1,721,648 research outputs found

    A "Beehive" in the Abdomen

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    A 22 years-old woman presenting with intestinal occlusion by a giant fecaloma. Fecal impaction is often misdiagnosed, especially in non collaborating patients. This demonstrates the necessity of particular attention to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. © 2012 Association of Surgeons of India

    Balancing Ethics and Innovation: Can Artificial Intelligence Safely Transform Emergency Surgery? A Narrative Perspective

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    : Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping the landscape of emergency surgery by offering real-time decision support, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing workflows. However, its implementation raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding accountability, transparency, patient autonomy, and bias. Objective: This perspective paper, grounded in a narrative review, explores the ethical dilemmas associated with AI in emergency surgery and proposes future directions for its responsible and equitable integration. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering the literature published from January 2010 to December 2024. We focused on peer-reviewed articles discussing AI in surgical or emergency care and highlighting ethical, legal, or regulatory issues. A thematic analysis was used to synthesize the main ethical challenges. Results: Key ethical concerns identified include issues of accountability in AI-assisted decision-making, the "black box" effect and bias in algorithmic design, data privacy and protection, and the lack of global regulatory coherence. Thematic domains were developed around autonomy, beneficence, justice, transparency, and informed consent. Conclusions: Responsible AI implementation in emergency surgery requires transparent and explainable models, diverse and representative datasets, robust consent frameworks, and clear guidelines for liability and oversight. Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to align technological innovation with patient-centered and ethically sound clinical practice

    Untreatable faecal incontinence: colostomy or colostomy and proctectomy?

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    PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of rectal symptoms and secondary proctectomy in patients undergoing elective permanent end sigmoid colostomy for faecal incontinence and determine risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing elective end sigmoid colostomy for faecal incontinence at St Mark's Hospital between January 1991 and December 1998. Patients were divided into three groups: A, symptoms leading to subsequent proctectomy; B, symptomatic but avoiding proctectomy; C, asymptomatic. RESULTS: There were 44 patients (80% women, average age 57 years): Group A 12 (27%); Group B 13 (30%); Group C 19 (43%). Group A were on average younger than Group C (45 years vs 64 years, P < 0.05). No other risk factor for symptoms or proctectomy was evident, and in particular a prior history of obstructed defaecation/anal digitation was not related. Only half the patients undergoing proctectomy had histological evidence of defunctioned proctitis in the resected rectum. CONCLUSIONS: Data are insufficient presently to recommend primary proctectomy in this group of patients (even if it were to be performed laparoscopically)

    Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Experience of an emergency surgery department

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    Background/aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a rare group of neoplasias of the gastrointestinal tract that have not yet been fully investigated. In this article the authors present the experience of an emergency surgery department in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with such neoplasms and discuss the approaches to these 'strange' tumors. Methods: A review of our 4-year experience in emergency surgery was performed and 9 patients were found with the diagnosis of GIST. The median follow-up was 32.3 (range 18-45) months. Results: 7 patients had evidence of gastrointestinal blood loss, 1 patient had abdominal pain, and the last patient had anorexia, vomiting and fever. Five tumors were located in the stomach and 4 in the small bowel, All the patients underwent complete resection, On histological examination 5 tumors were of myogenic origin, 1 was a gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor and 1 was a mixed neural-myoid tumor. The remaining 2 could not be differentiated. Of the 9 patients who underwent curative resections, 1 had a recurrence and died. Conclusion: GIST treatment mainly involves surgical resection with the goal of complete removal which can be curative. The histologic grade and tumor size are the most important prognostic factors. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel
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