Quality-adjusted life years and surgical waiting list: Systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is a metric that is increasingly used today in the field of health economics to evaluate the value of different medical treatments and procedures. Surgical waiting lists (SWLs) represent a pressing problem in public healthcare. The QALY measure has rarely been used in the context of surgery. It would be interesting to know how many QALYs are lost by patients on SWLs. AIM: To investigate the relationship between QALYs and SWLs in a systematic review of the scientific literature. METHODS: The study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. An unlimited search was carried out in PubMed, updated on January 19, 2024. Data on the following variables were investigated and analyzed: Specialty, country of study, procedure under study, scale used to measure QALYs, the use of a theoretical or real-life model, objectives of the study and items measured, the economic value assigned to the QALY in the country in question, and the results and conclusions published. RESULTS: Forty-eight articles were selected for the study. No data were found regarding QALYs lost on SWLs. The specialties in which QALYs were studied the most in relation to the waiting list were urology and general surgery, with 15 articles each. The country in which the most studies of QALYs were carried out was the United States (n = 21), followed by the United Kingdom (n = 9) and Canada (n = 7). The most studied procedure was organ transplantation (n = 39), including 15 kidney, 14 liver, 5 heart, 4 lung, and 1 intestinal. Arthroplasty (n = 4), cataract surgery (n = 2), bariatric surgery (n = 1), mosaicplasty (n = 1), and septoplasty (n = 1) completed the surgical interventions included. Thirty-nine of the models used were theoretical (the most frequently applied being the Markov model, n = 34), and nine were real-life. The survey used to measure quality of life in 11 articles was the European Quality of Life-5 dimensions, but in 32 articles the survey was not specified. The willingness-to-pay per QALY gained ranged from $100000 in the United States to €20000 in Spain. CONCLUSION: The relationship between QALYs and SWLs has only rarely been studied in the literature. The rate of QALYs lost on SWLs has not been determined. Future research is warranted to address this issue.

Comparison and combination of three data sources from patient medical records to determine optimal quantification of postoperative morbidity according to the Clavien Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index. A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: It is currently unknown which data sources from the clinical history, or combination thereof, should be evaluated to achieve the most complete calculation of postoperative complications (PC). The objectives of this study were: to analyze the morbidity and mortality of 200 consecutive patients undergoing major surgery, to determine which data sources or combination collect the maximum morbidity, and to determine the accuracy of the morbidity reflected in the discharge report. METHODS: Observational and prospective cohort study. The sum of all PC found in the combined review of medical notes, nursing notes, and a specific form was considered the gold standard. PC were classified according to the Clavien Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). RESULTS: The percentage of patients who presented PC according to the gold standard, medical notes, nursing notes and form were: 43.5%, 37.5%, 35% and 18.7% respectively. The combination of sources improved CCI agreement by 8%-40% in the overall series and 39.1-89.7 % in patients with PC. The correct recording of PC was inversely proportional to the complexity of the surgery, and the combination of sources increased the degree of agreement with the gold standard by 35 %-67.5% in operations of greater complexity. The CDC and CCI of the discharge report coincided with the gold-standard values in patients with PC by 46.8% and 18.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of data sources, particularly medical and nursing notes, considerably increases the quantification of PC in general, most notably in complex interventions.

Assessment of postoperative morbidity in Spanish hospitals: Results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: The methodology used for recording, evaluating and reporting postoperative complications (PC) is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine how PC are recorded, evaluated, and reported in General and Digestive Surgery Services (GDSS) in Spain, and to assess their stance on morbidity audits. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, an anonymous survey of 50 questions was sent to all the heads of GDSS at hospitals in Spain. RESULTS: The survey was answered by 67 out of 222 services (30.2%). These services have a reference population (RP) of 15 715 174 inhabitants, representing 33% of the Spanish population. Only 15 services reported being requested to supply data on morbidity by their hospital administrators. Eighteen GDSS, with a RP of 3 241 000 (20.6%) did not record PC. Among these, 7 were accredited for some area of training. Thirty-six GDSS (RP 8 753 174 (55.7%) did not provide details on all PC in patients' discharge reports. Twenty-four (37%) of the 65 GDSS that had started using a new surgical procedure/technique had not recorded PC in any way. Sixty-five GDSS were not concerned by the prospect of their results being audited, and 65 thought that a more comprehensive knowledge of PC would help them improve their results. Out of the 37 GDSS that reported publishing their results, 27 had consulted only one source of information: medical progress records in 11 cases, and discharge reports in 9. CONCLUSIONS: This study reflects serious deficiencies in the recording, evaluation and reporting of PC by GDSS in Spain.

Surgery of Colorectal Liver Metastases Involving the Inferior Vena Cava: A Systematic Review.

Combined hepatic and inferior vena cava (IVC) resection is the only potentially curative treatment for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) involving the IVC. Most of the existing data come from case reports or small case series. In this paper, a systematic review based on the PICO strategy was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Papers from January 1980 to December 2022 were searched in Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library databases. Articles considered for inclusion had to present data on simultaneous liver and IVC resection for CRLM and report surgical and/or oncological outcomes. From a total of 1175 articles retrieved, 29, including a total of 188 patients, met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 58.3 ± 10.8 years. The most frequent techniques used were right hepatectomy ± caudate lobe for hepatic resections (37.8%), lateral clamping (44.8%) for vascular control, and primary closure (56.8%) for IVC repair. The thirty-day mortality reached 4.6%. Tumour relapse was reported in 65.8% of the cases. The median overall survival (OS) was 34 months (with a confidence interval of 30-40 months), and the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS were 71.4%, 19.8%, and 7.1%, respectively. In the absence of prospective randomized studies, which are difficult to perform, IVC resection seems to be safe and feasible.

Pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático, una entidad de difícil diagnóstico / Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver: a condition hard to diagnose

RESUMEN El pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático es una lesión muy infrecuente, sin una etiología ni patogenia claras. Su diagnóstico preoperatorio no es habitual pero, en caso de realizarse, puede evitar la cirugía. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven, con antecedente de lupus cutáneo que, tras debutar con una pancreatitis aguda, presenta episodios de colangitis y cuyos hallazgos radiológicos no permiten descartar la presencia de un colangiocarcinoma, por lo que se realiza hepatectomía izquierda, siendo el diagnóstico histológico final de pseudotumor inflamatorio hepático.

ABSTRACT Inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver are rare and lack clear etiology and pathogenesis. The preoperative diagnosis is seldom made but it avoids unnecessary surgery. We report the case of a young male patient with a history of cutaneous lupus and episodes cholangitis after an acute pancreatitis. As the imaging tests could not rule out cholangiocarcinoma, a left liver resection was performed, and the final histologic diagnosis was inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver.

Heridas por asta de toro, análisis de 138 casos.

OBJECTIVE: Bull-horn injuries (BHI) are unique and there is reduced published literature about it. We present an analysis of a 11-year BHI case series. METHOD: Study of 138 cases developed during a 11-year period with hospitalization admission greater than 24 hours with diagnosis of BHI/contusion. We classified patients in two groups: group A, patients undergoing procedures under general anaesthesia and group B undergoing procedures under local anaesthesia. Variables: age, sex, date, hospitalization length, main region affected, Comprehensive complication index (CCI, ISS, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, stay and mortality. Statistical analysis: t-Student test, ANOVA, χ2 and linear or logistic regression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: ISS was related to hospital stay, CCI, ICU admission and type of treatment applied. The comparative statistical analysis of variables between both groups determined a significant difference in age, ISS and hospitalization length, being greater in those belonging to group A. There is a more risk of undergoing surgery by increasing age, ISS and presenting the wounds in thorax-abdomen-pelvis area. CCI may be a good method of quantifying postoperatory morbidity in polytraumatized patients or in other areas besides the abdomen.

OBJETIVO: Las heridas por asta de toro (HAT) poseen características únicas y existe literatura escasa en esta área. Presentamos un análisis de 11 años de pacientes con HAT. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo y analítico de 138 casos durante un periodo de 11 años, de pacientes ingresados durante más de 24 horas por HAT. Clasificamos a los pacientes en dos grupos: grupo A, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia general, y grupo B, sometidos a procedimientos bajo anestesia local. Variables recogidas: edad, sexo, mes del suceso, hospitalización (días), región afectada, Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), ingreso y estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y mortalidad. Análisis estadístico: t de Student, ANOVA, χ2, regresión lineal y logística. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: El ISS se relaciona directamente con la estancia hospitalaria, el CCI, el ingreso en UCI y el tratamiento recibido. Entre ambos grupos se evidenció una diferencia significativa en edad, ISS y estancia hospitalaria, siendo mayores en el grupo A. Existe un mayor riesgo de necesitar cirugía conforme aumentan la edad, el ISS y las heridas en tórax, abdomen o pelvis. El CCI puede ser un buen método para cuantificar la morbilidad posoperatoria en pacientes politraumatizados o con lesiones en otras áreas distintas del abdomen.

Lipoma isquiorrectal gigante como causa de dolor anal, incontinencia fecal y dispareunia. Una asociación excepcional / Giant ischiorectal lipoma as a cause of anal pain, fecal incontinence and dyspareunia. An exceptional association

RESUMEN Los lipomas suponen el 50% de los tumores de partes blandas. Podrían comprimir estructuras adyacen tes. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 49 años con dolor anal intenso asociado a urgencia defecatoria, tenesmo, incontinencia y dispareunia. Presentaba tumoración blanda a nivel del glúteo derecho compa tible con lipoma. La resonancia magnética identificó una masa de 15,7 × 9 × 6 cm, de apariencia encap sulada, que se extendía por la fosa isquioanal e isquiorrectal con impronta sobre el músculo elevador del ano, desplazando el recto. Se efectuó exéresis en bloque, con alta en 48 horas sin complicaciones. El informe de Anatomía Patológica definitivo fue lipoma. Valoramos la asociación de lipoma e incontinencia fecal con una búsqueda en PubMed. Se obtuvieron 87 artículos de los cuales ninguno respondía al objeto del estudio. Esta sintomatología es un fenómeno excepcional en la literatura, que se diagnostica funda mentalmente mediante RM y ecoendoscopia. Gran resultado funcional tras la exéresis.

ABSTRACT Lipomas account for 50% of soft-tissue tumors and may compress adjacent structures. We report the case of a 49-year-old female patient with intense anal pain associated with defecation urgency, tenesmus, incontinence and dyspareunia. A soft tumor was present in the right buttock suggestive of lipoma. On magnetic resonance imaging an apparently encapsulated mass with a size of 15.7 × 9 × 6 cm was identified extending through the ischioanal fossa and ischiorectal fossa, displacing the levator ani muscle and rectum. The lesion was excised en bloc and the patient was discharged 48 hours later without complications. The pathology report concluded that the lesion corresponded to a lipoma. We performed a bibliographic search in PubMed to assess the association between lipoma and fecal incontinence; Of the 87 articles retrieved, none of them responded to the subject of the study. These symptoms are exceptional in the literature. The diagnosis is made mainly with magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasound. An excellent functional outcome was achieved with surgical excision.

The Cost of Postoperative Complications and Economic Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index: Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) via an assessment of its relation to postoperative costs. BACKGROUND: The CCI summarizes all the postoperative complications graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) on a numerical scale. Its relation to hospital costs has not been validated to date. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study, including all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery service during the 1-year study period. All complications graded with the CDC and CCI and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. The surgeries were classified according to their Operative Severity Score (OSS) and in 4 groups of homogeneous surgeries. All postoperative costs were recorded. RESULTS: In all, 1850 patients were included, of whom 513 presented complications (27.7%). The CDC and the CCI were moderately to strongly correlated with overall postoperative costs (OPCs) in all OSS groups (rs = 0.444-0.810 vs 0.445-0.820; P < 0.001), homogeneous surgeries (rs = 0.364-0.802 vs 0.364-0.813; P < 0.001), prolongation of postoperative stay (rs = 0.802 vs 0.830; P < 0.001), and initial operating room costs (rs = 0.448 vs 0.451; P < 0.001). This correlation was higher in emergency surgery. With higher CDC grades, the OPC tended to increase an upward trend. In the multivariate analysis, CDC, CCI, age, and duration of surgery were all associated with OPC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, the CCI presented associations with OPC. This demonstration of its economic validity enhances its clinical validity.

Evaluation of Preoperative Clinical and Serological Determinations in Complicated Acute Appendicitis: A Score for Predicting Complicated Appendicitis. / Valoración de parámetros clínicos y analíticos preoperatorios en apendicitis aguda complicada. Score para predecir apendicitis complicada.

BACKGROUND: To analyze whether clinical and analytical parameters differ according to histopathology in cases of acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study including patients (>14 years of age) admitted for suspicion of AA from 1 April 2014 to 31 July 2016. Histopathology was divided into complicated (including perforated and gangrenous AA) and uncomplicated appendicitis (phlegmonous). Sex, age, temperature of patients on admission to the Emergency Department, symptom duration, preoperative white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), C-reactive protein (CRP) and hospital stay were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-five patients were analyzed, and 284 were included. Appendicitis was uncomplicated in 194 (68.3%) and complicated in 90 (31.7%). Age, symptom duration, neutrophil percentage, CRP and hospital stay were higher in the complicated AA group (P < .05). The mean differences between uncomplicated and complicated AA were: age 13.2 years (95% CI: 8.2-18.2), symptom duration 14.1hours (95% CI: 6.3-21.9), neutrophil percentage 5.0% (95% CI: 3.2-6.8), CRP 73.6mg/l (95% CI: 50.0-97.2) and hospital stay 2.2 days (95% CI: 1.4-3.0), with p<0.05 for all these variables. A model based on the preoperative parameters (age, symptom duration, neutrophil percentage and CRP) was calculated to predict the likelihood of complicated AA. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of the model had an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.85). CONCLUSION: This model is able to diagnose complicated AA without the need for imaging techniques, although it must be validated with prospective analysis.

Cost of postoperative complications: How to avoid calculation errors.

Postoperative complications (PC) are a basic health outcome, but no surgery service in the world records and/or audits the PC associated with all the surgical procedures it performs. Most studies that have assessed the cost of PC suffer from poor quality and a lack of transparency and consistency. The payment system in place often rewards the volume of services provided rather than the quality of patients' clinical outcomes. Without a thorough registration of PC, the economic costs involved cannot be determined. An accurate, reliable appraisal would help identify areas for investment in order to reduce the incidence of PC, improve surgical results, and bring down the economic costs. This article describes how to quantify and classify PC using the Clavien-Dindo classification and the comprehensive complication index, discusses the perspectives from which economic evaluations are performed and the minimum postoperative follow-up established, and makes various recommendations. The availability of accurate and impartially audited data on PC will help reduce their incidence and bring down costs. Patients, the health authorities, and society as a whole are sure to benefit.

Radical surgery in hepatic hydatidosis: analysis of results in an endemic area.

INTRODUCTION: radical surgery in hepatic hydatidosis is associated with less morbidity and recurrence than conservative surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a retrospective observational study of patients with liver hydatid cyst surgery was performed. Seventy-one patients with 90 cysts were included between 2007 and 2017, and radical surgery was performed in 69.01 %. RESULTS: there was no difference in morbidity, mortality, biliary leakage or recurrence according to surgery. Complicated cysts were associated with a longer hospital stay and morbidity. CONCLUSION: decision-making should consider age, comorbidity, cyst characteristics and available resources. Radical surgery should be applied whenever feasible as it achieves better results with an adequate selection of patients.

Laparoscopic Removal of a Displaced Vertical Gastric Clip Causing Gastric Outlet Obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, some surgical teams have used a laparoscopic vertical clip gastroplasty to treat morbid obesity. This approach mimics the principle of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, but using a completely reversible mechanism. Displacement of the device has been reported in 7.7% of cases. The manner of its withdrawal has not been described to date. METHODS: A 50-year-old woman with a body mass index (BMI) of 36.3 kg/m2 underwent a laparoscopic calibrated tubular gastroplasty at another hospital with an 38-F orogastric tube by a B-CLAMP® gastric clip on January 11, 2019. The patient came to the Emergency Department 8 months later due to complete oral intolerance, with continuous vomiting of 5 days of evolution. Physical examination: BMI 28.9 kg/m2, dehydration; depressed abdomen, with mainly supraumbilical pain and distension, and significant tympanism on palpation. No guarding or signs of peritoneal irritation. Simple abdominal x-ray showed gastric distension and gastric clip. The nasogastric tube drained 2500 cc of gastrobiliary contents. The computed tomography showed the gastric clip displaced and located medially to the esophagogastric junction, the lesser curvature, and the antropyloric region. RESULTS: A laparoscopic approach was performed using 4 trocars. Signs of gastric suffering in the antral region. The clip was located to the right of the lesser curvature covered by a layer of fibrosis. The clip was removed by a 12-mm trocar. There were no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: This video demonstrates a form to extract a displaced gastric clip used to create a calibrated tubular gastroplasty using a laparoscopic approach.