract. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) showed no tracheal invasion. Per oral endoscopic-US confirmed transmural oesophageal involvement. Surgery included total thyroidectomy(left recurrent laryngeal nerve was sacrificed), bilateral central and left lateral lymph node dissection, oesophageal partial resection and reconstruction with free radial flap. Case 2: 75-year-old male with cervical mass and haemoptysis. US showed a 62 mm nodule (Bethesda-VI). PET-CT showed tracheal invasion(bronchoscopy confirmatory). Per oral endoscopic-US showed no transmural oesophageal involvement. Surgery included total thyroidectomy (right recurrent laryngeal nerve was sacrificed), bilateral central lymph node dissection, tracheal resection and extra-mucosal oesophageal resection. RESULTS: First patient required tracheostomy. She presented a self-limiting salivary fistula. She was discharged after 6 weeks with good oral intake and tracheostomy closed. Pathology report showed multifocal papillary thyroid cancer(tall cells, 70mm),micro-metastatic lymph node involvement. Afterwards, radioiodine ablation was performed. Six months after surgery there was no evidence of structural disease and analysis showed Tg 1 µg/L. Second patient developed nosocomial pneumonia and was discharged after 3 weeks. Pathology report showed papillary thyroid cancer (insular growth, 52 mm), bilateral neck central lymph nodes involvement, transmural tracheal infiltration, free margins. Radioiodine ablation is pending. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of advanced/invasive PTC offers good results in terms of survival and quality of life. Adequate pre-surgical planning, which includes multiple surgical resources, and a multidisciplinary team approach are required.

Vitamin D Deficiency Reduces Postthyroidectomy Protracted Hypoparathyroidism Risk. Is Gland Preconditioning Possible?

Context: Hypoparathyroidism is the most frequent complication after total thyroidectomy (PT-hypoPTH). After 1 year, most patients recover parathyroid function; however, the implicated physiologic dynamics remain unknown. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is the main cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Whether this compensatory hyperparathyroidism could influence parathyroid function recovery (PFR) in the setting of PT-hypoPTH has not been studied. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative VDD on PFR. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with a prospectively maintained database including patients undergoing a total thyroidectomy between May 2014 and June 2019. Preoperative vitamin D (25(OH)D) less than 20 mg/mL was defined as VDD. Intact PTH less than 14 pg/mL on postoperative day 1 was defined as PT-hypoPTH. Transient PT-hypoPTH displayed PFR within the first year (early recovery: < 30 days; protracted recovery: > 30 days) whereas definite PT-hypoPTH did not. Survival analysis evaluated the effect of preoperative VDD on PFR, and a binary logistic regression model identified associated factors. Results: A total of 397 patients were identified. The observed rates of transient, protracted, and definite PT-hypoPTH were 32.9%, 15.1%, and 5.2%, respectively. Rates of VDD were higher in the early-recovery PT-hypoPTH group (55.2% vs 31.5%; P = .01). Preoperative VDD was associated with faster PFR (19 vs 35 days; P = .03) and behaved as a protective factor for protracted PT-hypoPTH (odds ratio 0.47; 95% CI, 0.25-0.881; P = .016) in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion: Preoperative VDD could act as a preconditioning factor of the parathyroid glands prior to the surgical aggression exerted against them during surgery aiding PFR. Basic research studies and prospective clinical trials are needed to explain the underlying physiological mechanisms and to provide further evidence to improve clinical management.

Effect of a surgical care bundle on the incidence of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery: a quasi-experimental intervention

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) have an important impact on morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study, therefore, sought to assess the effect of a surgical care bundle on the incidence of SSI in colorectal surgery. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study with reference to the introduction of a surgical care bundle in 2011. Our study population, made up of patients who underwent colorectal surgery, was divided into the following two periods: 2007-2011 (pre-intervention) and 2012-2017 (post-intervention). The intervention's effect on SSI incidence was analyzed using adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: A total of 1,727 patients were included in the study. SSI incidence was 13.0% before versus 11.6% after implementation of the care bundle (OR: 0.88, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.17, p = 0.37). Multivariate analysis showed that cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neutropenia, and emergency surgery were independently associated with SSI. In contrast, laparoscopic surgery proved to be a protective factor against SSI. Conclusions: Care bundles have proven to be very important in reducing SSI incidence since the measures that constitute these protocols are mutually reinforcing. In our study, the implementation of a care bundle reduced SSI incidence from 13% to 11.6%, though the reduction was not statistically significant.

Effect of a Surgical Care Bundle on the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Surgery: A Quasi-Experimental Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) have an important impact on morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: This study, therefore, sought to assess the effect of a surgical care bundle on the incidence of SSI in colorectal surgery. METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental intervention study with reference to the introduction of a surgical care bundle in 2011. Our study population, made up of patients who underwent colorectal surgery, was divided into the following two periods: 2007-2011 (pre-intervention) and 2012-2017 (post-intervention). The intervention's effect on SSI incidence was analyzed using adjusted odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: A total of 1,727 patients were included in the study. SSI incidence was 13.0% before versus 11.6% after implementation of the care bundle (OR: 0.88, 95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.17, p = 0.37). Multivariate analysis showed that cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neutropenia, and emergency surgery were independently associated with SSI. In contrast, laparoscopic surgery proved to be a protective factor against SSI. CONCLUSIONS: Care bundles have proven to be very important in reducing SSI incidence since the measures that constitute these protocols are mutually reinforcing. In our study, the implementation of a care bundle reduced SSI incidence from 13% to 11.6%, though the reduction was not statistically significant.

Acute Care Surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: Changes in volume, causes and complications. A multicentre retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Acute Care Surgery procedures performed in Spanish hospitals decreased significantly. The aim of this study was to compare Acute Care Surgery activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and during a control period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed including patients who underwent Acute Care Surgery in three tertiary care hospitals in Spain during a control (11th March 2019 to 21st April 2019) and a pandemic (16th March 2020 to 26th April 2020) period. Type of surgical procedures, patients' features and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: two hundred and eighty-five and 117 patients were included in each group. Mean number of patients who underwent Acute Care Surgery during the control and pandemic periods was 2.3 and 0.9 patients per day and hospital (p < 0.001), representing a 58.9% decrease in Acute Care Surgery activity. Time from symptoms onset to patient arrival at the Emergency Department was longer during the pandemic (44.6 vs. 71.0 h, p < 0.001). Surgeries due to acute cholecystitis and complications from previous elective procedures decreased (26.7% vs. 9.4%) during the pandemic, while bowel obstructions and abdominal wall hernia surgeries increased (12.3% vs. 22.2%) (p = 0.001). Morbidity was higher during pandemic period (34.7% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.022), although this difference was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis. Reoperation rate (17.9% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.212) and mortality (6.7% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.358) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant reduction in the performance of Acute Care Surgery procedures was observed. Moreso, a longer time from symptoms onset to patient arrival at the Emergency Department was noted. Higher morbidity was observed in patients undergoing Acute Care Surgery during the pandemic period, although there was not any difference in mortality or reoperation rate.

Transmediastinal and transcardiac gunshot wound with hemodynamic stability.

Cardiac injuries caused by knives and firearms are slightly increasing in our environment. We report the case of a 43-year-old male patient with a transmediastinal gunshot wound (TGSW) and a through-and-through cardiac wound who was hemodynamically stable upon his admission. He had an entrance wound below the left clavicle, with no exit wound, and decreased breath sounds in the right hemithorax. Chest X-ray showed the bullet in the right hemithorax and large right hemothorax. The ultrasound revealed pericardial effusion, and a chest tube produced 1500 cc. of blood, but he remained hemodynamically stable. Considering these findings, a median sternotomy was carried out, the through-and-through cardiac wounds were suture-repaired, lung laceration was sutured, and a pacemaker was placed in the right ventricle. The patient had uneventful recovery and was discharged home on the twelfth postoperative day. The management and prognosis of these patients are determined by the hemodynamic situation upon arrival to the Emergency Department (ED), as well as a prompt surgical repair if needed. Patients with a TGSW have been divided into three groups according to the SBP: group I, with SBP >100 mmHg; group II, with SBP 60-100 mmHg; and group III, with SBP <60 mmHg. The diagnostic workup and management should be tailored accordingly, and several series have confirmed high chances of success with conservative management when these patients are hemodynamically stable.

Trap-door incision for penetrating thoracic trauma: an obsolete approach?

Penetrating injuries to the subclavian vessels are uncommon and very severe lesions. They are difficult to expose and carry a high mortality. "Trap-door" incisions have lately been dismissed as too mutilating for the occasional victim of a penetrating thoracic trauma with massive bleeding difficult that is to expose. We present a case of severe bleeding from a stab wound in the left subclavicular area in a heavy-built patient where a "trap-door" incision proved inevitable to expose and repair the injury, and most probably saved his life.