Clostridial gas gangrene after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the role of SARS-CoV-2 virus – a case report and review of literature

Klostridijska plinska gangrena je brzo šireća nekrotična infekcija mekog tkiva s visokim smrtnim ishodom. Rijetka je komplikacija laparoskopske kolecistektomije. Predstavljamo 68-godišnju bolesnicu koja je razvila klostridijsku plinsku gangrenu nakon laparoskopske kolecistektomije. Bolesnica je prethodno bila bez komorbiditeta osim što je 14 dana ranije imala SARS CoV-2 infekciju s blagim respiratornim simptomima. Klostridijska infekcija je nastala neposredno nakon operacije uzrokujući gangrenu trbušne stijenke, septički šok i multiorgansko zatajenje. Unatoč pravovaljanoj i pravodobnoj antibiotskoj terapiji, kirurškom debridementu i ostalim mjerama intenzivnog liječenja, ishod bolesti bio je letalan. Postavljamo si dva pitanja: je li virus SARS CoV-2 mogao biti inicijator letalne kaskade u ove bolesnice i bismo li promijenili ishod da smo odgodili operaciju?Clostridium gas gangrene is fast-spreading necrotic infection of soft tissue relevant to high mortality rates. It is a rare complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We present a case of a 68-year old woman who developed clostridial gas gangrene after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patient didn’t have have any comorbidity except SARS CoV-2 infection with mild respiratory symptoms 14 days ago. The infection developed immediately after the operation causing gangrene of the abdominal wall, septic shock and multi-organ failure. Although the patient was treated with appropriate and prompt antibiotic therapy and thorough surgical debridement and with other supportive measures, outcome was lethal. Based on this case we ask ourselves: Could the SARS CoV-2 virus initiate lethal cascade and should we change the outcome if we postponed the operation

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED AT THE CLINIC FOR CHILDREN\u27S DISEASES IN SPLIT

Ciljevi: Ciljevi istraživanja su: prikazati stanje uhranjenosti bolesnika liječenih na Klinici za dječje bolesti Kliničke bolnice Split, utvrditi povezanost kliničkih pokazatelja stanja uhranjenosti s osnovnom bolešću i duljinom liječenja te usporedno prikazati dva različita pokazatelja stanja uhranjenosti: debljinu kožnih nabora i BMI (od engl. body mass index). Metode: U istraživanju su sudjelovala 632 bolesnika, 332 ženska i 300 muških, u dobi od 3. do 20. godine života. Bolesnicima smo izmjerili tjelesnu masu i tjelesnu visinu nakon prijma i pri otpustu, izračunali BMI i kaliperom izmjerili debljinu kožnih nabora. Rezultati: 7,91% djece bilo je neishranjeno, 10,60% preuhranjeno, a 7,75% rizično za preuhranjenost. Među bolesnicima je bilo statistički značajnih razlika u stanju uhranjenosti u odnosu na osnovnu bolest. Nalazi debljine kožnih nabora i BMI-a statistički se značajno ne razlikuju (p>0,05). Z-vrijednostima pokazali smo promjene tjelesne mase po dobnim skupinama. Zaključak: U usporedbi s rezultatima drugih autora, neishranjenost bolesnika liječenih na Klinici za dječje bolesti KB Split je rijetka. Budući da i neishranjenost i preuhranjenost mogu značajno utjecati na ishod bolesti, kao i na zdravlje u odrasloj dobi, svoj hospitaliziranoj djeci treba procijeniti stanje uhranjenosti. Bolesnike s poremećajem uhranjenosti treba na vrijeme prepoznati i liječiti.Aims: The objectives of the study are: to determine the nutritional status of patients hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics in Split Clinical Hospital, to show the relationship between the clinical signs of nutritional status and the basic disease and length of hospital stay and a comparison of two different signs of nutritional status: skinfolds and BMI (body mass index). Methods: We studied 632 children, 332 female and 300 male, aged 3 years to 20 years. We measured height and weight, BMI, and skinfolds, with a caliper, of the patients at admission, and at discharge from hospital. Results: 7.91% of children were underweight-for-age, 10.60% were overweight-for- age and 7.75% were at risk for overweight-for-age. Between the patients there were statistically significant differences between nutritional status and the principal disease. There were no statistically significant differences between skinfolds and BMI (p>0,05). Z values express body mass changes in various age groups. Conclusions: In comparison with other authors\u27 results, low weight in patients hospitalized in the Clinical Hospital Split is not so frequent. Since overweight and underweight-for-age can have a great influence on the course of the disease and on health later, in adulthood, we have to estimate the nutritional status of all hospitalized children, and also to recognize and treat the existing problem

Effects of Voluntary Fluid Intake Deprivation on Mental and Psychomotor Performance

Aim: To assess if there is deterioration in mental and psychomotor performance during 24-hour voluntary fluid intake deprivation. Methods: A battery of computer generated psychological tests (Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac) was applied to 10 subjects to test light signal position discrimination, short-term memory, simple visual orientation, simple arithmetic, and complex motor coordination. We measured total test solving time, minimum (best) single task solving time, total ballast time, and total number of errors. Mood self-estimate scales of depression, working energy, anxiety, and self-confidence were used to determine the emotional status of subjects. During the first day of the experiment, subjects had free access to drinks. After a 48-hour interval, subjects voluntarily abstained from fluid intake for 24 hours. During that period, the testing was performed 7 times a day, at 3-hour intervals, except during the night. Z-transformation of the results enabled the comparison of 50 dependent measurements on the same subjects. Results: During dehydration, there was significant deterioration in total test solving time, minimum single task solving time, and total ballast time. No significant deterioration was found by mood self-estimate scales, except on the scale of energy at 23:00 hours. Conclusion: Voluntary 24-hour fluid intake deprivation led to deterioration in objective parameters of psychological processing, but not in subjective parameters. The results suggest that the duration of fluid intake deprivation can be a useful indicator of mental and psychomotor deterioration level

Klostridijska plinska gangrena nakon laparoskopske kolecistektomije: uloga SARS-CoV-2 virusa – prikaz bolesnice s pregledom literature

Klostridijska plinska gangrena je brzo šireća nekrotična infekcija mekog tkiva s visokim smrtnim ishodom. Rijetka je komplikacija laparoskopske kolecistektomije. Predstavljamo 68-godišnju bolesnicu koja je razvila klostridijsku plinsku gangrenu nakon laparoskopske kolecistektomije. Bolesnica je prethodno bila bez komorbiditeta osim što je 14 dana ranije imala SARS CoV-2 infekciju s blagim respiratornim simptomima. Klostridijska infekcija je nastala neposredno nakon operacije uzrokujući gangrenu trbušne stijenke, septički šok i multiorgansko zatajenje. Unatoč pravovaljanoj i pravodobnoj antibiotskoj terapiji, kirurškom debridementu i ostalim mjerama intenzivnog liječenja, ishod bolesti bio je letalan. Postavljamo si dva pitanja: je li virus SARS CoV-2 mogao biti inicijator letalne kaskade u ove bolesnice i bismo li promijenili ishod da smo odgodili operaciju

Intraoperative ventilator settings and their association with postoperative pulmonary complications in neurosurgical patients: post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study

Background: Limited information is available regarding intraoperative ventilator settings and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this post-hoc analysis of the 'Multicentre Local ASsessment of VEntilatory management during General Anaesthesia for Surgery' (LAS VEGAS) study was to examine the ventilator settings of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, and to explore the association between perioperative variables and the development of PPCs in neurosurgical patients. Methods: Post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study, restricted to patients undergoing neurosurgery. Patients were stratified into groups based on the type of surgery (brain and spine), the occurrence of PPCs and the assess respiratory risk in surgical patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) score risk for PPCs. Results: Seven hundred eighty-four patients were included in the analysis; 408 patients (52%) underwent spine surgery and 376 patients (48%) brain surgery. Median tidal volume (VT) was 8 ml [Interquartile Range, IQR = 7.3-9] per predicted body weight; median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 5 [3 to 5] cmH20. Planned recruitment manoeuvres were used in the 6.9% of patients. No differences in ventilator settings were found among the sub-groups. PPCs occurred in 81 patients (10.3%). Duration of anaesthesia (odds ratio, 1.295 [95% confidence interval 1.067 to 1.572]; p = 0.009) and higher age for the brain group (odds ratio, 0.000 [0.000 to 0.189]; p = 0.031), but not intraoperative ventilator settings were independently associated with development of PPCs. Conclusions: Neurosurgical patients are ventilated with low VT and low PEEP, while recruitment manoeuvres are seldom applied. Intraoperative ventilator settings are not associated with PPCs

Epidemiology, Practice of Ventilation and Outcome for Patients at Increased risk of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications: Las Vegas - an Observational Study in 29 Countries

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome

Nonelective surgery at night and in-hospital mortality - Prospective observational data from the European Surgical Outcomes Study

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that sleep deprivation associated with night-time working may adversely affect performance resulting in a reduction in the safety of surgery and anaesthesia. OBJECTIVE Our primary objective was to evaluate an association between nonelective night-time surgery and in-hospital mortality. We hypothesised that urgent surgery performed during the night was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and also an increase in the duration of hospital stay and the number of admissions to critical care. DESIGN A prospective cohort study. This is a secondary analysis of a large database related to perioperative care and outcome (European Surgical Outcome Study). SETTING Four hundred and ninety-eight hospitals in 28 European countries. PATIENTS Men and women older than 16 years who underwent nonelective, noncardiac surgery were included according to time of the procedure. INTERVENTION None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcome was the duration of hospital stay and critical care admission. RESULTS Eleven thousand two hundred and ninety patients undergoing urgent surgery were included in the analysis with 636 in-hospital deaths (5.6%). Crude mortality odds ratios (ORs) increased sequentially from daytime [426 deaths (5.3%)] to evening [150 deaths (6.0%), OR 1.14; 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.38] to night-time [60 deaths (8.3%), OR 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.22 to 2.14]. Following adjustment for confounding factors, surgery during the evening (OR 1.09; 95% confidence interval 0.91 to 1.31) and night (OR 1.20; 95% confidence interval 0.9 to 1.6) was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative death. Admittance rate to an ICU increased sequentially from daytime [891 (11.1%)], to evening [347 (13.8%)] to night time [149 (20.6%)]. CONCLUSION In patients undergoing nonelective urgent noncardiac surgery, in-hospital mortality was associated with well known risk factors related to patients and surgery, but we did not identify any relationship with the time of day at which the procedure was performed