Computed Tomography in Emergency Diagnosis and Management Considerations of Small Bowel Obstruction for Surgical vs. Non-surgical Approach

Extra-abdominal CT imaging indicates increased severity of illness in advanced age patients requiring emergency abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND

Abdominal sepsis frequently causes neurologic and pulmonary dysfunction among geriatric patients, We hypothesize that patients with abdominal sepsis who undergo extra-abdominal imaging have a greater burden of illness.

METHODS

Patients 65 years and older that underwent emergency abdominal surgery for sepsis were divided into those with abdominal only(AbdCT) versus abdominal and extra-abdominal(ExtraCT) imaging.

RESULTS

ExtraCT patients(N ​= ​30) compared to AbdCT(N ​= ​97) had higher rates of dementia(13.3 ​% versus 3.3 ​%; p ​= ​0.03), diabetes(93.3 ​% versus 60.1 ​%; p ​< ​0.01 and COPD(70 ​% versus 29.9 ​%; p ​< ​0.01) but lower rates of abdominal pain as chief complaint (23.3 ​% versus 81.4 ​%; p ​< ​0.01) and higher rates of being qSOFA positive (33.3 ​% vs 7.2 ​%; p ​< ​0.05). Importantly, time to OR was not different between groups. ExtraCT patients had higher rates of 30-day mortality (33.3 ​% vs 5.2 ​%; p ​< ​0.01). Extra-abdominal CT imaging was associated with increased risk of mortality (OR ​= ​5.4; 95 %CI ​= ​1.4-20.1).

CONCLUSIONS

ExtraCT among geriatric patients with abdominal emergencies is a marker of severity of illness and should guide end-of-life decision making.

Machine Learning Approaches for the Prediction of Postoperative Major Complications in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Bowel Obstruction

BACKGROUND

Performing emergency surgery for bowel obstruction continues to place a significant strain on the healthcare system. Conventional assessment methods for outcomes in bowel obstruction cases often concentrate on isolated factors, and the evaluation of results for individuals with bowel obstruction remains poorly studied. This study aimed to examine the risk factors associated with major postoperative complications.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 99 patients undergoing surgery from 2015 to 2022. We divided the patients into two groups: (1) benign-related obstruction (n = 68) and (2) cancer-related obstruction (n = 31). We used logistic regression, KNN, and XGBOOST. We calculated the receiver operating characteristic curve and accuracy of the model.

RESULTS

Colon obstructions were more frequent in the cancer group (p = 0.005). Operative time, intestinal resection, and stoma were significantly more frequent in the cancer group. Major complications were at 41% for the cancer group vs. 20% in the benign group (p = 0.03). Uni- and multivariate analysis showed that the significant risk factors for major complications were cancer-related obstruction and CRP. The best model was KNN, with an accuracy of 0.82.

CONCLUSIONS

Colonic obstruction is associated with tumor-related blockage. Malignant cancer and an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) are significant risk factors for patients who have undergone emergency surgery due to major complications. KNN could improve the process of counseling and the perioperative management of patients with intestinal obstruction in emergency settings.

Bowel obstruction by sigmoid strangulation as complication after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been widely performed in the past, however, given its limited weight loss compared to some other procedures, this technique is less often used. Furthermore, a number of complications leading to band removal have been reported in the past few years.

METHODS

We present a late acute bowel obstruction by sigmoid strangulation in a female patient with the LAGB performed 15 years ago.

RESULTS

The laparoscopic exploration displayed a post-LAGB intestinal strangulation of the sigmoid loop which was caused by the connecting tube. Since the bowel was still viable, the tube was cut and the obstruction has been successfully resolved. The patient was discharged three days after the surgery.

CONCLUSION

Although less often performed, knowledge of LAGB complications can be of importance. We believe that, the present strangulation of the sigmoid by the LAGB tubing is the world's first ever case reported. Nevertheless, when it is still proposed to selected patients, an adequate length of the intra-abdominal tubing could reduce the risk of loop formation and prevent this kind of obstruction by internal hernia.

Predicting the outcome of closed-loop small bowel obstruction by preoperative characteristics

BACKGROUND

Closed-loop small bowel obstruction (CL-SBO) can threaten the viability of the intestine by obstructing a bowel segment at two adjacent points. Prompt recognition and surgery are crucial.

AIM

To analyze the outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for CL-SBO and to evaluate clinical predictors.

METHODS

Patients who underwent surgery for suspected CL-BSO on computed tomography (CT) at a single center between 2013 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into three groups by perioperative outcome, including viable bowel, reversible ischemia, and irreversible ischemia. Clinical and laboratorial variables at presentation were compared and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 148 patients with CL-SBO, 28 (19%) had a perioperative viable small bowel, 86 (58%) had reversible ischemia, and 34 (23%) had irreversible ischemia. Patients with a higher age had higher risk for perioperative irreversible ischemia [odds ratio (OR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99-1.06]. Patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ 3 had higher risk of perioperative irreversible ischemia compared to lower ASA classifications (OR: 3.76, 95%CI: 1.31-10.81). Eighty-six patients (58%) did not have elevated C-reactive protein (> 10 mg/L), and between-group differences were insignificant. Postoperative in-hospital stay was significantly longer for patients with irreversible ischemia (median 8 d, P = 0.001) than for those with reversible ischemia (median 6 d) or a viable bowel (median 5 d). Postoperative morbidity was significantly higher in patients with perioperative irreversible ischemia (45%, P = 0.043) compared with reversible ischemia (20%) and viable bowel (4%).

CONCLUSION

Older patients or those with higher ASA classification had an increased risk of irreversible ischemia in case of CL-SBO. After irreversible ischemia, postoperative morbidity was increased.