Wound Failure in Laparotomy: New insights

__Abstract__ Wound failure is a common complication of abdominal surgery. Its clinical presentation can vary from superficial wound dehiscence to burst abdomen with intraabdominal organs protruding through the wound. In long term, incisiona

A case of split notochord syndrome: a child with a neuroenteric fistula presenting with meningitis

The authors describe a case of split notochord syndrome with a neuroenteric fistula in a newborn presenting with meningitis. Associated anomalies included agenesis of the corpus callosum, short colon, malrotation, epispadias, and an abnormally high bifurcation of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. The embryological mechanisms and etiologic theories are discussed in short

WSES guidelines for emergency repair of complicated abdominal wall hernias

Emergency repair of complicated abdominal hernias is associated with poor prognosis and a high rate of post-operative complications. A World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) Consensus Conference was held in Bergamo in July 2013, during the 2nd Congress of the World Society of Emergency Surgery with the goal of defining recommendations for emergency repair of abdominal wall hernias in adults. This document represents the executive summary of the consensus conference approved by a WSES expert panel

Noninvasive assessment of intra-abdominal pressure by measurement of abdominal wall tension 1

Background: Sustained increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) has negative effects. Noninvasive IAP measurement could be beneficial to improve monitoring of patients at risk and in whom IAP measurements might be unreliable. We assessed the relation between IAP and abdominal wall tension (AWT) in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods: The abdomens of 14 corpses were insufflated with air. IAP was measured at intervals up to 20 mm Hg. At each interval, AWT was measured five times at six points. In 42 volunteers, AWT was measured at five points in supine, sitting, and standing positions during various respiratory manoeuvres. Series were repeated in 14 volunteers to measure reproducibility by calculating coefficients of variation (CV). ANOVA was used for analyses. Results: In corpses, all points showed significant correlations between IAP and AWT (P < 0.001 for points 1-4 in the upper abdomen, P = 0.017 for point 5 and P = 0.008 for point 6 in the lower abdomen). Mean slopes were greatest at points across the epigastric region (points 1-3). In vivo measurements showed that AWT was on average 31% higher in men compared to women (P < 0.001), and increased from expiration to inspiration to Valsalva's manoeuvre (all P < 0.001). AWT was highest at points 1 and 2 and in standing position, followed by supine and sitting positions. BMI did not influence AWT. Mean CV of repeated measurements was 14%. Conclusions: AWT reflects IAP. The epigastric region appears most suitable for AWT measurements. Further longitudinal clinical studies are needed to assess usefulness of AWT measurements for monitoring of IAP

A comparative assessment of surgeons' tracking methods for surgical site infections

Background: The incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) is considered increasingly to be an indicator of quality of care. We conducted a study in which daily inspection of the surgical incision was performed by an independent, trained team to monitor the incidence of SSI using U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions, as a gold-standard measure of care. In the department of surgery, two registration systems for SSI were used routinely by the surgeon: An electronic and a plenary tracking system. The results of the independent team were compared with the outcomes provided by two registration systems for SSI, so as to evaluate the reliability of these systems as a possible alternative for indicating quality of care. Methods: The study was an incidence study conducted from May 2007 to January 2009 that included 1,000 adult patients scheduled to undergo open abdominal surgery in an academic teaching hospital. Surgical incisions were inspected daily to check for SSI according to definitions of health care-associated infections established by the CDC. Follow-up after discharge was done at the outpatient clinic of the hospital by telephone or letter in combination with patient diaries and reviews of patient charts, discharge letters, electronic files, and reported complications. Univariate and multivariable analyses were done to identify putative risk factors for missing registrations. Results: Of the 1,000 patients in the stud