ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-acquired hypernatremia (IAH) is a serious electrolyte disturbance that recently was shown to present an independent risk factor for mortality in critically ill patients. IAH has not been widely investigated in Surgical ICU (SICU) patients. No study has specifically investigated IAH epidemiology in the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in general SICU. The objectives of this study are to assess the epidemiological characteristics and prognostic impact of IAH on SICU mortality and outcome in KSA and compare it with international figures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study on a prospectively collected data of patients (14 years of age or older) admitted to SICU over 2 years, with normal serum sodium on admission and who developed IAH (serum sodium above 145 mmol/L) from day two of admission. Traumatic brain injury patients with therapeutic target sodium level above 145 mmol/L were excluded. RESULTS: Over 2 years study period, 864 patients were admitted to SICU. A total of 50 (5.8%) developed IAH and were included in the study. Twenty-eight (56%) patients were male. The median age was 47 (14-84) years. The mean (± standard deviation) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 17 ± 6.5. The incident density (the rate of occurrence of IAH per 100 days care for SICU admission for the first episode) was 0.71. Risk factors include mechanical ventilation, male sex, age ≥50 years, postgastrointestinal surgeries, weekend and night admission. SICU mortality was 40%. The SICU and hospital median (range) length of stay was 8.3 (2-53) and 28.8 (3-95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IAH is not uncommon in SICU patients and is associated with increased risk of SICU as well as hospital mortality.
ABSTRACT
Objective. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is a new advanced technology to further minimize the invasiveness of laparoscopy through a single small incision hidden in the umbilicus. The objective is to describe short and long-term outcomes of SILS cholecystectomy. Methodology. Patients with gallbladder pathologies were unselectively enrolled and were prospectively studied between April 2009 and April 2010 and completed a post-operative follow-up for 12 months. Results. There were 22 women and 8 men. Mean age was 46 years. Twenty-one patients had biliary colic, seven had acute cholecystitis, one had gallbladder polyp, and another had resolving acute pancreatitis. Mean operative time was 104.3 ± 44 minutes. Mean BMI was 30.42 and the average pain score was 3.2 ± 1.1. One more port was inserted to help in finishing the procedure in one patient. There was no conversion to a standard laparoscopic or open technique. There was one post-operative bile collection from a missed cyctic duct of Luschka. Mean hospital stay was 1.2 days. Conclusion. Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible. Early conversion to a standard laparoscopic technique is advised to avoid serious complications. The procedure has an obvious cosmetic benefit. Additional prospective trials are necessary to define the benefits of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
