Selective non-antibiotic treatment in sigmoid diverticulitis: is it time to change the traditional approach?

BACKGROUND: A growing body of knowledge is calling into question the use of antibiotics in acute diverticulitis (AD). Moreover, recent studies provide evidence regarding the security of treating patients with AD as outpatients. The aim of this study was to evaluate a restrictive antibiotic outpatient protocol for the treatment of mild-to-moderate episodes of AD. METHODS: All patients with symptoms of AD presenting to our emergency department were assigned a modified Neff stage. Patients with mild AD received outpatient treatment without antibiotics. Patients with mild AD and comorbidities were admitted to receive the same treatment. Patients with moderate AD were admitted for 48 h and were then managed as outpatients until they had completed 10 days of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Between April 2013 and November 2014, we attended 110 patients with a diagnosis of AD, 77 of whom we included in the study: 45 patients with mild AD and 32 with moderate AD. Of the patients with mild AD, 88.8 % successfully completed the non-antibiotic, non-admission treatment regime and 95.5 % benefited from a non-antibiotic regime, whether as outpatients or inpatients. A total of 88 % of patients with mild AD and 87.5 % of patients with moderate AD who met the inclusion criteria completed treatment as outpatients without incident. No major complications (abscess, emergency surgery) or deaths were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient treatment without antibiotics for patients with mild AD is safe and effective. Patients with moderate AD can be safely treated with antibiotics in a mixed regime as inpatients and outpatients.

Estudio coste-eficiencia de procedimientos quirúrgicos en cirugía menor con la utilización de un equipo quirúrgico de un solo uso / Cost-efficiency study on surgical procedures in minor ambulatory surgery with the utilization of single-use surgical set

Introducción: La situación económica actual condiciona que valoremos la eficiencia de los procesos de forma preeminente. Por tanto, pretendemos mantener una buena calidad asistencial al menor coste posible. Objetivo: Comparar el ahorro de tiempo y costes con la utilización de un equipo quirúrgico de un solo uso frente a material quirúrgico reutilizable. Material y método: Se realiza un estudio de coste-eficiencia de forma prospectiva en la Unidad de Cirugía Ambulatoria del Hospital de Mataró (Barcelona), para el tratamiento quirúrgico en cirugía menor de lesiones de partes blandas superficiales. Entran en estudio 128 pacientes consecutivos no aleatorizados. Se asignan a dos grupos de 64 pacientes cada uno según utilización de material quirúrgico reutilizable (Grupo 1) o material de un solo uso (Grupo 2, CombiSet®, Hartmann, Barcelona). Los pacientes se intervienen en sesiones de 10 procedimientos programados. Se divide el tiempo quirúrgico en cinco segmentos que posteriormente se compara entre grupos. Se realiza un análisis de costes de lavado y esterilización de material reutilizable. Resultados: El tiempo quirúrgico total se reduce un 30,6 % (44,4 y 30,6 minutos) en Grupo 2. Destaca una reducción de 41,7 % (11,7 vs. 6,8 minutos) en el tiempo desde la entrada del paciente en quirófano hasta la incisión. En una proyección de 910 procedimientos anuales y con un coste por equipo de un solo uso de 14,27 Euros , el coste total hubiera sido de 12.985,7 Euros. En el Grupo 1, el coste de lavado y esterilización, uso de instrumental reutilizable y material fungible sería de 17.792,3 Euros. Por tanto, la diferencia en el coste entre los dos grupos es de 4.986,6 Euros a favor del Grupo 2, lo que representa un ahorro del 28 %. Conclusiones: La utilización del equipo quirúrgico de un solo uso permite reducir los tiempos quirúrgicos, incrementando la actividad de una sesión (de 2 a 3 procedimientos más). Esta reducción se debe a una mayor rapidez en la preparación del proceso quirúrgico, una calidad siempre óptima y estándar de los materiales y la reducción de tiempo de recogida de materiales usados. Por otra parte, se produce un ahorro de costes por la ausencia de procesamiento del material reutilizable (AU)

Introduction: The current economic situation condition that we value preeminently the efficiency of processes. Therefore, our aim is keeping a good quality of care at the possible lower cost. Objective: To compare time and cost savings with the use of a surgical single-use set vs. reusable surgical material. Material and methods: A cost-efficiency study was prospectively carried out in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit of the Hospital de Mataro (Barcelona), for surgical treatment by office-based surgery of superficial soft tissue lesions. We considered non-randomized 128 consecutive patients for the study. Two groups of 64 patients each were allocated according to use of reusable surgical material (Group 1) or single-use material (Group 2, CombiSet®, Hartmann, Barcelona). Patients were scheduled and operated on in 10 surgical sessions. Surgical time was divided into five segments and subsequently a comparison between groups. An analysis of costs of washing and sterilization of reusable material is performed. Results: The total operating time is reduced 30.6 % (44.4 and 30.6 minutes) in group 2. We have to emphasize a reduction of 41.7 % (11.7 vs. 6.8 minutes) in the time from patient entry in the operating room until the surgical incision. In a projection of 910 annual procedures and a cost for single-use equipment of Euros 14.27, the total cost would have been Euros 12,985.7. In group 1, the cost of washing and sterilization, use of reusable instruments and consumables would be Euros 17,792.3. Therefore, the difference in cost between the two groups is Euros 4,986.6 for group 2, representing a saving of 28 %. Conclusions: The use of the surgical single-use set reduces surgical time, increasing the activity of a session (of 2-3 procedures more). This reduction is due to a faster preparation of the surgical procedure, and the optimal quality materials and time reduction collecting reusable materials. Moreover, a cost saving was noted from the absence of processing reusable material (AU)

Does stapled anopexy for bleeding haemorrhoids cure associated anaemia?

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of stapled anopexy (SA) in patients with chronic bleeding haemorrhoids and secondary anaemia. METHOD: Our department performed 340 SA procedure per patient for haemorrhoids between January 1999 and December 2011. Fifty (14.7%) of these patients (25 male patients and 25 female patients) had anaemia (haemoglobin concentration < 13 g/dl in male patients and < 12 g/dl in female patients) secondary to chronic haemorrhoidal bleeding. Patients with colorectal bleeding and anaemia not caused by haemorrhoids were excluded. The mean (SD) age was 56.4 (13.9) years and the mean (SD) haemoglobin concentration was 9.2 (1.6) g/dl for male patients and 10.4 (1.2) g/dl for female patients. Five (10%) patients with anaemia had Grade II, 22 (44%) had Grade III and 23 (46%) had Grade IV haemorrhoids. The median (range) duration of postoperative follow-up was six (1-12) years. RESULTS: None of the patients required early postoperative admission or experienced early or late complications related to SA. The procedure was successful (normal haemoglobin concentration and no bleeding at 6 months postsurgery) in 45 (90%) patients. Of the five (10%) patients in whom SA was ineffective, one had Grade II, three had Grade III and one had Grade IV haemorrhoids. All these patients underwent Milligan-Morgan haemorrhoidectomy 3 months after SA. CONCLUSION: SA is an effective treatment for patients with bleeding haemorrhoids and subsequent anaemia. In our experience, the success rate was satisfactory and there were no serious complications.

Anopexia mucosa grapada para el tratamiento de hemorroides y prolapso mucoso rectal en régimen de cirugía mayor ambulatoria / Stapled mucosal anopexy for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse in day surgery

Introducción: El tratamiento quirúrgico de las hemorroides y del prolapso mucoso rectal mediante anopexia mucosa grapada disminuye el dolor postoperatorio respecto a las técnicas resectivas clásicas. Objetivo: Demostrar que la anopexia mucosa grapada es una técnica segura y efectiva para ser utilizada en cirugía mayor ambulatoria. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional de 327 anopexias mucosa grapada (enero de 2000 a diciembre de 2011) para cirugía hemorroidal. Se evalúa el dolor postoperatorio mediante escala verbal numérica de 0 a 10, los eventos adversos, el grado de satisfacción postoperatoria mediante escala categórica verbal y los resultados del seguimiento (cifra de recidiva global). Asimismo, se analizan los índices principales de cirugía ambulatoria, ingresos no planeados, reingreso y tasa de ambulatorización. Resultados: La edad media de la muestra fue de 48,1 años (rango 21-85). La estancia postoperatoria media en los pacientes ambulatorios fue de 2,25 horas. El índice de ambulatorización fue de 79,8 % (261 pacientes), con un porcentaje de ingresos no planeados de 6,9 % (18 pacientes) y una tasa de reingresos de 1,1 % (3 casos). En cuanto al dolor, el 81,3 % de los pacientes experimentó dolor igual o inferior a 2 y referente a la situación postoperatoria inmediata, el 90 % de los pacientes la expresaron como excelente o buena. La cifra de recidiva global fue del 8,8 % (23 pacientes).Conclusiones: La anopexia mucosa grapada es una técnica segura y efectiva para el tratamiento de las hemorroides en régimen de cirugía sin ingreso. La cifra de recidivas es mayor a la observada con técnicas resectivas. Se puede conseguir una implementación progresiva de esta técnica en régimen ambulatorio con facilidad, con adaptación a los indicadores de calidad (AU)

Background: Stapled mucosal anopexy decreases postoperative pain for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse when comparing with classical resective techniques. Aim of the study: To prove that stapled mucosal anopexy is a save and effective procedure to be performed in ambulatory surgery. Patients and method: From january 2000 to december 2011, 327 stapled mucosal anopexy procedures were performed, 261 cases (79.8 %) were done in ambulatory surgery. The mean age of the series was 48.1 (range 21-85), 165 men and 96 women. Preoperative preparation included phosphate enemas, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Progressive implementation in ambulatory surgery, postoperative pain, admissions, late admissions, early postoperative situation and recurrence were considered for the study. Results: Overall rate for stapled mucosal anopexy for ambulatory surgery was 79.8%. Postoperative pain was measured by a visual analogic scale (1-10), and 81.3 % of the patients expressed pain under 2. Eighteen patients (6.9 %) required admission on the day of surgery and late admission was needed in 3 patients (1.1 %). Ninety per cent of the patients expressed their situation as excellent or good. Overall recurrence of symptoms was 23 cases (8.8 %).Conclusions: Stapled mucosal anopexy is a safe and effective procedure for prolapsing haemorrhoids in ambulatory surgery. Recurrence rate is higher than that observed in resective techniques. Progressive implementation subject to normal day case criteria is easily achievable (AU)

Resultados iniciales de un programa de cirugía tiroidea sin ingreso en un hospital general / Initial results of an outpatient thyroid surgery program in a general

INTRODUCCIÓN: La cirugía ambulatoria se ha consolidado frente a la cirugía con ingreso convencional por razones de tipo económico. Sin embargo, la práctica de tiroidectomías sin ingreso aún no se ha generalizado por considerar que presentan un riesgo postoperatorio demasiado alto. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Análisis descriptivo retrospectivo de las características preoperatorias, las variables intraoperatorias y la evolución postoperatoria de los pacientes propuestos para resección tiroidea en régimen ambulatorio de febrero de 2009 a octubre de 2010.RESULTADOS: Treinta y dos pacientes fueron propuestos para resección tiroidea en régimen ambulatorio. Veintitrés pacientes (72 %) completaron el proceso de cirugía sin ingreso (índice de sustitución: 20,9 %) y 9 pacientes fueron ingresados. La mayoría de procedimientos (91 %) fueron hemitiroidectomías totales o casi totales. El grado de dolor postoperatorio en los pacientes que completaron el proceso de cirugía ambulatoria fue bajo, con una estancia total de 12,3 ± 1 horas. Tres pacientes (13 %) presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias que no requirieron reingreso. Las causas principales de ingreso de los pacientes fueron un procedimiento más extenso del planeado, la sospecha de hematoma o hemorragia y la decisión final del paciente. Ninguno de los pacientes ingresados presentó complicaciones postoperatorias ni requirió tratamiento específico. CONCLUSIONES: La experiencia previa en cirugía ambulatoria y cirugía tiroidea y una cuidadosa monitorización de la seguridad del paciente son básicas para implementar de forma correcta un programa de cirugía tiroidea sin ingreso. Los buenos resultados iniciales permiten plantear un aumento en la complejidad de los procedimientos tiroideos en régimen de CSI

INTRODUCTION: Outpatient surgery has emerged as a valid alternative to conventional inpatient surgery for economic reasons. However, the practice of thyroi-dectomies without admission is not generalized because its postoperative risks are still considered too high.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of preoperative characteristics, intraoperative variables and postoperative course of patients proposed for outpatient thyroid resection from February 2009 to October 2010.RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were proposed for outpatient surgery and underwent thyroid resection. Twenty patients (72 %) completed the outpatient process (substitution rate: 20.9 %) and 9 patients were admitted. The majority of procedures (91 %) were total or near-total hemithyroidectomies. Postoperative pain in patients who completed the outpatient process was low, with a total hospital stay of 12.3 ± 1.1 hours. Three patients (13 %) had postoperative complications but did not require readmission. Main admission causes were a more extensive procedure than initially planned, suspicion of hematoma or hemorrhage and patient's final decision. None of the admitted patients had postoperative complications neither required specific treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Previous experience in outpatient and thyroid surgery and a careful patient safety monitoring are essential to correctly implement an outpatient thyroid surgery program. Good initial results enable to increase the procedures' complexity in an outpatient basis

Glaucoma agudo unilateral en el postoperatorio de cirugía abdominal / Postoperative unilateral acute glaucoma after abdominal surgery

El diagnóstico correcto y precoz mejora sustancialmente el pronóstico en el glaucoma agudo de ángulo cerrado postoperatorio. Mujer de 90 años de edad a la que se practicó laparotomía para hemicolectomía derecha por neoplasia de colon derecho bajo anestesia combinada y sin incidencias intraoperatorias. La paciente presentó un cuadro de dolor periorbitario en ojo derecho a las 12 horas de la intervención, reiterativo y acompañado de enrojecimiento marcado de la mucosa del globo ocular, visión borrosa y midriasis arreactiva unilateral. Se realizó diagnóstico de glaucoma agudo de ángulo cerrado y se inició tratamiento conservador, precisando iridotomías con láser YAG. En el glaucoma agudo de ángulo cerrado postoperatorio, sobre un globo ocular predispuesto por diversos factores locales como la predisposición genética, género femenino, hipermetropía, aumento del grosor del cristalino y diámetro corneal pequeño, se añaden el bloqueo pupilar secundario a la utilización de fármacos simpaticomiméticos y parasimpaticolíticos en el procedimiento anestésico. Un cuadro de dolor ocular o periorbitario agudo e intenso, con o sin alteración visual, debe alertar al médico responsable. Debe plantearse el diagnóstico diferencial con otras afecciones oculares y causas de dolor craneal postoperatorias(AU)

An early and correct diagnosis substantially improves the post-operative prognosis of acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG). A 90 year-old woman was operated on for a right colon tumour by laparotomy, under combined anaesthesia without any adverse events. Twelve hours after the operation, the patient described recurrent periorbital pain in her right eye, with ocular hyperaemia, blurred vision, and unresponsive mydriasis. A diagnosis of AACG was made, but although conservative treatment was started YAG laser iridotomies were required to reduce the intraocular pressure. In the AACG postoperative period, as well as with an eye with several predisposed local factors including genetic predisposition, female gender, hypermetropia, increased lens thickness and small corneal diameter, can be added a pupillary block induced by adrenergic and anticholinergic drugs used in anaesthetic procedures. An acute and intensive periorbital or ocular pain, with or without visual disturbance, must aware the doctor. A differential diagnosis with other postoperative ocular diseases and cranial pain causes must be done(AU)

[Postoperative unilateral acute glaucoma after abdominal surgery]. / Glaucoma agudo unilateral en el postoperatorio de cirugía abdominal.

An early and correct diagnosis substantially improves the post-operative prognosis of acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG). A 90 year-old woman was operated on for a right colon tumour by laparotomy, under combined anaesthesia without any adverse events. Twelve hours after the operation, the patient described recurrent periorbital pain in her right eye, with ocular hyperaemia, blurred vision, and unresponsive mydriasis. A diagnosis of AACG was made, but although conservative treatment was started YAG laser iridotomies were required to reduce the intraocular pressure. In the AACG postoperative period, as well as with an eye with several predisposed local factors including genetic predisposition, female gender, hypermetropia, increased lens thickness and small corneal diameter, can be added a pupillary block induced by adrenergic and anticholinergic drugs used in anaesthetic procedures. An acute and intensive periorbital or ocular pain, with or without visual disturbance, must aware the doctor. A differential diagnosis with other postoperative ocular diseases and cranial pain causes must be done.

Day case stapled anopexy for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucosal prolapse.

AIM: Stapled anopexy (SA) gives better early postoperative results than classical haemorrhoidectomy. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that SA is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of haemorrhoids and rectal mucose prolapse in a day-case surgery programme. METHOD: From January 2000 to December 2008, 297 SA procedures were performed; 230 (77.4%) were performed in the Day Surgery Unit (DSU). Third- and fourth-degree haemorrhoids, second-degree haemorrhoids with no response to conservative treatment and several cases of rectal prolapse were included. The mean age of the patients in the series was 48.1 years (range 21-85). Preoperative preparation included phosphate enemas and antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients were operated on mainly under spinal anaesthesia. Day-case rate, postoperative pain (measured by a visual analogic scale, 1-10), admissions, re-admissions, early postoperative situation and recurrence were evaluated in the study. RESULTS: The overall DSU rate was 78%, with a progressive increase from 46% to 99% in 2008. One hundred and eighty-five patients (80%) had pain scores under 2; no patient had a pain score over 7. Eighteen (8%) patients required admission on the day of surgery. Late admission was needed for 3 (3%) patients. Thirty-three patients reported their situation as excellent, 174 as good, 20 as acceptable and three as bad when they answered a phone questionnaire 24 h after surgery. Overall, 20 (9%) patients had recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: SA is a safe and effective procedure for prolapsing haemorrhoids in the day case setting. The recurrence rate is higher than that observed in classical haemorrhoidectomy. Most patients can be managed as day-cases.

Reconstrucción nasal total: a propósito de un caso / Total nasal reconstruction: case report

Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 90 años de edad afecta de un carcinoma escamoso nasal. Cualquier defecto a nivel nasal debe ser analizado en términos de pérdida anatómica de tejido y como subunidades estéticas, empezando en el defecto interno y progresando hacía afuera, plano por plano. El caso en cuestión muestra el uso de un colgajo septal, injertos óseos obtenidos de olécranon para el dorso, e injertos de cartílago conchal para recrear las dos alas nasales. Se precisaron dos colgajos nasolabiales y finalmente mediante un colgajo frontal se reconstruyó el defecto cutáneo en columela, dorso, alas y paredes nasales laterales. El pedículo se seccionó a las cuatro semanas. Actualmente la paciente vive y sigue controles periódicos (AU)

We present the case of a 90 year-old woman with a scamous cell carcinoma located on the nose. A nasal defect must be analyzed in terms of anatomic tissue loss and aesthetic three-dimensional subunits, starting from de inside of the nose and progressing outward, layer by layer. The case that follows demostrates the use of a septal pivot flap, an olecranum bone graft restored the dorsal subunit, and bilateral conchal cartilage grafts were fashioned into new alar cartilages. Bilateral nasolabial flaps were needed and finally the skin cover defect was resurfaced as a total nasal unit made of columela, dorsum, alar units and portions of the nasal sidewalls bilaterally with a forehead flap. Four weeks after the initial reconstruction, the forehead pedicle was divided. At this moment the woman is alive and under periodical revision (AU)

¿Es suficiente la observación clínica en los casos dudosos de apendicitis aguda? / Is clinical observation enough in doubtful cases of acute appendicitis?

Introducción: El diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda sigue siendo uno de los problemas más habituales en los servicios de urgencias. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar los resultados de la observación clínica en pacientes con clínica dudosa de apendicitis aguda, comparándolos con los de una serie contemporánea de pacientes diagnosticados e intervenidos de inicio. Métodos: Se estudia una serie de 547 pacientes intervenidos por apendicitis aguda en un período de 4 años divididos en 2 grupos: Grupo A, 310 pacientes diagnosticados de entrada de apendicitis aguda e intervenidos y Grupo B, 237 pacientes con diagnóstico dudoso sometidos a observación clínica y posteriormente intervenidos. Se analizan los datos demográficos, los datos cronológicos desde el inicio del cuadro al ingreso y a la intervención, y el número de apendicectomías innecesarias y de apendicitis gangrenosas-perforadas. Resultados: No se evidenciaron diferencias significativas en las características generales de los 2 grupos, salvo un mayor número de mujeres en el grupo B, y un mayor porcentaje de pacientes sometidos a exploraciones complementarias. Con respecto a los datos cronológicos, existen diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos que evidencian un retraso diagnóstico, siendo el dato más importante que esta conducta de observación clínica no reduce el número de apendicectomías innecesarias (7,7% por 8,4%) ni de apendicitis gangrenosas-perforadas (25,2% por 37,1%). Conclusiones: Aunque los resultados son en líneas generales aceptables, la actitud de observación clínica en pacientes de diagnóstico dudoso, con o sin exploraciones complementarias, no ha sido satisfactoria en nuestra experiencia. En los casos de duda debería seguirse una actitud diagnóstica más agresiva, posiblemente mediante la realización de tomografía axial computadorizada (AU)

Introduction: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still one of the most usual problems in emergency departments. The aim of our study is to evaluate the results of clinical observation in patients with doubtful clinical features of acute appendicitis, comparing with a series of patients initially diagnosed and operated on. Methods: A series of 547 patients operated with diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a period of 4 years are studied. Patients are divided in 2 groups: Group A, 310 patients initially diagnosed and operated and Group B, 237 patients with doubtful diagnosis and left under clinical observation and operated lately. Demographic data and chronological data (time elapsed since the begin of suymptomatology to operation) are analysed, and the number of unnecessary appendectomies and gangrenous-perforated appendicitis. Results: There were not differences in general characteristics between both groups, except a higher incidence of women and radiological explorations in group B. There was a significative diagnostic delay in group B, the clinical observation do not decrease unnecessary appendectomies (7.7% in group A vs. 8.4% in group B) neither gangrenousperforated appendicitis (25.2% in group A vs. 37.1% in group B). Conclusions: Although our results could be considered as acceptable, clinical observation in doubtful cases, with or without radiological explorations have not been useful in our experience. In doubtful cases it had better a more aggressive diagnostic approach, probably performing an abdominal CT scan (AU)