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Over 1.5 million major surgical procedures take place in the UK NHS each year and approximately 25% of patients develop at least one complication. The most widely used risk-adjustment model for postoperative morbidity in the UK is the physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity. However, this model was derived more than 30 years ago and now overestimates the risk of morbidity. In addition, contemporary definitions of some model predictors are markedly different compared with when the tool was developed. A second model used in clinical practice is the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Programme risk model; this provides a risk estimate for a range of postoperative complications. This model, widely used in North America, is not open source and therefore cannot be applied to patient populations in other settings. Data from a prospective multicentre clinical dataset of 118 NHS hospitals (the peri-operative quality improvement programme) were used to develop a bespoke risk-adjustment model for postoperative morbidity. Patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent colorectal surgery were eligible for inclusion. Postoperative morbidity was defined using the postoperative morbidity survey at postoperative day 7. Thirty-one candidate variables were considered for inclusion in the model. Death or morbidity occurred by postoperative day 7 in 3098 out of 11,646 patients (26.6%). Twelve variables were incorporated into the final model, including (among others): Rockwood clinical frailty scale; body mass index; and index of multiple deprivation quintile. The C-statistic was 0.672 (95%CI 0.660-0.684), with a bootstrap optimism corrected C-statistic of 0.666 at internal validation. The model demonstrated good calibration across the range of morbidity estimates with a mean slope gradient of predicted risk of 0.959 (95%CI 0.894-1.024) with an index-corrected intercept of -0.038 (95%CI -0.112-0.036) at internal validation. Our model provides parsimonious case-mix adjustment to quantify risk of morbidity on postoperative day 7 for a UK population of patients undergoing major colorectal surgery. Despite the C-statistic oflt; 0.7, our model outperformed existing risk-models in widespread use. We therefore recommend application in case-mix adjustment, where incorporation into a continuous monitoring tool such as the variable life adjusted display or exponentially-weighted moving average-chart could support high-level monitoring and quality improvement of risk-adjusted outcome at the population level.

BACKGROUND: The optimal anastomotic techniques in esophagectomy to minimize rates of anastomotic leakage and conduit necrosis are not known. The aim of this study was to assess whether the anastomotic technique was associated with anastomotic failure after esophagectomy in the international Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Audit cohort.METHODS: This prospective observational multicenter cohort study included patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer over 9 months during 2018. The primary exposure was the anastomotic technique, classified as handsewn, linear stapled, or circular stapled. The primary outcome was anastomotic failure, namely a composite of anastomotic leakage and conduit necrosis, as defined by the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify the association between anastomotic techniques and anastomotic failure, after adjustment for confounders.RESULTS: Of the 2238 esophagectomies, the anastomosis was handsewn in 27.1%, linear stapled in 21.0%, and circular stapled in 51.9%. Anastomotic techniques differed significantly by the anastomosis sites (P < .001), with the majority of neck anastomoses being handsewn (69.9%), whereas most chest anastomoses were stapled (66.3% circular stapled and 19.3% linear stapled). Rates of anastomotic failure differed significantly among the anastomotic techniques (P < .001), from 19.3% in handsewn anastomoses, to 14.0% in linear stapled anastomoses, and 12.1% in circular stapled anastomoses. This effect remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors on multivariable analysis, with an odds ratio of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.46-0.86; P = .004) for circular stapled versus handsewn anastomosis. However, subgroup analysis by anastomosis site suggested that this effect was predominantly present in neck anastomoses, with anastomotic failure rates of 23.2% versus 14.6% versus 5.9% for handsewn versus linear stapled anastomoses versus circular stapled neck anastomoses, compared with 13.7% versus 13.8% versus 12.2% for chest anastomoses.CONCLUSIONS: Handsewn anastomoses appear to be independently associated with higher rates of anastomotic failure compared with stapled anastomoses. However, this effect seems to be largely confined to neck anastomoses, with minimal differences between techniques observed for chest anastomoses. Further research into standardization of anastomotic approach and techniques may further improve outcomes.

Background Treatment of superficial venous reflux in addition to compression therapy accelerates venous leg ulcer healing and reduces ulcer recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and cost-effectiveness of early versus delayed endovenous treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers. Methods This was a within-trial cost-utility analysis with a 1-year time horizon using data from the EVRA (Early Venous Reflux Ablation) trial. The study compared early versus deferred endovenous ablation for superficial venous truncal reflux in patients with a venous leg ulcer. The outcome measure was the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) over 1 year. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with alternative methods of handling missing data, alternative preference weights for health-related quality of life, and per protocol. Results After early intervention, the mean(s.e.m.) cost was higher (difference in cost per patient £163(318) (€184(358))) and early intervention was associated with more QALYs at 1 year (mean(s.e.m.) difference 0·041(0·017)). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £3976 (€4482) per QALY. There was an 89 per cent probability that early venous intervention is cost-effective at a threshold of £20 000 (€22 546)/QALY. Sensitivity analyses produced similar results, confirming that early treatment of superficial reflux is highly likely to be cost-effective. Conclusion Early treatment of superficial reflux is highly likely to be cost-effective in patients with venous leg ulcers over 1 year. Registration number: ISRCTN02335796 (http://www.isrctn.com).

In recent years, serious adverse effects to children from exposure to single-use detergents sacs (SUDS) have been recognized. While most exposures result in minor symptoms, there have been serious outcomes. This study aims to classify which types of serious outcomes follow SUDS exposures, and to assess, if possible, differences in toxicity between various SUDS products.An observational case series with data collected retrospectively was performed for cases of SUDS exposures reported to a statewide poison system's records database from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2013. Cases were identified and analyzed for clinical details and trends. A statewide database was queried for cases involving the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) product-specific codes for SUDS products using following search terms: laundry pods, the AAPCC product-specific codes for Tide Pods, Purex Ultrapacks, ALL Mighty Pacs, and a unique agent code (AAPCC ID: 6903138; Generic: 077900) created by AAPCC to track SUDS exposures.A total of 804 cases of exposures to SUDS were identified, the majority of which were exploratory ingestions in young children with a median age of 2 years. Serious adverse effects resulted from 65 (9%) exposures and 27 (3%) exposures resulted in admission to hospital. Binary logistic regression demonstrated that the presence of central nervous system (CNS) or respiratory system effects were associated with more severe outcomes, with a model accuracy of 96.4%. There were significant differences in morbidity among the three most common brand-name products: when compared with Tide Pods, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for severe outcome and admission rate were significantly greater following Purex Ultrapack exposures (severity OR 5.1 [CI: 2.13-12.23]; admission OR 10.36 [CI: 3.23-33.22]) and ALL Mighty Pac exposures (severity OR 11.22 [CI: 4.78-28.36]; admission OR 15.20 [CI: 5.01-46.12]).Serious complications from exposure to SUDS occur in a small number of exposures for unclear reasons. Respiratory and CNS effects are associated with more severe outcomes. Some brand-name products are associated with a relatively higher risk of severe adverse effects and rates of admission.

This case report describes a case of Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome causing unilateral ischaemic claudication symptoms in an otherwise healthy soldier. The condition is rare but is an important cause of exercise related leg pain; untreated it can progress to structural arterial damage requiring reconstruction. Early identification of such cases may allow less invasive treatment.

Presently, there are few studies addressing the subject of peripheral neuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Consequently, there is a dearth of evidence and awareness of subclinical neuropathy in stable COPD patients with no significant hypoxaemia, particularly in the age group of 40-60 years. The present study was designed to evaluate the subclinical peripheral neuropathy in this study group.60 subjects were included in the study. The COPD group comprised 30 male smokers with stable COPD, aged between 40 and 60 years and with no clinical neuropathy; and 30 age-matched healthy male volunteers served as the control group. The following nerves were evaluated for latency, amplitude and conduction velocity: for motor nerve conduction - median nerve, ulnar nerve, and common peroneal nerves; and for sensory nerve conduction - median nerve, ulnar nerve, and sural nerves.Five out of 30 COPD patients had peripheral nerve impairment on electrophysiological evaluation. In these patients, we found decreased amplitude and conduction velocity in all examined sensory nerves; however, the conduction velocity was found to be more than 70 percent of the predicted value. These findings were suggestive of predominantly sensory (with milder involvement of motor nerves) axonal polyneuropathy.We observed five out of 30 COPD patients to have predominantly sensory axonal peripheral neuropathy. These five COPD patients had significantly higher consumption of cigarettes, longer duration of illness and advanced airflow obstruction when compared to COPD patients with no peripheral neuropathy.

Acute renal failure (ARF) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with high mortality. A thorough understanding of the clinical spectrum of the disease is needed in order to devise methods to improve the final outcome due to this problem.The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical spectrum, causes, risk and prognostic factors and final outcome of ARF in the setting of ICU.This prospective study involved patients admitted to ICU during the period between September 2003 to January 2005 (17 months). Patients who developed ARF during the ICU stay were included in the study. The clinical and laboratory data were collected at admission and then on daily basis. Data recorded included; patient characteristics, underlying medical conditions responsible for ICU admission, dialytic status, need for ventilation, total duration of ICU stay, APACHE-III score and final outcome, and these data were analyzed for predicting survival using univariate and multivariate analysis.Twelve hundred and fifteen (1215) patients were admitted to ICU from September 2003 to January, 2005 and 46 (3.79%) patients developed ARF after admission to ICU. Mean age of patients was 44.9 +/- 17 years and 56.5% were males. Comorbidity was seen in 24 (52%) patients; hypertension (34.7%), diabetes mellitus (28.3%), coronary artery disease (30.4%) and chronic kidney disease (13%). ARF had developed complicating medical and surgical conditions in 33 (71.7%) and 11 (23.7%) patients respectively. The etiology of ARF was multifactorial and included; hypotension (71.74%), volume depletion (17.4%), nephrotoxic drugs (67.39%), and sepsis (69.5%). Multiple organ system failure (MOSF) was noted in 63% of cases and dialysis was required in 25 (54.3%) patients. Mortality occurred in 63% of patients. MOSF and sepsis were found to be significant adverse prognostic factors when multiple logistic regression analysis was done.ARF was seen in 3.79% of cases in our ICU and associated with poor prognosis. Presence of sepsis, MOSF, higher APACHE--III scores and ventilation need were correlated with higher mortality in ARF patients in the intensive care unit.

A case of multiple, conglomerated brain abscesses due to Xylohypha bantiana, with unique imaging features, is presented. This is the first culture-proven case of brain infection due to this fungus in the neuroimaging literature.

Primary hepatic lymphoma is rare malignancy. Cures in this disease are uncommon. We report a young male who was diagnosed as a case of primary lymphoma of the liver in 1992. He was treated with chemotherapy only, which included CHOP (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, Vincristine and Prednisolone) - six cycles; and IMVP-16 (Ifosfamide, Methotrexate and Etoposide) -four cycles. The patient is now disease free and alive for more than five years.

We report the development of a microtitre plate-based PCR-EIA assay (ELAHA; Enzyme Linked Amplification and Hybridization Assay) for the sensitive and specific detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in sputum samples from patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD). Following PCR amplification of a segment of the chlamydial heat shock 60 protein gene, the 587 bp sized amplicon is captured onto the streptavidin coated surface of a microtitre plate using a C. pneumoniae specific biotinylated probe and the level of captured product is subsequently determined via a colorimetric reaction using an automated plate reader. The ELAHA is a simple, rapid and inexpensive method for detection of low levels of infectious agents and is readily adaptable to current clinical laboratory equipment. The assay was evaluated with a cohort of hospital respiratory patients: (i) COAD patients with acute exacerbation, (ii) COAD patients without exacerbation (stable) and (iii) a non-respiratory control group. The ELAHA produced 6/12 (50%) C. pneumoniae positives in the COAD with exacerbation group, 3/13 (23%) positives in the COAD without exacerbation group and only 1/6 (17%) positives in the control non-respiratory group. This sensitive and robust PCR-EIA method can provide clinically relevant diagnostic evidence of current C. pneumoniae infection contributing to serious respiratory tract diseases such as COAD.

To determine if uncontrolled hypercholesterolaemia predisposes to progression of carotid artery stenosis.Fasting blood samples were collected from 76 patients referred for carotid duplex ultrasound for investigation of transient ischaemic attacks or recent stroke. Patients were grouped depending on the severity of the stenosis found. Patients on lipid lowering agents were excluded. The data were analysed using one way analysis of variance and the c2 test as appropriate.There were more men in the 70-99% group (15 vs 6, c2 = 10.6, p0.001, Table I). The total cholesterol was raised in all three groups. Patients with carotid stenosis of 70-99% had significantly elevated triglycerides (2.4 mmol vs 1.47 mmol and 1.37 mmol, p0.003), low HDL (1.14 mmol vs 1.45 mmol and 1.18 mmol, p0.003) and a higher cholesterol/HDL ratio (5.56 vs 4.29 and 4.71, p0.014) compared with the other two groups. There was no difference in lipoprotein(a) in the three groups.Increased triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol seen in the 70-99% group suggest that a worsening lipid profile is associated with progression of carotid artery stenosis.

Tuberculous osteomyelitis which does not involve a joint is uncommon and may fail to be diagnosed by an orthopaedic surgeon. We treated 28 lesions of tuberculous osteomyelitis in 25 patients between 1988 and 1995. The duration of symptoms was from two to 39 months, and most of our patients had been treated initially with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which failed to provide relief. Bone pain which does not promptly respond to analgesic medication is often due to infection or neoplasia. In the early stages, when plain radiographs are normal, MRI or CT may help to localise lesions. On plain radiographs, more advanced lesions may mimic chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis, Brodie's abscess, tumours or granulomatous lesions. Biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis, and antituberculous drugs are the mainstay of treatment. When operative findings at biopsy have the features of skeletal tuberculosis curettage of the affected bone may promote earlier healing.

Endothelial cells labeled with indium 111-oxine were seeded in supraconfluent densities onto fibronectin-coated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments. These grafts with rapidly formed endothelial-cell monolayers were then exposed to varying shear stresses at flow rates of 200 and 300 ml/min, using tissue culture medium in an artificial flow circuit. As the loss of radioactivity represented endothelial-cell loss, cell retention was calculated by the ratio of counts recorded at different time points during 2 hours of flow to initial counts. Although initial cell adherence to gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments was poor compared to ePTFE, once cells were attached they resisted shear stress of flow better at 200 ml/min and equally well at 300 ml/min. The cell retention on fibronectin-coated ePTFE was 55.4 +/- 12.9% at 200 ml/min and 56.5 +/- 15.2% at 300 ml/min; cell retention for gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments was 69.0 +/- 6.0% and 66.5 +/- 5.5%, respectively. Qualitatively scanning electron microscopy of both ePTFE and gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments showed patchy coverage of grafts with cells. There was preferential attachment of endothelial cells to the nodes on ePTFE, although on gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments, cells conformed to the Dacron fibers at different levels and directions with evidence of bridging in the gaps between individual fibers. This study shows conclusively that rapidly formed endothelial-cell monolayers on ePTFE and gelatin-impregnated Dacron graft segments resisted a shear stress of flow equal to that seen in a femoropopliteal vein graft with significant cell retention at 2 hours.

The management and outcome of 131 acute femoral arterial occlusions in 126 patients over a period of 7 years is presented. The emboli were of cardiac origin in 82% of cases; 96% of the patients were treated with thromboembolectomy. The overall mortality rate was 26% with a limb salvage rate of 88% amongst the survivors. There was an increased risk of mortality in patients having both atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction, saddle emboli and those having delayed embolectomy after 24 h. Only the latter was found to be statistically significant. One-third of the patients who died had a failed embolectomy. An early fasciotomy helped in preventing permanent neurological deficit in patients with compartment syndrome.

Eight cases of aortocaval fistula are described. In all of them operation was performed with repair of the fistula and replacement of the aneurysm by a prosthetic graft. In seven cases the cause was rupture of an atherosclerotic aneurysm but one case followed rupture of a re-entrant dissecting aortic aneurysm. A fistula is most easily recognized by the sensation of a palpable thrill over the aorta during operation together with systemic venous congestion and a high central venous pressure before aortic clamps are applied. Diagnosis of the fistula before surgery or its recognition during operation and before opening the aorta usually leads to a successful outcome.

A review of 46 episodes of arterial emboli to the arm in 44 patients is presented. Two-thirds of cases were of cardiac origin whereas subclavian artery abnormality was responsible for 14%. Thirty-six per cent had axillary occlusion, 52% had a brachial lesion, and the lesion was distal to the elbow in 11%. Of the 36 patients treated surgically, 33 retained a viable arm with a palpable radial pulse in 26. Of the ten patients with 'failed first embolectomy', six technical failures were revised successfully, retaining a viable hand in all of them. The other four failures had evidence of organized intraluminal thrombus; one had been induced by anti-thrombin III deficiency. Three of this latter group lost limbs. Because delay leads to irreversible ischaemic changes, there seems to be an understandable bias in favour of early surgical exploration in equivocal cases.

Over a 6-year period, 12 patients with 14 congenital arteriovenous malformations were considered for a staged approach to include afferent vessel ligation (AVL) and/or intra-arterial embolization (IAE) and surgical excision where possible. Patients were followed for a period ranging from 3 to 60 months. Two patients had localized lesions which were completely excised. Five patients were treated by IAE followed by excision with a successful outcome in four. One patient had a transmetatarsal amputation for failed IAE. Two patients had both IAE and AVL before excision of the lesion. In one patient AVL alone was followed by a recurrence. Two patients with multiple lesions were kept under observation. It would appear that IAE and excision of an arteriovenous malformation can achieve cure or excellent palliation in most patients.

Twenty-three cases of arterial injury after 8,208 arterial catheterizations for diagnostic or therapeutic indications at Glasgow Royal Infirmary are reviewed. Clinical presentation included haematoma formation, development of an acutely ischaemic limb or a false aneurysm. Patients with valvular heart disease are identified as a high risk group. Nine cases were managed by simple suture of the puncture site whereas thrombectomy and vein patch closure was required in 12 patients. The incidence of late complications requiring vascular reconstruction was 9%. The early recognition of complications after arterial catheterization and prompt referral to a specialized vascular unit is essential if morbidity is to be avoided.

There have been few relatively complete follow-up studies of long-term mitral valve function after Carpentier-type surgical reconstruction. Between January 1980 and May 1986, 148 patients underwent Carpentier reconstruction for mitral valve disease (43% degenerative and 30% rheumatic). Operative mortality was 5.4% overall (1.2% for isolated mitral reconstruction), and follow-up (mean, 26 months) was completed for all survivors. Five-year survival from late cardiac death was 90.0%, as was 5-year freedom from postreconstruction mitral valve replacement. Postreconstruction mitral replacement was needed in eight patients, in only five for failure of repair. Follow-up echocardiographic studies on 83.2% (104 of 125) of eligible patients showed 92.3% were free of significant (3+ or 4+) mitral regurgitation. Freedom from mitral valve replacement or recurrent severe (4+) insufficiency was 84.4% at 5 years overall, but was lower for the rheumatic type of mitral disease than for the degenerative type (71.6% vs. 88.3%). At 5 years, 95.2% of patients were free from thromboembolism without the necessity for long-term warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. At follow-up, 95.3% of survivors had improved to New York Heart Association Class I or II. The functional durability of mitral reconstruction and consistently high level of freedom from late endocarditis and thromboembolic and anticoagulant complications support the value of the Carpentier method of mitral reconstruction for mitral insufficiency, especially insufficiency due to degenerative disease.