A Case of Intramural Gastric Wall Abscess, a Rare Disease Successfully Treated with Endoscopic Incision and Drainage

Gastric wall abscess is a rare condition characterized by a purulent inflammatory process resulting in the formation of a pocket of pus in the stomach. As the mucosa is usually intact, it requires various tools such as endoscopic ultrasonography or computed tomography for the differential diagnosis to rule out more common subepithelial tumors. Even after the diagnosis, the treatment for gastric wall abscess was previously restricted to surgical resection in combination with antibiotics. Currently, in order to avoid unnecessary surgery, the alternative method of initial treatment with an endoscopic approach is recommended. It also helps to choose appropriate antibiotics with confirmation of the pathogen by drainage. There are few reports that describe the detailed processing of the endoscopic drainage, and there is no consensus on the treatment. The pathogens that cause gastric wall abscess are usually Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Escherichia coli. There is only one case reported to be caused by Candida albicans. This is the first report of Elizabethkingia anopheles as the pathogen of the gastric wall abscess. Here, we report a case of gastric wall abscess in a 75-year-old man, safely treated by endoscopic drainage and antibiotics, confirmed by isolating the contents of the abscess.

Procedures Never Explained in Textbooks: How to Correctly Convert a Closed-Suction Drain to a Closed-Gravity Drain, and How to Correctly Remove a Closed-Suction Drain Off Suction

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel method to convert a closed-system suction drain to a highly efficient closed-system gravity-dependent drain and demonstrate its efficacy in an ex-vivo model.

METHODS

We reviewed the 5 top-selling urology and surgery text/reference books for information on drainage systems. An ex-vivo model was designed with a reservoir of fluid connected to a Jackson-Pratt bulb drain. We measured the volume of fluid drained from the reservoir into the bulb while on-suction and off-suction. This was repeated using a novel modified bulb, where the bulb's outflow stopper was replaced with a one-way valve oriented to allow release of pressure from the bulb.

RESULTS

With the bulb on-suction, drainage was maintained regardless of the height of the drain relative to the reservoir. With the bulb off-suction, closed passive gravity-dependent drainage occurred only when the drain was below the fluid reservoir; drainage ceased at minimal volumes. With addition of a one-way valve and maintenance of the bulb below the level of the reservoir, drainage proceeded to completion.

CONCLUSION

How surgical drains work is not described in the leading urology and general surgery textbooks/reference books. Closed-system suction drains cannot be used to achieve passive gravity-dependent drainage without allowing release of displaced air from the bulb-lumen. The novel modified drain we describe affords reversible closed-system suction and passive drainage.

The role of suction drainage in the management of peri-operative bleeding in Total and Unicomcompartmental knee arthroplasty: a retrospective comparative study

Background

Suction drainage is commonly applied after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) to reduce hematoma, swelling and to favor surgical wound healing. However, its efficacy remains controversial; thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate drainage efficiency in the management of postoperative bleeding in TKA and UKA.

Methods

The cohort comprised 134 clinical records of patients affected by knee osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent either TKA or UKA. All the patients were subdivided into 2 groups: the first one with drainage and the second one without drainage (respectively 61 and 73 patients). For each group, hemoglobin levels in the preoperative, first, second and third postoperative day were collected. Postoperative complications such as swelling, bleeding from the surgical wound or the need for blood transfusion, were also recorded.

Results

Our results did not show any significant difference of hemoglobin levels in the first (p = 0.715), second (p = 0.203) and third post-operative day (p = 0.467) between the two groups. Moreover, no significant correlation between knee swelling or transfusion rate and the drainage was observed (p = 0.703 and p = 0.662 respectively). Besides, a significant correlation was found between bleeding from the surgical wound and the absence of drainage (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

The study demonstrates how the routine use of suction drainage does not provide substantial benefits in the postoperative blood loss management after TKA or UKA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04508101, 09/08/2020, Retrospectively registered

Level of evidence

III

Comparative study of suction drainage placement in cementless hip replacement among patients undergoing extended thromboprophylaxis: a prospective randomized study

Background

The use of drains reportedly does not improve surgical outcomes after hip replacement. There is still a lack of strict recommendations for drain placement after primary hip replacement. This study aimed to assess the safety of not using suction drainage after primary hip replacement in a population of patients undergoing extended thromboprophylaxis.

Methods

In this prospective randomized study, all patients were qualified for primary hip replacement and were divided into two groups: with and without drainage. The inclusion criterion was idiopathic hip osteoarthritis. The exclusion criteria were secondary coxarthrosis, autoimmune disease, coagulopathy, venous/arterial thrombosis, hepatic/renal insufficiency, cement, or hybrid endoprostheses. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic parameters were measured for the first three days after surgery. Hematoma collection, due to extended thromboprophylaxis, in the joint and soft tissues was evaluated precisely. The patients underwent follow-up for 30 days.

Results

The final analysis included a total of 100 patients. We did not find any significant statistical differences between groups in terms of hip fluid collection (9.76 vs. 10.33 mm, with and without drainage, respectively; mean difference, 0.6 mm; 95 % confidence interval [CI] -2.8 to 3.9; p = 0.653), estimated blood loss (1126 vs. 1224 ml; mean difference, 97.1 ml; 95 % CI -84.1 to 278.2; p = 0.59), and hemoglobin levels on postoperative day 3 (11.05 vs. 10.85 g/dl; mean difference, 0.2; 95 % CI -2.1 to 2.5; p = 0.53). In addition, the other parameters did not show significant differences between groups. Notably, two cases of early infections were observed in the no-drainage group, whereas there were no such complications in the drainage group.

Conclusions

We conclude that the use of closed suction drainage after primary hip replacement is a safe procedure in patients undergoing extended thromboprophylaxis. Further research is warranted to validate these findings.

Trial registration

The study was successfully registered retrospectively at Clinicaltrial.gov with the identification number NCT04333264 03 April 2020.

Percutaneous direct pancreatic duct intervention in management of pancreatic fistulas: a primary treatment or temporizing therapy to prepare for elective surgery

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates preliminary results of image-guided percutaneous direct pancreatic duct intervention in the management of pancreatic fistula after surgery or pancreatitis when initially ineligible for surgical or endoscopic therapy.

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2018 the medical records of all patients that underwent percutaneous pancreatic duct intervention for radiographically confirmed pancreatic fistula initially ineligible for surgical or endoscopic repair were reviewed for demographics, clinical history, procedure details, adverse events, procedure related imaging and laboratory results, ability to directly catheterized the main pancreatic duct, and whether desired clinical objectives were met.

RESULTS

In 10 of 11patients (6 male and 5 female with mean age 60.5, range 39-89) percutaneous pancreatic duct cannulation was possible. The 10 duct interventions included direct ductal suction drainage in 7, percutaneous duct closure in 3 and stent placement in 1. Pancreatic fistulas closed in 7 of 10, 2 were temporized until elective surgery, and 1 palliated until death from malignancy. The single patient with failed duct cannulation resolved the fistula with prolonged catheter drainage of the peri-pancreatic cavity. There were no major adverse events related to intervention.

CONCLUSION

In patients with pancreatic fistulas initially ineligible for endoscopic therapy or elective surgery, direct percutaneous pancreatic duct interventions are possible, can achieve improvement without major morbidity or mortality, and can improve and maintain the medical condition of patients in preparation for definitive surgery.

Advantages of using a prophylactic epidural closed drain and non-watertight dura suture in a craniotomy near the "parietal site"

Background

In neurosurgery, the necessity of having a drainage tube is controversial. Subgaleal fluid collection (SFC) often occurs, especially in a craniotomy near the "parietal site".This study aimed to reassess the benefit of using a prophylactic epidural drainage (ED) and non-watertight dura suture in a craniotomy near the parietal site.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on 63 consecutive patients who underwent a craniotomy near the parietal site. The patients were divided into two groups according to different period. The deal group received ED and a non-watertight dura suture (drain group, DG), the control group that did not (non-drain group, NDG). Complications and patient recovery were evaluated and analysed.

Results

Three patients (11.5%, 26) in DG and 20 patients (54.1%, 37) in NDG presented with SFC (p < 0.05). One patient (3.8%) in DG and three patients (8.1%) in NDG presented with subdural tensile hydrops (STH) (p > 0.05). Six developed an infection in NDG (four intracranial infections, one abscess, one pulmonary infection), while none in DG (p > 0.05) developed infection. Three (11.5%) cases in DG and one (2.7%) case in NDG had muscle strength that improved postoperatively (p > 0.05). Fifteen (57.7%) in DG and 14 (37.8%) in NDG had epileptic seizures less frequently postoperatively (p < 0.05). The average temperature (37.4 °C vs 37.6 °C, p > 0.05), the maximum temperature (37.9 °C vs 38.1 °C, p > 0.05) on 3 PODs, the postoperative hospital stay day (7.5 days vs 8.0 days, p > 0.05), and the postoperative medicine fee (¥29762.0 vs ¥28321.0, p > 0.05) were analysed.

Conclusion

In patients who undergo a craniotomy near the parietal site, the prophylactic use of ED and a non-watertight dura suture helps reduce SFC, infection, and control epilepsy.

Maxillary sinus haziness and facial swelling following suction drainage in the maxilla after orthognathic surgery

Background

We investigated the efficacy of a maxillary Jackson-Pratt (J-P) suction drain for preventing maxillary sinus hematoma and facial swelling after maxillary Le Fort I osteotomy (LF1).

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 66 patients who underwent LF1 at a single institution. Of these, 41 had a J-P suction tube inserted in the mandible and maxilla (maxillary insertion), and 25 had a J-P drain inserted in the mandible only (no maxillary insertion). Facial CT was obtained before and 4 days after surgery. We compared mean midfacial swelling and maxillary sinus haziness by t test and examined correlations between bleeding amount and body mass index (BMI).

Results

For the maxillary-insertion group, the ratio of total maxillary sinus volume to haziness (57.5 ± 24.2%) was significantly lower than in the group without maxillary drain insertion (65.5% ± 20.3; P = .043). This latter group, however, did not have a significantly greater midfacial soft tissue volume (7575 mm³) than the maxillary-insertion group (7250 mm³; P = .728). BMI did not correlate significantly with bleeding amount or facial swelling.

Conclusions

Suction drainage in the maxilla reduced maxillary sinus haziness after orthognathic surgery but did not significantly reduce midfacial swelling.

Diagnostic performance of suction drainage fluid culture for acute surgical site infection after aseptic instrumented spine surgery: a retrospective analysis of 363 cases

PURPOSE

Analyze the diagnostic performance of suction drainage fluid culture for acute surgical site infection, which has not been specifically reported in spine surgery patients.

METHOD

This was a retrospective single-center observational study including data from 363 patients who underwent aseptic instrumented spine surgery between 2015 and 2017. A suction drain was inserted in all cases. Data analyzed were patient age, gender, ASA score, indication for surgery (degenerative disease, tumor, trauma), spine level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), procedure performed and spine level, operative time, body temperature, postoperative C-reactive protein time-curve, clinical aspect of surgical scar, bacteriology results of suction drainage fluid, and in case of revision surgery, lavage fluid. Major criteria for periprosthetic infection proposed by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) were accepted as the gold standard for the diagnosis of acute surgical site infection.

RESULTS

The overall rate of surgical site infection was 6.9% (5.76% for 1- or 2-level fusion, 5.81% for 3- or 4-level fusion, and 15.6% for 5-level fusion and above). The suction drain was withdrawn on the second postoperative day in 44.1% of cases and the third day in 39.1%. The sensitivity of suction drainage fluid culture for the diagnosis of surgical site infection was 20% [95%CI 6.8-40.7%] with a 96.2% [95%CI 93.2-97.9] specificity.

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic performance of suction drainage fluid culture after aseptic instrumented spine surgery for acute surgical site infection is insufficient to warrant its use in routine practice.

Predictive factors of increased surgical drain output after thyroid lobectomy: a retrospective study

Background

Thyroid lobectomy is one of the most common operations for thyroid lesions. Life-threatening complications can occur; these include post-operative bleeding with airway compression caused by hematoma. Given this risk, prophylactic drains are routinely used in our practice. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the total drainage volume (TDV).

Methods

From 2016 to 2017, a total of 89 consecutive patients with thyroid lobectomy performed by the same surgeon were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, TDV, fine needle aspiration cytology, hospitalization day, operation time, thyroid gland size, and blood test results were retrospectively recorded from the hospital database. Spearman's rank correlation and multivariate regression were used to analyze the association of factors with the TDV.

Results

The median TDV was 56 mL, and there was a positive correlation between age, weight, blood sugar, gland size, hospitalization day, operation time, and TDV. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that male sex (β=19.684; 95% CI, 7.998-31.371; P=0.001), higher blood sugar (β=0.173; 95% CI, 0.087-0.260; P<0.001), and larger thyroid gland size (β=0.069; 95% CI, 0.008-0.130; P=0.027) were independent risk factors for TDV.

Conclusions

The TDV primarily depends on male sex, larger thyroid gland, and higher blood sugar level. Patients with these factors should undergo meticulous hemostasis and bleeding should be carefully monitored in the perioperative period.

Cardiac arrest due to intracranial hypotension following pseudohypoxic brain swelling induced by negative suction drainage in a cranioplasty patient: a case report

Pseudohypoxic brain swelling (PHBS) is known to be an uncommon event that may occur during and following an uneventful brain surgery, when negative suction drainage is used. The cerebrospinal fluid loss related to suction drainage can evoke intracranial hypotension that progress to PHBS. The main presentations of PHBS are sudden unexpected circulatory collapses, such as severe bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrest, consciousness deterioration and diffuse brain swelling as seen with brain computerized tomography (CT). We present a stuporous 22-year-old patient who underwent cranioplasty under general anesthesia. The entire course of the general anesthesia and operation progressed favorably. However, the time of scalp suture completion, sudden bradycardia and hypotension occurred, followed by cardiac arrest immediately after initiation of subgaleal and epidural suction drainage. After successful resuscitation, the comatose patient was transferred to the neurosurgical intensive care unit and PHBS was confirmed using brain CT.

Continuous Suction Drainage of Postoperative Hematoma and Seroma Using Cystofix Device

In this study, an easy and useful method used for the drainage of seroma and hematoma formations occurring after operations requiring extensive tissue undermining is presented. The method utilizes the trocar of the conventional suprapubic urinary catheterization system in combination with the catheter of the negative pressure vacuum drainage system. It provides quick, safe, and painless seroma and hematoma evacuation and can easily be performed in office setting.

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