Acute kidney injury after gynaecological surgery - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an abruptly occurring loss of renal function, which includes both kidney injury and kidney impairment. It is associated with mortality and morbidity due to the increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the incidence of post-operative AKI in gynaecological patients without pre-existing kidney injury. METHODS: Systematic searches were made for studies examining the association between AKI and gynaecological surgery published between 2004 and March 2021. The primary outcome was to compare two subgroups of studies; a screening group where AKI was diagnosed by systematic clinical screening and a non-screening group where AKI was diagnosed randomly. RESULTS: Among the 1,410 records screened, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting AKI in 224,713 patients. The pooled incidence for post-operative AKI after gynaecological surgery in the screening subgroup was 7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04-0.12). The overall pooled result for post-operative AKI after gynaecological surgery in the non-screening subgroup was 0% (95% CI: 0.00-0.01). CONCLUSION: We found a 7% overall risk of post-operative AKI after gynaecological surgery. We found a higher incidence of AKI in the studies screening for kidney injury, illustrating that the condition is underdiagnosed when not screened for. An important risk exists of healthy women developing severe renal damage as AKI is a common post-operative complication with a potentially severe outcome that may be prevented in early diagnosis.

[Mental health after ectopic pregnancy].

Ectopic pregnancy results in an urgent, sometimes lifethreatening condition and always leads to pregnancy loss. We conducted a literature search on mental health after ectopic pregnancy. The level of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and grief was high, comparable to the level after miscarriage. Several interventions such as good communication, information or follow-up counselling sessions improved mental health. We recommend that clinicians focus on these aspects during admission and follow-up at the general practitioners.

Microbreaks in Laparoscopic Appendectomy have No Effect on Surgeons' Performance and Well-being.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal fatigue and pain as a consequence of performing surgery is found in 70%-87% of surgeons. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of microbreaks on surgeons' performance and well-being during laparoscopic appendectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a blinded randomized crossover trial. Twelve surgeons were tested at three time points: Before surgery (baseline), after surgery without intervention, and after surgery where microbreaks were used every 10 min for 10 s. The musculoskeletal endurance test was used as the primary outcome. Performance was assessed by procedure length and a manual precision test. The surgeons' well-being was measured by level of exhaustion rated on the Borg CR10 scale and visual analog scale ratings for musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck, shoulders, back, wrists, and legs. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in musculoskeletal endurance, procedure time, or the manual precision test. The level of exhaustion was significantly increased after both normal procedures (P = 0.01) and procedures with microbreaks (P = 0.03). However, no significant difference was found between the two (P = 0.25). There was a significant increase from baseline regarding self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort in the back, shoulders, and legs after surgery but no significant differences between procedures with and without microbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find a positive effect of microbreaks on laparoscopic appendectomy. Exhaustion and discomfort were present after surgery, demonstrating that short surgical procedures (less than 60 min) can result in fatigue in surgeons.

[Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome - an MRI diagnosis often missed in pregnancy].

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a complex clinical condition with a wide clinical spectrum. In this report two cases illustrate two different onsets. The first patient presented with general seizures, whereas the other presented with symptoms of pre-eclampsia, which developed into sudden blindness. Both patients had uneventful caesarean sections performed, with delivery of healthy children. Due to CT scans of the cerebrum, correct treatment and diagnosis were delayed in both cases, but subsequently, PRES was confirmed by MRI. Both patients were discharged in good health.

[The use of chewing gum stimulates bowel motility after gynaecological surgery]. / Brug af tyggegummi fremmer tarmmotiliteten efter gynækologisk-obstetrisk kirurgi.

Post-operative ileus is a condition which occurs after abdominal surgery. The incidence of post-operative ileus after gynaecological surgery is estimated to be 10-15% (range: 5-25%). The highest rates occur after laparotomy. Chewing gum stimulates bowel motility after gynaecological surgery and reduces time to first flatulence and faeces. Data on reduction in ileus symptoms and reduced hospital stay are not sufficient. Chewing gum is well tolerated and this article recommends it for post-operative optimization.

No Circadian Variation in Surgeons' Ability to Diagnose Acute Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if there were circadian variations in surgeons' ability to diagnose acute appendicitis. DESIGN: Retrospective database study of all patients admitted to an acute surgical procedure under the potential diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a 4-year period. The day was divided into 2 time intervals, day to evening hours (08:00-23:59) and night hours (00:00-07:59). Relevant data regarding the admission and surgical procedures were categorized into these 2 time intervals. SETTING: Department of Surgery at a Danish university hospital in Copenhagen. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2366 patients were included. There were no age limitations or selection in sex. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the ability to diagnose appendicitis in day-evening hours vs night hours (p = 0.391), nor was any significant difference found on weekdays (Monday-Thursday) vs weekends (Friday-Sunday) (p = 0.278). There were no differences in duration of the procedures, rate of conversion, or severity of postoperative surgical complications between the 2 groups. More patients underwent diagnostic imaging during day to evening hours compared with night hours (308 vs 46; p = 0.014). The use of imaging had no effect on the ability to diagnose appendicitis. Male sex showed a higher probability of the diagnosis being appendicitis compared with other or no pathology (odds ratio: 3.094; p < 0.001). Age between 40 and 80 years was significantly associated with a higher probability of the diagnosis being appendicitis compared with other or no pathology. The negative appendectomy rate was 10.5%. CONCLUSION: We found no difference in the surgeons' ability to diagnose acute appendicitis during night hours compared with day to evening hours.

Test re-test reliability and construct validity of the star-track test of manual dexterity.

Objectives. We wished to determine test re-test reliability and construct validity of the star-track test of manual dexterity. Design. Test re-test reliability was examined in a controlled study. Construct validity was tested in a blinded randomized crossover study. Setting. The study was performed at a university hospital in Denmark. Participants. A total of 11 subjects for test re-test and 20 subjects for the construct validity study were included. All subjects were healthy volunteers. Intervention. The test re-test trial had two measurements with 2 days pause in between. The interventions in the construct validity study included baseline measurement, intervention 1: fatigue, intervention 2: stress, and intervention 3: fatigue and stress. There was a 2 day pause between each intervention. Main outcome measure. An integrated measure of completion time and number of errors was used. Results. All participants completed the study (test re-test n = 11; construct validity n = 20). The test re-testshowed a strong Pearson product-moment correlation (r = 0.90, n = 11, P < 0.01) with no sign of learning effect. The 20 subjects in the construct validity trial were randomized to the order of the four interventions, so that all subjects completed each intervention once. A repeated measures ANOVA determined that mean integrated measure differed between interventions (p = 0.002). Post hoc tests using Bonferroni correction revealed that compared with baseline all interventions had significantly higher integrated scores ranging from 47-59% difference in mean. Conclusion. The star track test of manual dexterity had a strong test re-test reliability, and was able to discriminate between a subject's normal manual dexterity and dexterity after exposure to fatigue and/or stress.

Working night shifts affects surgeons' biological rhythm.

BACKGROUND: Chronic sleep deprivation combined with work during the night is known to affect performance and compromise residents' own safety. The aim of this study was to examine markers of circadian rhythm and the sleep-wake cycle in surgeons working night shifts. METHODS: Surgeons were monitored prospectively for 4 days: pre call, on call, post call day 1 (PC1), and post call day 2 (PC2). The urinary metabolite of melatonin and cortisol in saliva were measured to assess the circadian rhythm. Sleep and activity were measured by actigraphy. Subjective measures were assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and Visual Analog Scale of fatigue, general well-being, and sleep quality. RESULTS: For both metabolite of melatonin and cortisol, a significant difference (P < .05) was found in the measurement period between on call and pre call values. There was increased sleep time during the day on call and on PC1. For all subjective measures, a marked deterioration was seen on PC1. CONCLUSION: Surgeons' circadian rhythm was affected by working night shifts.

[Micropauses during surgery may benefit surgeons and patients].

Long working hours can lead to physical and mental fatigue. Surveys show that many surgeons suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. A method used to counter fatigue is frequent short pauses. Micropauses in prevention of musculoskeletal disorders appear to be effective, but more clinical research is needed. Studies show that micropauses may reduce muscular fatigue and improve concentration and precision of surgeons but the effect on patient outcome is still unknown.

The impact of sleep deprivation on surgeons' performance during night shifts.

The median incidence of adverse events that may result in patient injury is a total of 9% of all in-hospital admissions. In order to reduce this high incidence initiatives are continuously worked on that can reduce the risk of patient harm during admission by strengthening hospital systems. However, the influence of physicians' shift work on the risk on adverse events in patients remains controversial. In the studies included in this PhD thesis we wished to examine the impact of sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disturbances on surgeons' during night shifts. Further we wished to examine the impact sleep deprivation had on surgeons' performance as a measure of how patient safety would be affected. We found that sleep deprivation subjectively had an impact on the surgeons and that they were aware of the effect fatigue had on their work performance. As a result they applied different mechanisms to cope with fatigue. Attending surgeons felt that they had a better overview now, due to more experience and better skills, than when they were residents, despite the fatigue on night shifts. We monitored surgeons' performance during night shifts by laparoscopic simulation and cognitive tests in order to assess their performance; no deterioration was found when pre call values were compared to on call values. The surgeons were monitored prospectively for 4 days across a night shift in order to assess the circadian rhythm and sleep. We found that surgeons' circadian rhythm was affected by working night shifts and their sleep pattern altered, resembling that of shift workers on the post call day. We assessed the quality of admission in medical records as a measure of surgeons' performance, during day, evening and night hours and found no deterioration in the quality of night time medical records. However, consistent high errors were found in several categories. These findings should be followed up in the future with respect of clarifying mechanism and consequences for patient safety. In conclusion the assessment of the impact of sleep deprivation on surgeons' performance during night shift is complex and multi-faceted. Surgeons do feel an impact of sleep deprivation during night shifts, and their circadian rhythm is affected. Despite this, it appears that the surgeons are able to compensate for the effects of sleep loss. We did not find any results to support that sleep loss results in psychomotor or cognitive deterioration during a 17-hour night shift or that sleep deprivation during a night shift results in reduced patient safety.