The impact of obesity on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for high-risk abdominal emergencies

Background Obesity has been shown to increase the rates of morbidity and occasionally mortality in patients undergoing nonbariatric elective surgery. However, little is known about the impact of obesity on outcomes after surgery for high-risk abdominal emergencies. Methods A single-center retrospective evaluation of outcomes in high-risk abdominal emergency patients categorized by body mass index (BMI) was conducted. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative details were analyzed. Patients with normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) served as comparators. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes. Results In total, 886 patients with BMI < 18.5 (underweight; n = 50), 18.5–24.9 (normal weight; n = 306), 25–29.9 (overweight; n = 336) and ≥ 30 (obese; n = 194) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) weight classification criteria met the inclusion criteria. Compared to normal-weight patients, patients with overweight and obesity were older and more likely to be male. The rates of comorbidity (100% vs 91.2%, p = < 0.0001), morbidity (77.8% vs 65.6%, p = 0.003), and in-hospital mortality (44.8% vs 30.4%, p = 0.001) were all higher in patients with obesity than in normal-weight patients. Patients with obesity had an increased intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) (13 days vs 9 days, p = 0.019) and hospital LOS (21.4 days vs 18.1 days, p = 0.081) and prolonged ventilation (39.1% vs 19.6%, p = 0.003). As BMI deviated from the normal range, the morbidity and mortality rates increased incrementally, with the highest morbidity (87.9%) and mortality (54.5%) rates observed in morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥ 40). Conclusions Patients with obesity were the most likely to have coexisting conditions, experience postoperative complications, and die during the first admission following EL for high-risk abdominal emergencies.

Spontaneous heterotopic pregnancy: a case report

Heterotopic pregnancy is defined as multiple gestation in which intrauterine and extrauterine gestational sacs co-exist. The extra uterine gestational sac is most commonly tubal ectopic pregnancy. We presented case of a 26 years old multigravida who presented to emergency with complaints of pain abdomen and giddiness for 2-3 days. She was at period of gestation (POG) 7 weeks and on clinical examination patient was anxious with mild pallor, mildly tachycardiac and blood pressure (BP) was 90/60 mm of Hg. After thorough clinical examination and sonography diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy with ruptured tubal ectopic was made. She was taken up for Emergency laparotomy after investigations and consent. Left salpingectomy was done and she was discharged with a single intrauterine live pregnancy on 6th post op day. For early detection of cases of heterotopic pregnancy careful evaluation of adnexa is mandatory in early gestation scan.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocol versus conventional care in emergency abdominal trauma surgery: a prospective, randomised, controlled study

Background: Since 1990s there has been a defined role of ERAS in elective surgeries, to optimize the peri-operative care, reducing post-operative complications and length of stay and hence, the overall costs. However, there is paucity of literature in its effectiveness in emergency trauma surgeries. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and outcomes of ERAS protocol in emergency abdominal surgery in the setting of trauma.Methods: Institutional IEC approved study. A prospective randomized of 52 patients with abdominal trauma undergoing emergency laprotomy were included in the study and divided into two groups: ERP and conventional group. The ERP included early feeding, early urinary catheter removal, early mobilization/physiotherapy, early intravenous line removal and early optimal oral analgesia. The primary end-points were the length of hospital stay and secondary end-points included complication rate and re-admission rate.Results: The two groups were comparable with regards to age, gender, mechanism of injury and ISS score. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the ERAS group: 4.67 days verses 13.36 days (p<0.001). There were 15 and 11 complications in the control and study group respectively. When graded as per the Clavien-Dindo classification there was no significant difference in the 2 groups (p=0.306).Conclusions: This study shows that early recovery programs can be successfully implemented with significant shorter hospital stays without any increase in postoperative complications in trauma patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for abdominal trauma.

Embarazo a término en útero bicorne con cuerno rudimentario no comunicante. Reporte de un caso

The bicorne uterus with a rudimentary non-communicating horn may be associated with gynecological and obstetric complications such as infertility, endometriosis, hematometra, urinary tract abnormalities, abortions, and preterm deliveries. Excision of the rudimentary horn should be done outside of pregnancy, with followup during pregnancy, looking for complications. We present the case of a 40-year-old patient, who presented abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, with a full-term pregnancy in a rudimentary non-communicating horn of a bicorne uterus. Physical examination showed abdominal distention and loss of uterine contour and no fetal parts were palpated. The provisional diagnosis of rupture of the uterus was made. Emergency laparotomy revealed a dead and deformed fetus, 37 weeks old, in a bicorne uterus with a broken rudimentary non-communicating horn, along with an acretic placenta. Extraction of the gestational sac, fetus and placenta and subtotal hysterectomy with conservation of the left annex were performed. Keywords: Rudimentary horn not communicating, Bicornuate uterus, Term pregnancy

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME OF ABDOMINAL WALL CLOSURE IN EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Objective: Abdominal wall closure of an emergency laparotomy involves a great deal of consideration. An ideal laparotomy wound closure should be efficient. provide strength and serve as a barrier to infection. The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate the advantages of layered closure in comparison with the mass layered closure, the types of suture materials used in the closure, absorbable/nonabsorbable and its correlation with post operative complications such as wound sepsis, burst abdomen and incisional hernia. Methods: This prospective study was carried out over a period of 18 months enrolling a total of 90 patients split into two groups with group 1 undergoing mass closure using both interrupted and continuous methods and group 2 undergoing layered closure using both interrupted and continuous methods of suturing. Results: A higher rate of wound complications was noted in the layered closure group (37.7%) than the mass closure group (17%). Wound complications were also noted to be higher in closures done with prolene suture (37.7%) than PDS (20%). As far as techniques were concerned, interrupted and continuous suturing had a similar rate of complications. Of all the comorbidities, considered in the study, the highest rate of wound related complications were seen in patients with pulmonary complications (13.3%). Conclusion: Although the ideal way to close an abdomen post laparotomy has not yet been discovered, our study shows that mass closure with PDS suture to close the abdominal wall should be advocated as there is decreased early and late post operative wound complications Keywords: PDS.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax Mimicking Perforated Viscus in Covid-19 patient

Case presentation: A 65-year-old female diagnosed with COVID-19 developed worsening respiratory distress requiring invasive ventilation. Chest radiography post-intubation revealed air under the diaphragm, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. The case was referred to the surgical team for emergency laparotomy for suspected perforated viscus. Clinically, her abdomen was distended but there was no sign of peritonism. In view of the high risk of perioperative morbidity and absence of peritonism, a CT scan was done to rule out the cause of pneumoperitoneum. CT scan showed bilateral pneumothorax, presence of air in the extra peritoneum and retroperitoneum. There was no air in the peritoneum and no evidence of perforated viscus. She was treated conservatively with bilateral chest tube insertion. Unfortunately, she developed multiorgan failure and succumbed to death.