Albanian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery

361-386

Authors: Kenan Karavdić

Background: An extensive burn is one of the most serious injuries. The conventional methods of local therapy, especially in extensive and deep burns, cannot prevent infection. The fact is that the necrotic burn tissue always gives rise to infection and must therefore be excised. Tangential excision is a diagnostic procedure as well as a surgical preparation of a recipient bed for skin graft. Aim of research: The aim of our research was to demonstrate the efficacy of early tangential necrectomy in the treatment of extensive burns in children as well as in preventing the burn diseases. Material and methods: Clinical parameters of sixty extensively burned children have been evaluated, divided into two groups (surgically and non-surgically treated) and in four subgroups (under and over the 25% TBSA). The following criteria have been used to compare the results: pain, fever, body weight, duration of the hospital stay, wound infection, laboratory values. Results: The boys comprised 58.3% of the respondents and the girls were 41,7% of the respondents. The most common cause was the hot liquid of 73.3%, open flame 23.3% and the contact with hot metal 3.3%. The body temperature was significantly higher in control group compared to the examined group (p <0.001) significantly lower hematocrit values in the control group compared to the examined group (p = 0.002). The results show that hospitalization lasted considerably longer in patients in the control group than in the examined group (p = 0.003). The incidence of bacterial infection of the burns is significantly higher in control compared to the examined group of patients (p = 0.007). The most commonly isolated bacteria in the study group was Staphylococcus aureus (15/30 or 50% of all subjects). Acinetobacter spp. was isolated in 9 patients (30% of respondents). Serratia spp. And Enterococcus Foecalis were isolated in 6 patients (20%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 3 patients (10%). Three patients (10%) did not isolate any bacteria during hospitalization Conclusions: The method of early tangential necrectomy of extensively burned children significantly reduce morbidity and mortality (it improves the general condition of the patient, improves clinical and laboratory parameters, reduces the possibility of infection of the wound, reduces the possibility of sepsis, reduces the length of hospitalization).The most optimal time to perform an early tangential necrectomy is the period between the 4th and the 6th day after the injury. In extensively burned children over 30% of the total body surface, an early tangential necrectomy should be performed on an area of about 20% of the total body surface as a prevention of blood loss due to necrectomy and autotransplantation. With extensively burned children over 40% of the total body surface, taking homotransplants from parents or close relatives reduces morbidity and mortality.

395-402

Authors: Nehat Baftiu, R.Baftiu

Background: Epidural analgesia is a gold standard in post-operative pain control in patients undergoing large abdominal interventions. Different studies report a failure ratio of epidural analgesia of 20-32%. The aim of this study is to analyze the success rate of epidural analgesia and its consequences in patients that have been subject to large abdominal surgeries. Materials and methods: We have prospectively collected the data of 50 patients that were subject to open abdominal surgeries during a 2 year timeframe (September 2015 – September 2017) at University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Experienced anesthesiologists inserted the epidural catheters. A dedicated team used the Verbal Scale to collect the data regarding post-operative pain during coughing or moving. The success rate of eidural catheter was measured in terms of: the scale of pain, pulmonary post-operative infection and length of hospital stay. Results: The study group included 33 males and 17 females, most of whom were subject to liver surgery. The secondary liver formations (70%), primary tumours (20%) as well as beningn liver disorders(10%) were an indication for liver resection. Large resections (≥3 segments) were completed in 44% of patients, small liver resections were (≤2 segments) completed in 48% of patients, while 8% of patients were considered inoperative. Epidural analgesia was successful in 46 patients (92%). Bacterial colonisation of the catheter was observed in only one case. There were no neurological complications. 5 (10%) patients showed radiologicalsigns of a pulmonary infection. Three patients (6%) had surgical wound infection. One patient died of hepatic insufficiency after massive right liver resection and cholecystectomy due to gallbladder carcinoma. The average length of hospital stay was 6 days. Conclusions: Our experience concludes that epidural analgesia is a safe and effective way of pain relief after abdominal surgeries

409-416

Authors: Salih Tosun, Oktay Yener, Ozgur Ekinci, Aman Gapbarov, Murat Asik, Tunc Eren, Orhan Alimoglu

Background: Cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for patients with acute cholecystitis. On the other hand, percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is an alternative for patients at high-risk for surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PC. Methods: Surgically high-risk patients with acute cholecystits having undergone PC at our institution between January 2014 – January 2017 were evaluated. Data including the indications for PC, route of insertion, technical success, clinical improvement, length of hospital stay, mortality rates, procedure related complications, subsequent admissions and performance of interval cholecystectomy were recorded and analyzed. Results: The study group consisted of 30 patients with a mean age of 75.3 ( range: 49–99) years. The indications for PC were acute calculous cholecystitis in 28 (93.3%) and acalculous cholecystitis in 2 (6.7%) patients. All procedures were performed via the transhepatic route. Twenty-five PCs (84.4%) resulted in clinical improvement within five days. A repeated PC was performed in two (6.7%) patients. Seven (23.3%) patients underwent a subsequent cholecystectomy after 6 weeks. An emergent cholecystectomy was performed in one (3.3%) patient. Five (16.7%) patients died from underlying comorbid diseases, unrelated to the biliary system, during the follow-up. Conclusions: Patients with acute cholecystitis were promptly relieved from their symptoms following PC. There were only minor complications following the procedure and an interval cholecystectomy was necessary in only 23.3% of the patients. PC is a safe alternative to choecystectomy in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis with satisfactory results.

424-438

Authors: Agron Dogjani, Kastriot Haxhirexha, Edvin Selmani, Hysni Bendo, Amarildo Blloshmi

Background: Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric age. Abdominal trauma is the third most frequent cause of trauma injuries in children. The purpose of our study is to discuss BATp epidemiology and its relationship with polytrauma, , to recognize and describe the mechanisms of blunt abdominal trauma in pediatric age and to identify the signs and symptoms that associate it. Material and methods: In this retrospective study we reviewed all patients with blunt abdominal trauma in pediatric age who presented in Emergency Department at the University Hospital of Trauma in Tirana, Albania in the period between December 1-st 2017 and June 24-th 2018. The sample in the study was taken randomly. The Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score were used as important points to evaluate gravity of injuries, and method of treatment. The data was introduced in absolute and percentage values and Kendal's tau b correlation coefficient and the regression analysis was used to analyze and to find out any association among the dependent versus independent variable. The type of study is case control with two components; descriptive and analytical. Results: In the time period that we studied, about 25200 patients were presented in Emergency department and 6.68% of these cases were hospitalized. Most frequent causes were motor vehicle accidents (35.4%) and abdominal trauma comprised 25.8% of cases, whereas in children it comprised 13.7% of total pediatric trauma. We have found correlation between the injury severity score and complications rate (r = 0.254, n = 49, p <0.001), and injury severity score with length of hospital stay (r = 0279, n = 49, p <0.001). Conclusions: Blunt Abdominal Trauma in pediatric age is a serious threat to the health of the children. Their treatment should be carried out not only in tertiary trauma centers but in every regional hospital. The trauma score is very valuable to determine the gravity of the injury, method of treatment and is a predictive tool in trauma outcomes.

446-460

Authors: Edvin Selmani, Agron Dogjani

Treatment of chronic ankle instability remains a challenge for orthopedic surgeon. Surgical procedures for this disorder include anatomic direct repair, anatomic reconstruction with an autograft or allograft, and arthroscopic repair. Open direct repair is commonly used for patients with sufficient ligament quality. Reconstruction incorporating either an autograft or an allograft is another promising option in the short term, although the longevity of this procedure remains unclear. Use of an allograft avoids donor site morbidity, but it comes with inherent risks. Arthroscopic repair of chronic lateral ankle instability can provide good to excellent short- and long-term clinical outcomes, but the evidence supporting this technique is limited. Deterioration of the ankle joint after surgery is also a concern. Studies are needed on not only treating ligament insufficiency but also on reducing the risk of ankle joint deterioration.

469-473

Authors: Majlinda Naço, Haxhire Gani, Arvin Dibra, Eden Naço, Suzana Mukaj

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious disease in which some brain and spinal cells die slowly. These nerve cells are called motor neurons and control the muscles that allow the body parts to move. Initially, the disease causes bodily fatigue and muscular weakness through degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons, leading to loss of ability to initiate and control the voluntary bodily functions. In late stages this disease causes difficulty in the normal swelling and eating that causes the need for PEG in patients with ALS. This clinical picture increases the difficulty and the anesthetic risk used during the PEG application. Case presentation: We are describing our experience in a 56-year-old male patient, ASA III suffering from ALS and being admitted to our clinic to insert PEG. The patient presented BMI =15.6. After the patient provide informed consent, we were monitoring him for detect changes in pulse oximetry, noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate and visual assessment of ventilator activity, level of consciousness and discomfort. We used balanced propofol for moderate sedation (BPS), loading dose 1mg midazolam, 0.1 mg of fentanyl, and 5-15 mg propofol in smaller bolus dose were applied for more precise dose titration. The operation was performed after the patient lost the consciousness and had no pupil reflex. The EGD entered to the stomach. Fistula was localized after the visualization of light from the tube. Local lidocaine was applied and 1cm incision on the abdominal wall gave the possibility for application of fistula and gastro stoma placement. The patient wakes up 10 minutes after the end of the procedure without using antidotes. The patient after treatment went home in two days using gastro stoma for enteral feeding.

480-483

Authors: Gentian Huti, Asead Abdyli, Rudin Domi, Blerim Arapi, Arben Kojqiqi, Artan Jahollari

Epidural anesthesia has been used widely as a combination to general anesthesia in cardiac surgery since early seventies. The addition of this technique to general anesthesia may have beneficial effects on clinical outcome. Several clinical trials and experiments have shown that there may be significant benefits using epidural anesthesia in cardiac surgery. Somehow neuroaxial blockade manages to attenuate the response to surgical stress and improve perioperative analgesia. Between august 2014 and September 2018, high thoracic epidural anesthesia was applied to 12 patients as a sole anesthetic technique. Epidural anesthesia was chosen because the patients had relative contraindications to general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. This paper gives an overview of epidural anesthesia usage and our experience.

489-495

Authors: Alfred Ibrahimi, Saimir Kuci, Ervin Bejko, Stavri Llazo, Maksim Llambro

Case report: A 27-year-old previously healthy man was admitted to the ICU complaining nausea, vomiting and disorientation, after he ingested 1500 mg paracetamol, but its relatives explained that they possess in the house only metformin (maybe he ingested metformin instead of paracetamol). First blood gas showed moderate, and hours later severe lactic acidosis Ph 7,01, Lac 25 m mol/L, BE -26,4. Aggressive rehydration and hemofiltration was started, until full recovery after 24 hours of hospital admission. He was discharged after three days in healthy condition. Discussion: Lactic acidosis is a common cause of metabolic acidosis at the ICU. Type A is most common and caused by hypoperfusion or hypoxia, whilst type B has other causes including use of the antidiabetic drug metformin. Metformin associated lactic acidosis (MALA) is an important treatment-associated condition, and although rare, it is very serious. Conclusion: MALA should be strongly suspected in patients presenting with wide anion gap metabolic acidosis and high blood lactate concentration. Bicarbonate hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy should be urgently arranged for patients with MALA.