scholarly journals Impact of a dedicated emergency surgical unit on early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bokhari ◽  
U Walsh ◽  
K Qurashi ◽  
L Liasis ◽  
J Watfah ◽  
...  

Introduction Emergency general surgery (EGS) accounts for 50% of the surgical workload, and yet outcomes are variable and poorly recorded. The management of acute cholecystitis (AC) at a dedicated emergency surgical unit (ESU) was assessed as a performance target for EGS. Methods The outcomes for AC admissions were compared one year before and after inception of the ESU. The impact on cost and compliance with national guidance recommending early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) within seven days of diagnosis was assessed. Results The overall ELC rate increased from 26% for the 126 patients admitted in the pre-ESU period to 45% for the 152 patients admitted in the post-ESU period (p=0.001). With those unsuitable for ELC excluded, the ELC rate increased from 34% to 82% (p<0.001). The proportion of patients precluded from ELC for avoidable reasons, particularly owing to ‘surgeon preference/skill’, was reduced from 69% to 18% (p<0.001). The mean total length of stay (LOS) and postoperative LOS fell by 1.7 days (from 8.3 to 6.6 days, p=0.040) and 2 days (from 5.6 to 3.6 days, p=0.020) respectively. The higher ELC rate and the reduction in LOS produced additional tariff income (£111,930) and estimated savings in bed day (£90,440) and readmission (£27,252) costs. Conclusions A dedicated ESU incorporating national recommendations for EGS improves alignment of best practice with best evidence and can also result in financial rewards for a busy district general hospital.

2007 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 789-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Bajwa ◽  
TR Magee ◽  
RB Galland

INTRODUCTION This study examines the impact of rationing varicose vein operations on operative training on a general surgical unit with a vascular interest. PATIENTS AND METHODS Log-books of middle-grade surgeons were analysed for 3-month periods before and after a decision by the local Primary Care Trust to ration varicose vein referrals. Number, intermediate equivalents and type of operations were recorded, whether they were general or vascular cases and whether the trainee had carried out or assisted with the operation. RESULTS There was a slight fall in the total number of operations in which the middle-grade surgeons were involved (208 to 186). There was a significant increase in general surgical cases with the fall in number of varicose vein operations (P < 0.0001).The fall in case-load and work-load operative training in vascular surgery was compensated by an increase in general surgical cases (P = 0.0003). This was largely due to increased number of hernia repairs (P = 0.0035). CONCLUSIONS From the point of operative training, a vascular unit in a district general hospital would not be sustainable following withdrawal of varicose vein services. However, this can be off-set by increasing general surgical case-load to fill the gap created.


MOJ Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-38
Author(s):  
Belén Matías-García ◽  
Ana Sánchez-Gollarte ◽  
Ana Quiroga-Valcárcel ◽  
Fernando Mendoza-Moreno ◽  
Javier Mínguez-García ◽  
...  

Introduction: COVID-19 infection has spread throughout the world and is considered a pandemic. Since its appearance, the number of non-COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals has decreased and patients differ care for emergency diseases. We analyze the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic on the management of acute cholecystitis. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study that includes all patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis during the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic (period between March 11th and June 21st, 2020) and patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis in the same period, the previous year in our center. Patient’s features, management, postoperative complications and mean hospital stay were compared. Results: In 2020, 19 patients with acute cholecystitis were diagnosed compared to 21 who were registered in the same period in 2019. The mean number of days from symptoms onset in 2020 was 2.42±1.8 days, while in 2019 it was 3.5±3.1 days (p=0.32). The percentage of cholecystectomies, percutaneous cholecystostomies and conservative management was similar in both periods. Among patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 2020, 37.5% had no complications, 62.5% had accidental opening of the gallbladder, and none had bleeding. Among patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 2019, 81.8% had no complications, 9.09% had accidental opening of the gallbladder, and 9.09% presented bleeding. The mean stay in 2020 was 4.21±3.2 days, compared to 8.57±7.4 days in 2019 (p=0.005). Two patients of 19 diagnosed with acute cholecystitis in 2020 had COVID-19 disease. Conclusion: The mean stay of the patients was shorter in 2020 period. These results can be explained by an early surgical management. So, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered as a treatment for acute cholecystitis in COVID-19 times if the clinical and hospital situation allows it. We found no differences in the number of patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis between the two periods, nor in the mean number of days from the onset of symptoms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 308-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bokhari ◽  
M Kulendran ◽  
L Liasis ◽  
K Qurashi ◽  
M Sen ◽  
...  

Introduction Emergency surgery is changing rapidly with a greater workload, early subspecialisation and centralisation of emergency care. We describe the impact of a novel emergency surgical unit (ESU) on the definitive management of patients with gallstone pancreatitis (GSP). Methods A comparative audit was undertaken for all admissions with GSP before and after the introduction of the ESU over a six-month period. The impact on compliance with British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines was assessed. Results Thirty-five patients were treated for GSP between December 2013 and May 2014, after the introduction of the ESU. This was twice the nationally reported average for a UK trust over a six-month period. All patients received definitive management for their GSP and 100% of all suitable patients received treatment during the index admission or within two weeks of discharge. This was a significantly greater proportion than that prior to the introduction of the ESU (57%, p=0.0001) as well as the recently reported national average (34%). The mean length of total inpatient stay was reduced significantly after the ESU was introduced from 13.7 ± 4.7 days to 7.8 ± 2.1 days (p=0.03). The mean length of postoperative stay also fell significantly from 6.7 ± 2.6 days to 1.8 ± 0.8 days (p=0.001). Conclusions A dedicated ESU following national recommendations for emergency surgery care by way of using dedicated emergency surgeons and a streamlined protocol for common presentations has been shown by audit of current practice to significantly improve the management of patients presenting to a busy district general hospital with GSP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 1446-1450
Author(s):  
Clement L. K. Chia ◽  
Junde Lu ◽  
Serene S. N. Goh ◽  
Daniel J. K. Lee ◽  
Anil D. Rao ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 004947552110100
Author(s):  
Shamir O Cawich ◽  
Avidesh H Mahabir ◽  
Sahle Griffith ◽  
Patrick FaSiOen ◽  
Vijay Naraynsingh

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for acute cholecystitis, many Caribbean surgeons are reluctant to operate during the acute attack. We collected data for all consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis from January 1 to 31 December 2018. Delayed cholecystectomy was done >6 weeks after acute cholecystitis settled. We compared data between early and delayed groups. Delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 54 patients, and 42 had early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Delayed surgery resulted in significantly more complications requiring readmission (39% vs 0), longer operations (2.27 vs 0.94 h) and lengthier post-operative hospitalisation (1.84 vs 1.1 days). Caribbean hospitals should abandon the practice of delayed surgery after cholecystitis has settled. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy would be financially advantageous for our institutions, and it would save patients recurrent attacks of gallstone disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Asarbakhsh ◽  
N Lazarus ◽  
P Lykoudis

Abstract Background The definitive management of acute cholecystitis is laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the same admission if the patient is fit. As the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, evidence suggested adverse outcomes for asymptomatic Covid positive patients undergoing surgery, including increased mortality risk. Risks to theatre staff were also highlighted. This prompted changes in acute cholecystitis management guidelines. Method The audit aim was to assess the impact of guideline change on clinical outcomes and readmission rate for acute cholecystitis. The revised Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) guidelines were the gold standard. All inpatient admissions for acute cholecystitis during the 4-week peak of the pandemic (17/04/2020 – 14/05/2020) were included. Result 24 patients were admitted with acute cholecystitis. 10 patients (41.7%) were managed with antibiotics alone, 4 patients (16.6%) underwent cholecystostomy. 12 patients (50%) were discharged within 3 days. Lack of clinical progress/ongoing symptoms was the indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 5 cases (20.8%). 5 conservatively managed patients (20.8%) were readmitted with ongoing cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Conclusions 19 patients (80%) were managed non-surgically in accordance with AUGIS guidelines. However conservative management was not always appropriate. We recommend that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should remain a management option for acute cholecystitis during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.


Vascular ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 170853812098369
Author(s):  
Stefano Fazzini ◽  
Giovanni Torsello ◽  
Martin Austermann ◽  
Efthymios Beropoulis ◽  
Roberta Munaò ◽  
...  

Objectives The results of branched endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms are mainly dependent on durability of the graft used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling, and their impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year. Methods Computed tomoangiographies of 43 patients (43 aortic main body mated with 171 bridging stent-grafts) were analyzed before and after branched endovascular repair as well as after a follow-up of 12 months. Primary endpoint was aortic main body remodeling (migration >5 mm, shortening >5 mm, scoliosis >5° or lordosis >5°). Shortening was defined as a reduced length in the long axis, scoliosis as left-right curvature, and lordosis as antero-posterior curvature. Aortic main body remodeling, aneurysm sac changes, and bridging stent-graft tortuosity were evaluated to study their correlations and the impact on the bridging stent-graft instability. Results At 12 months, aortic main body remodeling was observed in 72% of the cases, migration in 39.5% (mean 5.21 mm), shortening in 41.9% (mean 5.79 mm), scoliosis in 58.1%, (mean 10.10°), lordosis in 44.2% (mean 5.78°). Migration, shortening, and scoliosis were more frequent in patients with larger aneurysms ( p = .005), while scoliosis was significantly more frequent in type II thoracoabdominal aneurysm ( p = .019). Aortic main body remodeling was significantly associated to bridging stent-graft remodeling (r: 0.3–0.48). The bridging stent-graft instability rate was 9.3%. Despite a trend toward significance ( p = .07), none of the evaluated aortic main body and bridging stent-graft changes were associated with bridging stent-graft instability at 12 months. Conclusions Aortic main body remodeling is frequent especially in large and extended thoracoabdominal aneurysm aneurysms. Aortic main body and bridging stent-graft remodeling was significantly correlated. While these geometric changes had no significant impact on bridging stent-graft instability at one year, a close long-term follow-up after branched endovascular repair could predict bridging stent-graft failures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 6-9
Author(s):  
Sumathi Ravikumar ◽  
Yeganathan Rajappan ◽  
Durairajan Vaithiyanathan ◽  
Catherine Sindhuja

COVID 19 pandemic was declared by WHO as public health emergency on January 30,2020. Health system was reorganised with the aim to cope with the new disease and maintain essential health service. Many patients suffered from ARDS which lead to the modication of clinical and surgical activity. Current impact of COVID 19 outbreak on emergency surgical practice is still not developed. Varied presentation, diagnostic uncertainity, lack of guidelines present challenges to surgeons. AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency general surgery admissions and operations in our institution METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in K.A.P.V.G.M.C. and M.G.M.G.H., Trichy from march 2020 to December 2020. All general surgical emergency admissions to KAPVGMC and MGMGH, district general hospital were included from march to December 2020.The details of diagnosis and subsequent management were retrieved from records. CONCLUSION: It was observed thatclinical decisions were made based on urgency of each case while simultaneously evaluating their COVID 19 status. The number of surgicalcases during COVID 19 period were signicantly reduced. Recognising asymptomatic carriers and need of emergency surgical intervention were the challenges faced by the surgeons. Effective communication between microbiologist, radiologist, anaesthetist and surgeon was necessary to attain a favourable outcome. .Inspite of challenges faced 80% had postoperative uneventful period other than prolonged duration of stay and were discharged and followed up. Covid 19 pneumonia and ARDS attributed to majority of death among the 20 % of deceased , other than septicemia


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Donald ◽  
Lavanya Varatharajan ◽  
Kumaran Ratnasingham ◽  
Shashi Irukulla

Abstract Aims Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for acute cholecystitis and gallstone pancreatitis. In order to deliver this service, a local Emergency Surgical Ambulatory Care (ESAC) pathway with a dedicated ESAC theatre list was established. The aim of this audit was to determine whether ESAC was associated with (1) improved length of stay and (2) cost efficiencies. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy between October 2018 to October 2019 were identified. Data related to patient demographics, operating time, complications length of stay (LOS), reason for inpatient stay and re-admissions were collected. A dedicated ESAC service was introduced in July 2020. Outcomes were re-audited (July – December 2020). Results Prior to the introduction of ESAC, 142 patients (42% male, mean age 51 years (range 14 -82 years)) underwent an acute cholecystectomy, of which 13% were discharged on the same day. Median pre-operative LOS was 2 days (range 0-12 days) and median post-operative LOS was 1 day (range 1-16 days). Following the introduction of ESAC, 78 patients (32% male, mean age 49 years (range 22 – 89 years)) underwent an acute cholecystectomy, of which 76% were discharged on the same day and 90% within 1 day. Median pre-operative LOS was 0 days (range 0 to 7 days) and median post-operative LOS was 0 days (range 0-16 days). Conclusions Our results show that the introduction of a dedicated ESAC pathway improved both pre- and post-operative LOS. This subsequently saves approximately £80,000 per annum in hospital bed days.


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