The implementation of the acute care surgery model in the management of patients with acute appendicitis - A 5-year single-center, retrospective experience: An observational study.

We conducted this study to assess the effects of the acute care surgery (ACS) model in the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) based on our 5-year single-center, retrospective experience. The current single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted in a consecutive series of the patients with AA who had been surgically treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea, between January 2016 and December 2020. At our institution, the ACS model was first introduced in March 2018. Therefore, our clinical series of the patients were divided into 2 groups: the pre-ACS group (March 2014 to February 2018) and the post-ACS group (March 2018 to December 2022). Key time intervals include emergency department registration to request for surgical consultation, request for surgical consultation to decision on surgery, decision-to-operating room, time to decision on surgery and length of emergency department stay. Moreover, outcomes include rates of perforation and complications and discharge within 24 or 48 hours. We compared key time intervals, outcomes, and length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. A total of 900 patients with AA were finally included in the current study, 447 and 453 of whom were divided into the pre-ACS group (n = 447) and the post-ACS group (n = 453), respectively. There were significant differences in key time intervals, outcomes, and length of hospital stay between the 2 groups (P < .05). In conclusion, our results showed that the implementation of the ACS model was effective in improving key time intervals, rates of perforation, and discharge within 24 or 48 hours in the patients with AA.

Current status of laparoscopic emergency surgery in Korea: multicenter restrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery is a choice in several emergency settings. However, there has been no nationwide study or survey that has compared the clinical use of laparoscopic emergency surgery (LES) versus open abdominal emergency surgery (OES) in Korea. Therefore, we examined the state of LES across multiple centers in Korea and further compared this data with the global state based on published reports. Methods: Data of 2,122 patients who received abdominal emergency surgery between 2014 and 2019 in three hospitals in Korea were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Several clinical factors were investigated and analyzed. Results: Of the patients, 1,280 (60.3%) were in the OES group and 842 (39.7%) were in the LES group. The most commonly operated organ in OES was the small bowel (25.8%), whereas that for LES was the appendix. In appendectomy and cholecystectomy, 93.7% and 88.0% were in the LES group. In small bowel surgery, gastric surgery, and large bowel surgery, 89.4%, 92.0%, and 79.1% were in the OES group. The severity-related factors of patient status demonstrated statistically significant limiting factors of selection between LES and OES. Conclusion: Although our study has several limitations, compared to the LES data from other countries, the general LES state was similar in appendectomies, cholecystectomies, and small bowel surgeries. However, in gastric and colorectal surgeries, the LES state was different from those of other countries. This study demonstrated the LES state and limiting factors of selection between LES and OES in various operated organs. Further studies are required to analyze these differences and the various limiting factors.

Feasibility of Ultrasound-Guided, Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement at the Bedside in a Communicable-Disease Isolation Unit.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the safety of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, it remains uncertain whether PICC placement can be successfully carried out in settings with limited resources and a challenging environment for procedures, such as communicable-disease isolation units (CDIUs). METHODS: This study investigated the safety of PICCs in patients admitted to CDIUs. These researchers used a handheld portable ultrasound device (PUD) to guide venous access and confirmed catheter-tip location with electrocardiography (ECG) or portable chest radiography. RESULTS: Among 74 patients, the basilic vein and the right arm were the most common access site and location, respectively. The incidence of malposition was significantly higher with chest radiography compared to ECG (52.4% vs. 2.0%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Using a handheld PUD to place PICCs at the bedside and confirming the tip location with ECG is a feasible option for CDIU patients.

Clinical impact of lactate on postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective study of 1,043 patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several hemodynamic markers have been studied to predict postoperative complication which is a risk factor for poor quality of life and prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether postoperative lactate clearance could affect clinical outcome based on complications in one surgical patient group. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from all patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at Samsung Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2019. Differences in baseline characteristics of patients, intraoperative outcome, and postoperative outcome were evaluated according to the presence or absence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). RESULTS: Among a total of 1107 patients, 1043 patients were tested for arterial lactate levels immediately after surgery, and the day after surgery. Immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia (lactate ≥2.0 mmol/L) was not related to CR-POPF (P = 0.269). However, immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia with a negative lactic clearance on postoperative day (POD) 1 was related to CR-POPF (P = 0.003). In multivariate analyses, non-pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio (HR): 2.545, P < 0.001), soft pancreatic texture (HR: 1.884, P < 0.001), and postoperative hyperlactatemia with negative lactate clearance on POD 1 (HR: 1.805, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for CR-POPF. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperlactatemia with negative lactate clearance after PD, one of the high-risk surgeries requiring postoperative ICU care, is a risk factor for CR-POPF. In case of immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia after PD, lactate clearance with serial lactate level follow-up can be used for achieving the hemodynamic goal to prevent CR-POPF.

Emergency gastrointestinal tract operation associated with cytomegalovirus infection.

Purpose: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in immunocompromised patients. Enterocolitis caused by CMV infection can lead to perforation and bleeding of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which requires emergency operation. We investigated the demographics and outcomes of patients who underwent emergency operation for CMV infection of the GI tract. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients who underwent emergency GI operation and were diagnosed with CMV infection through a pathologic examination of the surgical specimen were included. The diagnosis was confirmed using immunohistochemical staining and evaluated by experienced pathologists. Results: A total of 27 patients who underwent operation for CMV infection were included, 18 of whom were male with a median age of 63 years. Twenty-two patients were in an immunocompromised state. Colon (37.0%) and small bowel (37.0%) were the most infected organs. CMV antigenemia testing was performed in 19 patients; 13 of whom showed positive results. The time to diagnose CMV infection from operation and time to start ganciclovir treatment were median of 9 days. The reoperation rate was 22.2% and perforation was the most common cause of reoperation. In-hospital mortality rate was 25.9%. Conclusion: CMV infection in the GI tract causes severe effects, such as hemorrhage or perforation, in immunocompromised patients. When these outcomes are observed in immunocompromised patients, suspicion of CMV infection and further evaluation for CMV detection in tissue specimens is required for proper treatment.

Clinical significance of acute care surgery system as a part of hospital medical emergency team for hospitalized patients.

Purpose: Acute care surgery (ACS) has been practiced in several tertiary hospitals in South Korea since the late 2000s. The medical emergency team (MET) has improved the management of patients with clinical deterioration during hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the clinical effectiveness of collaboration between ACS and MET in hospitalized patients. Methods: This was an observational before-and-after study. Emergency surgical cases of hospitalized patients were included in this study. Patients hospitalized in the Department of Emergency Medicine or Department of Surgery, directly comanaged by ACS were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality rate. The secondary outcome was the alarm-to-operation interval, as recorded by a Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) of >4. Results: In total, 240 patients were included in the analysis (131 in the pre-ACS group and 109 in the post-ACS group). The in-hospital mortality rates in the pre- and post-ACS groups were 17.6% and 22.9%, respectively (P = 0.300). MEWS of >4 within 72 hours was recorded in 62 cases (31 in each group), and the median alarm-to-operation intervals of each group were 11 hours 16 minutes and 6 hours 41 minutes, respectively (P = 0.040). Conclusion: Implementation of the ACS system resulted in faster surgical intervention in hospitalized patients, the need for which was detected early by the MET. The in-hospital mortality rates before and after ACS implementation were not significantly different.

Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a life-threatening acute condition that has an overall in-hospital mortality rate of up to 75%. Critically ill patients are often admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) due to shock, and these patients are frequently at risk of developing NOMI. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features of critically ill patients with NOMI and evaluate the risk factors for in-hospital mortality among these patients. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic medical records of 7,346 patients who underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography during their ICU stay at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019. After reviewing each patient's computed tomography (CT) scans, 60 patients were diagnosed with NOMI and included in this analysis. The patients were divided into survivor (n = 23) and non-survivor (n = 37) groups according to the in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The overall sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score for the included patients upon admission to the ICU was 8.6 ± 3.1, and medical ICU admissions were most common (66.7%) among the patients. The SOFA score upon admission to the ICU was higher for the non-survivors than for the survivors (9.4 vs. 7.4; p = 0.017). Non-survivors were more often observed in the medical ICU admissions (39.1% vs. 83.8%) than in the surgical ICU admissions (47.8% vs. 10.8%) or the cardiac ICU admissions (13.0% vs. 5.4%). Laboratory test results, abdominal CT findings, and the use of vasopressors and inotropes did not differ between the two groups. In a multivariable analysis, SOFA scores >8 upon admission to the ICU (odds ratio [OR] 4.51; 95% 1.12-18.13; p = 0.034), patients admitted to the ICU with medical problems (OR 7.99; 95% 1.73-36.94; p = 0.008), and abdominal pain (OR 4.26; 95% 1.05-17.35; p = 0.043) were significant prognostic predictors for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The SOFA score >8 upon admission to the ICU, admission to the ICU for medical problems, and abdominal pain at diagnosis are associated with increased mortality among patients with NOMI.

Reversal of Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease by Increasing Fish Oil in a Multi-Oil Intravenous Lipid Emulsion in Adult Short Bowel-Syndrome Patients.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) is a serious complication of parenteral nutrition (PN). We report 2 cases of IFALD, which occurred in adult patients while on a regimen of multi-oil intravenous lipid emulsion containing fish oil. METHODS: Patients initially received PN containing 1-g/kg/d SMOFlipid 20% (SMOFlipid). When IFALD developed, lipid composition in PN was altered to include higher proportions of fish oil. RESULTS: Case 1 was a 23-year-old man with short-bowel syndrome. He had been fully dependent on PN for approximately 11 months with a direct bilirubin level of 15.1 mg/dL. Doses of 0.15-g/kg/d pure fish oil and 0.3-0.6-g/kg/d SMOFlipid were administered for 56 days, and IFALD was resolved 59 days after adding fish oil. Case 2 was an 85-year-old man who received extensive small-bowel resection because of internal herniation and small-bowel necrosis. He had elevated direct bilirubin levels and was diagnosed with IFALD. Fish-oil treatment was initiated after 50 days of receiving PN. The average daily amount of fish oil given was 0.14 g/kg/d. IFALD was resolved 44 days after adding Omegaven (Fresenius Kabi Austria Gmbh, Austria). CONCLUSION: Two patients with advanced IFALD showed reversal of cholestasis by altering the lipid content of their PN to include more fish oil.

Clinical impact of massive transfusion protocol implementation in non-traumatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) has been used to provide plasma and packed red blood cells (pRBCs) rapidly. MTP also has been adapted for non-traumatic patients. The effects of hospital-wide MTP implementation on clinical outcomes were reviewed. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients who received massive transfusion before and after MTP implementation, between August 2010 and May 2018. Massive transfusion was defined as 10 or more units of pRBCs within 24 h. Recipients of massive transfusion were divided into periods before and after MTP implementation. The 24 -h death rate, thirty-day death rate and several laboratory findings were investigated. RESULTS: Eighty patients whose massive transfusion occurred before MTP implementation and 63 patients whose massive transfusion occurred after MTP implementation were compared. No statistically significant difference was found in 24 -h death rate (15.0% vs. 23.8%, p = 0.181), or 30-day death rate (43.8% vs. 36.5%, p = 0.381). Use of an anti-fibrinolytic agent was more frequent in patients after the MTP implementation (31.3% vs. 55.6%, p = 0.003). A statistically significant difference was found in the lowest body temperature of the two groups during the 24 -h period (34.7 °C vs. 35.6 °C, p < 0.001). Transfusion ratio of plasma to pRBC was numerically improved after the MTP implementation (1:1.91 vs. 1:1.58, p = 0.173). Earlier initiation of pRBC transfusion was achieved after implementation (51 min vs. 40 min, p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: MTP implementation showed improved coagulation profiles, but did not show a statistically significant death-rate reduction in non-traumatic patients.

Surgical outcomes for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare exocrine tumor of the pancreas with low malignant potential. This study was designed to evaluate surgical outcome of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN). METHODOLOGY: From Between January 1994 to November 2013, 41 patients were diagnosed with SPN of the pancreas at Ajou University Medical Center and underwent surgical resection. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients, 33(80.5%) were female and 8(19.5%) were male with a mean age of 34.5 years (range, 12-63 years). The most common location of SPN was the tail (43.9%). Mean diameters of SPN was 5.5 cm (range, 1.2- 14.5 cm). Nineteen patients (46.3%) had non-specific abdominal symptoms that had been investigated. Surgical treatment included distal pancreatectomy in 21, pancreaticoduodenectomy in 11, segmental resection of pancreas in 4, enucleation in 2, excision in 2 and surgical biopsy in 1. Thirty-nine of the 41 patients were disease-free at a median follow-up of 59 months (range, 1-125 months). CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed as SPN should receive surgical resection because of the excellent prognosis. Closed follow-up is recommended after surgery, even in patients without pathological malignant potential. For metastasis or recurrence, an aggressive surgical treatment is necessary because of the good possibility of long-term survival.