Paraplegic and quadriplegic patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery: sicker presentations, worse outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia presenting with abdominal surgical emergencies pose major clinical challenges. Difficulties in prompt diagnosis and treatment may influence patient outcomes.


METHODS
This is an American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study of patients undergoing an emergent abdominal operation. Patients were stratified into paraplegic (PARA), quadriplegic (QUAD), and control (CONT). PARA and QUAD groups were matched with controls by 1:2 ratio. Regression models were used to analyze the effect of paraplegia and quadriplegia on outcome.


RESULTS
A total of 76,766 patients underwent emergent abdominal operations: 274 PARA, 132 QUAD, and 76,356 CONT patients. Lower gastrointestinal operations were the most common procedures in PARA and QUAD groups; appendectomy was the most common in the CONT group. After cohort matching, patients with cord paralysis were significantly more likely to present with severe sepsis, have "infected" wounds at operation, and have increased rates of postoperative sepsis and need for reoperation.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia with acute abdominal surgical emergencies are more likely to present late and have a significantly higher incidence of postoperative septic complications and longer hospital stay. Early surgical consultation and aggressive evaluation and postoperative management are warranted in these populations.


METHODS
Epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.
Elizabeth
E
Benjamin
Tobias
T
Haltmeier
Efstathios
E
Karamanos
Kenji
K
Inaba
Lydia
L
Lam
Demetrios
D
Demetriades
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology