Introduction although non-operative management of patients with blunt trauma to abdominal solid organs has become standard care, the role of peripheral hospitals remains poorly defined. This study reviews treatment and outcomes in patients with liver and spleen injuries at a regional hospital over a 10-year period. Methods a retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed and supplemented by case notes retrieval. All patients with solid visceral injuries managed between 2009 and 2019 at a rural surgical hospital in Zambia were included. On admission, the patients were offered either urgent laparotomy or non-operative management (NOM) depending on their haemodynamic status. Continuous variables were expressed as median and mean ± standard deviation; categorical data were expressed as percentages. Statistical evaluation of data was performed by two-sample t-test. Statistical significance was assigned at p<0.05. Results fourty-three patients were included. The majority of victims sustained isolated spleen or liver injury. Twenty-three patients were urgently operated due to haemodynamic instability. Splenectomy performed in 17 patients, liver laceration sutured in 5 patients. One patient underwent concomitant splenectomy and liver repair. Conservative management was attempted in 20 (47%) patients and was successful in 18 (42%). In two patients NOM failed and splenectomy was performed urgently. Two patients died postoperatively. There were no deaths in NOM group. Conclusion NOM of patients with injury to solid abdominal organs could be safely initiated in rural hospitals provided there is uninterrupted monitoring of patients' condition, well-trained staff and unrestricted access to the operating theatre (OT).

Blunt vascular trauma is rare and challenging in management. Trauma victims who are elderly and have medical comorbidities are still uncommon, but their proportion is expected to increase, as life expectancy has been rising worldwide. A case of blunt vascular trauma to the lower extremity in a 70-year-old patient is reported. During the procedure, a contusion of the superficial femoral artery with thrombosis was identified. Besides, the artery was found to be affected by atherosclerosis. Thrombectomy with resection of the artery and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Good early clinical outcome was achieved. Nonsystematic review of the available literature is also presented.

Background Being an integral part of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery methodology, the mini-invasive surgical technique is an important factor in attenuating surgical stress and minimising the risk of postoperative complications. Here we present our experience of utilising the mini-laparotomy (ML) approach in emergency surgery.Methods This prospective clinical study included adult patients operated on for acute abdominal conditions at a second-level hospital in Zambia. Thirty-four patients were explored through ML, and another 34 participants had a standard laparotomy (SL) incision. The size of ML ranged from 6 to 12 cm, with the median being 10.5 cm. ML was not attempted in abdominal malignancy, generalised peritonitis, and as an approach for the relaparotomy procedures. Length of hospital of stay (LOS) and morbidity/mortality were primary endpoints. Secondary outcomes of interest included operating time (OT) and post-operative pain control. Continuous variables were presented as mean with standard deviation or median with ranges; categorical data were given as proportions and percentages. Associations between data were estimated using the t-test and chi-square analysis, as appropriate. LOS was compared by log-rank test and presented graphically by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The most common procedures performed through ML were resection of the small bowel or colon, closure of hollow viscus perforation or rupture, and adhesiolysis. Employment of ML was associated with reduced LOS (p = 0.0002), shorter OT (p = 0.0003), and minimised need for opioid analgesia (p = 0.01); however, the difference in postoperative complications was not statistically significant (ML: 21% versus SL: 27%, p = 0.57), and mortality was similar (6% in each group).Conclusions As our data showed, ML is a feasible and safe technique that could be used in emergency visceral surgery and abdominal trauma in well-selected patients. Having comparable postoperative morbidity with the SL approach, it might lead to reduced pain and enhanced recovery after the procedure. We proposed an algorithm for the selection of exploration method in patients presented with acute abdominal conditions that could be of help to acute care surgeon operating in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Peritonitis is a common surgical emergency with varying etiologies encountered the world over. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite intensive research and advances in management. Methods: Records of 119 patients operated on for peritonitis at a rural surgical hospital in Zambia over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Common sources of peritonitis were perforated peptic ulcer, acute appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and perforated terminal ileum. Postoperative period became complicated in 42 patients (32.3%). Fourteen patients (11.8%) died postoperatively; the highest level of mortality was in patients with perforated peptic ulcer (26%). Organ failure was found in 29 patients (24.4%) and was associated with increased risk of death. Conclusions: Individual approach with identifying signs of organ failure is essential to determine the patient’s prognosis and decide on the level of care. Patients without organ dysfunction can be successfully managed in a rural surgical hospital. Keywords: Peritonitis, Epidemiology, Morbidity, Mortality, Rural hospital, Zambia

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) became standard perioperative care in the western world. However, little is known about the implementation of fast-track pathways (FTP) in developing countries. The objectives of the study were to assess the feasibility of the FTP program and adherence to the ERAS protocol in general surgery patients implemented in low-resource setting. Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, we evaluated perioperative care for elective and emergency surgical population changed in accordance with the ERAS program in a second-level hospital in Zambia. Ninety-eight patients aged two weeks to 87 years (median 32 years) with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1 and categorised by the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) in classes I to IV were included. Outcomes of interest were functional recovery, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and compliance with the protocol. Results: All elements of the ERAS protocol, including minimal access surgery (through mini-laparotomy incisions) and accelerated postoperative care, were employed. A successful recovery with discharge home by day 4 after the operation and the absence of complications and readmissions was achieved in 45.5% of patients. The postoperative period was complicated in 18.8% of cases, with a total mortality rate of 6.3%. The overall adherence level to the protocol was 72.2%. The highest levels of adaptation (≥95%) were reported for preoperative stratification, antimicrobial prophylaxis, modification of preanaesthetic medications, and prevention of intraoperative hypothermia. The poor compliance to the program was recorded for fasting and carbohydrate loading before surgery and postoperative thromboprophylaxis (17.9% and 21.4%, respectively). Conclusion: The study indicates that the employment of the ERAS program for the general surgery population at a second-level hospital is feasible and safe. It is possible to achieve a high level of adherence to the ERAS pathway in a resource-limited environment. A reasonable modification of the protocol can bring additional clinical benefits. Integrating elements of FTP into perioperative care and including the ERAS program in postgraduate education in developing nations is recommended. Further studies are needed, first, to frame ERAS pathways for application in emergency general surgery, and second, to present the local initiatives and identify barriers to the implementation of FTP in low-income countries. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2022-04-04-04 Full Text: PDF