Intercostal nerve cryoablation during surgical stabilization of rib fractures decreases post-operative opioid use, ventilation days, and intensive care days.

BACKGROUND: Intercostal nerve cryoablation is an adjunctive measure that has demonstrated pain control, decrease in opioid consumption, and decrease in hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients who undergo surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). METHODS: SSRF patients from January 2015 to September 2021 were retrospectively compared. All patients received multimodal pain regimens post-operatively and the independent variable was intraoperative cryoablation. RESULTS: 241 patients met inclusion criteria. 51 (21%) underwent intra-operative cryoablation during SSRF and 191 (79%) did not. Patients with standard treatment consumed 9.4 more daily MME (p = 0.035), consumed 73 percent more post-operative total MME (p = 0.001), spent 1.55 times as many days in the intensive care unit (p = 0.013), and spent 3.8 times as many days on the ventilator than patients treated with cryoablation, respectively. Overall hospital LOS, operative case time, pulmonary complications, MME at discharge, and numeric pain scores at discharge were no different (all p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intercostal nerve cryoablation during SSRF is associated with fewer ventilator days, ICU LOS, total post-operative, and daily opioid use without increasing time in the operating room or perioperative pulmonary complications.

Laparoscopy is associated with decreased all-cause mortality in patients undergoing emergency general surgery procedures in a regional health system.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of laparoscopic surgery for common emergency general surgery (EGS) procedures within an integrated Acute Care Surgery (ACS) network. We hypothesized that laparoscopy would be associated with improved outcomes. METHODS: Our integrated health care system's EGS registry created from AAST EGS ICD-9 codes was queried from January 2013 to October 2015. Procedures were grouped as laparoscopic or open. Standard descriptive and univariate tests were performed, and a multivariable logistic regression controlling for open status, age, BMI, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), trauma tier, and resuscitation diagnosis was performed. Laparoscopic procedures converted to open were identified and analyzed using concurrent procedure billing codes across episodes of care. RESULTS: Of 60,604 EGS patients identified over the 33-month period, 7280 (12.0%) had an operation and 6914 (11.4%) included AAST-defined EGS procedures. There were 4813 (69.6%) surgeries performed laparoscopically. Patients undergoing a laparoscopic procedure tended to be younger (45.7 ± 18.0 years vs. 57.2 ± 17.6, p < 0.001) with similar BMI (29.7 ± 9.0 kg/m2 vs. 28.8 ± 8.3, p < 0.001). Patients in the laparoscopic group had lower mean CCI score (1.6 ± 2.3 vs. 3.4 ± 3.2, p ≤ 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, open surgery had the highest association with inpatient mortality (OR 8.67, 4.23-17.75, p < 0.0001) and at all time points (30-, 90-day, 1-, 3-year). At all time points, conversion to open was found to be a statistically significant protective factor. CONCLUSION: Use of laparoscopy in EGS is common and associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality at all time points compared to open procedures. Conversion to open was protective at all time points compared to open procedures.

Platelet Aggregation, Mitochondrial Function and Morphology in Cold Storage: Impact of Resveratrol and Cytochrome c Supplementation.

Donated platelets are critical components of hemostasis management. Extending platelet storage beyond the recommended guidelines (5 days, 22 °C) is of clinical significance. Platelet coagulation function can be prolonged with resveratrol (Res) or cytochrome c (Cyt c) at 4 °C. We hypothesized that storage under these conditions is associated with maintained aggregation function, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increased mitochondrial respiratory function, and preserved morphology. Donated platelets were stored at 22 °C or 4 °C supplemented with 50 µM Res or 100 µM Cyt c and assayed on days 0 (baseline), 5, 7 and 10 for platelet aggregation, morphology, intracellular ROS, and mitochondrial function. Declining platelet function and increased intracellular ROS were maintained by Res and Cyt c. Platelet respiratory control ratio declined during storage using complex I + II (CI + CII) or CIV substrates. No temperature-dependent differences (4 °C versus 22 °C) in respiratory function were observed. Altered platelet morphology was observed after 7 days at 22 °C, effects that were blunted at 4 °C independent of exposure to Res or Cyt c. Storage of platelets at 4 °C with Res and Cyt c modulates ROS generation and platelet structural integrity.

Manifestations of pediatric appendicopathia oxyurica.

Enterobius vermicularis is a parasite that inhabits the human digestive tract. We present two pediatric patients with symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis who were found to have E. vermicularis infection. The first case is a 5-year-old female who presented with flank and abdominal pain associated with low-grade fever and anorexia. She had localized tenderness in the right lower quadrant and a leukocytosis with left shift. Intraoperative findings included a normal-appearing appendix, but ex vivo examination revealed Enterobius vermicularis. The second case is a 7-year-old female who presented with periumbilical abdominal pain, anorexia, and emesis. She had tenderness at McBurney's point, and ultrasound revealed a small echogenic focus within the appendix. Intraoperatively, the distal tip of the appendix appeared inflamed. Again, ex vivo examination revealed E. vermicularis. Enterobius vermicularis infection of the appendix can present with a clinical picture similar to acute appendicitis. In at-risk populations, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for children with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Complete therapy requires treatment with mebendazole.