Andrew D. MacCormick

Prioritizing patients for elective surgery: a systematic review

Background:  Priority scoring tools are mooted as means for dealing with burgeoning elective surgical waiting lists. There is ongoing development work in New Zealand, Canada and the UK. This emerging international perspective is invaluable in determining the application of these tools and addressing any pitfalls.

Optimizing Perioperative Care in Bariatric Surgery Patients

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been shown to minimise morbidity in other types of surgery, but comparatively less data exist investigating ERAS in bariatric surgery. This article reviews the existing literature to identify interventions which may be included in an ERAS program for bariatric surgery. A narrative literature review was conducted. Search terms included ‘bariatric surgery’, ‘weight loss surgery’, ‘gastric bypass’, ‘ERAS’, ‘enhanced recovery’, ‘enhanced recovery after surgery’, ‘fast-track surgery’, ‘perioperative care’, ‘postoperative care’, ‘intraoperative care’ and ‘preoperative care’. Interventions recovered by the database search, as well as interventions garnered from clinical experience in ERAS, were used as individual search terms. A large volume of evidence exists detailing the role of multiple interventions in perioperative care. However, efficacy and safety for a proportion of these interventions for ERAS in bariatric surgery remain unclear. This review concludes that there is potential to implement ERAS programs in bariatric surgery.

Gentamicin-collagen implants to reduce surgical site infection: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objective:To determine whether gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges (gentamicin-collagen implants) decrease the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). Background:SSIs cause substantial morbidity and increase the costs of healthcare. Antibiotic prophylaxis is a cornerstone of SSI reduction. Prophylactic local delivery of antibiotics with novel biodegradable drug carrier systems, such as the gentamicin-collagen implant, is a potential avenue for SSI reduction. Gentamicin-collagen implants have been previously assessed in multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with conflicting results. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs was conducted to determine whether gentamicin-collagen implants reduce SSI. Methods:Major medical databases and trial registers were searched for published and unpublished RCTs. The endpoint of interest was the incidence of SSI. A random effects model was used and pooled estimates were reported as odds ratios (ORs), with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). A subset analysis by incision type was planned a priori. Results:Fifteen RCTs encompassing a total of 6979 patients were included in the final analysis. The included studies were of moderate to high quality. Gentamicin-collagen implants significantly reduced SSI [OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.33–0.77; P = 0.001; number needed to treat (NNT) = 21; I2 = 75%]. These results were seen in subset analysis of clean (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.33–0.87; P = 0.01; NNT = 30) and clean-contaminated surgery (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.20–0.93; P = 0.03; NNT = 9) specifically. Conclusions:Gentamicin-collagen implants decrease the rate of SSI.

Necrotizing fasciitis: analysis of 48 cases in South Auckland, New Zealand

Background:  To assess the presentation, management and risk factors for mortality in necrotizing fasciitis at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Judgment Analysis of Surgeons’ Prioritization of Patients for Elective General Surgery:

Background . Access to elective general surgery in New Zealand is governed by clinicians’ judgment of priority using a visual analog scale (VAS). This has been criticized as lacking reliability and transparency. Our objective was to describe this judgment in terms of previously elicited cues. Methods . We asked 60 general surgeons in New Zealand to assess patient vignettes using 8 VAS scales to determine priority. They then conducted judgment analysis to determine agreement between surgeons. Cluster analysis was performed to identify groups of surgeons who used different cues. Multiple regression for the combined surgeons was undertaken to determine the predictability of the 8-scale VAS. Results . Agreement between surgeons was poor (ra = 0.48). The cause of poor agreement was mostly due to poor consensus (G) between surgeons in how they weighted criteria. Using cluster analysis, we classified the surgeons into 2 groups: 1 took more account of quality of life and diagnosis, whereas the other group placed more weight on the influence of treatment. The 8-scale VAS showed good predictability in assigning a priority score (R 2 = 0.66). Discussion . The level of agreement reflects surgeons’ practice variation. This is exemplified by 2 distinct surgeon groups that differ in how criteria were weighted.

Chewing gum and postoperative ileus in adults: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION Post-operative ileus (POI) is a major problem following elective abdominal surgery. Several studies have been published investigating the use of chewing gum to reduce POI. These studies however, have produced variable results. Thus, there is currently no consensus on whether chewing gum should be widely instituted as a means to help reduce POI. METHODS We performed a systematic literature review to evaluate whether the use of chewing gum post-operatively improves POI in abdominal surgery. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted according to the guidelines in the PRISMA statement. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Science Direct, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Clinical outcomes were extracted and meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS There were 1019 patients from 12 randomised controlled studies included in this review. Only one study was conducted in an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) environment. Seven of the twelve studies concluded that chewing gum reduced post-operative ileus. The remaining five studies found no clinical improvement. Overall, there was a small benefit in reducing time to flatus, and time to bowel motion, but no difference in the length of stay or complications. CONCLUSION Chewing gum offers only a small benefit in reducing time to flatus and time to passage of bowel motion following abdominal surgery. This benefit is of limited clinical significance. Further studies should be conducted in a modern peri-operative care environment.

Progression of diabetic retinopathy after bariatric surgery

To assess the impact of bariatric surgery on the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Single-stage laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: safety and efficacy in the super-obese

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is increasingly used as a single-stage bariatric procedure. However, its safety and efficacy in super-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 50 kg/m(2)) is less well defined. This series reports on 400 consecutive patients who underwent LSG at our institution, to evaluate safety and efficacy in the super-obese. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on 400 consecutive patients who underwent LSG at our institution. We analyzed baseline demographic data, median length of hospital stay, complications, length of follow-up, weight loss, and comorbidity resolution. We graded complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system. We classified patients as super-obese and non-super-obese and compared outcomes between groups. We used the two-tailed t-test and Fishers exact test as necessary. RESULTS There were 400 patients, 291 of whom were female (73%). The mean age was 44 y (standard deviation [SD] ± 9 y). The mean preoperative weight and BMI were 140 kg (SD ± 31 kg) and 49 kg/m(2) (SD ± 9 kg/m(2)), respectively. There were 67 complications (16%) in total. The major complication rate was 7.2%, with one recorded death. The median length of hospital stay was 3 d, and the mean follow-up period was 1 y. A total of 170 patients (43%) were super-obese, with a mean preoperative BMI of 56 kg/m(2) (SD ± 5 kg/m(2)). The mean absolute weight loss (59 versus 36.7 kg; P < 0.01) and percentage excess weight loss (58.9% versus 45.9%; P < 0.01) was significantly higher in the super-obese. The mean postoperative BMI for super-obese patients was 38.9 kg/m(2). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of major complications (8.2% versus 6.5%; P = 0.56). CONCLUSION Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is safe and effective in the super-obese, with acceptable weight loss and no increase in the major complication rate.

Prioritizing patients for elective surgery: Clinical judgement summarized by a Linear Analogue Scale

Background:  The New Zealand health reforms have resulted in the requirement that surgeons utilize Clinical Priority Access Criteria (CPAC) to ration patient access to elective surgery. The validity of the tools used as CPAC has been challenged. An alternative tool, the Linear Analogue Scale (LAS), is therefore used in our institution. Our objectives were to determine the variables that influence the priority score generated using the LAS, and the length of time waited by patients awaiting general surgical procedures.

Predictors of acute diverticulitis severity: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND Diverticulitis is a common condition with a broad spectrum of disease severity. A scoring system has been proposed for diagnosing diverticulitis, and a number of scoring systems exist for predicting prognosis associated with severe complications of diverticulitis such as peritonitis. However, predicting disease severity has not received as much attention. Therefore, the aim of this review was to identify the factors that are predictive of severe acute diverticulitis. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify papers that evaluated factors predictive of severe diverticulitis. Severe diverticulitis was defined as complicated diverticulitis (associated with haemorrhage, abscess, phlegmon, perforation, purulent/faecal peritonitis, stricture, fistula, or small-bowel obstruction) or diverticulitis that resulted in prolonged hospital admission, surgical intervention or death. RESULTS Twenty one articles were included. Studies were categorised into those that identified patient characteristics (n = 12), medications (n = 5), biochemical markers (n = 8) or imaging (n = 3) as predictors. Predictors for severe diverticulitis included first episode of diverticulitis, co-morbidities (Charlson score ≥ 3), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, steroid use, a high CRP on admission and severe disease on radiological imaging. Age and gender were not associated with disease severity. CONCLUSION A number of predictors exist for identifying severe diverticulitis, and CT remains the gold standard for diagnosing complicated disease. Patients who present with identified risk factors for severe disease warrant early imaging, closer in-patient observation and a lower threshold for early surgical intervention. Patients without these factors may be suitable for outpatient-based treatment.