Damage control strategies in the management of acute injury

Retrospective Validation of an Algorithmic Treatment Pathway for Necrotizing Pancreatitis

The role of surgical intervention for necrotizing pancreatitis has evolved; however, no widely accepted algorithm has been established to guide timing and optimal modality in the minimally invasive era. This study aimed to retrospectively validate an established institutional timing- and physiologic-based algorithm constructed from evidence-based guidelines in a high-volume hepatopancreatobiliary center. Patients with necrotizing pancreatitis requiring early (≤six weeks from symptom onset) or delayed (>six weeks) surgical intervention were reviewed over a four-year period (n = 100). Early intervention was provided through laparoscopic drain-guided retroperitoneal debridement (n = 15) after failed percutaneous drainage unless they required an emergent laparotomy (due to abdominal compartment syndrome, bowel necrosis/perforation, or hemorrhage) after which conservative, sequential open necrosectomy was performed (n = 47). Robot-assisted (n = 16) versus laparoscopic (n = 22) transgastric cystgastrostomy for the delayed management of walled-off pancreatic necrosis was compared, including patient factors, operative characteristics, and 90-day clinical outcomes. Major complications after early debridement were similarly high (open 25% and drain-guided 27%), yet 90-day mortality was low (open 8.5% and drain-guided 7.1%). Patient and operative characteristics and 90-day outcomes were statistically similar for robotic versus laparoscopic transgastric cystogastrostomy. Our evidence-based algorithm provides a stepwise approach for the management of necrotizing pancreatitis, emphasizing minimally invasive early and late interventions when feasible with low morbidity and mortality. Robot-assisted transgastric cystogastrostomy is an acceptable alternative to a laparoscopic approach for the delayed treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis.

Maternal outcome after abdominal packing for uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage despite peripartum hysterectomy

Background

Intra-abdominal packing is a possible option for persistent bleeding following hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage. However, to date, only very limited data about maternal outcome after intra-abdominal packing for surgically uncontrolled hemorrhage following hysterectomy are available. The objective of the current study was to estimate maternal outcome after intra-abdominal packing following unsuccessful peripartum hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods

A questionnaire was mailed to all maternity units performing more than 850 deliveries per year. Inclusion criteria were: all cases of abdominal packing performed following unsuccessful peripartum hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage between 2003 and 2013. The primary outcome was success of intra-abdominal packing, defined as the arrest of hemorrhage with no need of additional procedure.

Results

The total number of deliveries during the study period that occurred in the 51 participating centers was 1,430,142. The centers reported a total of 718 (1 per 2000 deliveries) peripartum hysterectomies for PPH and 53 abdominal packings performed after unsuccessful peripartum hysterectomy (about 1 per 14 hysterectomies). A median of 5 [IQR 3–7] pads were used for packing. Abdominal packing was removed after a median of 39.5 hours [IQR 24–48]. The success rate of abdominal packing was 62% (33/53). Among the 20 (38%) women in whom bleeding did not stop following the use of abdominal packing, 6 required a second surgical intervention, 6 a pelvic artery embolization and the 8 other women had “only” further intensive resuscitation and pharmacological treatments. Finally, mortality rate was 24% (13/53).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that abdominal packing, used for duration of 24 to 48 hours, seems to be an option as an ultimate procedure to control persistent life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage following peripartum hysterectomy.

The role of angio-embolization in the acute treatment concept of severe pelvic ring injuries

BACKGROUND

In recent years a wide variety of strategies to treat the haemodynamically unstable patient with pelvic ring fractures have been proposed. This study evaluates our institutional management of patients with severe pelvic fractures and analyses their outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all severely injured trauma patients with pelvic ring injuries admitted to a level I trauma centre from 2007 to 2012. Patient records were documented prospectively in a trauma database and evaluation was performed by SPSS.

RESULTS

During the study period, a total of 173 patients with pelvic ring fractures were admitted and formed the basis of this study. Overall, 46% of the patients had suffered a type A fracture, 25% a type B fracture and the remaining 29% a type C pelvic ring fracture. Surgical treatment was required in 21% of the patients (pelvic C-clamp, n = 6; supra-acetabular external fixator, n = 32; pelvic packing, n = 12; definitive plate osteosynthesis of the pubis symphysis, n = 6). Angio-embolization was performed in 16 patients (9%); in 8 patients it was the only specific treatment for the pelvic injury on day 0 and in 8 patients it was performed immediately post-operatively. The overall mortality rate was 12.7% (n = 22), with the type C pelvic fractures having the highest mortality (30.0%). Four patients died immediately after admission in the shock room.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiographic embolization as a first-line treatment was only performed in haemodynamically stable patients or in patients responding to fluid resuscitation with the finding of an arterial blush in the CT scan. In haemodynamically unstable patients, pre-peritoneal pelvic packing in combination with mechanical pelvic stabilization was immediately carried out, followed by angio-embolization post-operatively if signs of persistent bleeding remained present.

Damage control laparotomy and delayed pancreatoduodenectomy for complex combined pancreatoduodenal and venous injuries

BACKGROUND

This single-centre study evaluated the efficacy of damage control surgery and delayed pancreatoduodenectomy and reconstruction in patients who had combined severe pancreatic head and visceral venous injuries.

METHODS

Prospectively recorded data of patients who underwent an initial damage control laparotomy and a subsequent pancreatoduodenectomy for severe pancreatic injuries were evaluated to assess optimal operative sequencing.

RESULTS

During the 20-year study period, 312 patients were treated for pancreatic injuries of whom 14 underwent a pancreatoduodenectomy. Six (five men, one woman, median age 20, range 16-39 years) of the 14 patients were in extremis with exsanguinating venous bleeding and non-reconstructable AAST grade 5 pancreatoduodenal injuries and underwent a damage control laparotomy followed by delayed pancreatoduodenectomy and reconstruction when stable. During the initial DCS, the blood loss compared to the subsequent laparotomy and definitive procedure was 5456 ml, range 2318-7665 vs 1250 ml, range 850-3600 ml (p < 0.01). The mean total fluid administered in the operating room was 11,150 ml, range 8450-13,320 vs 6850 ml, range 3350-9020 ml (p < 0.01). The mean operating room time was 113 min, range 90-140 vs 335 min, range 260-395 min (p < 0.01). During the second laparotomy five patients had a pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy and one a standard Whipple resection. Four of the six patients survived. Two patients died in hospital, one of MOF and coagulopathy and the other of intra-abdominal sepsis and multi-organ failure. Median duration of intensive care was 6 days, (range 1-20 days) and median duration of hospital stay was 29 days, (range 1-94 days).

CONCLUSION

Damage control laparotomy and delayed secondary pancreatoduodenectomy is a live-saving procedure in the small cohort of patients who have dire pancreatic and vascular injuries. When used appropriately, the staged resection and reconstruction allows survival in a previously unsalvageable group of patients who have severe physiological derangement.