Epidemiological and Anatomo Path Ological Aspects of Stomach Cancers at the Koutiala District Hospital

Aim: This paper aims to evaluate the epidemiological and pathological aspects of stomach cancer at Koutiala District Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in the General Surgery Department of the Koutiala District Hospital Health Centre. The records of patients admitted for stomach cancer in the period from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022 were collected. Patients who underwent surgery for stomach cancer were included in the study. Patients who had not undergone surgery were excluded. Results: We collected records from 40 patients operated on for stomach cancer. The median age was 58.4 years ± 5.7. Men were in the majority with 72.5% The sex ratio was 2.6. The incidence rate of stomach cancer in the general population in the circle was 4.9 cases per 100,000 population. Patients had a history of gastric ulcer in 90%, Helicobacter pylori infection in 47.5% and a notion of excessive salt consumption in 47.5%. The median duration of disease progression was 5 years ± 2.3. The seat was antro-pyloric in 77.5%. The cancer was ulcerative budding in 23 patients. Adenocarcinoma was the histological type in all patients. The cancer was classified as stage III in 30 cases and stage IV in 10 cases. Palliative surgical treatment was the most performed (47.5%). Postoperative morbidity was 15% and mortality was 42.5% at one year. Conclusion: Stomach cancer is common in the ward. Most patients consult at the stage of metastasis. Palliative surgery remains the most practical. Postoperative morbidity and mortality is very high.

Anesthetic Practice in Neurosurgery at University Hospital of Brazzaville (Congo)

Aim: To evaluate the anesthetic management of neurosurgical patients in University Hospital of Brazzaville. Materials and methods: We performed a transversal and descriptive study during the period from January to June 2015 into operating room of the University Hospital of Brazzaville. 60 cases of anesthesia have been analyzed. Results: The neurosurgery represented 2.88% of the activity of the operating room in University Hospital of Brazzaville. The average age was 44.7 ± 18.36 years old. The sex ratio was 1.07. The scheduled interventions have concerned 83.4% of cases. Surgical indications were concerned the spine degenerative disease and spinal trauma in 40% and 18.3% of cases respectively. The patients classified ASA I and II were most represented in 40% and 46.7% of cases respectively. General anesthesia was used in 98.4% of cases. The peroperative complications were represented by arterial hypotension (31.7%), hemorrhage (11.7%), bradycardia (5%), difficult intubation (3.3%) and one case of peroperative cardiac arrest. The blood transfusion rate was 18.7%. The stay in ICU concerned 8.3% of the cases. We recorded three cases (5%) of death in our series. Conclusion: The neuroanesthesia knows an evolution in our country because of increasing number of neurosurgeons;it’s necessary to train medical staff in her practice.

Epidemiology of Mortality in Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville

Aim: To describe the epidemiological aspects of the patients who died in polyvalent intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out in intensive care unit of University Hospital of Brazzaville, during period from January 2013 to December 2014. All patients who died at the unit regardless of age or sex were included. The parameters studied were age, sex, origin, reason for admission, causes of death, time of death, and length of hospitalization. Data were treated in Excel 2010 and Epi info 2007. Results: During the study period, 419 deaths out of 1121 admissions were recorded, representing a mortality rate of 37.4%. The average age was 46.2 ± 19.7 years with extremes ranging from 14 months to 90 years. The sex ratio was 0.9. Most of the deceased patients came from medical emergencies in 37.6% of the cases. Infectious (17.9%) and neurological (17.4%) pathologies were the most likely to cause death followed by cardiovascular pathologies (12.2%). Causes of death were dominated by severe sepsis and septic shock with 93.4% of infectious pathologies and stroke in 80.8% of neurological pathologies. In 42.3% of cases, the death occurred in the 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. time period. The average length of hospitalization for the deceased patients was 1.4 ± 0.5 days. All parameters studied significantly associated with mortality (p Conclusion: The mortality rate of patients admitted to the polyvalent intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville was high at 37.4%. Most of these patients were aged 40 years and older, male, with infectious and/or neurological pathologies. All deaths occurred within 48 hours of admission.

Latest updates on structure and recommendations of cardiac rehabilitation programs in chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure(HF)is a clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mor-tality worldwide.Cardiac rehabilitation(CR)is a medically supervised program designed to maintain or improve cardiovascular health of people living with HF,recommended by both American and European guidelines.A CR program con-sists of a multispecialty group including physicians,nurses,physiotherapists,trainers,nutritionists,and psychologists with the common purpose of improving functional capacity and quality of life of chronic HF patients.Physical activity,lifestyle,and psychological support are core components of a successful CR program.CR has been shown to be beneficial in all ejection fraction categories in HF and most patients,who are stable under medication,are capable of participating.An individualized exercise prescription should be developed on the basis of a baseline evaluation in all patients.The main modalities of exercise training are aerobic exercise and muscle strength training of different intensity and frequency.It is important to set the appropriate clinical outcomes from the beginning,in order to assess the effectiveness of a CR program.There are still significant limitations that prevent patients from participating in these programs and need to be solved.A significant limitation is the generally low quality of research in CR and the presence of negative trials,such as the rehabilitation after myocardial infarction trial,where comprehensive rehabilitation following myocardial infraction had no important effect on mortality,morbidity,risk factors,or health-related quality of life or activity.In the present editorial,we present all the updated knowledge and recommendations in CR programs.

First experience in laparoscopic surgery in low and middle income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality rates,shorter post-operative recovery periods and lower complication rates than open surgery.It is routine practice in high-income countries and is becoming increasingly common in countries with limited resources.However,introducing laparoscopic surgery in low-and-middle-income countries(LMIC)can be expensive and requires resour-ces,equipment,and trainers.AIM To report the challenges and benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMIC as well as to identify solutions to these challenges for countries with limited finances and resources.METHODS MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting first experience in laparoscopic surgery in LMIC.Included studies were published between 1996 and 2022 with full text available in English.Exclusion criteria were studies considering only open surgery,ear,nose,and throat,endoscopy,arthro-scopy,hysteroscopy,cystoscopy,transplant,or bariatric surgery.RESULTS Ten studies out of 3409 screened papers,from eight LMIC were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis,totaling 2497 patients.Most reported challenges were related to costs of equipment and training programmes,equipment pro-blems such as faulty equipment,and access to surgical kits.Training-related challenges were reliance on foreign trainers and lack of locally trained surgeons and theatre staff.The benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery were economic and clinical,including a reduction in hospital stay,complications,and morbidi-ty/mortality.The introduction of laparoscopic surgery also provided training opportunities for junior doctors.CONCLUSION Despite financial and technical challenges,many studies emphasise the overall benefit of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMICs such as reduced hospital stay and the related lower cost for patients.While many of the clinical centres in LMICs have proposed practical solutions to the challenges reported,more support is critically required,in particular regarding training.

Influence of donor age on liver transplantation outcomes: A multivariate analysis and comparative study

BACKGROUND The growing disparity between the rising demand for liver transplantation(LT)and the limited availability of donor organs has prompted a greater reliance on older liver grafts.Traditionally,utilizing livers from elderly donors has been associated with outcomes inferior to those achieved with grafts from younger donors.By accounting for additional risk factors,we hypothesize that the utili-zation of older liver grafts has a relatively minor impact on both patient survival and graft viability.AIM To evaluate the impact of donor age on LT outcomes using multivariate analysis and comparing young and elderly donor groups.METHODS In the period from April 2013 to December 2018,656 adult liver transplants were performed at the University Hospital Merkur.Several multivariate Cox propor-tional hazards models were developed to independently assess the significance of donor age.Donor age was treated as a continuous variable.The approach involved univariate and multivariate analysis,including variable selection and assessment of interactions and transformations.Additionally,to exemplify the similarity of using young and old donor liver grafts,the group of 87 recipients of elderly donor liver grafts(≥75 years)was compared to a group of 124 recipients of young liver grafts(≤45 years)from the dataset.Survival rates of the two groups were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used to test the differences between groups.RESULTS Using multivariate Cox analysis,we found no statistical significance in the role of donor age within the constructed models.Even when retained during the entire model development,the donor age's impact on survival remained insignificant and transformations and interactions yielded no substantial effects on survival.Consistent insigni-ficance and low coefficient values suggest that donor age does not impact patient survival in our dataset.Notably,there was no statistical evidence that the five developed models did not adhere to the proportional hazards assumption.When comparing donor age groups,transplantation using elderly grafts showed similar early graft function,similar graft(P=0.92),and patient survival rates(P=0.86),and no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications.CONCLUSION Our center's experience indicates that donor age does not play a significant role in patient survival,with elderly livers performing comparably to younger grafts when accounting for other risk factors.

Delayed postpancreatectomy hemorrhage as the role of endovascular approach:Four case reports

BACKGROUND Pancreatic resection is still associated with high morbidity rates and delayed postpancreatectomy hemorrhage(PPH)is the most feared complication as it may lead to hemorrhagic shock or serious septic complications.Today,endovascular approach represent safe and efficient method for minimally invasive management of extraluminal PPH.CASE SUMMARY We describe four patients whose postoperative recovery after pancreatic resection was complicated by postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)and visceral artery hemorrhage.In all cases endovascular approach was utilized and it resulted in satisfactory outcomes.We discuss modern diagnostic and therapeutic approach in this clinical scenario.CONCLUSION PPH is relatively uncommon,but it is a leading cause of surgical mortality after pancreatic surgery.Careful monitoring and meticulous follow-up are required for all patients post-operatively,especially in the case of confirmed POPF,which is the most significant risk factor for the development of a PPH.Angiography as a diagnostic and therapeutic method may be an optimal first-line treatment for the management of delayed PPHs.In our experience,endovascular treatment for hemorrhagic complications of pancreatic resections has shown satisfactory results.

Skin Graft in the Surgery Department “B” of the CHU du Point “G” about 50 Cases

Aim: To analyze the practice of skin grafting in the surgery department “B” of the CHU of Point “G” in Bamako. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and prospective study carried out between 1980 and 2014, covering all patients who underwent a skin graft and hospitalized. It covered all patients who underwent a skin transplant and were hospitalized in the department during the study period. Result: There were 50 patients including 25 women and 25 men. The mean age was 25.2 ± 19 years. The average duration of lesion evolution was 1 year. The lesions to be grafted were located in the lower limbs in 60%. The average area of substance loss was 13.2 cm2. The indication for skin graft was asked for loss of substance following scar bridles in 40%, ulcerative-necrotic wounds of infectious or traumatic origin (32%), malignant skin tumor (14%). In pathology, there were 5 cases of malignant melanoma and 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Thin skin grafting was the most used technique (62%). The postoperative follow-ups were simple in 94%. There were 3 cases of graft necrosis. The average length of hospital stay was 28 days. The esthetic result was judged satisfactory in 84% of the cases (n = 42), average in 14% of the cases (n = 7) and unsatisfactory in 2% of the cases (n = 1). The sensitivity was good in 36 patients (72%), average in 12 patients (24%) and poor in 2 patients (4%). Conclusion: They mainly affect young people. The reduction of accidents on the public highway, good management of burn injuries, wounds and good hygiene of the population will considerably reduce the rate of its affections.

Nonsurgical Management of the Brain’s Trauma in the University Hospital of Brazzaville

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical management of traumatic brain injury. We performed a retrospective and descriptive study during the period from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2015 (24 months), into the surgical department of the University Hospital of Brazzaville. 167 cases of non-operated traumatized brain have been identified. The average age was 29.84 years. The sex ratio was 8.82. Accidents on public roads were responsible for injury in 88.2% of the cases. 46.71% of patients had a moderate traumatic brain injury while 10.18% had a severe traumatic brain injury. Radiological evaluation was highlighted for the brain contusion in 52.09% of the cases. Tracheal intubation and ventilation were completed only in 6 out of the 17 cases of severe traumatic brain injury. Prevention of post-traumatic seizure was performed with the use of phenobarbital or sodium valproate. Mannitol was used for its osmotic properties. The outcome was favorable in 55.68% of the cases. The most common complications were pulmonary infections, persistent neurological disorders, urinary infection and hyponatremia. Mortality was recorded at 13.77%. Nonsurgical management of traumatic brain injury involves an expansion of the ventilatory assistance indication at all severe traumatic brain injuries, the fight against infectious complications and ionic monitoring.

A survey of anaesthetic preferences in cataract surgery

AIM:To identify current trends in anaesthesia technique for cataract surgery and make this information available to ophthalmologists.METHODS:An electronic survey was created and distributed to members of online ophthalmology forums;results were subsequently analysed in spreadsheet software.RESULTS:In total there were 71 completed surveys.The most preferred anaesthesia technique in cataract cases was topical anaesthesia with intracameral injection(n=34,47.9%),and the least preferred techniques were retrobulbar(n=1,1.4%) and peribulbar blocks(n=1,1.4%).The most commonly preferred local anaesthetic was lidocaine 2%(n=41,57.7%).CONCLUSION:Topical anaesthesia techniques with lidocaine 2% appear to be the most preferred method of anaesthesia in cataract surgery in our survey.Compared with previous literature our survey shows that topical anaesthesia is being increasingly used in cataract surgery,especially in conjunction with intracameral injection.The predominant reasons for this seem to be patient comfort and ease of technique.

Change point analysis validation of the learning curve in laparoscopic colorectal surgery:Experience from a non-structured training setting

BACKGROUND The introduction of minimal invasive principles in colorectal surgery was a major breakthrough,resulting in multiple clinical benefits,at the cost,though,of a notably steep learning process.The development of structured nation-wide training programs led to the easier completion of the learning curve;however,these programs are not yet universally available,thus prohibiting the wider adoption of laparoscopic colorectal surgery.AIM To display our experience in the learning curve status of laparoscopic colorectal surgery under a non-structured training setting.METHODS We analyzed all laparoscopic colorectal procedures performed in the 2012-2019 period under a non-structured training setting.Cumulative sum analysis and change-point analysis(CPA)were introduced.RESULTS Overall,214 patients were included.In terms of operative time,CPA identified the 110^(th) case as the first turning point.A plateau was reached after the 145^(th) case.Subgroup analysis estimated the 58^(th) for colon and 52^(nd) case for rectum operations as the respective turning points.A learning curve pattern was confirmed for pathology outcomes,but not in the conversion to open surgery and morbidity endpoints.CONCLUSION The learning curves in our setting validate the comparability of the results,despite the absence of National or Surgical Society driven training programs.

Benefits of post-operative oral protein supplementation in gastrointestinal surgery patients: A systematic review of clinical trials

AIM: To evaluate published trials examining oral postoperative protein supplementation in patients having undergone gastrointestinal surgery and assessment of reported results.METHODS: Database searches(MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Cochrane Trials, Cinahl, and CAB), searches of reference lists of relevant papers, and expert referral were used to identify prospective randomized controlled clinical trials. The following terms were used to locate articles: "oral'' or "enteral'' and "postoperative care'' or "post-surgical'' and "proteins' ' or "milk proteins' ' or "dietary proteins' ' or "dietary supplements' ' or "nutritional supplements' '. In databases that allowed added limitations, results were limited to clinical trials that studied humans, and publications between 1990 and 2014. Quality of collated studies was evaluated using a qualitative assessment tool and the collective results interpreted.RESULTS: Searches identified 629 papers of which, following review, 7 were deemed eligible for qualitative evaluation. Protein supplementation does not appear to affect mortality but does reduce weight loss, and improve nutritional status. Reduction in grip strength deterioration was observed in a majority of studies, and approximately half of the studies described reduced complication rates. No changes in duration of hospital stay or plasma protein levels were reported. There is evidence to suggest that protein supplementation should be routinely provided post-operatively to this population. However, despite comprehensive searches, clinical trials that varied only the amount of protein provided via oral nutritional supplements(discrete from other nutritionalcomponents) were not found. At present, there is some evidence to support routinely prescribed oral nutritional supplements that contain protein for gastrointestinal surgery patients in the immediate post-operative stage.CONCLUSION: The optimal level of protein supplementation required to maximise recovery in gastrointestinal surgery patients is effectively unknown, and may warrant further study.

Vision-related quality-of-life in Jamaican glaucoma patients at Kingston Public Hospital

AIM: To determine the vision-related quality-of-life of glaucoma patients and the association between clinical and socioeconomic factors, and vision-related quality-of-life.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with glaucoma were interviewed using a modified 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire(VFQ-25) by a single interviewer. Statistical analysis was done to find associations between patient variables and vision-related quality-of-life scores. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained.RESULTS: Ninety-six participants were recruited in the study. There were 44 males and the mean age for males and females was 65.7 and 69.5y, respectively. The mean composite score was 71.2(with a maximum possible score of 100), with the highest mean score in the colour vision subscale(89.8) and the lowest mean score in the driving subscale(34.0). Worse visual acuity(P<0.001), longer duration of glaucoma(P<0.001) and higher number of glaucoma medications(P<0.001) were associated with a worse composite score. Female participants and those who lived in urban areas had significantly better scores than male participants(P=0.002) and those who lived in rural areas(P=0.017), respectively.CONCLUSION: The vision-related quality-of-life in Jamaican glaucoma patients is comparable to that of glaucoma patients in the Barbados Eye Study and other international studies using the VFQ-25 questionnaire. Worse quality-of-life scores are associated with poorer visual acuity, longer duration of glaucoma, more glaucoma medications, and sociodemographic factors such as male gender and rural residence.

Maternal choledochal cysts in pregnancy:A systematic review of case reports and case series

BACKGROUND Choledochal cysts(CC)are cystic dilatations of the biliary tract,usually diagnosed during childhood,with an estimated incidence in the general population of 1:100000.Complications related to CC include rupture,biliary obstruction,and cholangitis.Maternal CC in pregnancy are rarely reported,and there are no guidelines on optimal management.AIM To systematically review maternal CC diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum with regard to the clinical presentation of CC,the mode of treatment and delivery,and maternal outcomes.METHODS A literature search of cases and case series of maternal CC in pregnancy and postpartum was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed,Web of Science,Google Scholar,and Embase.There were no restrictions on language or publication year.Databases were lastly accessed on September 1,2022.RESULTS Overall,71 publications met the inclusion criteria,reporting 97 cases.Eighty-eight cases were diagnosed during pregnancy and nine in the puerperium.The most common symptoms were abdominal pain(81.2%)and jaundice(60.4%).Interventions for CC complications were required in 52.5%of the cases,and 34%of pregnancies were induced.Urgent cesarean section(CS)was done in 24.7%.The maternal mortality was 7.2%,while fetal mortality was inconsistently reported.Cholangitis,CC>15 cm,and bilirubin levels>80 mmol/L were associated with a higher likelihood of urgent CS and surgical intervention for CC.Bilirubin levels positively correlated with CC size.There was no correlation between age and cyst dimension,gestational age at cyst discovery,and CC size.CONCLUSION Although rare,maternal CC in pregnancy should be included in the evaluation of jaundice with upper abdominal pain.Symptomatology and clinical course are variable,and treatment may range from an expectative approach to emergent surgical CC treatment and urgent CS.While most cases were managed by conservative measures or drainage procedures,CC>15 cm and progressive cholangitis carry the risk of CC rupture and septic complications,which may increase the rates of unfavorable maternal and fetal outcomes.Therefore,such cases require specific surgical and obstetric interventions.

Indications and Techniques of Digestive Anastomoses at the Hospital in Koutiala District, Mali

Purpose: Describe the indications and techniques of digestive anastomoses at the Koutiala District Hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective and descriptive study conducted in the general surgery department of the Koutiala District Hospital. Patients who benefited from digestive anastomosis between the hollow organs of the digestive tract during the period from August 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020 were included. The anastomoses with solid organs were not selected in this study. Results: One hundred and thirty-two patients were registered. Digestive anastomosis accounted for 11.5% of all surgical procedures. The average age was 38.6 years. Men were in the majority with 70.5%. The Karnofsky index was estimated to be less than 50% in 12 patients. Digestive anastomoses were indicated after resection of ileal necrosis in 43 patients (32.6%) followed by tumor resection in 32 patients (24.2%) and typhic perforations in 20 patients (15.1%). There were also 12 cases of digestive stoma (9.1%), 15 cases of volvulus of the sigmoid colon (11.4%), 7 cases of rectal prolapse (5.3%) and 3 cases of Hirschprung’s disease (2.3). Digestive anastomosis was performed in 89 patients in an emergency and was manual in all patients. Post-operative morbidity was 18.9%. These recorded complications, classified grade I (10 cases), grade II (3 cases), grade IIIa (2), grade IIIb (6 cases) and grade IV (4 cases) according to Clavien-Dindo, consisted of 8 cases of postoperative peritonitis (6.1%), 3 cases of external digestive fistula (2.3%), 2 cases of evisceration (1.5%), 12 cases of parietal suppuration (9.1%) and 4 cases of death (3.0%). Conclusion: Young male subjects are the most affected. Anastomoses are performed more often after the removal of the island necroses. Morbi-mortality is high. Success depends on several factors, including the general condition of the patient and the mastery of the anastomosis technique.

Bipolar Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (B-TURP) Including Large Prostate Glands in Kinshasa, DR Congo

Context: In DR Congo, prostate adenoma was treated solely by open surgery till the practice of minimally invasive surgery in 2012. Surgical management of large prostate glands has greatly improved over the last years. Even if open adenomectomy is indicated for prostate glands > 80 ml, TURP is currently the gold standard. We report the resection time of TURP procedure, quality of life of the patients, the postoperative complications and outcomes of 152 patients with large prostate glands who went under Bipolar TURP from 2021 to 2022. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective and evaluative study of 152 patients who underwent surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from January 2021 to December 2022 using bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The study variables were age, low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), paraclinical parameters, prostate volume, resection time, length of hospital stay, results of histopathological analysis of resected tissues (prostate chips), complications and postoperative outcomes of the patients. All the patients underwent saline bipolar TURP. Results: The mean age of the patients was 66.5 ± 9.3 years. Dysuria and acute urinary retention were the most predominant symptoms, 46.1% and 23.03% respectively. Arterial hypertension was the most common medical history (29.7%), or associated with diabetes mellitus (18.4%). The most frequent surgical history was the repair of the inguinal hernia in 21.7% of cases. Most of the patients had a prostate volume ≥ 80 ml (n = 91) in a relative frequency of 60% of cases. The mean prostate volume was 104.8 ± 60.4 ml. The volume of the prostate was correlated with the age of the patients (r = 0.321;p 15 ml/s (96%) postoperatively. The post-void residual (PVR) was significant in the group of patients with prostate volume ≥ 80 ml (p Conclusion: Although conventional surgery (open adenomectomy) has been a standard treatment for large prostate adenomas, progress in minimally invasive techniques, mainly Bipolar TURP, seems to confer more advantages such as the low rate of complications, reduced length of hospital stay and improved quality of life for the patients.

Primary hyperparathyroidism-induced acute pancreatitis in pregnancy:A systematic review with a diagnostic-treatment algorithm

BACKGROUND Primary hyperparathyroidism(PHPT)-induced acute pancreatitis(AP)during pregnancy has rarely been described.Due to this rarity,there are no diagnostic or treatment algorithms for pregnant patients.AIM To determine appropriate diagnostic methods,therapeutic options,and factors related to maternal and fetal outcomes for PHPT-induced AP in pregnancy.METHODS A literature search of articles in English,Japanese,German,Spanish,and Italian was performed using PubMed(1946-2023),PubMed Central(1900-2023),and Google Scholar.The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)protocol was followed.The search terms included“pancreatite acuta,”“iperparatiroidismo primario,”“gravidanza,”“travaglio,”“puerperio,”“postpartum,”“akute pankreatitis,”“primärer hyperparathyreoidismus,”“Schwangerschaft,”“Wehen,”“Wochenbett,”“pancreatitis aguda,”“hiperparatiroidismo primario,”“embarazo,”“parto,”“puerperio,”“posparto,”“acute pancreatitis,”“primary hyperparathyroidism,”“pregnancy,”“labor,”“puerperium,”and“postpartum.”Additional studies were identified by reviewing the reference lists of retrieved studies.Demographic,imaging,surgical,obstetric,and outcome data were obtained.RESULTS Fifty-four cases were collected from the 51 studies.The median maternal age was 29 years.PHPT-induced AP starts at the 20th gestational week;higher gestational weeks were seen in mothers who died(mean gestational week 28).Median values of amylase(1399,Q1-Q3=519-2072),lipase(2072,Q1-Q3=893-2804),serum calcium(3.5,Q1-Q3=3.1-3.9),and parathormone(PTH)(384,Q1-Q3=123-910)were reported.In 46 cases,adenoma was the cause of PHPT,followed by 2 cases of carcinoma and 1 case of hyperplasia.In the remaining 5 cases,the diagnosis was not reported.Neck ultrasound was positive in 34 cases,whereas sestamibi was performed in 3 cases,and neck computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 9 cases(the enlarged parathyroid gland was not localized in 3 cases).Surgery was the preferred treatment during pregnancy in 33 cases(median week of gestation 25,Q1-Q3=20-30)and postpartum in 12 cases.The timing was not reported in the remaining 9 cases,or surgery was not performed.AP was managed surgically in 11 cases and conservatively in 43(79.6%)cases.Maternal and fetal mortality was 9.3%(5 cases).Surgery was more common in deceased mothers(60.0%vs 16.3%;P=0.052),and PTH values tended to be higher in this group(910 pg/mL vs 302 pg/mL;P=0.059).Maternal mortality was higher with higher serum lipase levels and earlier delivery week.Higher calcium(4.1 mmol/L vs 3.3 mmol/L;P=0.009)and PTH(1914 pg/mL vs 302 pg/mL;P=0.003)values increased fetal/child mortality,as well as abortions(40.0%vs 0.0%;P=0.007)and complex deliveries(60.0%vs 8.2%;P=0.01).CONCLUSION If serum calcium is not tested during admission,definitive diagnosis of PHPT-induced AP in pregnancy is delayed,while early diagnosis and immediate intervention lead to excellent maternal and fetal outcomes.

Growth differentiation factor-15 serum concentrations reflect disease severity and anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND Population of patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is burdened by various extraintestinal manifestations which substantially contribute to greater morbidity and mortality.Growth-differentiation factor-15(GDF-15)is often overexpressed under stress conditions,such as inflammation,malignancies,heart failure,myocardial ischemia,and many others.AIM To explore the association between GDF-15 and IBD as serum concentrations of GDF-15 were shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcomes in multiple diseases.An additional aim was to determine possible associations between GDF-15 and multiple clinical,anthropometric and laboratory parameters in patients with IBD.METHODS This cross-sectional study included 90 adult patients diagnosed with IBD,encompassing both Crohn’s disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC),and 67 healthy age-and sex-matched controls.All patients underwent an extensive workup,including colonoscopy with subsequent histopathological analysis.Disease activity was assessed by two independent gastroenterology consultants specialized in IBD,employing well-established clinical and endoscopic scoring systems.GDF-15 serum concentrations were determined following an overnight fasting,using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.RESULTS In patients with IBD,serum GDF-15 concentrations were significantly higher in comparison to the healthy controls[800(512-1154)pg/mL vs 412(407-424)pg/mL,P<0.001],whereas no difference in GDF-15 was found between patients with CD and UC[807(554-1451)pg/mL vs 790(509-956)pg/mL,P=0.324].Moreover,multiple linear regression analysis showed that GDF-15 levels predict CD and UC severity independent of age,sex,and C-reactive protein levels(P=0.016 and P=0.049,respectively).Finally,an association between GDF-15 and indices of anemia was established.Specifically,negative correlations were found between GDF-15 and serum iron levels(r=-0.248,P=0.021),as well as GDF-15 and hemoglobin(r=-0.351,P=0.021).Accordingly,in comparison to IBD patients with normal hemoglobin levels,GDF-15 serum levels were higher in patients with anemia(1256(502-2100)pg/mL vs 444(412-795)pg/mL,P<0.001).CONCLUSION For the first time,we demonstrated that serum concentrations of GDF-15 are elevated in patients with IBD in comparison to healthy controls,and the results imply that GDF-15 might be involved in IBD pathophysiology.Yet,it remains elusive whether GDF-15 could serve as a prognostic indicator in these patients.

Stent A pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreatoduodenectomy:Is it always necessary?

The establishment of a postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)is considered the most common and,concomitantly,the most serious complication associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD).The search for either technical modifications of the operative technique or pharmaceutical interventions that could possibly aid in decreasing the incidence of this often-devastating complication appears justified.The stenting of the pancreatic duct,with the use of either internal or external stents,has been evaluated in this direction.In theory,it is an approach that could eliminate many pathophysiological factors responsible for the occurrence of a POPF.The purpose of the present study was to review the current data regarding the role of pancreatic duct stenting on the incidence of POPF,after PD,by using PubMed and Reference Citation Analysis.In general,previous studies seem to highlight the superiority of external stents over their internal counterparts in regard to the incidence of POPF;this is at the cost,however,of increased morbidity associated mainly with the stent removal.Certainly,the use of an internal stent is a less invasive approach with acceptable results and is definitely deprived of the drawbacks arising through the complete diversion of pancreatic juice from the gastrointestinal tract.Bearing in mind the scarcity of high-quality data on the subject,an approach of reserving stent placement for the high-risk for POPF patients and individualizing the selection between the use of an internal or an external stent according to the distinct characteristics of each individual case scenario appears appropriate.

Incidences and Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infections in Koutiala, Mali

Purpose: This paper aims to assess the incidences and risk factors for surgical site (ISO) infections in the general surgery department of the Koutiala District Hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective and descriptive study from August 1, 2017 to October 31, 2020 involving all patients who underwent laparotomy in the general surgery department of the Koutiala District Hospital. Patients who were not operated on and who did not have a laparotomy were not included. Age, sex, frequency, patient history, National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) index, time to occur, bacteriological test results and course of infection were analyzed. Results: Fifty patients were registered. The average age was 34.2 ± 21.2 years old. Eleven patients were 60 years old or older. The hospital incidence rate was 4.3% and the community incidence rate was 6.1 cases per 100,000 population. The concept of smoking was noted in 15 patients. Patients were operated on in emergency 84% of cases. Peritonitis was the most common initial lesion with 32% of cases. Our patients had an NNIS index greater than 0 in 84% of cases. The time to develop infection from the surgical site was less than 3 days in 8 patients (16% of cases). Depending on the depth of the infection, it was superficial (cutaneous) in 39 patients (78%) and deep (subcutaneous and organic) in 11 patients (22%). Escherichia coli was the most common germ with 72% followed by staphylococcus aureus at 24%. We noted 22% morbidity. The median length of hospitalization was 9 ± 2.2 days. Conclusion: ISO is common in our service. Prevention and mastery require knowledge of risk factors.