Burnout Among General Surgeons in Turkey

Aim: Burnout is a syndrome that is very common among surgeons. It is defined by emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and decreased personal success. This study aimed to investigate burnout in general surgeons in Turkey and to determine the risk factors for burnout. Method: Of the total of 4,395 general surgeons in Turkey, 630 were included in this study. Each participant was asked to complete the Sociodemographic Data Form, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) either by face-to-face interview or via electronic questionnaire. Results: Of the 630 participants included in this study, 53 (8.4%) and 577 (91.6%) was female and male, respectively. The highest participation rate was from the Marmara region (36%), while the lowest participation rate was from the Eastern Anatolia region (3.13%). Attending physicians comprised the largest number of participants (72%). Those who perceived themselves as successful, with more work experience and higher academic Mtitles, had decreased EE, personal accomplishment, and DP as well as increased general, external, and internal satisfaction. Conclusion: We observed that most of the general surgeons in Turkey experienced burnout syndrome. To address this, we suggest that health systems and working conditions in Turkey should be reviewed and that the working standards and rights of the healthcare workers should be revised

The evaluation of morbidity in gastrointestinal tumor patients underwent cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the postoperative morbidity rate and identify demographic, clinical, and treatment-related variables that may be potential risk factors for morbidity in gastrointestinal tumor patients undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with or without cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, 60 patients who had undergone HIPEC due to gastrointestinal tumor between October 2017 and December 2019 were included. Systemic toxicities were graded and evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 criteria. Results: Mean age of the patients was 60.43 +/- 12.83. Primary tumor localization was the stomach in 33 patients (55%), colon in 21 (35%), rectum in five (8.3%), and appendix in one patient (1.7%). PCI mean value was 9.51 +/- 10.92. CC-0 was applied in 37 (61.7%) patients, CC-1 in 11 (18.3%), CC-2 in 6 (10%), and CC-3 in six patients (10%). Morbidity was observed in 50 (83.33%) of the 60 patients participating in the study according to NCI-CTCAE v3.0 classification. Mild morbidity rate was 46.6%, severe morbidity rate was 36.6%, and mortality rate was 11.66%. Enteric diversion application, length of stay in the ICU, and length of hospital stay were shown to have a statistically significant effect on the NCI-CTCAE morbidity score (p= 0.046, p= 0.004, p< 0.001). Conclusion: With proven beneficial effects on survival in patients with locally advanced gastrointestinal tumors, CRC and HIPEC are acceptable in these patients despite their increased morbidity and mortality rate. With new studies on this subject, morbidity and mortality rates may be reduced

Pelvic actinomycosis presenting as a malignant pelvic mass: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pelvic actinomycosis constitutes 3% of all human actinomycosis infections. It is usually insidious, and is often mistaken for other conditions such as diverticulitis, abscesses, inflammatory bowel disease and malignant tumors, presenting a diagnostic challenge pre-operatively; it is identified post-operatively in most cases. Here we present a case that presented as pelvic malignancy and was diagnosed as pelvic actinomycosis post-operatively.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 48-year-old Caucasian Turkish woman presented to our clinic with a three-month history of abdominal pain, weight loss and difficulty in defecation. She had used an intra-uterine device for 16 years, however it had recently been removed. The rectosigmoidoscopy revealed narrowing of the lumen at 12 cm due to a mass lesion either in the wall or due to an extrinsic lesion that prevented the passage of the endoscope. On examination, there was no gynecological pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass, measuring 5.5 × 4 cm attached to the rectum posterior to the uterus. The ureter on that side was dilated. Surgically there was a pelvic mass adhered to the rectum and uterine adnexes, measuring 10 × 12 cm. It originated from uterine adnexes, particularly ones from the left side and formed a conglomerated mass with the uterus and nearby organs; the left ureter was also dilated due to the pelvic mass. Because of concomitant tubal abscess formation and difficulty in dissection planes, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy was performed (our patient was 48 years old and had completed her childbearing period). The cytology revealed inflammatory cells with aggregates of <it>Actinomyces</it>. Penicillin therapy was given for six months without any complication.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pelvic actinomycosis should always be considered in patients with a pelvic mass especially in ones using intra-uterine devices, and who have a history of appendectomy, tonsillectomy or dental infection. Surgeons should be aware of this infection in order to avoid excessive surgical procedures.</p

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely