Complications and Failure to Rescue After Abdominal Surgery for Trauma in Obese Patients

Organ Donation after Damage Control Strategy in Trauma Patients: Experience from First Level Trauma Center in Italy

Background: Organ donation (OD) remains the only therapeutic option for end-stage disease in some cases. Unfortunately, the gap between donors and recipients is still substantial. Trauma patients represent a potential yet underestimated pool of organ donors. In this article, we present our data on OD after damage control strategy (DCS). Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted through a complete revision of data of consecutive adult trauma patients (>18 years old) who underwent OD after DCS between January 2018 and May 2021. Four subgroups were created [Liver (Li), Lungs (Lu), Heart (H), Kidneys (K)] to compare variables between those who donated the organ of interest and those who did not. Results: Thirty-six patients underwent OD after DCS. Six patients (16.7%) were excluded: 2(5.6%) for missing data about admission; 4(11.1%) didn’t receive DCS. Mean ISS was 47.2 (SD ± 17.4). Number of donated organs was 113 with an organs/patient ratio of 3.8. The functional response rate was 91.2%. Ten organs (8.8%) had primary nonfunction after transplantation: 2/15 hearts (13.3%), 1/28 livers (3.6%), 4/53 kidneys (7.5%) and 3/5 pancreases (60%). No lung primary nonfunction were registered. Complete results of subgroup analysis are reported in supplementary materials. Conclusion: Organ donation should be considered a possible outcome in any trauma patient. Aggressive damage control strategy doesn’t affect the functional response rate of transplanted organs.

The impact of obesity on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for high-risk abdominal emergencies

BACKGROUND

Obesity has been shown to increase the rates of morbidity and occasionally mortality in patients undergoing nonbariatric elective surgery. However, little is known about the impact of obesity on outcomes after surgery for high-risk abdominal emergencies.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective evaluation of outcomes in high-risk abdominal emergency patients categorized by body mass index (BMI) was conducted. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative details were analyzed. Patients with normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) served as comparators. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 886 patients with BMI < 18.5 (underweight; n = 50), 18.5-24.9 (normal weight; n = 306), 25-29.9 (overweight; n = 336) and ≥ 30 (obese; n = 194) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) weight classification criteria met the inclusion criteria. Compared to normal-weight patients, patients with overweight and obesity were older and more likely to be male. The rates of comorbidity (100% vs 91.2%, p =  < 0.0001), morbidity (77.8% vs 65.6%, p = 0.003), and in-hospital mortality (44.8% vs 30.4%, p = 0.001) were all higher in patients with obesity than in normal-weight patients. Patients with obesity had an increased intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) (13 days vs 9 days, p = 0.019) and hospital LOS (21.4 days vs 18.1 days, p = 0.081) and prolonged ventilation (39.1% vs 19.6%, p = 0.003). As BMI deviated from the normal range, the morbidity and mortality rates increased incrementally, with the highest morbidity (87.9%) and mortality (54.5%) rates observed in morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥ 40).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with obesity were the most likely to have coexisting conditions, experience postoperative complications, and die during the first admission following EL for high-risk abdominal emergencies.

Impact of Excess Body Weight on Postsurgical Complications

BACKGROUND

Obesity is considered a risk factor for postoperative complications as it can limit exposure to the operation field, thereby significantly prolonging surgery time. Obesity-associated comorbidities, such as low-grade systemic inflammation, impaired functional status, and type 2 diabetes, are independent risk factors for impaired anastomotic wound healing and nonsurgical site infections. If obesity itself is an independent risk factor for surgical complications remains controversial, but the reason for this is largely unexplored.

SUMMARY

A MEDLINE literature search was performed using the terms: "obesity," "excess body weight," and "surgical complications." Out of 65,493 articles 432 meta-analyses were screened, of which 25 meta-analyses were on the subject. The vast majority of complex oncologic procedures in the field of visceral surgery have shown higher complication rates in obese patients. Meta-analyses from the last 10 to 15 years with high numbers of patients enrolled consistently have shown longer operation times, higher blood loss, longer hospital stay for colorectal procedures, oncologic upper gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, and pancreatic surgery. Interestingly, these negative effects seem not to affect the overall survival in oncologic patients, especially in esophageal resections. A selection bias in oncologic upper GI patients may have influenced the results with higher BMI in upper GI cancer to be a predictor for better nutritional and performance status.

KEY MESSAGES

Contrary to bariatric surgery, only limited evidence indicated that site and type of surgery, the approach to the abdominal cavity (laparoscopic vs. open), institutional factors, and the type of perioperative care such as ERAS protocols may play a role in determining postsurgical complications in obese patients. The initial question remains therefore partially unanswered. Large nationwide register-based studies are necessary to better understand which aspects of obesity and its related comorbidities define it as a risk factor for surgical complications.

The Impact of Socially Stigmatized Preexisting Conditions on Outcomes After Injury

BACKGROUND

Socially stigmatized preexisting conditions (SSPECs), including alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorder (DUD), and major psychiatric illness, may lead to provider minimization of patient symptoms and have been associated with negative outcomes. However, the impact of SSPECs on failure to rescue (FTR) has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that SSPEC patients would have increased probability of complications, mortality, and FTR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the 2015 National Trauma Data Bank, including patients aged ≥18 y and excluding burn victims, patients with Injury Severity Score <9, and non-SSPEC patients with drug or alcohol withdrawal. We defined SSPECs using the National Trauma Data Bank's comorbidity recording codes for AUD, DUD, and major psychiatric illnesses. We built multivariable logistic regression models to determine the relationships between SSPECs and complications, mortality, and FTR.

RESULTS

We included 365,801 patients (62% male, 76% White, median age 56 y [interquartile range 35-74], median Injury Severity Score 10 [interquartile range 9-17]). After adjusting for patient and injury characteristics, SSPEC patients were more likely to have complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-1.79), less likely to die (OR 0.43, CI 0.38-0.48), and less likely to have FTR (OR 0.34, CI 0.26-0.43). SSPEC patients had a significantly higher complication rate (12.4% versus 7.2%; P < 0.001). After excluding drug or alcohol withdrawal, the complication rate remained significantly higher for SSPEC patients (9.3% versus 7.2%; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although SSPEC patients have lower odds of mortality and FTR, they are at higher probability of complications after injury. Further investigation into the causality behind the higher complications despite lower mortality and FTR is warranted.