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Background: Residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNF) with acute abdomen present with more comorbidities and frailty than community-dwelling (CD) counterparts. Outcomes in this population are poorly described., Methods: We hypothesized that SNF patients have higher mortality and morbidity than CD patients. This retrospective review of the NSQIP database from 2011 to 2015 compared outcomes of SNF and CD patients presenting with bowel obstruction, ischemia and perforation. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 30-day mortality and failure-to-rescue (FTR)., Results: 18,326 patients met inclusion criteria. 904 (5%) presented from SNF. In-hospital (26% vs 10%) and 30-day mortality (33% vs 26%) was higher in SNF patients (p < 0.001). The FTR rate was 34% for SNF patients and 20% for CD patients (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Presentation from SNF is an independent predictor of mortality and FTR. Presentation from SNF is a potential trigger for early, concurrent palliative care to assist surgeons, patients, and families in decision making and goal-concordant treatment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In a previous study, we found that Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) overpredicts morbidity risk in emergency gastrointestinal surgery. Our aim was to find a POSSUM equation adjustment., Methods: A prospective observational study was performed on 2,361 patients presenting with a community-acquired gastrointestinal surgical emergency. The first 1,000 surgeries constituted the development cohort, the second 1,000 events were the first validation intramural cohort, and the remaining 361 cases belonged to a second validation extramural cohort., Results: (1) A modified POSSUM equation was obtained. (2) Logistic regression was used to yield a statistically significant equation that included age, hemoglobin, white cell count, sodium and operative severity. (3) A chi-square automatic interaction detector decision tree analysis yielded a statistically significant equation with 4 variables, namely cardiac failure, sodium, operative severity, and peritoneal soiling., Conclusions: A modified POSSUM equation and a simplified scoring system (aLicante sUrgical Community Emergencies New Tool for the enUmeration of Morbidities [LUCENTUM]) are described. Both tools significantly improve prediction of surgical morbidity in community-acquired gastrointestinal surgical emergencies., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Damage-control laparotomy, initially developed for trauma patients, has expanded into the general surgery arena. Little evidence exists regarding the utility of damage-control celiotomy (DCCT) in elderly nontrauma patients. Our objective was to review the management and outcomes of DCCT in elderly patients with intra-abdominal catastrophes., Methods: Retrospective chart review from 1998 to 2008 identified cases of DCCT. Demographics, comorbidities, surgical techniques, morbidity, long-term disposition, and mortality were analyzed., Results: From 210 patients with emergency surgeries, 88 (42%) patients with DCCT were identified, 33 (38%) were greater than 65 years old and 55 (63%) were ≤ 65 years old. The average APACHE IV score for the elderly was 84 ± 2 versus 68 ± 2 for the younger group (p < .001). Elderly patients had significantly higher comorbidites with respect to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal disease. When comparing the 2 groups, there were no significant differences in-hospital or intensive care unit lengths of stay or ventilator days. There were also no significant differences in complications and disposition. Using Cox proportional hazards analysis, age was not an independent predictor of 30-day mortality., Conclusions: Age is not an independent predictor of worse outcomes in patients managed by the DCCT technique after intra-abdominal catastrophes. This management technique should be considered for elderly patients who require DCCT., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

A phytobezoar is a rare differential diagnosis in the acute abdomen. An 89-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan and ultrasound suggested the presence of a bezoar. A phytobezoar was extracted surgically, and a resection was performed of the perforated small bowel segment. The etiology and management of phytobezoars are discussed.

Background: Classic teaching is that narcotic analgesia in the setting of an acute abdomen can alter physical examination findings and should therefore be withheld until after a surgeon's examination., Methods: A telephone survey of emergency medicine physicians representing 60 US hospitals was conducted to assess the current practices and opinions regarding the early administration of narcotic analgesia in this setting. Relevant literature was also reviewed for methodological errors., Results: Fifty-nine of 60 (98.3%) respondents reported that it is their practice to administer analgesia prior to surgical evaluation. Of these, only 9 of 59 (15.3%) reported always informing the surgeon prior to dosing the patient. The two most common motivations cited were that patient discomfort takes precedence (52 of 59; 88.1%) and that the literature supports the practice to be safe (51 of 59; 86.4%)., Conclusions: It is common for emergency medicine physicians to medicate acute abdomen patients prior to surgical evaluation. Numerous significant study limitations and design flaws were found that question the validity of the four clinical trials supporting this practice. Because many physicians base their clinical decisions on these trials, a careful analysis of their shortcomings, as well as our own personal experiences and practice recommendations, is discussed.

Background: Increasingly, laparoscopy is being used in critically ill patients in whom there is a question of intra-abdominal sepsis. We examine the cardiopulmonary effects of laparoscopy in a porcine model of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)., Methods: Domestic pigs (n = 12) underwent saline lung lavage and subsequent surgical abdominal exploration using either laparoscopy or conventional laparotomy. Hemodynamic and respiratory measurements were obtained., Results: After pulmonary lavage, the two groups developed similarly diminished arterial pO2 (P <0.001), a worsened pulmonary shunt (P <0.001), and an increased alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P <0.001). The pulmonary compliance was significantly decreased in the animals undergoing laparoscopy (versus laparotomy, P <0.05). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure did not differ between the groups. The laparoscopic group had a higher pCO2 (not significant) and was more acidotic (P <0.05) than the laparotomy group. The laparoscopic animals had an increased heart rate (P <0.05), cardiac index (P <0.01), and oxygen delivery (P <0.005) as compared with the laparotomy group., Conclusions: During laparoscopy, animals with ARDS demonstrate further compromise in pulmonary physiologic parameters but overall cardio-respiratory function is preserved.

Background: The possibility of performing minimally invasive exploration of the abdomen could avoid unnecessary appendectomies. Micro-optics and instruments of 2 mm in diameter allow this type of exploration, but the feasibility and the accuracy of the diagnosis resulting from this method have not been evaluated., Methods: A prospective study of 36 patients (11 men and 25 women) operated on for acute right iliac fossa pain was carried out. The abdomen was explored with a 2 mm optic and with a 10 mm optic in order to characterize the aspect of the appendix. The results were compared with the postoperative pathologic findings of the appendix., Results: The micro-optic procedure failed in 3 patients. The appendix was visualized in 26 patients: in 18 patients through the needle-optic alone, 8 patients requiring additional instruments. The appendix was visualized in all cases with the 10 mm optic. Appendectomy was performed in 34 patients: with microinstruments in 6, with 5 mm instruments in 26, and through a MacBurney incision in 2. The appendix was not removed in 2 patients. A correct diagnosis was made by microlaparoscopy and confirmed by the pathology in 21 patients (58%), made and confirmed in 32 patients with a 10 mm optic (89%). Minor complications included a cecal wall insufflation in 1 patient and a peroperative hemorrhage on a 2 mm port site in another with an uneventful postoperative course. One postoperative parietal hematoma required reoperating removal. No mortality was observed., Conclusions: The low quality of the image obtained with microlaparoscopy does not permit safely evaluating the aspect of the appendix in case of acute right iliac pain. This method is not recommended for routine abdominal exploration.

Several recent reviews have suggested that aggressive surgical intervention can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with intra-abdominal crises in AIDS patients. We reviewed our experience with 57 AIDS patients with 63 emergent laparotomies performed at 4 hospitals affiliated with the University of California in San Francisco. Fifty-five patients (96%) were homosexual men. Thirty-nine (68%) had been treated for an opportunistic infection. Indications for exploration included right lower quadrant pain consistent with appendicitis in 24 patients (38%), visceral perforation or obstruction in 11 (17%), right upper quadrant pain in 9 (14%), diffuse peritonitis in 8 (13%), and uncontrollable hemorrhage in 8 (13%). Perioperative mortality was 12% (7/57). Fifteen patients (26%) suffered major complications including pneumonia, sepsis, multi-organ failure, and intra-abdominal abscess. Forty-five of 50 survivors (90%) were receiving some type of chronic antimicrobial or antineoplastic chemotherapy, compared to only 2 of the 7 patients who died (28.6%) (P < 0.001). Lack of ongoing prophylactic treatment for AIDS-related disease, active opportunistic infections, Walter Reed VI classification, and ongoing sepsis at the time of exploration were noted to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Eleven patients with injuries of the rectum and sigmoid colon secondary to the insertion of the clenched fist are presented. Six patients sustained mucosal lacerations of the rectum and four patients had rectosigmoid perforations requiring laparotomy. One patient sustained a severe sphincter laceration producing complete anal incontinence. The management of these conditions is discussed.

Two series from greater Stockholm consisting of 726 (1960 to 1968) and 1,000 (1977 to 1978) patients over age 70 years with acute abdominal complaints are presented. Almost two thirds were women. Acute cholecystitis dominated both series, but its incidence decreased from 40.8 to 26 percent in the later series. The incidence of malignant disease increased from 3 to 13.2 percent. About one third of the patients were operated on; 50 percent had postoperative complications. Some frequently occurring aberrations of the usual symptoms and signs in acute appendicitis, ileus, and perforated gastric duodenal ulcer are discussed. The overall therapeutic results improved, as judged by postoperative mortality (series I, 23.1; series II, 16 percent) and mortality associated with individual diseases (except for acute pancreatitis). However, total mortality only decreased from 14 to 11.3 percent due to the large number of malignant diseases in series II, which were associated with a mortality of 37.9 percent. In series II the median duration of stay was 10.5 days and 75 percent of the patients were discharged home.

Preperitoneal abdominal wound repair in 100 consecutive patients who required midline laparotomy resulted in one case of wound dehiscence. The risk of dehiscence did not increase with the use of vertical midline abdominal incisions repaired without inclusion of the peritoneum. Avoidance of suture penetration of the peritoneum may result in a reduction in postoperative adhesions and intestinal obstruction without increasing the risk of wound dehiscence.

The outcome was examined for 196 cases of urgent appendectomy in patients with abdominal pain and right lower quadrant tenderness and signs of peritoneal irritation. Appendicitis was found in 94 percent, and there was a 6 percent negative appendectomy rate. There were no complications among the patients with normal appendixes. Complications among cases of appendicitis compared favorably with other published series.

Acute abdominal pain frequently accompanies sickle cell crisis. The character of this pain may be difficult to discriminate from acute surgical processes such as acute cholecystitis or appendicitis. Seven patients with sickle cell disease presenting with abdominal pain underwent surgery. Review of the medical records demonstrated a characteristic pattern of presentation consistent from crisis to crisis. When patients with known sickle cell disease present with symptoms of abdominal pain, (1) the character of the symptoms, (2) precipitating events, (3) white blood cell count, (4) bilirubin, and (5) fever should be compared with those characteristics in previous crises. Deviation from previous patterns suggests an illness caused by problems other than sickel cell crisis.

A woman with panmalabsorption and symptoms characteristic of abdominal angina underwent successful revascularization of the superior mesenteric artery. Laboratory studies obtained eight years postoperatively were compared with preoperative data. Her stool fat was reduced to 29 per cent of the preoperative quantity, although her dietary intake of fat was increased fivefold. The d-xylose tolerance test was increased to 346 per cent of the preoperative value, serum carotenes to 817 per cent, serum albumin to 172 per cent, hematocrit to 148 per cent, and cholesterol to 296 per cent. Her weight had risen from 69 to 122 pounds. We conclude that the panmalabsorptive defect associated with mesenteric vascular insufficiency is reversible and that the intestine may function normally for a prolonged period of time after revascularization.

Twenty-five patients with acute gastric volvulus were studied. The two types, organoaxial and mesenteroaxial, are compared with respect to clinical characteristics, diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment. An understanding of the varied features, including both thoracic and abdominal manifestations, is essential to early recognition and prompt treatment. In addition to Borchardt's triad, this study suggests three important features: (1) minimal abdominal findings when the stomach is in the thorax; (2) a gas-filled viscus in the lower chest or upper abdomen shown by chest radiography (Figure 8), and (3) obstruction at the site of volvulus shown by emergency upper gastrointestinal series. The high incidence of strangulation (28 percent) in this series attests to the urgency of this condition and is a compelling reason for the elective repair of paraesophageal hiatal hernias whenever possible.

In-hospital observation of patients with abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant has been suggested as a means of improving diagnostic accuracy and of decreasing the incidence of negative laparotomy. An analysis of 97 patients brought to the operating room over a 12 month period in a university hospital suggests that patients with the classic pattern of migratory pain, rebound tenderness, and an increased number of metamyelocytes in the peripheral blood smear most likely require operation. Leukocytosis alone was not predictive of a surgically remediable disease, which suggests that a period of observation in patients with atypical patterns of pain and no peritoneal signs is a sound treatment plan.

In the majority of patients in this series of 1,000, acute abdominal pain was due to conditions that required neither surgical intervention nor hospitalization. Eleven of the 1,000 patients had an early missed diagnosis in the emergency clinic for which a subsequent operation was needed, and twenty underwent an operation which subsequent diagnosis showed was not required. All false-negative evaluations occurred in patients with early appendicitis or small bowel obstruction. Most false-positive results were due to acute infections of the female genitourinary tract in patients operated on to exclude appendicitis or a tubo-ovarian abscess. The following factors help identify the high risk patient with an acute surgical abdomen: (1) pain for less than 48 hours; (2) pain followed by vomiting; (3) guarding and rebound tenderness on physical examination; (4) advanced age; (5) a prior surgical procedure. The presence of these features demands careful evaluation and a liberal policy of admission and observation. White blood cell counts, body temperature, and abnormal abdominal roentgenograms may add confirmatory evidence but are not particularly helpful as screening devices.