Purpose: Morgagni−Larrey congenital diaphragmatic hernia (MLH) is rare in adult patients and surgery is performed infrequently. The evidence regarding the most beneficial treatment modality is low. Nevertheless, with increasing experience in minimally-invasive surgery, the literature proves the laparoscopic approach as being safely feasible. However, knowledge on the disease as well as treatment options are based on single surgeon’s experiences and small case series in the literature. Methods: Retrospective single-center analysis on adult patients (≥ 18 years) with MLH from 01/2003 to 06/2019 regarding symptoms, hernia sac contents, surgical technique and perioperative outcome. Results: 4.0% of diaphragmatic hernia repair procedures were performed for MLH (n = 11 patients). 27.3% of these patients were asymptomatic. Dyspnea or gastrointestinal symptoms were frequently observed (both in 45.5% of the patients). Colon transversum (63.6%), omentum majus (45.5%) and/or stomach (27.3%) were the most common hernia sac contents. Correct diagnosis was achieved preoperatively in 10/11 patients by cross-sectional imaging. All procedures were performed by trans-abdominal surgery (laparotomy in four and laparoscopy in seven patients). All hernias were reinforced by mesh after primary closure. No differences were observed in the perioperative outcome between patients who underwent hernia repair by laparotomy versus laparoscopy. Pleural complications requiring drainage were the most common postoperative complications. Conclusion: MLH repair seems to be safely feasible by laparoscopic surgery. The benefit of mesh augmentation in MLH repair is not clear yet. In contrast to the current literature, all patients in this study received mesh augmentation after primary closure of the hernia. This should be evaluated in larger patient cohorts with long-term follow-up.

Background: Postoperative paralytic ileus (POI) is a significant concern following gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Effective preventive and therapeutic strategies are crucial but remain elusive. Current evidence from randomized-controlled trials on pharmacological interventions for prevention or treatment of POI are systematically reviewed to guide clinical practice and future research. Materials and methods: Literature was systematically searched for prospective randomized-controlled trials testing pharmacological interventions for prevention or treatment of POI after gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to determine risk ratios and mean differences with 95% CI. Risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed. Results: Results from 55 studies, involving 5078 patients who received experimental interventions, indicate that approaches of opioid-sparing analgesia, peripheral opioid antagonism, reduction of sympathetic hyperreactivity, and early use of laxatives effectively prevent POI. Perioperative oral Alvimopan or intravenous administration of Lidocaine or Dexmedetomidine, while safe regarding cardio-pulmonary complications, demonstrated effectiveness concerning various aspects of postoperative bowel recovery [Lidocaine: −5.97 (−7.20 to −4.74)h, P<0.0001; Dexmedetomidine: −13.00 (−24.87 to −1.14)h, P=0.03 for time to first defecation; Alvimopan: −15.33 (−21.22 to −9.44)h, P<0.0001 for time to GI-2] and length of hospitalization [Lidocaine: −0.67 (−1.24 to −0.09)d, P=0.02; Dexmedetomidine: −1.28 (−1.96 to −0.60)d, P=0.0002; Alvimopan: −0.58 (−0.84 to −0.32)d, P<0.0001] across wide ranges of evidence quality. Perioperative nonopioid analgesic use showed efficacy concerning bowel recovery as well as length of hospitalization [−1.29 (−1.95 to −0.62)d, P=0.0001]. Laxatives showed efficacy regarding bowel movements, but not food tolerance and hospitalization. Evidence supporting pharmacological treatment for clinically evident POI is limited. Results from one single study suggest that Neostigmine reduces time to flatus and accelerates bowel movements [−37.06 (−40.26 to −33.87)h, P<0.0001 and −42.97 (−47.60 to −38.35)h, P<0.0001, respectively] with low evidence quality. Conclusion: Current evidence concerning pharmacological prevention and treatment of POI following gastrointestinal tumor surgery is limited. Opioid-sparing concepts, reduction of sympathetic hyperreactivity, and laxatives should be implemented into multimodal perioperative approaches.

Perianal abscesses are frequent diseases in general surgery. Principles of standard patient care are surgical drainage with exploration and concomitant treatment of fistula. Antiinfective therapy is frequently applied in cases of severe local disease and perianal sepsis. However, the role of microbiologic testing of purulence from perianal abscesses is disputed and the knowledge concerning bacteriology and bacterial resistances is very limited. A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive patients (≥ 12 years of age) from a tertiary care hospital, who underwent surgical treatment for perianal abscess from 01/2008 to 12/2019. Subdividing the cohort into three groups regarding microbiological testing results: no microbiological testing of purulence (No_Swab, n = 456), no detection of drug resistant bacteria [DR(−), n = 141] or detection of bacteria with acquired drug resistances from purulence [DR(+), n = 220]. Group comparisons were performed using Kruskall–Wallis test and, if applicable, followed by Dunn´s multiple comparisons test for continuous variables or Fishers exact or Pearson’s X² test for categorical data. Fistula persistence was estimated by Kaplan Meier and compared between the groups using Log rank test. Corralation analysis between perioperative outcome parameters and bacteriology was performed using Spearman´s rho rank correlation. Higher pretherapeutic C-reactive protein (p < 0.0001) and white blood cell count (p < 0.0001), higher rates of supralevatoric or pararectal abscesses (p = 0.0062) and of complicated fistula-in-ano requiring drainage procedure during index surgery (p < 0.0001) reflect more severe diseases in DR(+) patients. The necessity of antibiotic therapy (p < 0.0001), change of antibiotic regimen upon microbiologic testing results (p = 0.0001) and the rate of re-debridements during short-term follow-up (p = 0.0001) were the highest, the duration until definitive fistula repair was the longest in DR(+) patients (p = 0.0061). Escherichia coli, Bacteroides, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species with acquired drug resistances were detected frequently. High rates of resistances against everyday antibiotics, including perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis were alarming. In conclusion, the knowledge about individual bacteriology is relevant in cases of complex and severe local disease, including locally advanced infection with extended soft tissue affection and perianal sepsis, signs of systemic inflammatory response as well as the need of re-do surgery for local debridements during short-term and fistula repair during long-term follow-up. Higher rates of acquired antibiotic resistances are to be expected in patients with more severe diseases.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is still ongoing and a major challenge for health care services worldwide. In the first WSES COVID-19 emergency surgery survey, a strong negative impact on emergency surgery (ES) had been described already early in the pandemic situation. However, the knowledge is limited about current effects of the pandemic on patient flow through emergency rooms, daily routine and decision making in ES as well as their changes over time during the last two pandemic years. This second WSES COVID-19 emergency surgery survey investigates the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on ES during the course of the pandemic. Methods: A web survey had been distributed to medical specialists in ES during a four-week period from January 2022, investigating the impact of the pandemic on patients and septic diseases both requiring ES, structural problems due to the pandemic and time-to-intervention in ES routine. Results: 367 collaborators from 59 countries responded to the survey. The majority indicated that the pandemic still significantly impacts on treatment and outcome of surgical emergency patients (83.1% and 78.5%, respectively). As reasons, the collaborators reported decreased case load in ES (44.7%), but patients presenting with more prolonged and severe diseases, especially concerning perforated appendicitis (62.1%) and diverticulitis (57.5%). Otherwise, approximately 50% of the participants still observe a delay in time-to-intervention in ES compared with the situation before the pandemic. Relevant causes leading to enlarged time-to-intervention in ES during the pandemic are persistent problems with in-hospital logistics, lacks in medical staff as well as operating room and intensive care capacities during the pandemic. This leads not only to the need for triage or transferring of ES patients to other hospitals, reported by 64.0% and 48.8% of the collaborators, respectively, but also to paradigm shifts in treatment modalities to non-operative approaches reported by 67.3% of the participants, especially in uncomplicated appendicitis, cholecystitis and multiple-recurrent diverticulitis. Conclusions: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic still significantly impacts on care and outcome of patients in ES. Well-known problems with in-hospital logistics are not sufficiently resolved by now; however, medical staff shortages and reduced capacities have been dramatically aggravated over last two pandemic years.

Major surgery is regularly associated with clinical signs of systemic inflammation, which potentially affects the rapid identification of sepsis. Therefore, this secondary analysis of an observational study aims to determine whether NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could be used as a potential biomarker for the discrimination between septic shock and postsurgical systemic inflammation. Overall, 80 patients were included (septic shock (n = 20), cardiac artery bypass grafting (CABG, n = 20), major abdominal surgery (MAS, n = 20), and matched controls (CTRL, n = 20)). Quantitative PCR was performed to measure ND1 mtDNA. Thromboelastography was used to analyze the coagulatory system. Free-circulating ND1 mtDNA levels were significantly higher in septic shock patients compared to patients suffering from post-surgical inflammation ({copies/µL}: CTRL: 1208 (668–2685); septic shock: 3823 (2170–7318); CABG: 1272 (417–2720); and MAS: 1356 (694–2845); CTRL vs. septic shock: p < 0.001; septic shock vs. CABG: p < 0.001; septic shock vs. MAS: p = 0.006; CABG vs. MAS: p = 0.01). ND1 mtDNA levels in CABG patients showed a strong positive correlation with fibrinogen (correlation coefficient [r]= 0.57, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen-dependent thromboelastographic assays (maximum clot firmness, EXTEM: r = 0.35, p = 0.01; INTEM: r = 0.31, p = 0.02; FIBTEM: r = 0.46, p < 0.001). In conclusion, plasma levels of free-circulating ND1 mtDNA were increased in septic shock patients and were discriminative between sepsis and surgery-induced inflammation. Furthermore, this study showed an association between ND1 mtDNA and a fibrinogen-dependent pro-coagulatory shift in cardiac surgical patients.