Super super obesity with a BMI of 98 kg/m2: a case report.

Standards of care in regards to super-super obese patients are yet to be evolving due to the sparsity of this weight category along with the high morbidity and mortality rates attributed to it. We report a successful case of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for a 35 years old lady with a body mass index (BMI) of 98 kg/m2.

A Rare Case and Presentation of Traumatic Penetrating Aortic Arch Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review.

A penetrating injury to the thoracic aorta is an extremely rare, life-threatening condition, with a high overall mortality rate. The incidence of a penetrating injury to the aortic arch is unknown because the majority of patients die before receiving adequate treatment due to excessive bleeding. Through a literature review, 23 cases of favorable outcomes were found. We report the first case from the Arab Gulf states. We present the extremely rare case of a 23-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with stable hemodynamics after being stabbed in the left supraclavicular region. The investigation revealed that he suffered from aortic arch transection and contrast extravasation. The patient was rushed to the operating room, where a primary repair was performed through a median sternotomy approach. The patient was discharged on the 14th postoperative day without complications. Penetrating chest trauma (aortic arch injury) is uncommon, and it is typically fatal at the scene or time of injury, even in patients who arrive at the emergency department alive or while undergoing surgery. CT aortography should be performed on patients with normal vital signs but abnormal clinical findings suggestive of a vascular injury. For injuries of types II to IV without concomitant injuries, immediate surgical repair is recommended. Aortic arch penetrating injuries continue to be extremely lethal. Emergency surgical repair remains the standard of care and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, managing such uncommon injuries remains a formidable challenge. We encourage additional studies.

Surgical site infections after trauma laparotomy. An observational study from a major trauma center in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after trauma laparotomy and evaluate variables on presentation to the emergency department (ED) associated with the development of SSI. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of patients presenting directly from the scene who underwent trauma laparotomy between January 2016 and December 2017. The primary outcome variable was SSI, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline. A univariate assessment with demographics, vital signs, and acute management was reported. Results: A total of 70 patients were included for data analysis. Of these, 9 (12.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.9-22.7%) patients developed SSI, including 5 patients with bowel injury (small bowel; n=3, colonic injuries; n=2). Most cases were diagnosed after 7 days in the hospital. All patients developed superficial incisional (skin and subcutaneous tissue) SSI. No predetermined variables, including bowel injury (p=0.08) or duration of surgery (p=0.09), demonstrated a statistically significant association with the development of SSI. Conclusion: Rates of SSI after trauma laparotomy were similar to previous reports from other centers. Surgical site infection after trauma laparotomy was diagnosed at a delayed time point after surgery, and patient demographics, injury characteristics, and acute surgical management did not appear to be associated with subsequent diagnosis of SSI.

Intraoperative macroscopic tumour consistency is associated with overall survival after cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastases: A retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the impact of intraoperative macroscopic tumour consistency on short-term and long-term outcomes after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) for appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastases. METHODS: Macroscopic intraoperative tumour consistency was classified in three groups as soft (jelly-like geltatinous tumours), hard (hard tumour nodules without gelatinous features) and intermediate (both soft and hard features). In-hospital mortality, major morbidity, intensive care unit (ICU), high dependency unit (HDU) and total hospital stay, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared. RESULTS: The three groups had similar perioperative short-term outcomes. Patients with soft, intermediate and hard tumours revealed differences in OS (p < 0.001) and DFS (p = 0.03). Multivariable analysis revealed a shorter OS for patients with hard versus soft tumours (HR for hard tumours = 4.43, 95%CI 2.19-9.00). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative macroscopic tumour consistency may be used as a prognostic marker for survival in patients with appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal metastases.

An analysis of the morbidity associated with abdominal wall resection and reconstruction after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC).

PURPOSE: CRS/HIPEC has evolved as an effective method for management of selected patients with peritoneal metastatic disease. Abdominal wall resection (AWR) is often required, and may require complex reconstructions, such as component separation (CST) leading to wound dehiscence (WD) and wound complications (WC). The purpose of our study was to analyse factors contributing to wound complications and wound recurrence (WR). METHODS: Retrospective review of a prospective database of 1074 patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC procedures from 1996 to 2017 at St George Hospital. RESULTS: AWR and reconstruction for abdominal wall metastases was performed in 197 (18.3%) patients. Tumour types included mesothelioma, appendiceal, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Grade III WC were found in 21 (10.6%). WD was found in 14 (7.1%) compared to 30 (3.4%) in 877 patients without AWR (p = 0.028). Midline WR was seen in 26 (13.3%) with AWR and mean time to recurrence of 18 months. Multivariable' regression analysis showed age (OR 1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, p = 0.022) and CST (OR 9.63, 95%CI 2.55-36.23, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of Grade III WC, and CST (OR 4.19, 95%CI 1.27-13.86, p = 0.019) was an independent predictor of WD after AWR. The presence of a higher prior surgical score (PSS) 2-3 (OR 2.74, 95%CI 1.16-6.49, p = 0.022) was an independent predictor of midline WR post AWR. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that patients undergoing AWR have a higher incidence of postoperative WD. CST was associated with an increased incidence of Grade III WC and WD. Patients with a higher PSS were more likely to develop midline wound recurrence.

Long term survival and perioperative propensity score matched outcomes in diaphragmatic interventions in cytoreductive surgery + intra-peritoneal chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of short and long term outcomes of diaphragmatic interventions in cyto-reductive surgery (CRS) and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (IPC). METHODS: 1230 consecutive CRS/IPC procedures were preformed between 1996 and 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Redo procedures and incomplete cyto-reductions were excluded. Among these, 599 underwent diaphragmatic intervention. Preoperative heterogeneity was assessed for in 6 parameters and addressed with propensity score matching. CRS/IPC requiring diaphragmatic interventions were compared to CRS/IPC without diaphragmatic involvement. Ten perioperative outcomes were measured. Overall survival was assessed based on diagnosis type. RESULTS: Intraoperative results revealed a significant increase in operative hours (7.85 vs. 7.28, p = 0.033). Transfusion requirements were insignificantly different. Postoperatively, increased grade III and IV complications (36% vs. 26%, p = 0.052) were noted. There was no difference with regards to intensive care stay, hospital length of stay, hospital death and return to theatre. In terms of respiratory specific complications, an increased incidence of pneumothorax (13% vs. 3%, p = 0.001) and pleural effusions (24% vs. 16%, p = 0.043) were noted, whilst the differences in pneumonia were insignificant. Overall survival revealed diaphragm interventions; did not affect survival outcomes in colorectal cancers (p = 0.750, RR = 1.077, CI 0.683-1.697) and increased relative risk in low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (p = 0.025, RR = 2.437, CI 1.121-5.298). CONCLUSION: After our three-tiered research strategy, we conclude that despite the marginal increase in short term morbidity; diaphragmatic interventions do not decrease survival in colorectal cancers and diaphragmatic disease in LAMNs maybe an independent prognosticator of disease aggression.

Incidental right-sided diaphragmatic eventration after blunt thoracoabdominal trauma.

[No Abstract Available].

Survival difference between mucinous vs. non-mucinous colorectal cancer following cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: It is believed that the oncologic behavior of mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma (MC) is different from non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMC). The aim of the study is to compare long-term survivals between patients with MC and those with NMC following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data of patients with peritoneal metastases of colorectal origin following CRS and IPC. Group I included patients with MC which was defined as being composed of >50% extracellular mucin. Group II included those with NMC. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the location of primary tumor. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were included in this study. The two groups had similar hospital mortality, high dependency unit stay. MC group had a significantly longer mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p = .037) and total hospital stay (p = .037). There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between two groups (p = .657 and p = .938, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of mucin was not an independent negative prognostic factor for OS (p = .190). CONCLUSION: In summary, patients with MC had a similar long-term survival outcome with those with NMC following CRS and IPC.

CEA to peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) ratio is prognostic in patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis undergoing cytoreduction surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Serum tumor markers are prognostic in patients with colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis (CRPC) undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC). Assessment of the ratio of tumor marker to volume, as depicted by peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI), and how this may affect overall (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) has not been reported. METHODS: Survival effect of this ratio was analyzed in patients with CRPC managed from 1996 to 2016 with CRS and IPC. RESULTS: Of 260 patients included, those with low CEA/PCI ratio (<2.3) had longer median OS (56 vs 24 months, P = 0.001) and RFS (13 vs 9 months, P = 0.02). The prognostic impact of CEA/PCI ratio was most pronounced in patients with PCI ≤ 10 (OS of 72 vs 30 months, P < 0.001; RFS of 21 vs 10 months, P = 0.002). In multivariable analysis, elevated CEA/PCI ratio was independently associated with poorer OS (adjusted HR 1.85, 95%CI 1.11-3.10, P = 0.02) and RFS (adjusted HR 1.58, 95%CI 1.04-2.41, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: CEA/PCI ratio is an independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in CRPC. This novel approach allows both tumor activity and volume to be accounted for in one index, thus potentially providing a more accurate indication of tumor biological behavior.

Coronary artery rupture in blunt thoracic trauma: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Blunt thoracic trauma can rarely result in coronary artery injury. Blunt trauma can result in occlusion of any of the coronary arteries or can lead to its rupture and bleeding. Traumatic coronary artery occlusion can lead to myocardial infarction, while its rupture and bleeding can result in hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade, and can be rapidly fatal. Survival after coronary artery rupture in blunt thoracic trauma is exceedingly rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a young male who sustained a blunt thoracic trauma in a motor vehicle collision, that resulted in rupture of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and subsequent cardiac tamponade. Prompt surgical intervention with pericardiotomy and ligation of the artery has resulted in survival of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of traumatic coronary artery rupture, early surgical intervention is crucial to avoid mortality. Ligation of the injured coronary is a viable option in selected cases, and can be the most expeditious option in patients in extremis.