Prediction of conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery with artificial neural networks

Abstract Background The intent of this study was to predict conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open surgery employing artificial neural networks (ANN). Methods The retrospective data of 793 patients who underwent LC in a teaching university hospital from 1997 to 2004 was collected. We employed linear discrimination analysis and ANN models to examine the predictability of the conversion. The models were validated using prospective data of 100 patients who underwent LC at the same hospital. Results The overall conversion rate was 9%. Conversion correlated with experience of surgeons, emergency LC, previous abdominal surgery, fever, leukocytosis, elevated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels, and ultrasonographic detection of common bile duct stones. In the validation group, discriminant analysis formula diagnosed the conversion in 5 cases out of 9 (sensitivity: 56%; specificity: 82%); the ANN model diagnosed 6 cases (sensitivity: 67%; specificity: 99%). Conclusion The conversion of LC to open surgery is effectively predictable based on the preoperative health characteristics of patients using ANN.</p

Characteristics of Fatal Occupational Traumatic Injuries; Drama in

Objectives: To determine the characteristics and etiologies of occupational trauma associated mortality in Tabriz megacity, Northern Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included all the recorded cases of occupational mortalities referring to Tabriz forensic medicine center, labor institute and Imam Reza and Sina hospitals between March 2011 and March 2012. We recorded the demographic and clinical characteristics including age, gender, type of occupational accident, experience of work and permanent or temporary jobs for all the cases. The death etiology was also recorded according to the forensic medicine report. The data are presented as descriptive analytics. Results: Overall we included 32 occupational trauma associated mortality out of whom 30 (93.8%) were men and 2 (6.2%) were women. The mean age of the patients was 44.1±16.3 years old with most of them (31.3%) being younger than 30 years old. The occupation was recorded to be structural in 13 (40.6%), industrial in 5 (15.6%), agricultural in 5 (15.6%) and office work in 6 (18.8%). In 20 (62.5%) patients the occupation was seasonal and in 12 (37.5%) was permanent. Summer was the most common season in which occupational trauma associated mortality was recorded (40.6%) followed by fall by 34.4% of all mortalities. Most frequent causes of occupational traumas were the result of nonuse of safety wares (71.9%), inattention during work time (84.4%) and inappropriate instructions (18.8%). Conclusion: Most of the fatalities occurred in young and less-experienced workers, not having enough attention while working. Regarding this fact we conclude that with continuous education and supervision especially in young workers, most of the occupational accidents are preventable

Success Rate of Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Service Personnel in Implementing Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support Guidelines on Traffic Accident Victims

SUMMARY: Objectives: Road traffic injuries are responsible for a vast number of trauma-related deaths in middle- and low-income countries. Pre-hospital emergency medical service (PHEMS) provides care and transports the injured patients from the scene of accident to the destined hospital. The PHEMS providers and paramedics were recently trained in the Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) guidelines to improve the outcome of trauma patients in developing countries. We decided to carry out a study on the success rate of PHEMS personnel in implementing PHTLS guidelines at the scene of trauma. Methods: Severe trauma patients who had been transferred to the emergency department were included in the study. Evaluations included transfer time, airway management, spinal immobilization, external bleeding management, intravenous (IV) line access, and fluid therapy. All evaluations were performed by an expert emergency physician in the emergency department. Results: The mean response time was 17.87±9.1 minutes. The PHEMS personnel immobilized cervical spine in 60.4% of patients, out of whom 16.7% were not properly immobilized. Out of 99 (98%) cases of established IV line access by the PHEMS providers, 57% were satisfactory. Fluid therapy, which was carried out in 99 (98%) patients by the PHEMS personnel, was appropriate in 92% of the cases. Conclusions: PHEMS personnel need more education and supervising to provide services according to PHTLS guidelines. ÖZET: Amaç: Orta ve düşük gelirli ülkelerde travmayla ilişkili ölümlerin büyük bir bölümünden karayollarındaki trafik kazalarındaki yaralanmalar sorumludur. Hastane öncesi acil tıp ekibi (PHEMS) yaralı kişilere kaza yerinden gidilecek hastaneye kadar nakleder ve bu arada onlara tıbbi bakım sunar. Son zamanlarda gelişmekte olan ülkelerde acil tıbbi bakım ve tedaviyi üstlenenlerle tıp teknisyenleri travma hastalarından alınan sonuçları iyileştirme amacıyla Hastane Öncesi Travma Yaşam Desteği (PHTLS) kılavuz ilkeleri konusunda eğitilmektedir. Yaralanma mahallinde bu personele verilen eğitimin başarı oranına ilişkin bir çalışma yapmaya karar verdik. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya acil servise aktarılan ağır travma hastaları alındı. Hasta nakli sırasında geçen süre, hava yolu açılması, omurganın stabilize edilmesi, dış kanama tedavisi, intravenöz (IV) giriş yolu açılması ve sıvı tedavisi değerlendirildi. Değerlendirmelerin tümü acil servisteki acil tıp uzmanı tarafından gerçekleştirildi. Bulgular: Ortalama yanıt verme süresi 17.87±9.1 dakika idi. Acil tıp ekibi, hastaların %60.4'ünün boyun omurlarını stabilize etmiş olup bunların %16.7'si usulüne uygun biçimde gerçekleştirilmemişti. Acil tıp ekibi tarafından %57'si tatminkâr olmak üzere 99 (%98) yaralıya IV damar yolu açılmıştı. Yine 99 (%98) yaralıya verilen sıvı tedavisinin %92'si usulüne uygundu. Sonuç: Acil tıp ekibi, hastane öncesi acil bakım ilkelerine uygun hizmet vermesi için daha fazla eğitim ve denetimden geçmelidir. Key words: Pre-hospital emergency medical service, pre hospital trauma life support, trauma, Anahtar sözcükler: Hastane öncesi acil tıbbi hizmet, hastane öncesi travmada yaşam desteği, travm

The value of lab findings in early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia

Objective: Acute mesenteric ischemia (IMA) is a vascular emergency with broad variability of clinical presentations and non-specific laboratory findings. Therefore, there is a significant need for reliable serological markers of ischemia. Various laboratory studies may be performed for suspected AMI, but in general, such studies will not establish the diagnosis. Methods: In a prospective, non-interventional study, from October 2012 to October 2013, we investigated 70 patients with probable diagnosis of AMI. Blood samples were taken from patients and analyzed for complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalized ratio (INR), urea, creatinine (Cr), sodium (Na), potassium (K), D-dimer, lactate, amylase, PH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2 ), and bicarbonate (HCO3 ). Finally the results were compared with AMI diagnosis confirmed by computed tomography (CT) angiography. Results: Seventy patients with acute severe abdominal pain were studied. Thirty-nine patients (55.7%) were male and 31 patients (44.3%) were female. The average age was 68.01±14.67 (±SD). Based on CT-angiography results, 27 (38.6%) patients had AMI and 43 (61.4%) patients did not have AMI. Chi-squire test showed P values of 0.606 and 0.986 for relations between sex and risk factors with AMI correspondingly. One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov revealed white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), platelets (Plt), urea, Cr, Na, K, PCO2 and HCO3 as normally distributed parameters (P>0.05). Moreover PT, PTT, INR, D-dimer, lactate, amylase, and PH were non-normally distributed (P<0.05). Conclusion: We found a significant relation between increased serum lactate level and definitive AMI diagnosis. We recommend rising serum lactate as a finding in AMI