The Clinical Outcome of Postoperative Invasive Fungal Infections Complicating Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: Peritonitis is a major complication of bariatric surgery due to direct damage to the natural barriers to infection. Most such secondary peritoneal infections are caused by Gram-negative microorganisms; however, under certain conditions, Candida species can infect the peritoneal cavity following bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and microbiological data of morbidly obese patients who suffered infectious complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) at the Soroka Medical Center between January 2010 and June 2015. RESULTS: Out of 800 patients who underwent LSG, 43 (5.3%( developed secondary peritonitis and were admitted to our General Intensive Care Unit during the study period. Intraperitoneal leaks, intraabdominal abscesses and pleural effusions were significantly more common in patients with fungal infection than in those with non-fungal infections (p values 0.027, < 0.001, and < 0.014, respectively). Leaks situated at the suture line of gastro-esophageal area occurred much more frequently in the fungal infection group than in the non-fungal infection group (94.7 vs 41.7%, p < 0.001). Microbiological analysis of the abdominal and pleural fluids of patients with invasive fungal infectious complications showed the presence of commensal polymicrobial bacterial infections-mainly Streptoccocus constellatus and coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. Leakage at the suture line of gastro-esophageal area (upper suture part) and administration of parenteral nutrition were found to be independent predictors for invasive fungal infections after LSG. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that invasive fungal infection is a significant postoperative infectious complication of bariatric LSG surgery in morbidly obese patients.

Invasive Candida Infection after Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery for Gastric Cancer.

Upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) surgical procedures are more likely to cause nosocomial Candida peritonitis than lower GIT procedures and they thus constitute an independent risk factor for mortality. Because of the severity of postsurgical fungal infections complications, intensivists and surgeons need to be extremely aware of their clinical importance in critically ill postsurgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We analyzed the clinical and microbiological data of 149 oncologic patients who were hospitalized in the ICU at Soroka Medical Center between January 2010 and January 2015 after undergoing upper GIT surgery for gastric cancer. Invasive fungal infections related to secondary peritonitis following oncologic upper GIT surgery had a higher mortality rate than patients with nonfungal postoperative infectious complications. The presence of gastroesophageal junction leakage and advanced age were found to be independent risk factors for invasive fungal infection after oncologic upper GIT surgery.

Bedside Percutaneous Tracheostomy versus Open Surgical Tracheostomy in Non-ICU Patients.

Percutaneous bedside tracheostomy (PBT) is a one of the common and safe procedures in intensive care units through the world. In the present paper we published our clinical experience with a performance of PBTs in the regular ward by intensive care physicians' team. We found it safe and similar outcome in comparison to open surgical tracheostomy method in operation room by ENT team. The performance of PBT in the regular ward showed potential economic advantages in saving medical staff and operating room resources.

Unusual localization of clostridium difficile infection in an isolated segment of the descending colon in a critical care patient.

Unrecognized severe pseudomembranous colitis may become life threatening. A typical Clostridium difficile infection is associated with involvement of the colon; however, small bowel disease has also been described. Here, we present a case of a 48-year-old man with Clostridium difficile colitis of an isolated segment in the descending colon treated by a novel catheter intraluminal antibiotic irrigation. The intraluminal antibiotic irrigation was performed through a Foley catheter inserted into the isolated mucus fistula. The patient recovered after three weeks of intraluminal vancomycin (250 mg diluted in 150 ml of normal saline x Q6) and metronidazole (500 mg x Q8). Both antibiotics were given into the mucus fistula over 30 min. The patient was discharged from the unit four weeks after admission. This novel technique, in which the antibiotic was administered through an inserted intraluminal Foley urinary catheter, may be an efficient and safe alternative when conventional routes cannot be implemented.

Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: results of a retrospective comparison in an Israeli hospital.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common conditions requiring surgical intervention. Open appendectomy has been a safe and effective operation for acute appendicitis for more than a century. Recently, several authors proposed that the new technique of laparoscopic appendectomy should be the preferred treatment for acute appendicitis. However, unlike laparoscopic cholecystectomy, LA has not yet gained popularity. OBJECTIVES: To compare open with laparoscopic appendectomy for length of operation, complications, postoperative pain control, length of hospitalization, and hospital costs. METHODS: A sample of 194 patients who underwent OA and LA during 1995 was randomly selected for the study. Patients' demographic data, preoperative laboratory and physical values, histopathologic diagnosis of removed appendix, mean operating time, length of hospitalization, and postoperative pain control and complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Acute appendicitis was confirmed in 66% of patients. The groups were similar demographically (gender and mean age). We could not find any statistical differences in intraoperative and postoperative complications and use of antibiotics. The operative time was longer in the OA group (62.4 vs. 57.3 minutes), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). The hospital stay was 2.5 days in the LA group and 2.7 days in the OA group. Higher operative costs were observed in the LA group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy is comparable to open appendectomy with regard to complications, length of operation, hospital stay, but it is more costly. Laparoscopic appendectomy does not offer any significant benefit over the open approach.