Comparison of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) plasma levels between patients with and without appendicitis, a case–controlled study

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the frst cause of emergency surgery. Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) has been shown to be a potential biomarker in cases of AA in children, but there are conficting results for its use in adults. The objective of this study is to compare the median plasma values of LRG1 in patients with acute abdomen with and without appendicitis. This case–control study was conducted prospectively at the emergency room (ER) of a tertiary teaching hospital, between March 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2012. Patients with recent abdominal pain, aged 18–70 years who attended at the ER were included in the study. Blood samples were drawn at the frst presentation. Those who were submitted to surgery and had a pathology report of AA were considered as cases. Those without a need for surgery and treated for other conditions, e.g., pelvic infammatory disease, were considered as controls. Follow-up in controls was made up to 30 days. LRG1 plasma median values were measured using an ELISA kit and compared between groups. A total of 28 participants, 14 cases with acute appendicitis and 14 controls, were included. The median (range) values of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 level in the group with appendicitis and control group were 8.8 ng/ml (5.5–31) and 11 (4.6–108) ng/ml, respectively (Mann–Whitney test P= 0.26). Median plasma leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 levels were not useful in diagnosing Acute Appendicitis in patients with acute abdominal pain

Comparison of the internal thoracic artery flow dissected by video endoscopy or conventional technique

Purpose: To compare the blood flow in the internal thoracic artery when dissected endoscopically in a conventional manner, in addition to develop a reliable experimental training model for the surgical team. Methods: Paired experimental study. Ten pigs were operated and had both internal thoracic arteries dissected, the right with a conventional technique and the left by video endoscopy. The main outcomes to be studied were flow, length, and time of dissection of each vessel. Results: Blood flow measurements were performed with mean heart rate of 100 ± 16 bpm and mean arterial pressure of 89.7 ± 13 mm Hg. The mean blood flow of endoscopic dissection of the internal thoracic artery was 170.2 ± 66.3 mL/min and by direct view was 180.8 ± 70.5 (p = 0.26). Thus, there was no statistically significant difference between the flows, showing no inferiority between the methods. Conclusions: The minimally invasive dissection of the internal thoracic artery was shown to be not inferior to the dissection by open technique in relation to the blood flow in the present experimental model. In addition, the model that we replicated was shown to be adequate for the development of the learning curve and improvement of the endoscopic abilities

A realidade virtual pode ser tão boa como o treinamento em sala cirúrgica? : experiências de um programa de residência em cirurgia geral

Background: The increasingly intense usage of technology applied to videosurgery and the advent of robotic platforms accelerated the use of virtual models in training surgical skills. Aim: To evaluate the performance of a general surgery department’s residents in a videosimulated laparoscopic cholecystectomy in order to understand whether training with virtual reality is sufficient to provide the skills that are normally acquired in hands-on experience at the operating room. Methods: An observational study with twenty-five first- and second-year general surgery residents. Each subject performed three video-laparoscopic cholecystectomies under supervision in a simulator. Only the best performance was evaluated in the study. Total number of complications and total procedure time were evaluated independently. The groups were defined according to total practice time (G1 and G2) and the year of residency (R1 and R2), each being analysed separately. Results: Twenty-one residents finished the three practices, with four follow-up losses. Mean practice time was 33.5 hours. Lowering of the rate of lesions in important structures could be identified after a level of proficiency of 60%, which all participants obtained regardless of previous in vivo experience. No significant difference between the R1 and R2 groups was observed. Conclusion: Learning in groups R1 and R2 was equal, regardless of whether previous practice was predominantly in vivo (R2) or with virtual reality (R1). Therefore, it is possible to consider that skills obtained in virtual reality training are capable of equalising the proficiency of first- and second-year residents, being invaluable to increase patient safety and homogenise learning of basic surgical procedures.Racional: O uso cada vez mais intenso da tecnologia aplicado à cirurgia em vídeo e o advento das plataformas robóticas, aceleraram o uso de modelos virtuais no treinamento de habilidades cirúrgicas. Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho dos médicos residentes em um serviço de cirurgia geral em colecistectomia vídeo simulada laparoscópica em um centro de realidade virtual para entender se o treinamento de realidade virtual é suficiente para equipará-lo às habilidades adquiridas no centro cirúrgico. Método: Estudo observacional transversal com 25 residentes de cirurgia geral do primeiro e segundo anos. Cada residente realizou três colecistectomias videolaparoscópicas com supervisão em um simulador. O melhor desempenho foi avaliado no estudo. O número total de complicações e tempo total do procedimento foram avaliados de forma independente. Os grupos foram definidos de acordo com o tempo total de prática (G1 e G2) e o ano de residência (R1 e R2), os quais foram analisados isoladamente. Resultados: Vinte e um médicos residentes médicos concluíram as 3 práticas, com 4 perdas de seguimento e praticaram uma média de 33,5 h. Diminuição das lesões em estruturas importantes foi identificada após nível de proficiência de 60%, que todos os participantes obtiveram independentemente da experiência anterior in vivo. Não houve diferença significativa entre os resultados dos grupos R1 e R2. Conclusões: O aprendizado dos grupos R1 e R2 pode ser considerado igual, independentemente de a prática anterior ser majoritariamente in vivo (R2) ou em realidade virtual (R1). Assim, é possível considerar que as habilidades cirúrgicas adquiridas a partir do treinamento virtual são capazes de equiparar a proficiência dos residentes de primeiro e segundo ano, sendo fundamental para aumentar a segurança dos pacientes e homogeneizar o aprendizado de procedimentos cirúrgicos básicos

Gallbladder protrusion through the groin region : a very unusual femoral hernia

Groin hernias are among the oldest recorded afflictions of mankind. Most of them protrude through the inguinal canal, and only a few through the femoral canal. Usually, they are present as a painful lump in the groin region, and their complications arise if they become incarcerated or strangulated. Incarcerated hernias may contain a variety of contents, such as the omentum, small bowel, colon, bladder, appendix, stomach, or ovary as previously described. Usually, the history and a physical examination are sufficient to make the diagnosis. However, the wide use of CT has become an effective instrument to identify the contents of hernias and has helped surgeons program the best management. This article reports, for the first time, the case of an 81-year-old female with an incarcerated femoral hernia that contains the gallbladder

Métodos de avaliação nutricional preditores de mortalidade pós-operatória em pacientes submetidos à gastrectomia por câncer gástrico

Objectives: to determine the nutritional evaluation method that best predicts mortality in 90 days of patients submitted to gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: we conducted a prospective study with 44 patients with gastric cancer, stages II to IIIa, of whom nine were submitted to partial gastrectomy, 34 to total gastrectomy, and one to esophago-gastrectomy. All patients were nutritionally evaluated through the same protocol, up to 72h after hospital admission. The parameters used were Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PGSGA), classical anthropometry, current weight and height, percentage of weight loss (%WL) and body mass index (BMI). We also measured the thickness of the thumb adductor muscle (TAM) in both hands, dominant hand (TAMD) and non-dominant hand (TAMND), as well as the calculated the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). The laboratory profile included serum levels of albumin, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, and total lymphocytes count (TLC). Results: of the 44 patients studied, 29 (66%) were malnourished by the subjective method, 15 being grade A, 18 grade B and 11 grade C. Cases with PGSGA grade B and TAMD 10.2±2.9 mm were significantly associated with higher mortality. The ROC curves (95% confidence interval) of both PGSGA and TAMD thickness reliably predicted mortality at 30 and 90 days. No laboratory method allowed predicting mortality at 90 days. Conclusion: PGSGA and the TAMD thickness can be used as preoperative parameters for risk of death in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Objetivos: determinar o método de avaliação nutricional que melhor prediz a mortalidade em 90 dias de pacientes submetidos à gastrectomia por câncer gástrico. Métodos: estudo prospectivo de 44 pacientes portadores de câncer gástrico, estágios II a IIIa, dos quais nove foram submetidos à gastrectomia parcial, 34 à gastrectomia total e um à esôfago-gastrectomia. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados nutricionalmente através do mesmo protocolo, até 72h da admissão hospitalar. Os parâmetros utilizados foram a Avaliação Subjetiva Global Produzida Pelo Paciente (ASG-PPP), antropometria clássica, incluindo peso e altura atuais, porcentagem de perda ponderal (%PP) e índice de massa corporal (IMC). A espessura do músculo adutor do polegar (MAP) em ambas mãos, mão dominante (MAPD) e mão não-dominante (MAPND) também foram realizadas, assim como o cálculo do índice nutricional prognóstico (IPN). O perfil laboratorial incluiu níveis séricos de albumina, eritrócitos, hemoglobina, hematócrito, leucócitos e contagem total de linfócitos (CTL). Resultados: dos 44 pacientes estudados, 29 (66%) eram desnutridos pelo método subjetivo, sendo 15 grau A, 18 grau B e 11 grau C. Os casos com ASG-PPP grau B e com MAPD 10,2±2,9 mm foram significativamente associados à maior mortalidade. As curvas ROC (intervalo de confiança de 95%) de ambas ASG-PPP e espessura da MAPD fidedignamente predisseram mortalidade em 30 e 90 dias. Nenhum método laboratorial permitiu prever a mortalidade em 90 dias. Conclusão: a ASG-PPP e a espessura da MAPD podem ser utilizados como parâmetros pré-operatórios para risco de morte em pacientes submetidos à gastrectomia por câncer gástrico