scholarly journals 94 An Observational Cohort Study to Evaluate Volume and Severity of Emergency General Surgery Admissions During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Is There A “Lockdown” Effect?

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R McLean ◽  
J Young ◽  
A Musbahi ◽  
J X Lee ◽  
H Hidayat ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in NHS surgical service provision. This, combined with the government-imposed lockdown, may have impacted on patient attendance, severity of surgical disease, and outcomes. This study aimed to investigate a possible ‘lockdown’ effect on the volume and severity of surgical admissions and outcomes. Method Two cohorts of adult emergency general surgery admissions 30 days immediately before (16/2/2020 to 15/3/2020), and after UK government advice (16/3/2020 to 15/4/2020). Data were collected relating to patient characteristics, disease severity, clinical outcomes, and compared between these groups. Results Following lockdown, a significant reduction in median daily admissions from 7 to 3 (p < 0.001) was observed. Post-lockdown patients were significantly older, frailer with higher inflammatory indices and rates of AKI, and more likely to present with gastrointestinal cancer, obstruction, and perforation. Patients had significantly higher rates of Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥3 complications (p = 0.001), all-cause 30-day mortality (8.5% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.028), but no significant difference was observed in operative 30-day mortality. Conclusions There appears to be a “lockdown” effect on general surgical admissions with fewer admissions, more acutely unwell patients, and an increase in all-cause 30-day mortality. Patients should be advised to present promptly, and this should be reinforced for future lockdowns during the pandemic.

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
pp. 1178-1184
Author(s):  
Sarah Waterman Manning ◽  
Scotta L. Orr ◽  
Katherine S. Mastriani

Background Nonoperative management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) results in resolution for the majority of patients. Previous studies have demonstrated that outcomes for patients with ASBO are improved when patients are admitted to a surgical service, but the effect of general surgery resident coverage is unclear. This study measures quality outcomes for patients with ASBO after the establishment of a new general surgery residency program. Methods An institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of admissions for ASBO was conducted following the implementation of a protocol for ASBO nested within a newly developed resident-run emergency general surgery (EGS) service. Patients successfully treated without operative intervention were analyzed. Results During the study period, 612 patients were admitted for ASBO. After initiation of the residency, 74% of ASBO were admitted to a surgical service compared with 35% prior to residency ( P < .01). Length of stay was reduced by 0.77 days ( P = .016), average direct total cost per patient was reduced by 24% ( P = .002), and 30-day readmissions were reduced by 35.7% ( P = .046). There was no significant difference in mortality (1.4% vs 1.0%). Discussion Admission to a resident-run surgical service was associated with statistically significant improvement in outcomes for patients with ASBO. These data corroborate prior studies demonstrating the positive impact of residency programs on patient outcomes and provide additional evidence that general surgery residency programs improve outcomes for patients with surgical disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 457-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Patel ◽  
AJ Hainsworth ◽  
K Devlin ◽  
JH Patel ◽  
A Karim

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has put significant stress on healthcare systems globally. This study focuses on emergency general surgery services at a major trauma centre and teaching hospital. We aimed to identify whether the number of patients and the severity of their presentation has significantly changed since the implementation of a national lockdown. Materials and methods This study is a retrospective review of acute referrals (from general practice and accident and emergency) to the emergency general surgery team over a 14-day period before (group 1) and during (group 2) lockdown. Results A total of 151 patients were reviewed by the general surgical team in group 1 and 75 in group 2 (a 50.3% reduction). The number of days with symptoms prior to presentation was significantly shorter in group 1 compared with group 2 (3 vs 4, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the National Early Warning Score, white blood cell count, lymphocytes and C-reactive protein on admission between the two groups of patients. There were significantly fewer patients admitted after lockdown compared with pre-lockdown (66% vs 48%, p = 0.01). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter during lockdown compared with pre-lockdown (5 days vs 4 days, p = 0.04). Conclusion Fewer patients were referred and admitted during lockdown compared with pre-lockdown, and the length of stay was also significantly reduced. There was also a delay in presentation to hospital, although these patients were not more unwell based on the scoring criteria used within this study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 233 (5) ◽  
pp. e75
Author(s):  
Frances Y. Hu ◽  
Lynne O'Mara ◽  
Masami Kelly ◽  
Emma Kerr ◽  
Christina Sheu ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10520-10520
Author(s):  
Jennifer Lynn McNeer ◽  
Lingyun Ji ◽  
Xinxin Xu ◽  
Michael Burke ◽  
Wanda Salzer ◽  
...  

10520 Background: Outcomes for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are superior with pediatric-inspired therapy. CALGB 10403, the first US adult cooperative group prospective trial using a pediatric-inspired augmented BFM (ABFM)-based regimen, demonstrated feasibility and improved survival. We examined differences in drug delivery and targeted toxicities in AYAs who received the same therapy on C10403 vs the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) study AALL1131. Methods: The proportion of AYAs receiving full dose (within 10% of protocol- specified) vincristine (VCR) and pegaspargase (PEG) during induction (IND), consolidation (CON), and delayed intensification (DI); the likelihood of selected grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs); and the impact of patient characteristics were compared in AYAs 16-30 years. Targeted AEs with analogous reporting requirements in both studies included hyperbilirubinemia, pancreatitis, sensory neuropathy, and GI/intracranial hemorrhage. Thrombosis, transaminitis and hyperglycemia were not comparably captured. Fisher’s Exact test and logistic regression models were used for analyses. Results: After excluding AYAs removed from study after induction, 87 AALL1131 AYAs (accrued 2012-2016) and 188 C10403 AYAs (accrued 2007-2012) were analyzed with median ages of 17 (16-26) vs 22 (17-30) years, p < 0.001. There was no difference in the intensity of VCR delivery during IND, but in CON and DI, AALL1131 AYAs were more likely to receive all specified VCR (93.1% vs 81.9%, p = 0.02; 92.7% vs 72.1%, p = 0.01). Women were less likely to receive all specified VCR (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.94, p = 0.03), and overweight/obese AYAs were somewhat less likely to receive all VCR compared to those considered normal weight (OR 0.88 and 0.59, p = 0.09). More C10403 AYAs were obese/overweight compared to AALL1131 AYAs (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in dosing of PEG during IND/CON, but in DI AALL1131 AYAs were more likely to receive both doses (75.6% vs 57.1%, p = 0.03). No patient variables impacted delivery of PEG. There was no significant difference in grade ≥3 toxicities captured similarly on both studies. Conclusions: AYAs enrolled on AALL1131 were more likely to receive all protocol-specified VCR and PEG compared to those on C10403. Selected AE rates were comparable, suggesting that older AYAs do not tolerate doses of VCR and PEG for reasons other than toxicity, with body habitus as one potential variable. Further analyses to compare dose density, toxicities, and outcomes experienced by younger AYAs versus older are ongoing.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 2761-2761
Author(s):  
Theresa Liu-Dumlao ◽  
Hagop M. Kantarjian ◽  
Alfonso Quintas-Cardama ◽  
Elias Jabbour ◽  
Jan A. Burger ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2761 Background: Frontline treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved prognosis for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Myelosuppression is the most common adverse event (AE) seen during therapy with frontline second generation TKIs, dasatinib and nilotinib. The impact that grade 3/4 myelosuppression has on future outcome has not been described. Aim: To define the patient characteristics and clinical significance of myelosuppression associated with the use of dasatinib or nilotinib as initial therapy for CML. Methods: From August 2005, 204 patients (pts) diagnosed with CML-CP were treated with dasatinib (n=99) or nilotinib (n=105) in parallel trials. Prior imatinib exposure of less than 4 weeks was allowed. Complete blood counts (CBC) and differentials were done weekly in the first month, every 1–2 months up to the first year, every 3–4 months in the second year, and every 4–6 months thereafter. Results: A total of 44 (42%) pts developed grade 3/4 myelosuppression (MS) defined under CTCAE v4.0 criteria as hemoglobin (Hb)<8g/dL (n=5), absolute neutrophil count (ANC)<1×109/L (n=32), and platelet count (Plt)<50×109/L (n=21); 12 (30%) developed more than one cytopenia. MS occurred in 30 pts on dasatinib (anemia 13%, neutropenia 73%, thrombocytopenia 40%), and 14 pts on nilotinib (7%,71%,64%, respectively). Comparing patient characteristics between those who experienced myelosuppression vs. no myelosuppression, there was no significant difference in age, prior imatinib therapy, percent Ph positivity, or baseline hematologic parameters. There was a trend for more pts in the intermediate Sokal risk category among pts with MS. Of the 44 patients with MS, 39 (89%) experienced the event for the first time within 3 months from initiation of therapy. Five (11%) experienced the event after the first 3 months of treatment: 2 eventually came off study (one for resistance and the other for disease progression, both on nilotinib), and 3 (all on dasatinib) continued on therapy, able to achieve CMR. Complications associated with MS included hospitalization in 2 pts (one for pneumonia, and another for flu and prolonged QTc); 6 (14%) required antibiotics; 2 (5%) required blood transfusions; and 2 (5%) required growth factors (erythropoietin). MS led to TKI dose reduction in 9% of all pts treated (41% of those with MS), including 13% of those on dasatinib, and 5% of those on nilotinib. Dose reduction resolved MS in most instances. Recurrence of MS was seen in 10 pts, 2 of whom had progression of disease to blast phase/AML. The outcome of pts with MS is described in table 1 compared to those without MS. Patients with MS had a significantly lower rate of CCyR, MMR, CMR and EFS compared to those without MS. Conclusion: MS is a common AE among pts receiving therapy with dasatinib or nilotinib as initial therapy for CML that frequently leads to dose reductions, and is associated with an inferior outcome. Whether the worse outcome reflects decreased dose intensity, or whether the outcome and decreased tolerance to therapy reflect an intrinsic difference in disease biology remains to be determined. Disclosures: Kantarjian: BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Quintas-Cardama:Novartis: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. Jabbour:Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Ravandi:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Cortes:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy, Research Funding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloise Lawrence ◽  
Panos Stathakis ◽  
Paul Goldsmith ◽  
Stella Smith ◽  
Christian Macutkiewicz ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction and Aims The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on service provision in Emergency General Surgery. Due to the unknown risk of COVID-19 transmission, the use of laparoscopic surgery was cautioned against in favour of open surgery or conservative management. This study looks at the impact of service reconfiguration on rates of laparoscopic surgery. Methods The management and outcomes were audited of all patients admitted to our unit during the UK COVID-19 lockdown period and compared against the same period last year. Results In total, 645 patients (223 COVID-19 period, 422 non-COVID) were included. Less surgery was performed during the pandemic (32.3% vs 39.3%), with only 2 cases of laparoscopic surgery (0.9% vs 16.1%). Despite a change to conservative management, we report no differences in complication rates or length of stay and 30-day mortality (excluding deaths from COVID-19 pneumonitis). Re-admission rates were higher following conservative management (10.6% vs 4.7%). Conclusion There is a significant reduction in surgery (particularly laparoscopic surgery) during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no differences in outcomes, but we show higher re-admission rates for patients treated conservatively. Together with emerging evidence on the safety of laparoscopic surgery, these findings help inform service re-configuration for future pandemic responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Hebding ◽  
L Wingfield ◽  
Y Negreskul ◽  
J Gilmour

Abstract Introduction Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the surgical community has attempted to address whether it is safe to continue surgery. The aim of this research was to review evidence on emergency general patients operated on during the pandemic compared to patients undergoing emergency surgery during non-pandemic times to determine if operating during the Covid-19 pandemic led to an increased risk of death, length of hospital stay and complications. Method A systematic review of the literature was performed. PubMed, Cochrane, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Springer Link, Elsevier, and reference lists were analysed for inclusion on 2 January 2021. Results Nine studies and 5,022 patients were included. There were no significant differences in the control group vs pandemic group in mean age (52.3yrs vs 51.9yrs, p = 0.67) or gender (44.4% females vs 49.3%, p = 0.173). Pooled analysis of control vs pandemic showed a mortality rate of 1.26% vs 3.06% (CI:-6.58–6.58, p = 1.00). Mean length of hospital stay was 7.9 vs 7.7 days in control v. pandemic (CI: -2.93-3.33, p = 0.87) and post-operative complication rate of 20.2% vs 25.7% (CI -6.4-25.0, p = 0.20), (control vs pandemic). The pandemic group had significantly more operative management (47.0% vs 40.0%, p = 0.03) with no significant difference in laparoscopic vs open technique (46.0% vs 43.6%, p = 0.20). Conclusions This meta-analysis shows there is no statistically significant difference in mortality rate, length of hospital stay and postoperative complication rate between the pandemic and control cohorts in emergency general surgery patients. This data suggests that general emergency surgery should continue in spite of the pandemic with appropriate precautions in place.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Angamuthu ◽  
J Gilliland ◽  
S Chowdhury ◽  
R D'Souza ◽  
C Hart ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During COVID-19, acute surgical services witnessed an overhaul of practice due to constraints on staff and resource (beds, imaging, and theater) availability. Fear of COVID-19, among general population potentially added to delay in patients seeking medical assistance. This study describes experiences of acute general surgery at a COVID-19 designated tertiary institution wherein elective surgical work was put on hold and emergency on-call rota was modified during the pandemic. Method A retrospective analysis (March-April 2019 vs 2020) of the surgical work from a prospectively maintained surgical database during COVID-19 was performed. Results Emergency surgical admissions during March 2020 vs 2019 was 106 vs 207. Comparing the workload March-April 2020 vs 2019, emergency referrals were 266 vs 341, operations performed 71 vs 92. 31.5% (84/266) of patients were tested for COVID and 30% (25/84) were positive. Emergency surgery was performed in 71 patients (including appendectomies (28), hernia repair(3), laparotomy(3), Hartman’s procedure(3), hemicolectomy(7) and anterior resection with covering ileostomy(2)). In this group, a male preponderance was noted (M:F 1.84:1), the average age was 43.2 years (6-91), length of stay 4.8 days (&lt;23 hours-34 days). In the operative group, the 30-day mortality was 4.23% (3/71) and the morbidity was 31%. Conclusions With local changes, stopping elective services, modifying on-call rota, a surgical department can continue to be functional and offer emergency surgical service for a sustained period during a pandemic. During the COVID pandemic, the average number of referrals, admissions and surgeries were lower when compared to the non-covid period.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3542-3542
Author(s):  
Catherine Delbaldo ◽  
Marc Ychou ◽  
Ayman Zawadi ◽  
Jean-Yves Douillard ◽  
Thierry André ◽  
...  

3542 Background: The goal of the study was to test whether adding Irinotecan to a 5-FU/LV adjuvant regimen improves disease free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) in optimally resected stages II-III rectal cancers. Primary end-point was DFS. Methods: Six hundred patients were planned to be randomized between 5-FU/LV (control arm) or 5-FU/LV + irinotecan (experimental arm). As only 357 patients had been included from 03/1999 to 12/2005 (178 in control and 179 in experimental arm), the IDMC recommended to close accrual. The trial was stratified by control arm: Mayo-Clinic regimen (A: LV 20 mg/m², 5-FU 425 mg/m² bolus days (d) 1- 5 reapeted at d29,57,92,127 and 162) or LV5-FU2 regimen (A’: LV 200 mg/m², 5-FU 400 mg/m² bolus and 5-FU 600 mg/m² 22-hours infusion d1-2, q 2 w for 12 cycles). The experimental arm (B) was LV5-FU2 + irinotecan 180 mg/m² d1. Results: All 357 randomized patients were evaluable for efficacy. Patient characteristics were well balanced (median age 62 years, stage II 31 %, stage III 69 %, N0 31 %, 68 % received preoperative radiotherapy, and 80 % had sphincter conservation). With follow-up of 156 months, DFS and OS are not statistically increase (81vs 92 events for DFS in experimental and control arm, hazard ratio (HR)=0.805, p=0.154;63 vs 72 events for OS, HR=0.874, p=0.433). Patients allocated to the experimental arm had more grade 3-4 neutropenia when compared with the LV5FU2 control (33 % vs 16 %, p=0.03), but not when compared with the Mayo Clinic arm (32% vs 36%, p=0.84). Grade 3-4 diarrhea tend to be higher in the experimental arm, but analyses stratified by control arm or by radiotherapy failed to show significant differences across strata (test for interaction p=0.44). Conclusions: In patients with resected stage II-III rectal cancer, adding irinotecan to 5FU/LV led to a non significant increase of DFS and OS. The analysis was planned to have a 60 % power to detect a significant difference with 220 events. With a long term follow up of 8 years only 173 events were observed in our trial. Lack of power and good patient prognosis (thirty one percent of node negative patients) may have impacted the results.


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