-
Journal of Surgical Education Jun 2024Acute appendicitis is a wide spectrum disease, from simple inflammation to evident intestinal perforation. The correct interpretation of the degree of inflammation is...
OBJECTIVE
Acute appendicitis is a wide spectrum disease, from simple inflammation to evident intestinal perforation. The correct interpretation of the degree of inflammation is crucial to guarantee appropriate treatment and adherence to protocols and guidelines. In order to investigate this concordance, the authors compared the definition of appendicitis and the predicted treatment among all surgeons affiliated to a single Pediatric Surgery School (consisting of 8 different centers).
DESIGN
Twenty-two short recordings of intra-operative manipulation of appendices were shown to 56 surgeons, blindly to clinical information. Four items were collected and analyzed: classification of appendicitis, type and length of predicted antibiotic therapy, day of re-alimentation. Data were analyzed to identify the concordance kappa coefficient, stratified according to expertise of the responding surgeon.
RESULTS
The 1232 evaluations obtained in all valued items low overall concordance. Subgroup analysis identified a good agreement between younger surgeons only in the choice of antibiotic (k 0.47). However, if the centers were divided between University and non-University Hospitals, a strong agreement was found in the former both for classification (k 0.45 vs 0.32) and type of antibiotic (k 0.42 vs 0.24).
CONCLUSIONS
The overall concordance between surgeons in different centers in the diagnostic classification and predicted treatment of appendicitis is quite low. University Hospital have a highest concordance in both items at all levels of expertise; it might be postulated that teaching to younger surgeon increase the comparison between experts and finally the concordance and adherence to protocols within the center.
PubMed: 38908992
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.05.004 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Time-to-Treatment; Preoperative Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38908876
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00640-8 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Preoperative Care; Time-to-Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors
PubMed: 38908875
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00639-1 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Preoperative Care; Time-to-Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors
PubMed: 38908874
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00638-X -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Preoperative Care; Time-to-Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors
PubMed: 38908873
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00637-8 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Preoperative Care; Time-to-Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors
PubMed: 38908872
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00636-6 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain caused by twisting of the omentum along its long axis, thus compromising its vascularity. Its presentation is...
INTRODUCTION
Omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain caused by twisting of the omentum along its long axis, thus compromising its vascularity. Its presentation is non-specific and can mimic other common pathologies, making its pre-operative diagnosis challenging.
PRESENTATION OF CASE
A 44-year-old female presented for periumbilical abdominal pain. Her laboratory results showed no leukocytosis and CRP was within normal range. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and IV contrast showed a well demarcated pericecal mass at the right side, mostly suggestive of transmesenteric internal herniation with strangulation. The patient eventually required laparoscopic surgical intervention.
DISCUSSION
The acute abdominal manifestations in patients with omental torsion are due to the development of edema and necrotic tissue distal of the torsion after the arterial supply and venous drainage have been obstructed. Rotation around the right gastroepiploic artery is considered to be the most common cause of omental torsion. Primary torsion is considered to be idiopathic, while secondary torsion occurs due to an identifiable predisposing pathology such as omental cysts, hernias, adhesions, or intra-abdominal tumors. Since symptoms of omental torsion are non-specific, it is crucial to consider the differential diagnosis and rule out other causes of acute abdomen. Surgical intervention is the mainstay treatment when there is uncertainty in the diagnosis, or when the patient's clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings worsen with conservative treatment.
CONCLUSION
Early surgical intervention in cases of omental torsion reduces the incidence of formation of abscesses, adhesions, and omental necrosis. In cases of non-operative candidates, conservative treatment is the best option; therefore, the choice of treatment of omental torsion should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
PubMed: 38906039
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109917 -
The Journal of International Medical... Jun 2024Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition characterized by chronic activation of the immune system and a tendency to form tumorous...
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition characterized by chronic activation of the immune system and a tendency to form tumorous lesions. IgG4-RD is frequently characterized by the presence of tumor-like masses affecting multiple organs and is easily mistaken for a malignant neoplasm. However, IgG4-RD affecting the appendix is extremely rare, with only seven cases reported previously. We report the case of a woman in her early 60s who presented with insidious abdominal pain and radiological findings mimicking appendiceal neoplasms. After diagnosing appendiceal neoplasms, surgery was performed. The patient had a serum IgG4 concentration of <1.35 g/L, which did not satisfy one of the three revised comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD. A pathological examination was conducted, and the patient was diagnosed with appendiceal IgG4-RD. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previously reported cases of IgG4-RD affecting the appendix in patients with low serum IgG4 concentrations. This report may prove beneficial for the future understanding of IgG4-RD and for the revision of diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Topics: Humans; Female; Appendiceal Neoplasms; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Middle Aged; Immunoglobulin G; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Appendix
PubMed: 38902205
DOI: 10.1177/03000605241260540 -
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery Jun 2024Emergencies and emergency surgeries are a central part of everyday surgical care in Germany. However, it is unclear how emergency surgery is practically trained in...
BACKGROUND
Emergencies and emergency surgeries are a central part of everyday surgical care in Germany. However, it is unclear how emergency surgery is practically trained in clinics on a daily basis and what training concept is underlying. Therefore, the aim of this survey study was to capture the status quo of emergency surgical training of German general and visceral surgeons.
METHODS
The members of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery were surveyed online (n = 5281). The questionnaire included demographic data and expertise in surgery and assistance in emergency surgery regarding common emergency surgical operations. In addition, further training measures in emergency surgery and their support by employers were queried.
RESULTS
Only complete questionnaires (n = 184, response rate 3.5%) were included in the analysis. Most participants were in training (n = 69; 38%), followed by senior physicians (n = 52; 29%), specialists (n = 31; 17%) and chief physicians (n = 30; 17%). 64% of the participants were employed at university hospitals or maximum care hospitals. Regarding further training opportunities, in-clinic shock room training was most frequently used. Outside of their own clinic, the ATLS course was most frequently mentioned. Operations for cholecystitis and appendicitis as well as emergency stoma procedures are the most common emergency procedures. There was a strong difference in the frequency of operated cases depending on the level of training. For operations to treat acute abdominal traumas (hemostasis of liver and spleen, packing) as well as outside of visceral surgery, only low competence was reported. Over 90% of survey participants consider emergency surgery to be an indispensable core competence. Neither in the old (76%) nor in the new training regulations (47%) is emergency surgery adequately represented according to the participants' assessment. There was a significantly lower prevalence of the "sub-steps concept" in emergency surgery at 38% compared to elective surgery (44%). Important elements of imparting skills in emergency surgery are simulation and courses as well as operative sub-steps, according to the majority of survey participants.
CONCLUSION
The results show that general and visceral surgeons in Germany are introduced to emergency surgery too little structured during further training and at specialist level. The survey participants had, as expected, hardly any experience in emergency surgery outside of visceral surgery but surprisingly also little experience in visceral surgical trauma care. There is a need to discuss the future organization of emergency surgical training. Adequate simulation structures and extracurricular courses could contribute to an improvement in this respect.
Topics: Humans; Germany; Surveys and Questionnaires; Female; Male; Clinical Competence; Adult; Emergencies; Middle Aged; General Surgery
PubMed: 38900254
DOI: 10.1007/s00423-024-03360-6 -
Pain Research & Management 2024Common postoperative complications following surgery, particularly acute appendicitis surgery, include postoperative pain and vomiting, which can cause discomfort and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Common postoperative complications following surgery, particularly acute appendicitis surgery, include postoperative pain and vomiting, which can cause discomfort and delay recovery time.
METHODS
A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with 80 cases of acute appendicitis of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II and aged 18-60 y/o scheduled for appendectomy under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: group A received 4 mg of ondansetron IV (2 ml) and group B received 2 ml of normal slain IV (placebo). Pain according to VAS, nausea and vomiting according to clinical symptoms, shivering and sedation according to the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale (BSAS), and the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were evaluated and compared between the groups.
RESULTS
There was a significant decline in the severity of pain only at 2 hours after surgery between the ondansetron and control groups (5.3 ± 1.0 vs. 6.0 ± 1.0; =0.01), not showing a difference between the groups at 6, 12, and 24 hours after appendectomy. Postoperative nausea and vomiting at 2 (5% vs. 25%; =0.03) and 6 (7.5% vs. 27.5%; =0.04) hours after appendectomy in the ondansetron group. At different times, the ondansetron and control groups did not differ in terms of pethidine consumption or sedation.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our study found that ondansetron was effective in reducing postoperative vomiting after acute appendicitis surgery. However, it did not show a clinically significant effect on postoperative pain. This trial is registered with IRCT20230722058883N1.
Topics: Humans; Double-Blind Method; Ondansetron; Adult; Male; Female; Pain, Postoperative; Appendicitis; Young Adult; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; Appendectomy; Pain Measurement; Antiemetics; Treatment Outcome; Time Factors
PubMed: 38899063
DOI: 10.1155/2024/6429874