ABSTRACT At least half of the adverse events on hospitalized patients are associated with surgery. Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic way of analyzing these events to find their causes through a step-by-step review of the chronology of facts, identifying those that could have caused the event. An Ishikawa diagram (also called fishbone diagram) is a visual method for root cause analysis that allows the identification and categorization of all possible causes of an event. The goal is to answer what happened, why did it happen, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. The ultimate goal is to improve healthcare processes by preventing the recurrence of the adverse event and prioritizing learning and improvement based on its analysis. Communicating the findings of the analysis and the measures to be implemented, discussing cases in morbidity and mortality meetings and continuous education of staff are the cornerstones for changing the culture towards one centered on safety and quality, replacing the “reactive” culture with a “proactive” culture, which considers events as an instrument for learning and continuous improvement.

RESUMEN La seguridad del paciente es un elemento imprescindible de la calidad asistencial. Al menos la mitad de los eventos adversos en pacientes hospitalizados están en relación con la práctica quirúrgica. El Análisis Causa-Raíz es un estudio sistemático de estos eventos mediante una revisión paso a paso de la cronología de los hechos, para identificar las causas que podrían haber llevado a la producción del evento. El Diagrama de Ishikawa o “espina de pescado” es una herramienta gráfica es una herramienta útil. El éxito radica en lograr responder qué sucedió, por qué sucedió, y qué puede hacerse para evitar que suceda nuevamente algún evento que vulnera la seguridad del paciente. El propósito último es la mejora de los procesos asistenciales impidiendo la repetición del evento adverso y priorizando el aprendizaje y mejora a partir de su análisis. La comunicación institucional de los hallazgos del análisis y las medidas para implementar, la discusión de casos en ateneos de morbimortalidad y la educación continua del personal son pilares para el cambio en la cultura hacia una centrada en la seguridad y calidad, sustituyendo la cultura “reactiva” por una “proactiva”, que toma los eventos como instrumento para el aprendizaje y la mejora continua.

Resumen Introducción. Debido a la pandemia por COVID-19, se decretó el aislamiento social, preventivo y obligatorio. El miedo de asistir al hospital, generado por la pandemia, pudo provocar una demora en la consulta y el retraso en el diagnóstico de pacientes con apendicitis, llevando a complicaciones como perforación, absceso, peritonitis, sepsis y muerte. Métodos. Se realizó un análisis comparativo de los hallazgos quirúrgicos y su desenlace, en los pacientes con diagnóstico de apendicitis, previo a la pandemia y durante ella. Resultados. No se encontró diferencia en el tiempo de la consulta, pero durante la pandemia se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en las características del apéndice. Discusión. Los hallazgos durante la pandemia muestran cuadros de apendicitis aguda más avanzados que antes de la misma, sin impactar en las complicaciones quirúrgicas y postoperatorias.

Abstract Introduction. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as social and preventive isolation was mandatory, the fear of going to the hospital generated by the pandemic, could cause a delay in the consultation and delay in the diagnosis of appendicitis, leading to complications such as perforation, abscess, peritonitis, sepsis and death. Method. A comparative analysis of the surgical findings and their outcome was performed in patients with a diagnosis of appendicitis prior to and during the pandemic. Results. No difference was found at the time of consultation, but during the pandemic a statistically significant difference was observed in the characteristics of the appendix. Discussion. The findings during the pandemic show more advanced acute appendicitis than before, without impacting on surgical and postoperative complications.

The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 during the first quarter of 2020 constitutes an unprecedented challenge for the health system. The aim is to describe the strategies adopted by residents of General Surgery of a university hospital of Argentina, to safeguard the health of residents, reduce the risk of exposure of surgical patients, maintain continuous academic training and promote teamwork. Minimize resident exposure by dividing the group into two teams that work by fortnights; divide activities, hours within hospital, and shifts equally among residents; use telemedicine for postoperative / ambulatory controls; suspend office activity; organize daily online classes and reviews of published articles. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, all means should be used to minimize the risk of exposure in order to optimize human resources. Although these strategies can easily be applied to other residencies, more research is needed to assess their impact on disease transmission, and on the physical and emotional health of health professionals.

El brote mundial de COVID-19 durante el primer trimestre de 2020 constituye un desafío sin precedentes para el sistema de salud. El objetivo es describir las estrategias adoptadas por los residentes de Cirugía General de un Hospital Universitario de la Argentina, para salvaguardar la salud de los residentes, reducir el riesgo de exposición de los pacientes quirúrgicos, mantener la formación académica continua y fomentar el trabajo en equipo. Minimizar la exposición de los residentes dividiendo el personal total en dos equipos que trabajan por quincenas; dividir las actividades, las horas dentro del hospital y los turnos por igual entre los residentes; usar telemedicina para controles posoperatorios/ ambulatorios; suspender la actividad de consultorio; organizar clases diarias en línea y revisiones de artículos publicados. En el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19 se deben utilizar todos los medios para minimizar el riesgo de exposición para así optimizar los recursos humanos. A pesar de que estas estrategias pueden aplicarse fácilmente a otras residencias, se necesita más investigación para evaluar su impacto en la transmisión de enfermedades, y en la salud física y emocional de los profesionales de la salud.

RESUMO Objetivo A disfunção do assoalho pélvico tem alta prevalência na população adulta. A avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico (DMRIPF) representa uma ferramenta ideal para o gerenciamento multidisciplinar. O objetivo desta análise é avaliar o valor agregado da avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico em pacientes com suspeita de distúrbios do assoalho pélvico. Métodos Análise retrospectiva de uma série consecutiva de pacientes submetidos à avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico por suspeita de distúrbios do assoalho pélvico entre Abril de 2005 e Julho de 2019. Resultados 359 pacientes foram incluídos. O número médio de diagnósticos alcançados pelo exame físico foi de 1,2vs. 2,5 pela avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico p < 0,001. O exame físico encontrou uma única patologia em 80.8 % dos casos. A retocele anterior (RA) foi o diagnóstico isolado mais frequente no exame físico (68 %). Na avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico, a retocele anterior foi diagnosticada como uma condição isolada em 10.9 %. Em 231 casos, a retocele anterior foi associada a até 5 outros distúrbios do assoalho pélvico. O número de indivíduos com patologias associadas dos compartimentos posterior e anterior triplicou. Modificou os achados do exame físico em 17 % dos indivíduos e em 63.5 %; permitiu a identificação de outras patologias do assoalho pélvico que foram esquecidas pelo exame físico. A avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico teve maior valor agregado em pacientes com retocele anterior (59.6 % vs.20.9 %; p < 0,001. O sexo feminino também foi associado a um maior rendimento diagnóstico p < 0,001. Conclusão A avaliação dinâmica e multiplanar do assoalho pélvico permite a detecção de defeitos multicompartimentários que, de outra forma, poderiam não ser detectados, ou mesmo alterar o diagnóstico clínico inicial, representando uma ferramenta ideal para a abordagem multidisciplinar das luxações do assoalho pélvico, permitindo um planejamento terapêutico abrangente.

ABSTRACT Purpose Pelvic floor dysfunction has a high prevalence in the adult population. The Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor (DMRIPF) represents an ideal tool for multidisciplinary management. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the added value of the Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor in patients with suspected pelvic floor disorders. Methods Retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients who underwent a DMRIPF due to suspected pelvic floor disorders between April 2005 and July 2019. Results 359 patients were included. The average number of diagnoses achieved by physical examination was 1.2 vs. 2.5 by the Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor (p < 0.001). Physical examination found a single pathology in 80.8 % of cases. Anterior rectocele (AR) was the most frequent isolated diagnosis on physical examination (68 %). On the Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor, anterior rectocele was diagnosed as an isolated condition in 10.9 %. In 231 cases, anterior rectocele was associated with up to 5 other pelvic floor disorders. The number of individuals with associated pathologies of the posterior and anterior compartments tripled. It modified physical examination findings in 17 % of individuals and, in 63.5 %, allowed the identification of additional pelvic floor pathologies that were missed by physical examination. The Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor had greater added value in patients with anterior rectocele (59.6 % vs. 20.9 %; p < 0.001). Female gender was also associated with a greater diagnostic yield (p < 0.001). Conclusion The Dynamic and Multiplanar Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor allows the detection of multi-compartment defects that could otherwise go undetected, or even alter the initial clinical diagnosis, representing an ideal tool for multidisciplinary approach of pelvic floor dislocations, allowing a comprehensive therapeutic planning.