Comparison of surgical site infection (SSI) between negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) assisted delayed primary closure and conventional delayed primary closure in grossly contaminated emergency abdominal surgeries: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: NPWT has been tried in many surgical fields, including colorectal, thoracic, vascular, and non-healing wounds, for the prevention of SSI. However, its efficacy in the prevention of SSI-grade IV closed abdominal wounds is yet to be explored. METHODS: All patients with grade IV abdominal wounds were included in the study. They were randomized into the conventional arm and the VAC arm after confirming the diagnosis intra-operatively. The sheath was closed, and the skin was laid open in the postoperative period. In the VAC arm, the NPWT dressing was applied on postoperative day (POD)-1 and removed on POD-5. In the conventional arm, only regular dressing was done postoperatively. The skin was closed with a delayed primary intention on POD-5 in both arms. The sutures were removed after 7 to 10 days of skin closure. RESULTS: The rate of SSI (10% in the VAC arm vs. 37.5% in the conventional arm, p-value = 0.004) was significantly lower in the VAC arm, as were the rates of seroma formation (2.4% in the VAC arm vs. 20% in the conventional arm, p = 0.014) and wound dehiscence (7.3% vs. 30%, p = 0.011). The conventional arm had a significant delay in skin closure beyond POD5 due to an increased rate of SSI, which also led to a prolonged hospital stay (5 days in the VAC arm vs. 6.5 days in the conventional arm, p-value = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The VAC dressing can be used routinely in grade IV closed abdominal wounds to reduce the risk of SSI and wound dehiscence.

On-demand (SOS) analgesia through Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) catheter route for post-operative pain relief in Emergency Laparotomies-a non-randomised interventional study (STAPLE trial).

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of on-demand bupivacaine infusion via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheter in emergency laparotomy patients. METHODS: A non-randomised interventional study was conducted on patients undergoing emergency midline laparotomy. The intervention group received an on-demand infusion of 10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine through TAP catheters, whilst the control group received standard analgesic care. The primary outcome was the amount of rescue analgesic consumption. Secondary outcomes included the post-operative, measured by visual analogue scores (VAS), side effects, time to first flatus, post-operative nausea and vomiting, and pulmonary complications. RESULTS: One-hundred-twenty patients (58 in the TAP-SOS group, 62 in the control group) were included in the final analysis. The TAP-SOS group showed significantly reduced rescue analgesic requirement by 91% (p < 0.001) and lower VAS scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h (adjusted p < 0.00). Time to out-of-bed mobilisation was significantly shorter in the TAP-SOS group by 12.47 h (p < 0.001), and post-operative pulmonary complications were lower by 75% (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in bowel recovery, catheter-related complications, or post-operative morbidity. No incidences of catheter-site infection were reported on follow-up; however, the catheter tip-culture was positive in 3 (5.17%) patients. CONCLUSION: On-demand bupivacaine infusion through a TAP catheter effectively reduced post-operative pain and opioid requirements in emergency laparotomy patients without complications. If an epidural is not an option, the TAP-SOS approach can be a helpful adjunct in implementing the ERAS protocol in an emergency since it allows for early ambulation and better pain management.

Laparoscopic Remnant Cholecystectomy With CBD Exploration: A Tertiary Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: After partial cholecystectomy, the remnant gallbladder can become symptomatic requiring surgical intervention. This study aims at assessing feasibility and safety of laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy with common bile duct (CBD) exploration in patients having remnant gallbladder stones with choledocholithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study includes data obtained over a period of 10 years, from 2010 to 2020, in 2 tertiary care centers performing advanced laparoscopic surgery. Patients with remnant gallbladder stones with choledocholithiasis were include in this study. All of them underwent laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy with CBD exploration. Demographic, perioperative and follow up data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients with a mean age of 47 years, male to female ratio of 1:3.5, with cholecystectomy done 10 months to 15 years back, were diagnosed with remnant gallbladder stones with choledocholithiasis during the period of 2010 to 2020. Five patients had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography stenting of CBD 3 months to 2 years back. All of them underwent laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy with CBD exploration. Trans cystic approach for CBD exploration was performed in 11 patients. In 7 patients, transductal CBD exploration was done, out of which, 1 patient needed T-tube placement. Median hospital stay was for 3 days. Morbidity rate was 5.56% at 30 days after operation. There was no recurrence of symptoms or mortality after a median follow up of 24 months (range: 5 to 60 mo). CONCLUSION: Concurrent laparoscopic remnant cholecystectomy with CBD exploration is feasible, safe, and reproducible when performed in centers with experience in advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Injuries in survivors of elephant attack: Report of three cases.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) in India is becoming a growing health problem causing many fatalities every year. Elephants produce injuries by trampling, stomping, squeezing, tossing in the air, or crushing/targeting the head and chest commonly. The adult elephants are most aggressive in their mating season, leading to maximum incidences of HECs in this period. These attacks are mostly unprovoked, though most HECs are provoked. In this case series, the authors described the injuries sustained by three survivors in a short span of one month due to the sudden and unprovoked elephant attack. All the injuries were mild to moderate in severity and involved the chest in common. Timely rescue and prompt initiation of treatment were pivotal in their survival. The authors also want to create awareness about the mating season of elephants to minimize these unfortunate events in the future.

Giant desmoid tumour of abdominal wall: resection and reconstruction by posterior component separation.

Management of large abdominal wall desmoid tumours is complicated due to the unpredictable behaviour of desmoids and the need for laborious reconstruction of the abdominal wall after wide local excision. A multidisciplinary team approach, including surgeons, oncologists and plastic surgeons, is necessary for proper management. This case highlights the diagnostic and surgical challenges related to the reconstruction of abdominal wall defect, after radical excision of a 30×30×25 cm desmoid tumour, originating from left rectus muscle. The defect was closed successfully by a perspicuous technique of posterior component separation. The awareness of this straightforward technique will allow the surgeons to do these radical procedures with confidence and without any consternation of complex reconstructive procedures.

A Challenging Case of Ileosigmoid Knotting in an Elderly.

Ileosigmoid knotting (ISK) is one of the rare causes of acute intestinal obstruction, which has a rapid course for forming gangrene. ISK is considered a variant of sigmoid volvulus, which otherwise is called compound volvulus. The difficulty in ISK diagnoses is owing to its rarity, uncommon presentation, and non-specific radiological findings. The physiological status of the patient and intraoperative findings are the key factors in deciding the operative procedure of choice. Herein the author describes a rare case of ISK in a 70-year-old man with gangrenous ileum and sigmoid colon, which were treated successfully with resection and double stoma.