Management of Complications of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery Based on the Proceedings of the Isds/Eds Postgraduate Course at the 9th United European Gastroenterology Week, October 2001, Amsterdam

The overall chance for patients admitted to a surgical ward to encounter a severe adverse effect of their treatment ranges from 10 to 50%, depending on the type of gastro-intestinal surgery. Some of these complications are rather frequent, but with only a minimal effect on the immediate outcome of treatment, whereas other complications are infrequent, but have a dramatic effect; In many cases, re-interventions are needed. (Management of Complications of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery) Prevention of complications can be achieved by either a selection of patients or procedures, or by a concentration of knowledge and experience. Thus, patients co-morbidity should be assessed before selecting for invasive surgery, and alternative procedures should be offered to elderly, frail and malnourished patients. Modern imaging techniques can prevent unnecessary laparotomies, and diagnostic laparoscopy can prevent more invasive laparotomies. Moreover, there is no good evidence that more extensive surgery has a better success rate. Furthermore, pre-operative measures can be taken, such as pre-operative enteral and parenteral nutrition, internal biliary drainage or antibiotic prophylaxis. Last but not least, the concentration of knowledge and experience in specialized centers also seems to influence the outcome of surgery.Gouma, Dirk J. is the author of 'Management of Complications of Gastro-Intestinal Surgery Based on the Proceedings of the Isds/Eds Postgraduate Course at the 9th United European Gastroenterology Week, October 2001, Amsterdam' with ISBN 9783805574211 and ISBN 3805574215.