CLINICAL AND SURGICAL DILEMMAS IN OCTOGENARIAN PATIENTS WITH SMALL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a major problem in emergencies. Comorbidities increase morbimortality, which is reflected in higher costs. There is a lack of Latin American evidence comparing the differences in postoperative results and costs associated with SBO management. AIMS: To compare the risk of surgical morbimortality and costs of SBO surgery treatment in patients older and younger than 80 years. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with SBO at the University of Chile Clinic Hospital from January 2014 to December 2017. Patients with any medical treatment were excluded. Parametric statistics were used (a 5% error was considered statistically significant, with a 95% confidence interval). RESULTS: A total of 218 patients were included, of which 18.8% aged 80 years and older. There were no differences in comorbidities between octogenarians and non-octogenarians. The most frequent etiologies were adhesions, hernias, and tumors. In octogenarian patients, there were significantly more complications (46.3 vs. 24.3%, p=0.007, p<0.050). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of surgical complications: 9.6% in <80 years and 14.6% in octogenarians (p=0.390, p>0.050). In medical complications, a statistically significant difference was evidenced with 22.5% in <80 years vs 39.0% in octogenarians (p=0.040, p<0.050). There were 20 reoperated patients: 30% octogenarians and 70% non-octogenarians without statistically significant differences (p=0.220, p>0.050). Regarding hospital stay, the average was significantly higher in octogenarians (17.4 vs. 11.0 days; p=0.005, p<0.050), and so were the costs, being USD 9,555 vs. USD 4,214 (p=0.013, p<0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged 80 years and older with surgical SBO treatment have a higher risk of medical complications, length of hospital stay, and associated costs compared to those younger.

Clinical and surgical dilemmas in octogenarian patients with small bowel obstruction / Dilemas clínicos e cirúrgicos em pacientes octogenários com obstrução do intestino delgado

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a major problem in emergencies. Comorbidities increase morbimortality, which is reflected in higher costs. There is a lack of Latin American evidence comparing the differences in postoperative results and costs associated with SBO management. AIMS: To compare the risk of surgical morbimortality and costs of SBO surgery treatment in patients older and younger than 80 years. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with SBO at the University of Chile Clinic Hospital from January 2014 to December 2017. Patients with any medical treatment were excluded. Parametric statistics were used (a 5% error was considered statistically significant, with a 95% confidence interval). RESULTS: A total of 218 patients were included, of which 18.8% aged 80 years and older. There were no differences in comorbidities between octogenarians and non-octogenarians. The most frequent etiologies were adhesions, hernias, and tumors. In octogenarian patients, there were significantly more complications (46.3 vs. 24.3%, p=0.007, p<0.050). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of surgical complications: 9.6% in <80 years and 14.6% in octogenarians (p=0.390, p>0.050). In medical complications, a statistically significant difference was evidenced with 22.5% in <80 years vs 39.0% in octogenarians (p=0.040, p<0.050). There were 20 reoperated patients: 30% octogenarians and 70% non-octogenarians without statistically significant differences (p=0.220, p>0.050). Regarding hospital stay, the average was significantly higher in octogenarians (17.4 vs. 11.0 days; p=0.005, p<0.050), and so were the costs, being USD 9,555 vs. USD 4,214 (p=0.013, p<0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged 80 years and older with surgical SBO treatment have a higher risk of medical complications, length of hospital stay, and associated costs compared to those younger.

RESUMO RACIONAL: A obstrução do intestino delgado (OID) é um grande problema em emergências. As comorbidades aumentam a morbimortalidade, o que se reflete no aumento dos custos. Há uma falta de evidência latino-americana comparando as diferenças nos resultados pós-operatórios e custos associados ao manejo da OID. OBJETIVOS: Comparar o risco de morbimortalidade cirúrgica e os custos de tratamento cirúrgico da OID em pacientes com idade inferior e superior a 80 anos. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva de pacientes diagnosticados com OID no Hospital Clínico da Universidade do Chile entre janeiro de 2014 e dezembro de 2017. Pacientes com qualquer tratamento médico foram excluídos. Estatísticas paramétricas foram usadas: erro de 5% foi considerado estatisticamente significante, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. RESULTADOS: Um total de 218 pacientes foram incluídos, dos quais 18,8% tinham 80 anos ou mais. Não houve diferenças nas comorbidades entre octogenários e não octogenários. As etiologias mais frequentes foram aderências, hérnias e tumores. Nos pacientes octogenários houve significativamente mais complicações (46,3 vs. 24,3%, p=0,007, p<0,050). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas quanto às complicações cirúrgicas: 9,6% em <80 anos e 14,6% em octogenários (p=0,390, p>0,050). Nas complicações médicas foi evidenciada diferença estatisticamente significativa com 22,5% em <80 anos vs. 39.0% em octogenários (p=0,040, p<0,050). Foram reoperados 20 pacientes: 30% octogenários e 70% não octogenários, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p=0,220, p>0,050). Em relação ao tempo de internação, a média foi significativamente maior nos octogenários (17,4 v/s 11,0 dias; p=0,005, p<0,050). Da mesma forma, também foram os custos com 9.555 USD vs. 4.214 USD (p=0,013, p<0,050). CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com 80 anos ou mais com tratamento cirúrgico de OID têm maior risco de complicações médicas, tempo de internação e custos associados em comparação aos mais jovens.

Análisis de tiroglobulina preablativa y cáncer diferenciado de tiroides preoperatorio / Analysis of pre-ablative and preoperative thyroglobulin in differentiated thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND: The measurement of plasma thyroglobulin (Tg) is widely used in the monitoring of differentiated thyroid cancer (CDT). In recent years, its value as a prognostic marker prior to ablation with radioiodine has increased, demonstrating its high negative predictive value. Recent studies indicate that a wide variety of factors could potentially influence pre-ablative Tg values, including residual tumor burden and stimulation modality. Aim: To relate the value of pre-ablative Tg with the amount of preoperative disease burden, lymph node metastases, treatment, and presence of residual disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of 70 patients with CDT treated between 2012 and 2018. The amount of disease burden was defined as the sum of largest diameter of individual tumors in each patient, and as the individually largest tumor per patient and number of metastatic lymph nodes. RESULTS: A smaller tumor size and absence of remnant tissue was associated with lower Tg values, although the association was not always significant. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between Tg levels measured within or more than 14 days after the surgical procedure. Thus, an early measurement of pTg after surgery would allow an initial therapeutic decision making. Conclusions: A statistical association between pre-ablative Tg levels and the amount of preoperative tumor tissue burden was found in some subgroups of patients.

[Analysis of pre-ablative and preoperative thyroglobulin in differentiated thyroid cancer]. / Análisis de tiroglobulina preablativa y cáncer diferenciado de tiroides preoperatorio.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of plasma thyroglobulin (Tg) is widely used in the monitoring of differentiated thyroid cancer (CDT). In recent years, its value as a prognostic marker prior to ablation with radioiodine has increased, demonstrating its high negative predictive value. Recent studies indicate that a wide variety of factors could potentially influence pre-ablative Tg values, including residual tumor burden and stimulation modality. AIM: To relate the value of pre-ablative Tg with the amount of preoperative disease burden, lymph node metastases, treatment, and presence of residual disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of 70 patients with CDT treated between 2012 and 2018. The amount of disease burden was defined as the sum of largest diameter of individual tumors in each patient, and as the individually largest tumor per patient and number of metastatic lymph nodes. RESULTS: A smaller tumor size and absence of remnant tissue was associated with lower Tg values, although the association was not always significant. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between Tg levels measured within or more than 14 days after the surgical procedure. Thus, an early measurement of pTg after surgery would allow an initial therapeutic decision making. CONCLUSIONS: A statistical association between pre-ablative Tg levels and the amount of preoperative tumor tissue burden was found in some subgroups of patients.