Burden and outcome of neonatal surgical conditions in Nigeria: A countrywide multicenter cohort study

Background: Despite a decreasing global neonatal mortality, the rate in sub-Saharan Africa is still high. The contribution and the burden of surgical illness to this high mortality rate have not been fully ascertained. This study is performed to determine the overall and disease-specific mortality and morbidity rates following neonatal surgeries; and the pre, intra, and post-operative factors affecting these outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study; a country-wide, multi-center observational study of neonatal surgeries in 17 tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. The participants were 304 neonates that had surgery within 28 days of life. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and the secondary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative complication rates. Results: There were 200 (65.8%) boys and 104 (34.2%) girls, aged 1-28 days (mean of 12.1 ± 10.1 days) and 99(31.6%) were preterm. Sepsis was the most frequent major postoperative complication occurring in 97(32%) neonates. Others were surgical site infection (88, 29.2%) and malnutrition (76, 25.2%). Mortality occurred in 81 (26.6%) neonates. Case-specific mortalities were: gastroschisis (14, 58.3%), esophageal atresia (13, 56.5%) and intestinal atresia (25, 37.2%). Complications significantly correlated with 30-day mortality (p <0.05). The major risk predictors of mortality were apnea (OR=10.8), severe malnutrition (OR =6.9), sepsis (OR =7. I), deep surgical site infection (OR=3.5), and re-operation (OR=2.9). Conclusion: Neonatal surgical mortality is high at 26.2%. Significant mortality risk factors include prematurity, apnea, malnutrition, and sepsis.

Demographic Predictors of Treatment and Complications for Spinal Disorders: Part 2, Lumbar Spine Trauma

Objective: To study the impact of demographic factors on management of traumatic injury to the lumbar spine and postoperative complication rates.Methods: Data was obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2010–2014. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes identified patients diagnosed with lumbar fractures or dislocations due to trauma. A series of multivariate regression models determined whether demographic variables predicted rates of complication and revision surgery.Results: A total of 38,249 patients were identified. Female patients were less likely to receive surgery and to receive a fusion when undergoing surgery, had higher complication rates, and more likely to undergo revision surgery. Medicare and Medicaid patients were less likely to receive surgical management for lumbar spine trauma and less likely to receive a fusion when operated on. Additionally, we found significant differences in surgical management and postoperative complication rates based on race, insurance type, hospital teaching status, and geography.Conclusion: Substantial differences in the surgical management of traumatic injury to the lumbar spine, including postoperative complications, among individuals of demographic factors such as age, sex, race, primary insurance, hospital teaching status, and geographic region suggest the need for further studies to understand how patient demographics influence management and complications for traumatic injury to the lumbar spine.

Does a prior hysterectomy complicate transvaginal/transumbilical hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy?—a comparative analysis of prospectively collected data

Purpose Hysterectomy alters the anatomy of the posterior vaginal vault used as access for transvaginal/transumbilical hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy (NC), creating potential consequences for the feasibility and complication rate of the procedure. Therefore, the aim of our retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was to analyze the postoperative course after NC in previously hysterectomized (PH) patients compared with patients who had not undergone hysterectomy (NH). Methods A total of 126 NH patients and 50 PH patients aged over 42 who had an NC from 12/2008 to 04/2021 were compared regarding age, body mass index (BMI), ASA classification, number of percutaneous trocars, need for intraoperative urinary bladder catheterization, length of procedure, conversion rate, and intraoperative and postoperative complication rate according to the Clavien/Dindo classification, Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), mortality, and hospital length of stay. Results PH patients were older than NH patients (63.0 vs 51.5 years; P < 0.001) but did not differ significantly in ASA classification (P = 0.595) and BMI (26.8 vs 27.9 kg/m2; P = 0.480). They required more percutaneous trocars (P = 0.047) and longer procedure time (66.0 vs. 58.5 min; P = 0.039). Out of all 287 scheduled NC only one had to be “converted” to traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, Clavien/Dindo classification, CCI, need for intraoperative urinary bladder catheterization, and length of stay did not differ significantly. Conclusion Our results indicate an increased degree of difficulty of NC in PH patients, although there is no major impact on intraoperative and postoperative complication rates. Urinary bladder perforation is a specific access-related complication in PH patients.

Minimal complications observed with a modified surgical approach for treatment of canine anal sac neoplasia

OBJECTIVE To describe a modified approach to closed anal sacculectomy and report the short-term outcomes of dogs that underwent the procedure for treatment of neoplasia. ANIMALS 16 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Medical records of 1 referral hospital were reviewed to identify dogs that underwent modified closed anal sacculectomy for treatment of anal sac neoplasia between January 2018 and September 2020. Data collected included signalment, examination and diagnostic imaging findings, surgical details, intraoperative and postoperative complications, cytologic and histologic findings, adjuvant treatments, duration of follow-up, and short-term outcome. RESULTS 15 dogs had apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma, and 1 had a collision tumor. No dogs had intraoperative complications; 1 dog had a minor postoperative complication (paraparesis) that resolved. The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 286 days (range, 67 to 777 days). One dog had confirmed local disease recurrence 290 days after surgery, and 1 had suspected local disease recurrence 203 days after surgery and was euthanized because of systemic disease progression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The modified closed anal sacculectomy was well tolerated in this sample of dogs, with minimal short-term complications. This study provided evidence to justify evaluation of the procedure in a larger number of dogs and assessment of the effects of procedural modifications on postoperative complication rates and time to local recurrence.

A Novel Titanium Cranioplasty Technique of Marking the Coronal and Squamosoparietal Sutures in Three-Dimensional Titanium Mesh as Anatomical Positioning Markers to Increase the Surgical Accuracy and Reduce Postoperative Complications

Objective: The objective of this research is to modify the titanium cranioplasty (Ti-CP) technique to increase the surgical accuracy and preliminarily verify the effectiveness and safety of this improvement.Methods: We developed a novel technique of marking the coronal and squamosoparietal sutures in three-dimensional (3D) titanium mesh as anatomical positioning markers and designed a prospective trial in patients with a unilateral frontotemporoparietal skull defect. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by the presence or absence of the anatomical positioning markers, and the therapeutic effects of these two groups were compared.Results: Forty-four patients were included in this study, including 28 (64%) males and 16 (36%) females. The mean age was 44.8 ± 15.2 years (range, 13–75 years). Overall postoperative complication rate of the intervention group (18%) was significantly (P = 0.03) lower than the control group (50%). Surgical accuracy of the intervention group (97.8%) was significantly (P &lt; 0.001) higher than the control group (94%). Visual analog scale for cosmesis (VASC) of the intervention group (8.4) was significantly (P &lt; 0.001) higher than the control group (7). The overall postoperative complication rate was 34%. Multivariate analyses showed that surgical accuracy &lt;95.8% (OR = 19.20, 95% CI = 3.17–116.45, P = 0.001) was significantly associated with overall postoperative complications. Independent predictor of overall postoperative complications was surgical accuracy (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.40–0.82, P = 0.002).Conclusions: This novel technique for repairing frontotemporoparietal skull defects increases surgical accuracy, improves cosmetic prognosis, and reduces postoperative complications. Therefore, it is a safe and effective improvement for Ti-CP.

Perioperative Use of Vedolizumab in Crohn’s Disease Patients and Surgical Outcomes

Despite advancement in managing Crohn’s disease (CD), a considerable proportion of cases still need surgical intervention, which is an essential means in therapy algorithms. Other drugs of the biologics are recently available, while most CD cases having operations have previously received a drug of this class. This class of agents has a direct association with higher postoperative complication rates, which raises a lot of controversies. In this review summarize the essential data concerning the vedolizumab effect on CD’s postoperative results. The previous data did not demonstrate a cause-effect absolute connection between the increased postoperative morbidities and vedolizumab. Many routing factors unquestionably affect CD’s postoperative outcomes and complications, like malnutrition, unsuitable abdominal settings, and steroids’ previous use. Using vedolizumab perioperatively seems safe. Nevertheless, a definitive relationship from the available data is controversial. Personalized, multidisciplinary evaluations and decisions should be made for each case independently, adjusting the surgical plan regarding the involved risk factors.

Title of Study/Article: Clinical Significance of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery

Background: Major abdominal surgeries are those that require more than 30 minutes, are conducted under general anaesthesia, and need at least a six-day stay in the hospital Aim: To examine the clinical significance of pre-operative and postoperative NLR and PLR as separate morbidity parameters and the occurrence of surgical or non-operative complications in major abdominal operations. Objectives: To determine the possible postoperative association of the importance of Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) with postoperative complication. Methodology: This prospective study to find out the prediction postoperative complication after major abdominal surgery by nlr and plr values would be conducted in Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital located in Central India in 30-50 participants between July 2019 to October 2021. Results: Thefindings obtained during the course of the study would be analysed using SPSS software version 25.0 by the statistician. Conclusion: The Nlr and Plr Ratio Is An Important Inflammatory Predictive Value In Assessing The Post-Operative Morbidity In Cases Of Major Abdominal Surgeries

Outcomes and Complications Associated with Acute Gunshot Fractures in Cats and Dogs

Objective The aim of this study was to summarize outcomes and complications of gunshot fracture management in small animals. Study Design Review of cats and dogs with radiographically confirmed acute gunshot fractures, presenting data on signalment, fracture location, fracture management (surgical vs. non-surgical, type of surgical repair), fracture comminution, extent of soft tissue trauma, postoperative complication and overall outcome. A poor outcome was defined as patient death, major postoperative complication or limb amputation (both as primary treatment or secondary to postoperative complications). Results Ninety-seven animals with 137 acute gunshot-induced fractures were identified. There were 21 (15.3%) maxillofacial, 16 (11.7%) vertebral column, 8 (5.8%) rib, 56 (40.9%) distal long bone (below stifle/cubital joint) and 36 (26.3%) proximal long bone (at or above stifle/cubital joint) fractures. Overall, 20/37 cases with sufficient follow-up details incurred a poor fracture outcome. Extensive soft tissue trauma at the fracture site was associated with an increased likelihood of poor outcome. The most common poor outcomes were primary limb amputations (7 cases) and postoperative complications (3 osteomyelitis/surgical site infections, 4 delayed/non-unions). Conclusions Gunshot fractures overall have high likelihood of poor outcome. Severe soft tissue injury is associated with complications. Mitigating poor outcome likely requires early aggressive wound management.