Background The global crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has imposed a large burden on health systems worldwide. Nonetheless, acute abdominal surgical emergencies are major causes for nontrauma-related hospital admissions and their incidences were expected to remain unchanged. Surprisingly, a significant decrease in volume and a higher proportion of complicated cases are being observed worldwide. Methods The present study assesses the local impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the emergency presentation of acute appendicitis in a Brazilian hospital. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing emergency surgery for the clinically suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis during the 2-month period of March and April 2020 and the same time interval in the previous year. Data on demographics, timing of symptom onset and hospital presentation, intraoperative details, postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and histological examination of the specimen were retrieved from individual registries. Results The number of appendectomies during the pandemic was 36, which represents a 56% reduction compared to the 82 patients operated during the same period in 2019. The average time of symptom onset to hospital arrival was significantly higher in 2020 (40.6 vs. 28.2 hours, P = .02). The classification of appendicitis revealed a significant higher proportion of complicated cases than the previous year (33.3% vs. 15.2%, P = .04). The rate of postoperative complications and the average length of stay were not statistically different between the groups. Conclusion Further assessment of patients’ concerns and systematic monitoring of emergency presentations are expected to help us understand and adequately address this issue.

Introduction: damage control surgery (DCS) is well recognized as a surgical strategy for patients sustaining severe abdominal trauma. Literature suggests the indications, operative times, therapeutic procedures, laboratory parameters and intraoperative findings have a direct bearing on the outcomes. Objective: to analyze the clinical profile of patients undergoing DCS and determine predictors of morbidity and mortality. Methods: a retrospective cohort study was conducted on all patients undergoing DCS following abdominal trauma from November 2015 and December 2021. Data on subjects’ demographics, baseline presentation, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, injury severity scores, laboratory parameters, operative details, postoperative complications, length of stay and mortality were assessed. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine potential risk factors for mortality. Results: During the study period, 696 patients underwent trauma laparotomy. Of these, 8.9% (n=62) were DCS, with more than 80% due to penetrating mechanisms. Overall mortality was 59.6%. In the logistic regression stratified by survival, several variables were significantly associated with mortality, including hypotension, and altered mental status at admission, intraoperative cardiorespiratory arrest, need for resuscitative thoracotomy, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactatemia, coagulopathy, fibrinolysis, and severity of the trauma injury scores. Conclusion: DCS may be appropriate in critically injured patients; however, it remains associated with significant morbidity and high mortality, even at specialized trauma care centers. From pre and postoperative clinical and laboratory parameters, it was possible to predict the risk of death in the studied sample.

The neuropathological examination of postmortem human brain tissue is an essential resource for the definitive diagnosis and research on neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the growing need of donated brains to supply the Brain Banks, the understanding of the factors associated with the consent for the donation in our context is an important aspect of the process of brain donation. The verbal answers and the donation consent rate were evaluated in three groups: 30 relatives of patients who underwent verification of the cause of death, 14 patients assisted at a neurology ambulatory outpatient clinic, and 18 patients' relatives. The donation consent rates were of 46.6, 92.8 and 88.8 %, respectively. The main reasons for refusal were the disagreement with the autopsy, philosophical and religious issues, objections from other family members, and the consideration of the wishes of the deceased. The consent was specially motivated by the interest in the advances of scientific knowledge, altruistic reasons and the personal experiences with the disease. Factors as the emotional fragility at the moment of death, the beliefs, family matters, and the lack of knowledge are key elements in the donation process. Future goals include the establishment of a brain donor program with the support of academic institutions, hospitals, scientists, community, patient's associations and autopsy assistants. Approaching patients and relatives in specialized ambulatories clinic during assistance is probably the most efficient mean of obtaining brains for research.

With the increase in life expectancy in Brazil, concerns have grown about the most prevalent diseases in elderly people. Among these diseases are neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Protein deposits related to the development of these diseases can pre-date the symptomatic phases by years. The tau protein is particularly interesting: it might be found in the brainstem and olfactory bulb long before it reaches the limbic cortex, at which point symptoms occur. Of the 14 brains collected in this study, the tau protein was found in the brainstems of 10 (71.42%) and in olfactory bulbs of 3 out 11. Of the 7 individuals who had a final diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 6 presented tau deposits in some region of the brainstem. Our data support the idea of the presence of tau protein in the brainstem and olfactory bulb in the earliest stages of AD.

Introdução: A apendicectomia é o tratamento de escolha da apendicite aguda. Embora a preferência pelas técnicas minimamente invasivas seja tendência mundial, a cirurgia aberta ainda é realidade na maioria dos hospitais públicos. O índice de complicações pós-operatórias varia de acordo com a técnica cirúrgica empregada. O presente estudo objetiva comparar a incidência de complicações pós-operatórias entre a apendicectomia aberta e laparoscópica. Métodos:Coorte retrospectiva incluindo pacientes submetidos à apendicectomia no Hospital de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre entre novembro de 2015 a novembro de 2019. Foram avaliados dados demográficos, tempo de evolução dos sintomas, técnica cirúrgica, achados transoperatórios, necessidade de drenos ou ostomias, tempo cirúrgico, tempo de internação, experiência do cirurgião e desfechos.Resultados: Foram incluídos 358 pacientes, com idade de 32 ± 13,8 anos, e predomínio do sexo masculino (58,9%); 58,1% foram submetidos a cirurgia aberta, 41,9% a laparoscopia e 8% necessitaram conversão. As apendicites foram classificadas como complicadas em um terço dos casos. O tempo cirúrgico foi menor na cirurgia aberta (79,3 ± 38,8 vs. 104 ± 35,2 minutos; p < 0,001). O índice de complicações pós-operatórias foi de 21,2%, sendo significativamente maior na técnica aberta (26,4% vs. 13%; p = 0,003). O tempo de internação, a necessidade de reintervenção e mortalidade não apresentaram diferença entre as técnicas.Conclusão: Embora a apendicectomia aberta seja um procedimento seguro, com bons resultados e baixa morbimortalidade, a laparoscopia oferece potenciais vantagens em termos de evolução pós-operatória, inclusive em casos complicados. Deve ser indicada rotineiramente havendo disponibilidade de material e capacitação da equipe cirúrgica.