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Journal of Special Operations Medicine... 2021Historically, about 20% of hospitalized combat injured patients have an abdominal injury. Abdominal evisceration may be expected to complicate as many as one-third of...
Historically, about 20% of hospitalized combat injured patients have an abdominal injury. Abdominal evisceration may be expected to complicate as many as one-third of battle-related abdominal wounds. The outcomes for casualties with eviscerating injuries may be significantly improved with appropriate prehospital management. While not as extensively studied as other forms of combat injury, abdominal evisceration management recommendations extend back to at least World War I, when it was recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and was especially associated with bayonet injury. More recently, abdominal evisceration has been noted as a frequent result of penetrating, ballistic trauma. Initial management of abdominal evisceration for prehospital providers consists of assessing for and controlling associated hemorrhage, assessing for bowel content leakage, covering the eviscerated abdominal contents with a moist, sterile barrier, and carefully reassessing the patient. Mortality in abdominal evisceration is more likely to be secondary to associated injuries than to the evisceration itself. Attempting to establish education, training, and a standard of care for nonmedical and medical first responders and to leverage current wound management technologies, the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) conducted a systematic review of historical Service guidelines and recent medical studies that include abdominal evisceration. For abdominal evisceration injuries, the following principles of management apply: (1) Control any associated bleeding visible in the wound. (2) If there is no evidence of spinal cord injury, allow the patient to take the position of most comfort. (3) Rinse the eviscerated bowel with clean fluid to reduce gross contamination. (4) Cover exposed bowel with a moist, sterile dressing or a sterile water-impermeable covering. It is important to keep the wound moist; irrigate the dressing with warm water if available. (4) For reduction in wounds that do not have a substantial loss of abdominal wall, a brief attempt may be made to replace/reduce the eviscerated abdominal contents. If the external contents do not easily go back into the abdominal cavity, do not force or spend more than 60 seconds attempting to reduce contents. If reduction of eviscerated contents is successful, reapproximate the skin using available material, preferably an adhesive dressing like a chest seal (other examples include safety pins, suture, staples, wound closure devices, etc.). Do not attempt to reduce bowel that is actively bleeding or leaking enteric contents. (6) If unable to reduce, cover the eviscerated organs with water-impermeable, nonadhesive material (transparent preferred to allow ability to reassess for ongoing bleeding; examples include a bowel bag, IV bag, clear food wrap, etc.), and then secure the impermeable dressing to the patient using an adhesive dressing (e.g., Ioban, chest seal). (7) Do NOT FORCE contents back into abdomen or actively bleeding viscera. (8) Death in the abdominally eviscerated patient is typically from associated injuries, such as concomitant solid organ or vascular injury, rather than from the evisceration itself. (9) Antibiotics should be administered for any open wounds, including abdominal eviscerating injuries. Parenteral ertapenem is the preferred antibiotic for these injuries.
Topics: Abdominal Injuries; Hemorrhage; Humans; Military Medicine; Thorax
PubMed: 34969144
DOI: 10.55460/9U6S-1K7M -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Mar 2022During general anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery, there remain knowledge gaps regarding the effect of goal-directed haemodynamic therapy on patient-centred outcomes. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
During general anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery, there remain knowledge gaps regarding the effect of goal-directed haemodynamic therapy on patient-centred outcomes.
METHODS
Included clinical trials investigated goal-directed haemodynamic therapy during general anaesthesia in adults undergoing noncardiac surgery and reported at least one patient-centred postoperative outcome. PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant articles on March 8, 2021. Two investigators performed abstract screening, full-text review, data extraction, and bias assessment. The primary outcomes were mortality and hospital length of stay, whereas 15 postoperative complications were included based on availability. From a main pool of comparable trials, meta-analyses were performed on trials with homogenous outcome definitions. Certainty of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE).
RESULTS
The main pool consisted of 76 trials with intermediate risk of bias for most outcomes. Overall, goal-directed haemodynamic therapy might reduce mortality (odds ratio=0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 1.09) and shorten length of stay (mean difference=-0.72 days; 95% CI, -1.10 to -0.35) but with low certainty in the evidence. For both outcomes, larger effects favouring goal-directed haemodynamic therapy were seen in abdominal surgery, very high-risk surgery, and using targets based on preload variation by the respiratory cycle. However, formal tests for subgroup differences were not statistically significant. Goal-directed haemodynamic therapy decreased risk of several postoperative outcomes, but only infectious outcomes and anastomotic leakage reached moderate certainty of evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
Goal-directed haemodynamic therapy during general anaesthesia might decrease mortality, hospital length of stay, and several postoperative complications. Only infectious postoperative complications and anastomotic leakage reached moderate certainty in the evidence.
Topics: Anesthesia, General; General Surgery; Hemodynamics; Humans; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 34916049
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.10.046 -
Anesthesia and Analgesia Apr 2022In critically ill patients, warnings about a risk of death and acute kidney injury (AKI) with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions have been raised. However, HES... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
In critically ill patients, warnings about a risk of death and acute kidney injury (AKI) with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions have been raised. However, HES solutions may yet have a role to play in major abdominal surgery. This meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to investigate the effect of HES intravascular volume replacement on the risk of AKI, intraoperative blood transfusion, and postoperative intra-abdominal complications compared to crystalloid intravascular volume replacement.
METHODS
In this meta-analysis and TSA, we searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intraoperative HES intravascular volume replacement to crystalloid intravascular volume replacement in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Primary outcome was 30-day AKI, defined as a binary outcome according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, combining stages 1, 2, and 3 into an AKI category versus no AKI category (stage 0). Secondary outcomes included rates of intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative intra-abdominal complications. We used random effects models to calculate summary estimates. We used relative risk (RR) as summary measure for dichotomous outcomes, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the primary outcome (P value <.05 was considered statistically significant) and 99% CI after Bonferroni correction for the secondary outcomes (P value <.01 was considered statistically significant).
RESULTS
Seven RCTs including 2398 patients were included. HES intravascular volume replacement was not associated with an increased risk of 30-day AKI (RR = 1.22, 95% CI, 0.94-1.59; P = .13), when compared to crystalloid intravascular volume replacement. According to TSA, this analysis was underpowered. HES intravascular volume replacement was associated with higher rates of blood transfusion (RR = 1.57 99% CI, 1.10-2.25; P = .001), and similar rates of postoperative intra-abdominal complications (RR = 0.76 99% CI, 0.57-1.02; P = .02).
CONCLUSIONS
In this meta-analysis to focus on HES intravascular volume replacement in major abdominal surgery, HES intravascular volume replacement was not associated with a higher risk of 30-day AKI when compared to crystalloid intravascular volume replacement. However, CI and TSA do not exclude harmful effects of HES intravascular volume replacement on the renal function.
Topics: Abdomen; Acute Kidney Injury; Crystalloid Solutions; Female; Fluid Therapy; Humans; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; Male; Plasma Substitutes; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 34854822
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005803 -
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery... Jan 2023Systematic review and meta-analysis. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Historically, posterior approaches to the lumbar spine have allowed surgeons to manage degenerative conditions affecting the lumbar spine. However, spinal muscles injury, post-surgical vertebral instability, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) represent severe complications that may occur after these surgeries. Lumbar interbody fusion using anterior (ALIF), oblique (OLIF), or lateral (LLIF) approaches may represent valuable surgical alternatives, in case fusion is indicated on single or multiple levels.
METHODS
The present study is a systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA statement, of comparative studies on OLIF, and LLIF for degenerative spine disorders, and a meta-analysis of their clinical-radiological outcomes and complications.
RESULTS
After screening 1472 papers on PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, only 3 papers were included in the present study. 318 patients were included for data meta-analysis, 128 in OLIF group, and 190 in LLIF group. There were no significative differences in terms of surgical (intraoperative blood loss and surgical duration) and clinical (VAS-back, VAS-leg, and ODI scores) outcomes, or fusion rates at last follow-up (> 2 years). Significantly higher rates of abdominal complications, system failure, and vascular injuries were recorded in the OLIF group. Conversely, postoperative neurological symptoms and psoas weakness were significatively more common in LLIF group.
CONCLUSIONS
The meta-analysis suggests that OLIF and LLIF are both effective for lumbar degenerative disorders, although each of them presents specific complications and this should represent a relevant element in the surgical planning.
Topics: Humans; Spinal Fusion; Spinal Diseases; Lumbar Vertebrae; Blood Loss, Surgical; Surgeons; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34825987
DOI: 10.1007/s00590-021-03172-0 -
Cureus Oct 2021Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a perineal and abdominal necrotizing infection. It is most commonly found in middle-aged men with comorbidities such as diabetes... (Review)
Review
Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a perineal and abdominal necrotizing infection. It is most commonly found in middle-aged men with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus. Initial symptoms are often indistinct and can rapidly progress to overwhelming infections with a relatively high mortality rate. It is crucial to make a prompt diagnosis so that the patient receives appropriate treatment. Given the importance of the identification of FG, we explored what were the most common signs and symptoms associated with FG, as well as distinguished the gold standard treatment. This systematic review utilized articles identified exclusively through PubMed using key terms such as Fournier's gangrene, signs, symptoms, and treatment. A total of 37 studies, including a total of 3,224 patients (3,093 males and 131 females), fit our inclusion parameters for relevance that included either the most identifiable presentation of FG or the most effective treatment. From our search, the most common clinical presentation was scrotal and labial pain, fever, abscesses, crepitus, erythema, and cellulitis. Diagnosis is made from clinical findings in conjunction with imaging. The gold standard for treatment was found to be a combination of surgical debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and the administration of intravenous fluids. Further, patient survival was found to be directly related to the time from diagnosis to treatment when they underwent surgical debridement. The importance of early identification for improved outcomes or survival highlights the need for further studies or measures to enhance the identification of the signs and symptoms of FG.
PubMed: 34815897
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18948 -
European Journal of Trauma and... Apr 2022Direct peritoneal resuscitation (DPR) has been used to help preserve microcirculation by reversing vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion associated with the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Direct peritoneal resuscitation (DPR) has been used to help preserve microcirculation by reversing vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion associated with the pathophysiological process of shock, which can occur despite appropriate intravenous resuscitation. This approach depends on infusing a hyperosmolar solution intraperitoneally via a percutaneous catheter with the tip ending near the pelvis or the root of the mesentery. The abdomen is usually left open with a negative pressure abdominal dressing to continuously evacuate the infused dialysate. Hypertonicity of the solution triggers visceral vasodilation to help maintain blood flow, even during shock, and is also associated with reduced local inflammatory cytokines and other mediators, preservation of endothelial cell function, and mitigation of organ edema and necrosis. It also has a direct effect on liver perfusion and edema, more rapidly corrects electrolyte abnormalities compared to intravenous resuscitation alone, and may requireless intravenous fluid to stabilize blood pressure, all of which shortens the time required to close patients' abdomen.
METHODS
An online query using the search term "direct peritoneal resuscitation" was carried out in PubMed, MEDLINE and SciELO, limited to publications indexed from January 2014 to June 2020. Of the 20 articles returned, full text was able to be obtained for 19. A manual review of included articles' references was resulted in the addition of 1 article, for a total of 20 included articles.
RESULTS
The 20 articles were comprised of 15 animal studies, 4 clinical studies,and 1 expert opinion. The benefits include both local and possibly systemic effects on perfusion, hypoxia, acidosis, and inflammation, and are associated with improved outcomes and reduced complications.
CONCLUSION
DPR shows promise in patients with hemorrhagic shock, septic shock, and other conditions resulting in an open abdomen after damage control laparotomy.
Topics: Animals; Edema; Fluid Therapy; Humans; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Resuscitation; Shock, Hemorrhagic
PubMed: 34773466
DOI: 10.1007/s00068-021-01821-x -
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) Mar 2022Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, has been recently reported to mimic acute abdomen and lead to... (Review)
Review
AIM
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, has been recently reported to mimic acute abdomen and lead to surgical interventions, posing challenges for clinicians. In this systematic review, we evaluated the rate of acute abdomen and abdominal surgical emergencies in children with MIS-C.
METHODS
Systematic review of all MIS-C cases presented with acute abdomen.
RESULTS
A total of 385 patients with MIS-C, from 38 studies, were included. Gastrointestinal manifestations were prominent in 233/385 (60.5%) children. Acute abdomen was noted in 72/385 (18.7%) of MIS-C cases and in 72/233 (30.9%) of MIS-C cases with gastrointestinal symptoms. Final diagnoses were mostly non-surgical (55/72, 76.4%), such as mesenteric lymphadenitis (23/72, 31.9%), terminal ileitis/ileocolitis (19/72, 26.4%), free abdominal fluid/ascites (8/72, 11.1%) and paralytic ileus (3/72, 4.2%). Laparotomy was performed in 35/72 (48.6%) of children with MIS-C, and acute abdomen and was proven unnecessary in 18/35 (51.4%) cases. True abdominal surgical emergencies, such as appendicitis and obstructive ileus, were confirmed in 17/72 (23.6%) cases.
CONCLUSION
MIS-C often presents with acute abdomen, mostly due to non-surgical intestinal inflammatory pathology. However, surgical complications occur in patients with MIS-C; therefore, a high index of suspicion should remain.
Topics: Abdomen, Acute; COVID-19; Child; Humans; Intestinal Obstruction; SARS-CoV-2; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
PubMed: 34751972
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16178 -
International Journal of Clinical... Dec 2021Gastrointestinal complications of COVID-19 have been reported over the last year. One such manifestation is bowel ischaemia. This study thus aims to provide a more... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal complications of COVID-19 have been reported over the last year. One such manifestation is bowel ischaemia. This study thus aims to provide a more holistic review of our current understanding of COVID-19-induced bowel ischaemia.
METHOD AND RESULTS
A meticulous search was performed using different keywords in PubMed and Google Scholar. Fifty-two articles were included in our study after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and performing the qualitative assessment of the studies. A total of 25 702 patients were included in our study after the completion of the qualitative assessment.
DISCUSSION
The common symptoms of GIT in COVID-19 patients are as diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. The mechanism of bowel ischaemia is associated with the formation of emboli which is related to COVID-19's high affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 on enterocytes, affecting the superior mesenteric vessels. Clinically, patients present with abdominal pain and vomiting. CT angiography of the abdomen and pelvis showed acute intestinal ischaemia (mesenteric). Management is usually initiated with gastric decompression, fluid resuscitation, and haemodynamic support. Surgical intervention is also sought.
CONCLUSION
Intestinal ischaemia presenting in patients with COVID-19 has to be considered when symptoms of severe abdominal pain are present. More research and guidelines are required to triage patients with COVID-19 to suspect intestinal ischaemia and to help in diagnosis and management.
Topics: COVID-19; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Ischemia; Mesenteric Ischemia; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34605117
DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.14930 -
Visceral Medicine Aug 2021The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate key imaging manifestations of COVID-19 on abdominal imaging by utilizing a comprehensive review of the published...
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate key imaging manifestations of COVID-19 on abdominal imaging by utilizing a comprehensive review of the published literature.
METHOD
A systematic literature search from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus was performed for studies mentioning abdominal imaging findings in COVID-19 patients. Studies published from inception to 15 March 2021 were included.
RESULTS
A total of 116 studies comprising 1,198 patients were included. Abdominal pain was the most common indication for abdominal imaging in 50.2% of the patients. No abnormality was seen in 48.1% of abdominopelvic computed tomography scans. Segmental bowel wall thickening (14.7%) was the most common imaging abnormality, followed by bowel ischemia (7.1%), solid organ infarction (6.7%), vessel thrombosis (6.7%), and fluid-filled colon (6.2%). Other relevant findings were dilated air-filled bowel, pancreatitis, pneumatosis/portal venous gas, bowel perforation, and appendicitis. Other than abdominal findings, COVID-19-related basal lung changes were incidentally detected in many studies. Moreover, the presence of bowel imaging findings was positively correlated with the clinical severity of COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION
This review describes the abdominal imaging findings in COVID-19 patients. This is pertinent for the early diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients presenting solely with abdominal symptoms as well as in identifying abdominal complications in a known case of COVID-19.
PubMed: 34580634
DOI: 10.1159/000518473 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Sep 2021Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) is rarely identified as a cause of amebic pericarditis. We report a case of amebic pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade,...
BACKGROUND
Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) is rarely identified as a cause of amebic pericarditis. We report a case of amebic pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade, in which the diagnosis was missed initially and was made retrospectively by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of a stored sample of pericardial fluid. Furthermore, we performed a systematic review of the literature on amebic pericarditis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 71-year-old Japanese man who had a history of sexual intercourse with several commercial sex workers 4 months previously, presented to our hospital with left chest pain and cough. He was admitted on suspicion of pericarditis. On hospital day 7, he developed cardiac tamponade requiring urgent pericardiocentesis. The patient's symptoms temporarily improved, but 1 month later, he returned with fever and abdominal pain, and multiple liver lesions were found in the right lobe. Polymerase chain reaction of the aspiration fluid of the liver lesion and pericardial and pleural fluid stored from the previous hospitalization were all positive for E. histolytica. Together with the positive serum antibody for E. histolytica, a diagnosis of amebic pericarditis was made. Notably, the diagnosis was missed initially and was made retrospectively by performing PCR testing. The patient improved with metronidazole 750 mg thrice daily for 14 days, followed by paromomycin 500 mg thrice daily for 10 days.
CONCLUSIONS
This case suggests that, although only 122 cases of amebic pericarditis have been reported, clinicians should be aware of E. histolytica as a potential causative pathogen. The polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect E. histolytica in the pericardial effusion and was found to be useful for the diagnosis of amebic pericarditis in addition to the positive results for the serum antibody testing for E. histolytica. Because of the high mortality associated with delayed treatment, prompt diagnosis should be made.
Topics: Aged; Amebiasis; Entamoeba histolytica; Humans; Male; Pericardial Effusion; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34530739
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06590-x