“Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common clinical problem associated with significant mortality and life-long morbidity among hospitalized patients and outpatients. The diagnosis of VTE is challenging because of the non specific signs and symptoms of this disease.”
“The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation and 3-month mortality associated with some forms of VTE: PE with DVT, and PE without DVT.”
“Anaphylaxis is described as a severe, life‑threatening, generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It occurs rarely during surgery and anesthesia but neuromuscular blocking agents, non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antibiotics are considered common causes of anaphylaxis”
“Sugammadex is a synthetic modified gamma‑cyclodextrin derivative first designed to selectively bind to the steroidal neuromuscular blocking agent molecule to provide rapid recovery of neuromuscular function. Sugammadex is extensively used for reversing the effects of rocuronium and to a lesser extent, vecuronium.”
The most commonly involved agents in perioperative anaphylaxis are NMBAs, antibiotics, antiseptics, latex, and dyes However, any medication or substance the patient comes into contact with perioperatively can be a potential cause. The primary risk factor is a previous perioperative anaphylaxis or allergy to the medications or substances used in the procedure.
“Mesenteric venous thrombosis is caused by impairment of venous return of the bowel due to local blood coagulation. Primary mesenteric venous thrombosis is considered spontaneous and idiopathic, whereas secondary mesenteric venous thrombosis is due to an underlying condition. Mesenteric venous thrombosis can lead to venous engorgement and mesenteric ischemia and accounts for 5 to 15 percent of mesenteric ischemic events.”
Continue readingCirrhotic liver disease is an important cause of peri-operative morbidity and mortality in general surgical patients. Early recog-nition and optimization of liver dysfunction is imperative before any elective surgery. Patients with MELD <12 or classified asChild A have a higher morbidity and mortality than matched controls without liver dysfunction, but are generally safe for electiveprocedures with appropriate patient education.
“Forty-eight percent of VTEs after ventral hernia repair occur after discharge, particularly in older, male, obese patients undergoing longer and complex operations that require hospitalization > 1 day. Post-discharge thromboprophylaxis should be considered in these patients, particularly when risk of VTE exceeds 0.3%.”
Continue reading“Urologic injury often occurs in the context of severe multisystem trauma that requires close cooperation with trauma surgeons. The urologist remains an important consultant to the trauma team, helping to ensure that the radiographic evaluation of urogenital structures is performed efficiently and accurately, and that the function of the genitourinary system is preserved whenever possible. Immediate interventions for acute urologic injuries often require flexibility in accordance with damage control principles in critically ill patients. In treating urotrauma patients, urologists must be familiar with both open surgical techniques and minimally invasive techniques for achieving hemostasis and/or urinary drainage.”
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Surgical Focus 