Conservative Management of Large Tracheal Perforation due to Traumatic Intubation

Tracheal perforation is a rare complication of intubation and is associated with high mortality. Here we describe a case of large, full-thickness tracheal perforation from traumatic intubation after an elective procedure. The injury was managed with prolonged intubation that bypassed the site of injury, and the patient was successfully extubated after 11 days. Conservative management of tracheal perforation after traumatic intubation is an option in select patients that avoids need for surgery.

P-BN18 Cholecystectomy following ERCP: A retrospective audit from a single centre

Background 15% of the adult population are estimated to have gallstones (GS) and managing GS related disease can represent a significant challenge to surgical and endoscopic services alike. One particular challenge is the management of bile duct calculi (BDC), and treatment can vary according to the unit/institution. NICE has published guidelines (CG188) on the management of GS disease with the recommendation that bile duct clearance and cholecystectomy be offered for symptomatic and asymptomatic BDC. This retrospective audit was performed to determine compliance of a single centre with respect to offering cholecystectomy following ERCP for BDC. Methods A retrospective audit was performed for the year 2018 at a single centre utilising the trust ERCP database. The audit was analysed against NICE guideline CG188 and specifically whether patients treated with ERCP for BDC were then treated with cholecystectomy or had a documented justification as to why cholecystectomy was declined. 2018 was chosen so that at least a 2-year period of follow-up could be analysed. As well as the trust ERCP database, the trust electronic documentation record and paper notes were consulted to determine compliance with the guideline. Results 149 ERCPs were performed on 121 patients at this centre in 2018. Of these, 82 patients were included as 39 had an ERCP for malignant disease or had already had a cholecystectomy. Of those 82, 51 (62%) had an ERCP as an emergency while 31 (38%) had an elective procedure. The median age was 65, 54% being male and 46% female. 45 (55%) had a cholecystectomy following ERCP, 29 as an emergency, and 16 electively. Of those 37 who did not have a cholecystectomy, 20 (54%) had no recorded documentation to justify a decision not to proceed to cholecystectomy. Conclusions GS disease has the potential to cause significant morbidity. If an ERCP has been performed for BDC, NICE recommends that cholecystectomy should be offered to mitigate further GS related complications. Patients may of course decline an operation, or a joint decision made not to pursue operative management due to identified surgical risks. This audit demonstrated that 54% of patients at this institution who did not have a cholecystectomy following ERCP had no documented reason why cholecystectomy was declined. Robust follow-up and documentation measures have since been put in place and a follow-up audit is being performed to monitor improvement.

OUTCOMES OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN DIFFERENT GRADES OF GALL BLADDER INFLAMMATION A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE EXPERIENCE

Objective: To find the outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in gall bladders with all grades peri-operative inflammation. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Nov 2018 to Aug 2019. Methodology: All patients with symptomatic gall bladder disease who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (emergency/elective procedure) and American Anesthesiology Society (ASA) Score 1 or 2 were included in the study. Results: A total of 330 patients with a mean ± SD age of 48.01 ± 14.13 years underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Out of 330 patients, 129 (39.1%) had acute inflammation of gall bladder while 201 (69.9%) cases were operated electively. The rate of conversion and complications were somehow lesser in both categories as the overall conversion rate was 15 (4.5%). Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic gall stones. Moreover, it is safe option in acute and chronic inflammation of Gall bladder if performed by a experienced laparoscopic surgeon.

Pre-emptive or reactive treatment, angioplasty or stent-graft? The outcome for interventions for venous stenosis in early-cannulation arteriovenous grafts

Background: Early-cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ecAVG) have good initial patency, but frequent episodes of reintervention for venous stenosis (VS) and thrombosis limit their use. Stent grafts (SG) have shown promise in reducing re-interventions and improving functional patency for dysfunctional ecAVG and recurrent VS. There is little data on the impact of stent grafts as the first elective procedure for VS. The aim of this study was to determine firstly, if treating VS whilst asymptomatic has a better outcome than treating after presentation with thrombosis; and secondly, to determine the best initial treatment for asymptomatic VS: SG or angioplasty. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of 259 ecAVG with a sutured anastomosis. The case-mix and outcomes of 153 who presented with VS was analysed by presentation (elective at surveillance or emergency following thrombosis), and then for only elective patients, by treatment (SG vs angioplasty). Results: There was no significant difference in case-mix and time to presentation by mode of presentation (100 elective and 53 with thrombosis) other than a higher rate of pro-thrombotic disorders in thrombosed ecAVG. Thrombosed ecAVG had poorer outcomes with increased re-intervention rates and thrombosis in the following year, and reduced long-term functional patency. In patients presenting electively, primary SG rather than angioplasty led to significantly reduced thrombosis rates, a longer time to re-intervention in the following year, and superior long-term functional patency. The use of SG was the same in both groups. Both the mode of presentation and the type of intervention performed were independently predictive of a poorer subsequent functional patency. Conclusions: Primary elective stent-grafting may be the optimal strategy to reducing maintenance costs with ecAVG.

A rare Case of Cesarean Section Scar Ectopic Pregnancy Managed by Laparotomy

Cesarean section scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) is defined as a pregnancy in which blastocyst is implanted within the scar of previous cesarean section. It is a rare form of ectopic but its frequency is increasing due to increasing rate of cesarean section. In this case, a 36 years old G3P2A0, married for 10 years, previous II C/Sections, LCB 7 years back, presented with ultrasound report of the viable pregnancy at 11+1 weeks with gestational sac incorporating into previous scar of cesarean section. She was otherwise asymptomatic and stable. Serum Beta hCG was 73664.78 IU/L. Laparotomy was done as an elective procedure. Dense adhesions were noted on opening the abdomen between anterior abdominal wall, uterus, bladder and gut. Scar ectopic pregnancy was excised after dissecting the adhesions. Her Serum Beta hCG 48 hour post-operatively was 1397.0 IU/L.Patient was discharged home on 2nd post-operative day in good condition. She was counselled about risk of a recurrent scar ectopic and rupture of uterus in next pregnancy. Her serum Beta hCG declined to normal by 4 weeks post operatively. Keywords: Cesarean section, scar ectopic, laparotomy

Return to ART practices – The post-coronavirus disease era

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID) real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity among asymptomatic patients undergoing infertility treatment. Materials and Methods: This was an observational study done in five centers in five different cities in India, analyzing the prevalence of COVID RT-PCR-positive rates among asymptomatic patients willing to undergo infertility treatment. All patients underwent triage and COVID RT-PCR testing as per the national guidelines. Patients tested positive for COVID RT-PCR were advised to discontinue treatment. Results: The overall prevalence of COVID RT-PCR positivity in low-risk patients undergoing infertility treatment was found to be low. The incidence of COVID RT-PCR positivity in staff and doctors providing infertility care and not dealing directly with COVID-positive patients was observed to be 10.7%. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of the virus in asymptomatic people is low and elective procedure like assisted reproduction technology can be carried out with all precautions and sanitization protocols in place.

Chronic abdominal aortic dissection, endovascular treatment using a new Stent-graft for in situ Fenestration

Background Although endovascular treatment of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) has become an elective procedure for treatment of complicated type B aortic dissection, its role in treating post dissection thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA), is still limited. This is a case of aortic vascular disease, which reports the use of a new endovascular device. Case presentation : We present the case of a 62 year old male patient with a history of hypertension, active smoker, who presented penetrating descending thoracic aortic ulcer in the setting of a chronic abdominal aortic dissection. The patient was treated using a new stent graft capable of in situ fenestration that allowed crossing the stent-graft membrane, implanting a covered stent to exclude the re-entry at the level of the left renal artery and redirecting the blood flow through the true lumen. Conclusions This case report demonstrates the feasibility of a novel stent-graft concept. Larger studies with longer follow-up are essential to fully evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this new design.