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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate morbidity and mortality in patients taken to conversion to open procedure (CO) and subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) as bailout procedures when performing difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHOD: This observational cohort study retrospectively analyzed patients taken to SLC or CO as bailout surgery during difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 2014 and 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors for morbimortality. RESULTS: A total of 675 patients were included. Of the 675 patients (mean [SD] age 63.85 ± 16.00 years; 390 [57.7%] male) included in the analysis, 452 (67%) underwent CO and 223 (33%) underwent SLC. Overall, neither procedure had an increased risk of major complications (89 [19.69%] vs 35 [15.69%] P.207). However, CO had an increased risk of bile duct injury (18 [3.98] vs 1 [0.44] P.009), bleeding (mean [SD] 165.43 ± 368.57 vs 43.25 ± 123.42 P < .001), intestinal injury (20 [4.42%] vs 0 [0.00] P.001), and wound infection (18 [3.98%] vs 2 [0.89%] P.026), while SLC had a higher risk of bile leak (15 [3.31] vs 16 [7.17] P.024). On the multivariable analysis, Charlson comorbidity index (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; CI95%, 1.01-1.42), use of anticoagulant agents (OR, 2.56; CI95%, 1.21-5.44), classification of severity of cholecystitis grade III (OR, 2.96; CI95%, 1.48-5.94), and emergency admission (OR, 6.07; CI95%, 1.33-27.74) were associated with presenting major complications. CONCLUSIONS: SLC was less associated with complications; however, there is scant evidence on its long-term outcomes. Further research is needed on SLC to establish if it is the safest in the long-term as a bailout procedure.

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Background: The mesh fixation method is one of the multiple factors associated with chronic postoperative pain in inguinal hernia surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate postoperative pain associated with the two available fixation strategies (staple fixation versus self-fixating mesh) used in our field. Methods: We designed an observational study with retrospective cohorts to analyze postoperative pain in patients who underwent a laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair with a self-fixating mesh or staple fixation, which are the two available techniques in our field. A total of 296 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included between January 2014 and October 2021. Results: The evaluated patients' median age was 66.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 20.75) years and were predominantly male (70.13 %). The proportion of participants with chronic pain was 3.20 % in the staple fixation group and 0 % in the self-fixating mesh group, with no statistically significant differences. On the other hand, recurrency in the staple fixation group was 2.28 % versus 3.90 % in the self-fixating mesh group, without statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Self-fixating meshes have a trend towards smaller proportion of chronic pain and similar proportions of recurrence; therefore, they seem to be the best fixation method between the two mechanisms that are available in our field to prevent postoperative chronic pain.

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PURPOSE: The velamentous cord insertion is a rare pathology in which the umbilical blood vessels branch before reaching the placenta; by varying its structure, the cord becomes prone to spontaneous internal ruptures. This pathology is an obstetric emergency, so its early diagnosis is essential. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a 27-year-old pregnant woman who attends an antenatal check-up for a routine third-trimester examination. Ultrasound reveals grade I polyhydramnios and suggestive findings of a trivascular umbilical cord with velamentous insertion 35 mm from the nearest placental border. The ultrasound diagnosis allowed a term delivery by elective cesarean section, avoiding severe complications of the maternal-fetal binomial. CONCLUSION: Velamentous cord insertion can and should have an early prenatal diagnosis, even from the second trimester, through imaging techniques such as transabdominal ultrasound or color Doppler. Early detection and appropriate peripartum management will highly reduce complications during labor.

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BACKGROUND: The number of older patients with multiple comorbidities in the emergency service is increasingly frequent, which implies the risk of incurring in futile surgical interventions. Some interventions generate false expectations of survival or quality of life in patients and families and represent a negligible therapeutic benefit in patients whose chances of survival are minimal. In order to address this dilemma, we describe mortality in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy with a risk ≥ 75% per the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was designed to analyze postoperative mortality and factors associated with postoperative mortality in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy between January 2018 and December 2021 in a high-complexity hospital who had a mortality risk ≥ 75% per the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator. RESULTS: A total of 890 emergency laparotomies were performed during the study period, and 50 patients were included for the analysis. Patient median age was 82.5 (IQR: 18.25) years old and 33 (66.00%) were male. The most frequent diagnoses were mesenteric ischemia 21 (42%) and secondary peritonitis 18 (36%). Mortality in the series was 92%. Twenty-four (54.34%) died within the first 24 h of the postoperative period; 11 (23.91%) within 72 h and 10 (21.73%) within 30 days. APACHE II and SOFA scores were statistically significantly higher in patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: All available tools should be used to make decisions, with the most reliable and objective information possible, and be particularly vigilant in patients at extreme risk (mortality risk greater than 75% according to ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator) to avoid futility and its consequences. The available information should be shared with the patient, the family, or their guardians through an assertive and empathetic communication strategy. It is necessary to insist on a culture of surgical ethics based on reflection and continuous improvement in patient care and to know how to accompany them in order to have a proper death.

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PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes after high-resolution wavefront-guided (HRWG) surface ablation with corneal crosslinking (CXL) in keratoconus eyes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, interventional case series, 47 eyes of 28 progressive keratoconus patients older than age 18 were enrolled. All patients underwent HRWG photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with simultaneous accelerated CXL. The study parameters were manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), keratometric outcomes, uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at postoperative 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: There was improvement in mean MRSE from -2.39±1.89 D preoperatively to -0.13 ± 0.68 D at 12 months, with corresponding improvement in UDVA from 0.77 ± 0.35 logMAR to 0.08 ± 0.12 logMAR and CDVA from 0.10 ± 0.11 logMAR to 0.02 ± 0.04 logMAR. Preoperative flat and steep keratometry (K) were 4wct 32.49 ± 1.67 D and 45.94 ± 2.10 D, respectively, and at postoperative 12 months were 41.36 ± 2.08 D and 42.65 ± 2.78 D, respectively. At postoperative 12 months, visual and refractive outcomes were maintained. Comparisons between preoperative and postoperative 12 month timepoints were statistically significant for all parameters. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous wavefront-guided PRK followed by CXL is a promising treatment for the visual rehabilitation of keratoconus patients.

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PURPOSE: A preliminary study to evaluate the outcomes of high-resolution wavefront-guided (HRWG) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with simultaneous corneal cross-linking (CXL) in ectasia eyes. METHODS: Sixteen eyes of 11 patients (mean age 31.9±9.8 years; range: 15-48 years) with keratoconus or post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis ectasia underwent HRWG PRK with simultaneous CXL. Manifest refraction, uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and keratometric and aberrometric outcomes are reported at 12 months. RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed postoperatively in visual acuity, refraction, and keratectomy in all eyes. At postoperative 12 months, 87.5% eyes were within ±1.0 D of attempted correction and 81.25% of eyes had a postoperative UDVA of 20/32 or better. A gain of 2 or more lines of CDVA was observed in 12.5% (2/16) of eyes and there was no change in CDVA lines in 25% (4/16) eyes. A substantial reduction in higher-order aberrations was observed in all eyes postoperatively; however, the improvement was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of HRWG PRK in ectasia eyes with estimated residual stromal bed thickness of at least 350 µm (without epithelium) are promising at postoperative 1 year and provide surgeons with a valuable tool to improve vision with a high degree of refractive predictability.