Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Update on management of the acute abdomen in critically ill patients

 

From a recent review in Current Opinion in Critical Care Medicine:



Purpose of review


The aim of this study was to describe important features of clinical examination for the surgical abdomen, relevant investigations, and acute management of common surgical problems in the critically ill.


Recent findings


Lactate remains a relatively nonspecific marker of gut ischemia. Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) scan can improve diagnosis of bowel ischemia. Further evidence supports intravenous contrast during CT scan in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Outcomes for acute mesenteric ischemia have failed to improve over time; however, increasing use of endovascular approaches, including catheter-directed thrombolysis, may decrease need for laparotomy in the appropriate patient. Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia remains a challenging diagnostic and management dilemma. Acalculous cholecystitis is managed with a percutaneous cholecystostomy and is unlikely to require interval cholecystectomy. Surgeon comfort with intervention based on point-of-care ultrasound for biliary disease is variable. Mortality for toxic megacolon is decreasing.


Summary


Physical examination remains an integral part of the evaluation of the surgical abdomen. Interpreting laboratory investigations in context and appropriate imaging improves diagnostic ability; intravenous contrast should not be withheld for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Surgical intervention should not be delayed for the patient in extremis. The intensivist and surgeon should remain in close communication to optimize care.


The fight to curb antimicrobial resistance: how are we doing?

 

From a recent NEJM review on this topic:


In November 2019, the CDC released an updated version of its antibiotic-resistance report…


The new report reveals reductions in the incidence of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter species, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, and drug-resistant candida species. In addition, it identifies an increasing incidence of Enterobacterales that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and the emergence of the multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris.