The Impact of a Surgical Unit's Structure and Operative Technique on Quality in Two Swedish Rural Hospitals.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a commonly performed surgical procedure with a low complication rate. It is performed either as an acute or as an elective procedure. Most elective LCs are performed on nonlethal diseases and this is why good quality is important. Our study compared the quality of LC in two surgical units in northern Sweden (Sundsvall and Östersund) which use different clinical structures (subspecialised vs. general surgery) and surgical techniques (ultrasound fundus first vs. conventional diathermy). The study aimed to investigate whether these differences affected the quality of outcomes after LC. Materials and methods: This is a registry-based study which included 607 elective LCs from January 2014 to May 2016. There were 286 from Sundsvall and 321 from Östersund. Primary outcomes were operative time and the percentage of day surgeries. The secondary outcome was the presence of postoperative complications within the first 30 days in terms of bile duct injury, bleeding that necessitated reoperation, bile leakage and abscesses treated with drainage and mortality. Results: The time length of surgery was shorter in Sundsvall (mean 48.3 min) compared to Östersund (mean 108.6 min, p < 0.001. The percentage of day care surgeries was 94% in Sundsvall and 23% in Östersund, p < 0.001. Six patients (2.1%) had a complication in Sundsvall compared to seven patients (2.2%) in Östersund, p = 1.00. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between the two hospitals regarding operative time and the percentage of day surgeries. Complication rates in both units were equal and low.

Fundus first as the standard technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

In previous studies the fundus first technique (FF) has been a cost-effective way to simplify the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and facilitate patient rehabilitation. The feasibility and safety profile when introducing FF as the standard technique were aimed in this study. Between 2004-2014, 29 surgeons performed 1425 LC with FF and 320 with a conventional technique. During the first year 56% were with FF and 98% during the last four years. More females, ultrasonic shears, urgent operations, daycare operations and a shorter operation time were found with FF. 63 (3.6%) complications occurred: 10 (0.6%) bleedings, 33 (1.9%) infections and 12 (0.7%) bile leakages. Leakage from cystic duct occurred in 4/112 (3.6%) when closed with ultrasonic shears and in 4/1633 (0.2%) with clips (p 0.008). A common bile duct lesion occurred in 1/1425 (0.07%) with FF and in 3/320 (0.9%) with the conventional approach (p 0.003). In a multivariate regression model, the conventional technique was a risk factor for bile duct injury with an odds ratio of 20.8 (95% CI 1.6-259.2). In conclusion FF was effectively established as the standard procedure and associated with lower rates of bile duct injuries. Clipless closure of the cystic duct increased the rate of leakage.

Feasibility of a combined percutaneous laparoscopic three-millimeter device.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Needlescopic 3-mm instruments induce minimal trauma and produce excellent cosmetic results. A combination of a 3-mm abdominal wall incision and a 5-mm instrument in the abdominal cavity would combine the beneficial features of these two different sizes. METHODS: The Percutaneous Surgical System (PSS) (Ethicon EndoSurgery, Galway, Ireland) is a new instrument consisting of a 3-mm shaft that is introduced percutaneously into the abdominal cavity. Through a 5-mm trocar, a loader with a 5-mm attachment such as a Maryland dissector is introduced. The attachment is connected to the shaft, and the loader is removed from the abdomen. The feasibility of this device was evaluated retrospectively in 3 Swedish hospitals between January and September 2012. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were laparoscopically operated on (cholecystectomy, gastric bypass, fundoplication, incisional hernias, and totally extraperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia) by use of 1 or 2 PSSs in each operation (47 in total). It was feasible to use the PSS in all procedures except during the totally extraperitoneal repair procedure because of the limited available preperitoneal space. Especially in laparoscopic cholecystectomies, the two lateral 5-mm trocars were easily replaced by two 3-mm PSS instruments. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the PSS is feasible in a number of laparoscopic procedures, where it can replace 5-mm trocars. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the future role of the PSS versus, for example, needlescopic laparoscopy.

Cost analysis comparing ultrasonic fundus-first and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery.

BACKGROUND: Costs associated with laparoscopic fundus-first cholecystectomy using ultrasonic dissection versus a conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been compared. METHODS: Adult patients subjected to elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 2002 and March 2004 were randomized to either an ultrasonic fundus-first dissection or dissection from the triangle of Calot with electrocautery. Differences in direct and indirect costs related to either technique were studied. RESULTS: The duration of the operation and hospitalization was longer when dissection was with the conventional technique. With the ultrasonic fundus-first technique, the direct cost was 1,190 SEK lower, and the total cost, taking also the cost for sick leave into account, was 5,370 SEK lower. CONCLUSIONS: Both direct and indirect costs are lower with a laparoscopic fundus-first cholecystectomy using ultrasonic dissection than conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery.

Experiences with a prophylactic mesh in 93 consecutive ostomies.

BACKGROUND: Parastomal hernia may be present in half of patients after one year. A prophylactic low-weight prosthetic mesh in a sublay position at the index operation reduces the risk of parastomal hernia, without increasing the rate of complications. MATERIAL: Between April 2003 and November 2006 all patients with an ostomy created at an open laparotomy were followed for at least one year. RESULTS: A prophylactic mesh was used in 75 of 93 patients. In 9 a prophylactic mesh could not be placed due to scarring after previous surgery. In 9 a mesh was omitted after surgeon's decision. In 19 patients a mesh was used in severely contaminated wounds. With a mesh 6 of 73 (8%) patients developed a surgical site infection and without a mesh 4 of 15 (27%). With a mesh parastomal hernia was present in 8 of 61 (13%) patients and without a mesh in 8 of 12 (67%). CONCLUSIONS: Creating a stoma in routine open surgery a prophylactic mesh can be placed in most patients. A mesh does not increase the rate of complications and can be used in severely contaminated wounds.

Improved outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ultrasonic dissection: a randomized multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: In conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, dissection with electrocautery starts at the triangle of Calot. In a randomized single-center trial, the fundus-first method (dome down) using ultrasonic dissection was faster, involved less pain or nausea, and had a shorter postoperative sick leave. This may relate to the fundus-first method or to the ultrasonic dissection. METHODS: In a multicenter trial, 243 elective patients were randomized to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery (n = 85) or the fundus-first method using either electrocautery (n = 81) or ultrasonic dissection (n = 77). RESULTS: The fundus-first method had a shorter operating time with ultrasonic dissection (58 min) than with electrocautery (74 min; p = 0.002). The fundus-first method using ultrasonic dissection compared with electrocautery or the conventional method produced less blood loss (12 vs. 53 or 36 ml; p < 0.001) and fewer gallbladder perforations (26% vs. 46% or 49%; p = 0.005). Also, the pain and nausea scores at 4 and 6 h were lower, and the sick leave was shorter (6.1 vs. 9.4 and 9 days, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The fundus-first method using ultrasonic dissection is associated with less blood loss, fewer gallbladder perforations, less pain and nausea, and shorter sick leave than the conventional and fundus-first method using electrocautery. The difference seems related to the use of ultrasonic dissection.

Preventing parastomal hernia with a prosthetic mesh: a 5-year follow-up of a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Parastomal hernia is a major clinical problem. In a randomized, clinical trial, a prosthetic mesh in a sublay position at the index operation reduced the rate of parastomal hernia at 12-month follow-up, without any increase in the rate of complications. This study was designed to evaluate the rate of complications after 5 years. METHODS: Between January 2001 and April 2003, 54 patients who had a permanent ostomy were randomized to a conventional stoma or to a stoma with the addition of a mesh in a sublay position. A large-pore, lightweight mesh with a reduced polypropylene content and a high proportion of absorbable material was used. RESULTS: After 5 years, 21 patients with a conventional stoma were alive and parastomal herniation was recorded in 17 patients, of whom repair had been demanded in 5. In 15 patients operated on with the addition of a mesh herniation, that did not require repair, was present in 2 (P<0.001). No fistulas or strictures developed. No mesh infection was noted and no mesh was removed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: At stoma formation, a prophylactic low-weight mesh in a sublay position is a safe procedure that reduces the rate of parastomal hernia.

Preventing parastomal hernia with a prosthetic mesh.

HYPOTHESIS: Parastomal hernia is a common complication following colostomy. The lowest recurrence rate has been produced when repair is with a prosthetic mesh. This study evaluated the effect on stoma complications of using a mesh during the primary operation. DESIGN: Randomized clinical study. METHODS: Patients undergoing permanent colostomy were randomized to have either a conventional stoma or the addition of a mesh placed in a sublay position. The mesh used was a large-pore lightweight mesh with a reduced polypropylene content and a high proportion of absorbable material. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients had a conventional stoma, and in 27 patients the mesh was used. No infection, fistula formation, or pain occurred (observation time, 12-38 months). At the 12-month follow-up, parastomal hernia was present in 13 of 26 patients without a mesh and in 1 of 21 patients in whom the mesh was used. CONCLUSIONS: A lightweight mesh with a reduced polypropylene content and a high proportion of absorbable material placed in a sublay position at the stoma site is not associated with complications and significantly reduces the rate of parastomal hernia.