Nuevas pistas para comprender la gastrosquisis. Embriología, patogénesis y epidemiología

La gastrosquisis es un defecto estructural congénito de la pared abdominal, localizado con mayor frecuencia a la derecha del ombligo, a través del cual sobresalen las vísceras abdominales. Durante mucho tiempo, sus aspectos evolutivos, etiológicos y epidemiológicos han sido un tema candente de controversia, aunque hallazgos recientes sugieren la participación de alteraciones genéticas, cromosómicas, y la existencia de una vía patogénica inductora de estrés, en la que factores de riesgo como los demográficos y ambientales pueden converger. Con el objetivo de ampliar la frontera del conocimiento sobre una malformación que ha mostrado una creciente prevalencia global, hemos efectuado una revisión que incluye información, del desarrollo embrionario de la pared corporal ventral, el intestino primitivo, el complejo anillo-cordón umbilical, y de las teorías acerca de su origen, patogénesis e información epidemiológica reciente.

Analysis of the experience of the geriatric fracture program in two institutions in Colombia: a reproducible model?

Background: hip fracture is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Geriatric fracture programs promise to improve the quality of care, health outcomes and reduce costs. Objective: To describe the results related to the Geriatric fracture programs implementation in two Colombian institutions. These results could then be compared to other published experiences to assess reproducibility of the program. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of the patients treated under the Geriatric fracture programs in two institutions in Colombia was carried out. The information of each institution was collected from the initial year of program implementation until 2018. Demographic characteristics, length of stay, hospitalization complications, readmissions and mortality were described. Consumption of healthcare resources was defined using base cases determined with local experts and costs were estimated using standard methods. Results: 475 patients were included in the Geriatric fracture programs in two institutions. We observed an increase in the number of patients during the Geriatric fracture programs. The length of stay decreased between 8.5% and 26.1% as did the proportion of total complications, with delirium having the greatest reduction. A similar situation was seen for first year mortality (from 10.9% to 4.7% in one institution and form 11.4% to 5.1% in the other), in-hospital deaths and readmissions. Estimates of costs of stay and complications showed reductions in all scenarios, varying between 22% and 68.3% depending on the sensitivity scenario. Conclusions: The present study presents the experience of two institutions that implemented the Geriatric fracture programs with increase in the number of patients treated and reductions in the time of hospital stay, the proportion of complications, readmissions, mortality, and estimated costs. These are similar between both institutions and with other published implementations. This could hint that geriatric fracture program may be implemented with reproducible results.

Damage control in abdominal vascular trauma

Abdominal vascular trauma occurs in a small proportion of patients admitted in trauma centers. However, up to a quarter or a third of the patients who require a laparotomy will have a vascular injury. Preoperative identification is impossible in most cases, therefore, surgeons must be prepared for its early intraoperative recognition to allow appropriate management. This include temporary bleeding control techniques, identification of the probable injured vessel and the specific approach and management. Often, recognition of exsanguinating intra-abdominal hemorrhage will lead to immediate surgical indication, with activation of damage control protocols and consideration of early aortic occlusion.This paper illustrates the applications of damage control in the management of patients with abdominal vascular trauma.

Evolution of damage control surgery in non-traumatic abdominal pathology: a light in the darkness

Damage control surgery is based on temporal control of the injury, physiologic recovery and posterior deferred definitive management. This strategy began in the 1980s and became a formal concept in 1993. It has proven to be a strategy that reduces mortality in severely injured trauma patients. Nevertheless, the concept of damage control in non-traumatic abdominal pathology remains controversial. This article aims to gather historical experiences in damage control surgery performed in non-traumatic abdominal emergency pathology patients and present a novel management algorithm. This strategy could be a surgical option to treat hemodynamically unstable patients in catastrophic scenarios such as hemorrhagic and septic shock caused by peritonitis, pancreatitis, acute mesenteric ischemia, among others. Therefore, damage control surgery is light amid better short- and long-term results.

Damage control approach to refractory neurogenic shock: a new proposal to a well-established algorithm

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is commonly used as an adjunct to resuscitation and bridge to definitive control of non-compressible torso hemorrhage in patients with hemorrhagic shock. It has also been performed for patients with neurogenic shock to support the central aortic pressure necessary for cerebral, coronary and spinal cord perfusion. Although volume replacement and vasopressors are the cornerstones of the management of neurogenic shock, we believe that a REBOA can be used as an adjunct in carefully selected cases to prevent prolonged hypotension and the risk of further anoxic spinal cord injury. This manuscript aims to propose a new damage control algorithmic approach to refractory neurogenic shock that includes the use of a REBOA in Zone 3. There are still unanswered questions on spinal cord perfusion and functional outcomes using a REBOA in Zone 3 in trauma patients with refractory neurogenic shock. However, we believe that its use in these case scenarios can be beneficial to the overall outcome of these patients.

Abdominal and thoracic wall closure: damage control surgery’s cinderella

Damage control surgery principles allow delayed management of traumatic lesions and early metabolic resuscitation by performing abbreviated procedures and prompt resuscitation maneuvers in severely injured trauma patients. However, the initial physiological response to trauma and surgery, along with the hemostatic resuscitation efforts, causes important side effects on intracavitary organs such as tissue edema, increased cavity pressure, and hemodynamic collapse. Consequently, different techniques have been developed over the years for a delayed cavity closure. Nonetheless, the optimal management of abdominal and thoracic surgical closure remains controversial. This article aims to describe the indications and surgical techniques for delayed abdominal or thoracic closure following damage control surgery in severely injured trauma patients, based on the experience obtained by the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) of Cali, Colombia. We recommend negative pressure dressing as the gold standard technique for delayed cavity closure, associated with higher wall closure success rates and lower complication and mortality rates.

Reinterventions after damage control surgery

Damage control has well-defined steps. However, there are still controversies regarding whom, when, and how re-interventions should be performed. This article summarizes the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) Cali-Colombia recommendations about the specific situations concerning second interventions of patients undergoing damage control surgery. We suggest packing as the preferred bleeding control strategy, followed by unpacking within the next 48-72 hours. In addition, a deferred anastomosis is recommended for correction of intestinal lesions, and patients treated with vascular shunts should be re-intervened within 24 hours for definitive management. Furthermore, abdominal or thoracic wall closure should be attempted within eight days. These strategies aim to decrease complications, morbidity, and mortality.

Damage control in the intensive care unit: what should the intensive care physician know and do?

When trauma patients are admitted into the intensive care unit after undergoing damage control surgery, they generally present some degree of bleeding, hypoperfusion, and injuries that require definitive repair. Trauma patients admitted into the intensive care unit after undergoing damage control surgery can present injuries that require a definite repair, which can cause bleeding and hypoperfusion. The intensive care team must evaluate the severity and systemic repercussions in the patient. This will allow them to establish the need for resuscitation, anticipate potential complications, and adjust the treatment to minimize trauma-associated morbidity and mortality. This article aims to describe the alterations present in patients with severe trauma who undergo damage control surgery and considerations in their therapeutic approach. The intensivist must detect the different physiological alterations presented in trauma patients undergoing damage control surgery, mainly caused by massive hemorrhage. Monitor and support strategies are defined by the evaluation of bleeding and shock severity and resuscitation phase in ICU admission. The correction of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy is fundamental in the management of severe trauma patients.

Damage control in penetrating carotid artery trauma: changing a 100-year paradigm

Carotid artery trauma carries a high risk of neurological sequelae and death. Surgical management of these injuries has been controversial because it entails deciding between repair or ligation of the vessel, for which there is still no true consensus either way. This article proposes a new management strategy for carotid artery injuries based on the principles of damage control surgery which include endovascular and/or traditional open repair techniques. The decision to operate immediately or to perform further imaging studies will depend on the patient's hemodynamic status. An urgent surgical intervention is indicated if the patient presents with massive bleeding, an expanding neck hematoma or refractory hypovolemic shock. An altered mental status upon arrival is a potentially poor prognosis marker and should be taken into account in the therapeutic decision-making. We describe a step-by-step algorithmic approach to these injuries, including open and endovascular techniques. In addition, conservative non-operative management has also been included as a potentially viable strategy in selected patients, which avoids unnecessary surgery in many cases.

Damage Control Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Vascular Injuries: The New Resuscitative Median Sternotomy Plus Endovascular Aortic Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta Approach

Thoracic vascular trauma is associated with high mortality and is the second most common cause of death in patients with trauma following head injuries. Less than 25% of patients with a thoracic vascular injury arrive alive to the hospital and more than 50% of these die within the first 24 hours. Thoracic trauma with the involvement of the great vessels is a surgical challenge due to the complex and restricted anatomy of these structures and its association with adjacent organ damage. The aim of this article is to delineate the experience obtained in the surgical management of thoracic vascular injuries via the creation of a practical algorithm that includes basic principles of damage control surgery. We have been able to show that the early application of a resuscitative median sternotomy together with Zone I resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in hemodynamically unstable patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries improves survival by providing rapid stabilization of central aortic pressure and serving as a bridge to hemorrhage control. Damage control surgery principles should also be implemented when indicated followed by definitive repair once the correction of the lethal diamond has been achieved. To this end, we have developed a six-step management algorithm that illustrates the surgical care of patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries according to the American Association of the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification.