Incidental Findings in Abdominal Surgery

The Incidence of Incidental Findings in All Abdominal Surgeries

Despite the recent advancement in diagnostic modalities, many surgeons experience till this day unexpected findings during the course of surgery. Very few information is available in the medical literature in order to assist the surgeon with the anticipation and preparation to deal with Incidental Findings (IFs). Such valuable information can be of great benefit to the surgeon, as the surgical team can prepare himself better -technically and scientifically- to deal with the common expected IFs. The authors aim to examine the incidence of all IFs in abdominal surgery -laparoscopy or laparotomy- and identify possible associations through a cross-sectional designed study conducted in Aleppo University Hospital - Department of Surgery. The authors collected patients' data who underwent abdominal surgery during the period of the two-consecutive years 2018-2019.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: General Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Abdominal Surgery

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 543

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Syrian Arab Republic
  • Aleppo Provice
    • Aleppo, Aleppo Provice, Syrian Arab Republic, 22743
      • Aleppo University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 13 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients undergoing abdominal surgery whether performed by laparotomy or laparoscopy for any indication, however, the procedure must include proper inspection of the abdominal cavity

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients older than 13 y/o
• patients undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy that must include a proper inspection of the abdominal cavity

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients aged 13 y/o or less
• patients with incomplete data
• gynecological procedures even if it involves laparotomy or laparoscopy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Abdominal Surgery Group; Participant undergoing abdominal surgery for any indication	Procedure: Abdominal Surgery; Abdominal surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy) ,which includes proper inspection of the abdominal cavity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Incidence of IFs detection	Examine the incidence of the detection of Incidental and unexpected findings in abdominal surgery patients.	Detection during the time of the procedure itself
IFs identification	The identification of the specific IFs encountered in abdominal surgery patients	Detection during the time of the procedure itself

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The incidence of misdiagnosis events	Examine the incidence of misdiagnosis events in abdominal surgeries	Detection during the time of the procedure itself
The association between procedure type in IF detection	Examine the association between the type of surgery (laparoscopy or laparotomy) and the detection of IFs.	Detection during the time of the procedure itself
The association between gender in IF detection	Examine the association between the gender of the patient and the detection of IFs.	Detection during the time of the procedure itself

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Aleppo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 22, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 8, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 8, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2022
• Last Verified: January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Surgery, General surgery, Incidental findings
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14761

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: Descriptive information about all sample will be provided with the specific characteristics of patients with encountered IFs

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No