Search

Introduction: Inadequate bowel preparation (IBP) is a common problem in hospitalized patients; however, little is known about how to prevent IBP. In a large, multihospital system, we evaluated the association between modifiable factors and IBP rate., Methods: We reviewed data from adult (≥18 years) inpatients undergoing colonoscopy between January 2011 and June 2017. Colonoscopies performed in the intensive care unit or lacking descriptions of bowel preparation quality were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with IBP. A counterfactual analysis was performed to assess the potential contribution of modifiable factors to IBP., Results: Of 8,819 patients that were included (median age of 64 years; 50.5% female), 51% had IBP. Patients with IBP stayed in the hospital one day longer than those with adequate bowel preparation (P < .001). Modifiable factors associated with IBP include opiate use within three days of colonoscopy (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18, 1.45), colonoscopy performed after 12:00 pm (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.1, 1.41), and solid diet the day before colonoscopy (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.18, 1.59). In the counterfactual analysis, if all patients avoided these three conditions, adjusted IBP rates were reduced by 5.6%., Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients undergoing colonoscopy, IBP rates are high and associated with an increased length of stay. Avoiding opiates before colonoscopy, performing colonoscopy before noon, and maintaining patients on a liquid diet or nil per os might significantly reduce IBP rates.

Background: Obesity presents a unique challenge in caring for surgical patients and has been shown to adversely affect outcomes for several operative procedures. However, quantitative data on surgical resource utilization attributable to obesity are scarce. The aim of this study was to quantify day-of-surgery resource utilization by degree of obesity., Methods: Patients undergoing one of 14 common surgical procedures at our multicenter institution between 2008 and 2017 were identified from our operating room management databank. Multiple-variable regression analysis (MVRA) was performed to quantify the independent effect of body mass index (BMI) category on day-of-surgery resource utilization variables including procedure time, non-operative OR time, PACU time, number of unique staff and number of supplies used. Trends in mean BMI were examined for each procedure studied., Results: MVRA of the 189,264 cases in the database revealed consistently significant (p < 0.05) stepwise increase in procedure time by BMI category for all procedures studied. Non-operative OR time was also significantly prolonged, though to a lesser degree. There was no significant impact on number of unique staff, supplies utilized or PACU time by BMI category. Procedures most impacted by BMI category in terms of resource utilization were ventral hernia repair, laminectomy and hysterectomy., Conclusion: Our study quantified day-of-surgery resource utilization for 14 major surgical procedures by BMI category. The need for additional resources to accommodate patients in higher BMI groups was consistent across all procedures studied and was primarily reflected by lengthened operative times.

A 47-year-old woman presented with a history of vague abdominal pain for several years, which worsened over the past 2 months, with pain more prominent in the right upper quadrant. She also had a history of peptic ulcer disease. The ultrasound scan of right upper quadrant revealed normal gallbladder and oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was unremarkable. A (99m)technetium labelled hepato iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan with cholecystokinin provocation demonstrated a decreased gallbladder ejection fraction (EF) of 32%. On this basis, the patient was diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia and underwent an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Histopathological analysis revealed chronic cholecystitis with Cystoisospora belli identified in the gallbladder wall. Cystoisospora has been identified to cause an opportunistic acalculous cholecystitis among immunocompromised hosts, especially those with AIDS. This is the first case report of chronic cholecystitis due to C. belli in an immunocompetent patient., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Context: The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) is a bedside scoring system that is non-invasive, simple and repeatable to reflect dynamic changes in physiological state., Objective: This study aims to assess accuracy of MEWS and determine an optimal MEWS value in predicting severity in acute pancreatitis (AP)., Methods: A prospective database of consecutive admissions with AP to a single institution was analysed to determine value of MEWS in identifying severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and predicting poor outcome. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were used to determine optimal accuracy. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive values (PPV) were calculated for the optimal MEWS values obtained., Results: One-hundred and 42 patients with AP were included. The optimal highest MEWS per 24 hours period (hMEWS) and mean MEWS per 24 hour period (mMEWS) in predicting SAP as determined by ROC were 2.5 and 1.625 respectively; with hMEWS ≥3 and mMEWS &gt;1 utilised in this cohort as MEWS scores are whole numbers. On admission, sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and accuracy of hMEWS ≥3 was 95.5%, 90.8%, 99.0%, 65.6% and 92.0%; and for mMWES &gt;1 was 95.5%, 87.5%, 99.0%, 58.3% and 88.7%, both superior than the Imrie score: 31.5%, 92.1%, 88.9%, 40.0% and 83.5%. The accuracy of hMEWS ≥3 and mMEWS &gt;1 increased over the subsequent 72 hours (days 0-2) from 92 to 96%, and 89% to 94%, respectively., Conclusions: MEWS provides a novel, easy, instant, repeatable, reliable prognostic score that may be superior to existing scoring systems. A larger cohort is required to validate these findings.

Pancreatic surgery is one of the most challenging and complex fields in general surgery. While minimally invasive surgery has become the standard of care for many intra-abdominal pathologies the overwhelming majority of pancreatic surgery is performed in an open fashion. This is attributed to the retroperitoneal location of the pancreas, its intimate relationship to major vasculature and the complexity of reconstruction in the case of pancreatoduodenectomy. Herein, we describe the application of robotic technology to minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. The unique capabilities of the robotic platform have made the minimally invasive approach feasible and safe with equivalent if not better outcomes (e.g., decreased length of stay, less surgical site infections) to conventional open surgery. However, it is unclear whether the robotic approach is truly superior to traditional laparoscopy; this is a key point given the substantial costs associated with procuring and maintaining robotic capabilities.

Background: The pre-operative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), when ≥5 has been associated with reduced survival for patients with various gastrointestinal tract cancers, however, it's prognostic value in patients with periampullary tumour has not been reported to date., Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of pre-operative NLR in terms of survival and recurrence of resected periampullary carcinomas., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary carcinoma (pancreatic, ampullary, cholangiocarcinoma) identified from a departmental database. The effect of NLR upon survival and recurrence was explored., Results: Overall median survival amongst 228 patients was 24 months (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 12-43). The median survival for those whose NLR was <5 was not significantly greater than those patients whose NLR was ≥5 (24 months [IQR: 14-42] versus 13 months [IQR: 8-48], respectively; p = 0.234). However, for those that developed recurrence, survival was greater in those with an NLR <5 at (20 months [IQR: 12-27] versus 11 months [IQR: 7-22], respectively; p = 0.038). This effect was most marked in those patients with cholangiocarcinoma (p = 0.019) whilst a trend to worse survival was seen in those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. No effect was seen in patients with ampullary carcinoma (p = 0.516)., Conclusions: This study provides further evidence that pre-operative NLR offers important prognostic information regarding disease-free survival. This effect, however, is dependent upon the tumour type amongst patients undergoing PD., (Copyright © 2013 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Understanding a patient's risk of pancreatic fistula (PF) prior to pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) would permit an individualised approach to patient selection, consent and, potentially, treatment. Various intra and post operative factors including pancreatic duct width and steatosis are associated with PF. We sought to identify whether information available in the pre-operative phase can predict PF., Methods: Associations between patient characteristics, pre-operative blood test results, data from pre-operative CT imaging and PF were explored. Pancreatic density (Hounsfield units, Hu), pancreatic duct size and gland thickness were measured using CT imaging., Results: PF occurred in 42 of 155 cases (types A, B and C: 32, 8, 2 respectively). An inverse relationship between duct width and PF was observed. The odds ratio of PF, for each 1 mm increase in duct width, was 0.639 (95% CI = 0.531-0.769, p < 0.001). The gland thickness and density at the pancreatic resection margin were positively associated with PF (both p = 0.03). No patient variable was associated with PF., Conclusions: Pancreatic duct width has previously been assessed at the time of operation and simply regarded as normal or wide. Consideration of duct width as a continuous variable using pre-operative CT imaging can be used to simply predict risk of PF. The association between pancreatic density and PF is a novel finding. Whether pancreatic density in Hu relates to steatosis, as it does for hepatic steatosis, merits further review given the association between pancreatic steatosis and PF., (Copyright © 2013 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Outcomes in hepatic resectional surgery (HRS) have improved as a result of advances in the understanding of hepatic anatomy, improved surgical techniques, and enhanced peri-operative management. Patients are generally cared for in specialist higher-level ward settings with multidisciplinary input during the initial post-operative period, however, greater acceptance and understanding of HRS has meant that care is transferred, usually after 24-48 h, to a standard ward environment. Surgical trainees will be presented with such patients either electively as part of a hepatobiliary firm or whilst covering the service on-call, and it is therefore important to acknowledge the key points in managing HRS patients. Understanding the applied anatomy of the liver is the key to determining the extent of resection to be undertaken. Increasingly, enhanced patient pathways exist in the post-operative setting requiring focus on the delivery of high quality analgesia, careful fluid balance, nutrition and thromboprophlaxis. Complications can occur including liver, renal and respiratory failure, hemorrhage, and sepsis, all of which require prompt recognition and management. We provide an overview of the relevant terminology applied to hepatic surgery, an approach to the post-operative management, and an aid to developing an awareness of complications so as to facilitate better confidence in this complex subgroup of general surgical patients.

Background: Although radiofrequency-assisted (RF) precoagulation has been described for open resections, there is little data evaluating precoagulation options in laparoscopic liver resection. The purpose of this study is to provide an algorithm for the use of monopolar and bipolar RF devices in laparoscopic liver resection., Methods: Patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection utilizing precoagulation during the period 2007-2009 were identified from a prospectively maintained, institutional review board-approved database. RF-assisted precoagulation was performed using a second-generation monopolar RF ablation catheter (Starburst XL, AngioDynamics) or bipolar RF device (Habib 4X, AngioDynamics)., Results: Precoagulation was utilized in 31cases (monopolar, n = 19, and bipolar, n = 12). Procedures performed included segmentectomy/wedge resection in 19 patients and bisegmentectomy in 12 patients. The bipolar RF device was used for left lateral sectionectomies (90%) in which there was linear transaction, whereas the monopolar RF catheter was used for nonlinear segmental and wedge resections involving the right lobe (95%). Time required for precoagulation was 22.5 ± 7.2 min for the bipolar and 33.6 ± 15.9 min for the monopolar device. No patient developed postoperative bleeding, bile duct injury, or liver abscess. At follow-up, one patient in the monopolar group developed a suspected local recurrence., Conclusions: We have suggested an algorithm to select a given device based on tumor location and type of resection. With approximately 30 min of time spent for precoagulation, the blood loss and rate of local recurrence were favorable. There also could be an oncologic benefit due to additional functional margin obtained with the RF effect.

Background: The (99m) technetium labelled hepato imino diacetic acid (HIDA) scan is widely used in the investigation of patients with typical biliary pain but whose trans-abdominal ultrasound scan (US) is normal. Although the standard measure by which the HIDA scan is deemed positive is the presence of an ejection fraction (EF) of <35% following provocation with cholecystokinin (CCK), there still remains debate as to the usefulness of this measure. The aim of this study was to compare the roles of EF and symptom provocation following CCK infusion in relation to the outcome following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). More specifically, we aimed to review the resolution of symptoms for our significant population of patients with normal HIDA scan EFs for whom surgery has traditionally been deemed inappropriate., Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing LC for a presumed diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Data were collected regarding pre-operative symptoms, EF and symptom provocation during the CCK HIDA scan, histological findings, early symptomatic outcome, and medium-term follow-up., Results: During the period from March 2006 to October 2009, 42 patients with biliary symptoms but a negative US were referred for assessment by a single surgeon. There were 31 women and 11 men with a mean age of 39.0 ± 12.6 years. All underwent a CCK HIDA scan of which 17 were positive with an EF <35% and the remaining 25 were negative. All patients reported recreation of symptoms following administration of CCK. All gallbladders were delivered intact for histological assessment and all but one showed evidence of chronic cholecystitis. At each postoperative visit, approximately 2 weeks following the procedure, all patients reported resolution of symptoms. After a mean of 18.7 ± 12.1 months symptom recurrence had been noted in only one of 42 (2.4%)., Conclusions: The CCK HIDA scan is a useful study in the investigation of acalcalous cholecystitis; however, we would suggest that recreation of symptoms following CCK provocation is superior to EF for the identification of underlying chronic cholecystitis. Indeed, a normal gallbladder ejection fraction does not necessarily rule out a biliary aetiology of symptoms for this patient population.

Background: The aims of this study were to assess the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the evaluation of adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas in cases of diagnostic dilemma and to determine the strength of agreement between perceived pre-operative stage as determined by computerised tomography (CT) and EUS and histopathological stage., Methods: Patients undergoing pancreatic EUS were identified from a computerised radiology database. The strengths of agreement between the radiological and histopathological stages were determined by the weighted kappa (Kw) statistic., Results: Fifty-eight patients were identified. Of 37 patients with a pancreatic head mass on prior imaging, 32 had a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma confirmed by EUS, as did 11 of 21 patients with suspicious pancreatic head lesions. Twenty-five of 43 patients were deemed to have resectable carcinomas, and 2 patients had resectable mucinous lesions. In comparing CT and EUS in the 25 patients undergoing resection, the Kw for T and N stages was 0.250 (p = 0.05) and -0.080 (p = 0.288), respectively, for CT, compared with 0.738 (p = 0.0001) and 0.606 (p = 0.0001), respectively, for EUS., Conclusions: EUS was effective in assessing the resectability of pancreatic head adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, EUS held a significant 3-fold advantage over CT with regard to T stage and an even higher significant advantage with regard to N stage., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare epithelial tumor of the salivary glands. We present a 64-year-old gentleman with ACC of the tongue who following resection and radiotherapy, presented 10 years later with a lung metastasis and underwent operative intervention and further radiotherapy. Five years later he presented with obstructive jaundice found to be metastatic ACC. We believe this to be the first report of an ACC metastasizing to the pancreas.

Objectives: Whilst there are theoretical benefits from pre-operatively draining the biliary tree prior to pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), the current literature does not support this intervention. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pre-operative stenting, bactibilia and outcome in a large United Kingdom tertiary referral practice., Methods: Patients undergoing PD were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The presence or absence of a stent prior to PD, and the results of bile cultures taken at PD were related to the subsequent post-operative course and the development of complications., Results: 280 patients underwent PD for periampullary malignancies, all of whom presented with jaundice. 118 patients were stented prior to referral (98 ERCP, 20 PTC). Bile cultures were positive more frequently in the stent group (83% vs. 55%; p = 0.000002) and bactibilia was more common after ERCP than PTC (83% vs. 56%; p = 0.006). The overall prevalence of complications was 54% in the stented and 41% in the non-stented group (p = 0.03) with statistical significance achieved for pancreatic leak (p = 0.013) and haemorrhagic complications (p = 0.03). Comparing stent with no stent, there as no difference in the 30-day mortalities (8.5% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.6) or the 1-year mortality rates (35% vs. 28%; p = 0.21). Mortality rates in the infection versus no infection groups were comparable at 30 days (8.5% vs. 5.5%; p = 0.21), and at 1 year (30.7% vs. 26.4%; p = 0.25)., Conclusions: Pre-operative stent insertion prior to PD is associated with increased morbidity but not mortality and this is greatest for stents placed at ERCP., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Differentiation between the various pathologies presenting as a cystic pancreatic lesion is clinically important but often challenging. We have previously advocated the performance of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with aspiration and determination of mucin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) content. We sought to report the results of this ongoing protocol and determine the relative importance of cyst fluid mucin and CEA for the diagnostic process., Methods: The institutions prospectively maintained pancreatic cyst database was accessed to identify patients who had undergone pancreatic EUS and cyst aspiration as part of their evaluation. Only those patients who had subsequently undergone resection were selected, with histopathology being the gold standard for comparison., Results: From January 2000 to July 2009, 174 patients with pancreatic cystic disease underwent surgery, 121 of whom had an EUS with aspiration attempted at our institution with specimens sent for mucin and CEA. Based on histopathology, 86 mucinous lesions were identified, including 44 cystadenomas, 34 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 7 mucinous adenocarcinomas, and 1 intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm; 42 were nonmucinous lesions. The median cyst CEA levels were significantly higher in the mucinous lesions group at 850 versus 2 ng/mL (P = .001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive diagnostic likelihood ratio, and negative diagnostic likelihood ratio (NDLR) were calculated respectively for mucin alone (0.80, 0.40, 0.61, 0.63, 1.33, 0.68); CEA alone (0.93, 0.43, 0.51, 0.91, 1.63, 0.16); cytology alone (0.38, 0.9, 0.92, 0.31, 3.67, 0.69); mucin or CEA (0.83, 0.65, 0.87, 0.57, 2.51, 0.26); mucin or CEA or cytology (0.92, 0.52, 0.86, 0.68, 1.91, 0.15); mucin plus CEA (0.96, 0.34, 0.25, 0.97, 1.45, 0.12); mucin plus cytology (0.25, 0.97, 0.96, 0.29,7.25, 0.78); CEA plus cytology (0.12, 1.00, 1.00, 0.26, ∞, 0.88); and mucin plus CEA plus cytology (0.08, 1.00, 1.00, 0.25, ∞, 0.92)., Conclusion: Assessment of cyst mucin and CEA are complementary, with the best profile obtained when both markers are determined along with cytology. This combination provides a good sensitivity, PPV, and NDLR, as well as reasonable PPV and PDNR., (Copyright © 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bile duct adenomas are rare tumours that arise more frequently in the distal extrahepatic biliary tree. We report the case of a papillary adenoma arising at the junction of the common and left hepatic ducts and review the available literature on this rare entity. A 73-year-old lady presented with a history of mild weight loss and vague upper abdominal pain. Routine blood tests revealed an elevated c-glutaryl transferase, and an ultrasound scan showed gross dilatation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tree. Subsequent radiological imaging confirmed biliary dilatation and identified tumour within the left and common hepatic ducts with the provisional diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. At laparotomy, there was no evidence of extraductal tumour, and choledochoscopy showed a papillary lesion within the common hepatic and proximal left hepatic ducts. The tumour was excised and the biliary tree was reconstructed. Histological evaluation of the resected specimen confirmed a papillary adenoma with mild dysplasia. This case illustrates that not all biliary tumours are cholangiocarcinomas and referral to a hepatopancreaticobiliary unit for investigation and treatment is mandatory for all cases of obstructive jaundice.

Background: In the past decade or so, a range of technologies have emerged that have shown promise in increasing our understanding of disease processes and progression. These advances are referred to as the "omics" technologies; genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. More recently, another "omics" approach has come to the fore: metabonomics, and this technology has the potential for significant clinical impact. Metabonomics refers to the analysis of the metabolome, that is, the metabolic profile of a system. The advantage of studying the metabolome is that the end points of biological events are elucidated., Results: Although still in its infancy, the metabonomics approach has shown immense promise in areas as diverse as toxicology studies to the discovery of biomarkers of disease. It has also been applied to studies of both renal and hepatic transplants. Metabolome analysis may be conducted on a variety of biological fluids and tissue types and may utilize a number of different technology platforms, mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy being the most popular. In this review, we cover the background to the evolution of metabonomics and its applications with particular emphasis on clinical applications., Conclusions: We conclude with the suggestion that metabonomics offers a platform for further biomarker development, drug development, and in the field of medicine., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To determine the outcome of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) patients based on tumour burden, represented by tumour number and size, and tumour biology as assessed by an inflammatory response to tumour (IRT) and margin positivity., Methods: Data were collated from CRLM patients undergoing resection from January 1993 to March 2007. Patients were divided into: low (3-or=8 metastases and/or >5 cm) tumour burden., Results: Seven hundred and five patients underwent resection, of which 154 (21.8%), 262 (37.2%) and 289 (41.0%) patients were in the low, moderate and high tumour burden groups, respectively. The 5-year disease-free (P < 0.001) and overall (P < 0.001) survival were significantly different between the groups. IRT (P < 0.001), extent of resection (P < 0.001) and margin (P < 0.001) also differed between the groups. Sub-group analysis revealed that IRT was the only adverse predictor for disease-free and overall survival in the low group. In the moderate group, IRT predicted poorer disease-free survival on multi-variate analysis. In the high group, R1 resection and transfusion were predictors of poorer disease-free survival and age >or=65 years, R1 resection and IRT were adverse predictors of overall survival., Conclusion: Resection margin influenced the outcome of patients with high tumour burden, hence the importance of achieving clear margins. IRT influenced the outcome of patients with less aggressive disease.

Background: It has been claimed that oesophageal intubation with a bougie during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) reduces the risk of a tight crural repair and wrap, and thereby decreases the prevalence of post-operative dysphagia. The aim of this study is to assess the benefit of routinely inserting a bougie during LNF, in relation to post-operative dysphagia., Methods: All patients who underwent LNF by a single surgeon between March 2005 and March 2007 were reviewed. Oesophageal intubation during surgery was routinely performed in all patients who underwent LNF during the first 11 months of the study period, whilst during the second phase, routine oesophageal intubation was not performed. The main outcome measures were the prevalence of post-operative dysphagia and complication rates. Dysphagia severity was assessed clinically by a scoring system at discharge, and again at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year., Results: Forty patients had a bougie inserted (group 1) and 42 had no bougie (group 2). The mean age was 49.1 (SD, standard deviation +/- 8.1) years in group 1 and 49.4 (SD +/- 8.4) years in group 2 (p = 0.88). There were no major complications. When assessed at 12 weeks, 60% of group 1 and 51% of group 2 patients still had some degree of dysphagia (p = 0.635) but by 1 year dysphagia had resolved in all patients (p = 1.00). There was no significant difference in the median dysphagia scores between the two groups at: discharge (p = 0.181), 6 weeks (p = 0.234), 12 weeks (p = 0.504), 24 weeks (p = 0.182) or 1 year (p = 0.530). Analysis of the progression of dysphagia over the first post-operative year using Cox regression analysis did not show any significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.375)., Conclusions: LNF can be safely performed without the routine use of an oesophageal bougie and this practice does not result in increased post-operative dysphagia rates.

Introduction: With the worldwide shortage of donors, extra lengths are ongoing to enlarge the donor pool. One means has been a greater use of "expanded criteria donor" (ECD) grafts. A major concern regarding ECD kidneys is poor long-term graft survival. The aims of this study were to determine whether ECD grafts, as defined by the United Network for Organ Sharing, had a negative impact on graft survival and to identify the principle donor and recipient factors that influenced graft survival in our patient cohort., Methods: We analyzed all deceased donor renal transplants in our unit from January 1995 to October 2005, in total 1,053 transplants., Results: ECD grafts (United Network for Organ Sharing criteria) demonstrated higher rates of delayed graft function and higher early mean creatinine levels. However, there was no significant difference in 5-year graft survival. Multivariate analysis of our patient group identified donor hypertension and ischemic heart disease (IHD) as independent predictors of poor graft survival. Recipient age was significant on univariate but not on multivariate analysis. However, although younger recipients maintained acceptable 5-year graft survival despite donor hypertension, IHD, or a combination of both, these factors significantly reduced graft survival in older recipients., Conclusion: Although ECD grafts had slightly worse function, 5-year survival was comparable with standard grafts in all recipients. Donor hypertension, IHD, or a combination of both significantly reduced graft survival in older recipients, not evident in younger patients. We discuss the possible factors for improved outcome with ECD grafts in our patients and the implications of our patient analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of surgical treatment of acute limb ischaemia (ALI) developing in the presence of malignancy., Methods: Patients undergoing emergency surgery were identified from theatre registers, notes were reviewed, and data collected in relation to indications for, and outcome following operation. All patients with a current or past medical history of histologically confirmed malignant disease were identified and their notes specifically reviewed to determine the staging of their tumours. The results of the malignancy cohort were compared to a group of patients undergoing surgery for ALI of other aetiologies., Results: Fourteen patients with a malignancy were identified with ALI and in addition there were 102 without malignancy. The cohort with a malignancy contained a higher proportion of males (p=0.0305), and a greater number of smokers (p=0.037) than those with other aetiologies for ALI. The peri-operative management of the 2 groups was similar. Histological examination revealed tumour thrombus in only 1 case. The recurrence (29% versus 18%; p=0.328) and amputation rates (29% versus 17%; p=0.278) were similar, however, the 30-day (50% versus 30%; p=0.038) and 60-day mortality rates (100% versus 35%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the malignancy group., Conclusions: The development of ALI in patients with malignant disease may be regarded as a terminal event despite comparable performance status at the time of surgery to those with other cause for ALI. The role of surgery in patients with known advanced malignancies appears to be of dubious benefit with little survival benefit., (Copyright 2010 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The impact of postoperative morbidity, and in particular infective complications on long-term outcomes, following hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is not widely published., Objective: To evaluate the effect of postoperative complications on disease recurrence and overall survival in patients undergoing hepatic resection for CRLM., Methods: All patients undergoing hepatic resection for CRLM from January 1993 and March 2007 were identified, and postoperative complications analyzed. Patients who died of postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery were excluded form the study. Postoperative complications were graded using a validated system of classification. Complications were further classified into infective and noninfective complication groups and the primary end points of the study were disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years., Result: A total of 705 patients underwent hepatic resection in the study period. Median follow-up was 38 months. Operative morbidity and mortality were 28% and 3.6%, respectively. The total number of patients was 197 (28%) with complications, and 508 (72%) without complications. The 5 year DFS and OS for those with and without complications were: 13% versus 26% (P < 0.001) and 24% versus 37% (P < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed inflammatory response to tumor score, blood transfusion, tumor number >8, and postoperative sepsis to be independent factors associated with DFS, and inflammatory response to tumor, tumor number >8, and postoperative sepsis to be independent predictors for OS. Intra-abdominal and respiratory infection but not wound infections were associated with poorer long-term outcomes., Conclusions: Postoperative complications influence long-term outcomes in hepatic resection for CRLM. Specifically, postoperative sepsis is an independent predictor of disease free and overall survival. Thorough preoperative optimization, meticulous surgical technique and careful management in the postoperative period may reduce the incidence of these complications and influence long-term outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the role of adding gabapentin (Neurontin) to the prescription of patients with opiate resistant pain as a result of critical limb ischaemia (CLI)., Methods: An observational pilot study was performed on 20 consecutive patients with CLI who were taking all experiencing rest pain despite high dose opiate analgesia. None of the patients were candidates for reconstructive surgery or angioplasty due to the anatomical distribution of their vascular disease or presence of co-morbidities. Gabapentin was commenced at 300 mg daily and titrated to 300 mg tds over 3 days. Doses were then increased up to 600 mg tds as indicated. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scoring at baseline, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days. Improvements in night pain and need for opiates were also noted. The primary end point was pain score at 28 days or until surgical intervention/death if these points occurred sooner., Results: Nineteen of 20 reported significant night pain, 15 had gangrene or ulceration. Seventeen of 20 patients completed the full observation period of 28 days. Two patients required an operation and 1 patient died of a myocardial infarct. The pain scores fell from a median of 9 (inter-quartile range [IQR]) (7-9) at baseline to 5 (3-6) at 28 days. Improvement in pain scores was observed in 15/17 patients. Of the 17 completing the study, 16 had experienced rest pain at the time of referral of which 15 had significant benefit with gabapentin., Conclusions: The study has demonstrated that gabapentin is a useful adjuvant in the management of CLI and leads to significant reductions in pain scores and improves night pain for most patients., (Copyright 2010 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: CA19-9 is a carbohydrate tumor-associated antigen which is frequently upregulated in pancreatobiliary neoplasia. However, it may also be elevated in patients with jaundice in the absence of a tumor due to biliary obstruction, and in other non-hepato-pancreatico-biliary conditions. This study aimed to evaluate whether CA19-9 levels could accurately differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatobiliary disease., Methods: All patients referred to a single surgeon for investigation of pancreaticobiliary disease in 2003 in whom a firm diagnosis had been established were included. For malignant disease, a histological diagnosis was required but for benign disease a firm radiological diagnosis was deemed adequate. The patients were divided into 4 categories: pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PCa); cholangiocarcinoma (CCa); chronic pancreatitis (CP) and biliary calculous disease (Calc). Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels corresponding to the point of assessment of CA19-9 were also noted., Results: Final diagnoses were made of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PCa, n=73), cholangiocarcinoma (CCa, n=19), ampullary carcinoma (Amp, n=7), neuroendocrine carcinoma (Neu, n=4), duodenal carcinoma (Duo, n=3), chronic pancreatitis (CP, n=115), and biliary calculous disease (Calc, n=27). Median CA19-9 levels (U/ml) were: PCa, 653; CCa, 408; Duo, 403; Calc, 27; CP, 19; Neu, 10.5; Amp, 8 (reference range: 0-37). The CA19-9 levels were significantly greater for malignant than for benign disease, could differentiate PCa from CCa/Duo, and were significantly higher in unresectable than in resectable PCa. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for CA19-9 were 84.9%, 69.7%, 67.7% and 86.1%, respectively. A ROC analysis provided an area under the curve for CA19-9 of 0.871 (0.820-0.922), giving an optimal CA19-9 of 70.5 U/ml for differentiating benign from malignant pathology. Using this cut-off, the sensitivity was 82.1%, while specificity, PPV and NPV improved to 85.9%, 81.3% and 86.5%, respectively. When standard radiology was included (US/CT/MRCP) in the decision process, the results improved to 97.2%, 88.7%, 86.6%, and 97.7%. For benign disease, the CA19-9 correlated directly with the serum bilirubin, but for malignant disease, CA19-9 levels were elevated independent of the bilirubin level., Conclusions: CA19-9 is useful in the differentiation of pancreatobiliary disease and when using an optimized cut-off and combining with routine radiology, the diagnostic yield is improved significantly, thus stressing the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to pancreatobiliary disease.

Context: There are classical radiological features for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis when utilising endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or computed tomography (CT), however, not all patients exhibit these features despite convincing clinical histories, which may result in diagnostic delay., Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis when other imaging modalities had not yielded a diagnosis., Methods: All patients undergoing pancreatic EUS between January 1996 and December 2004 were identified from the radiology computerised database. Sixteen patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (10 males, 6 females; mean age 53+/-4 years) underwent EUS after normal conventional imaging. Patients were then followed clinically until December 2007., Results: Thirteen patients exhibited features of chronic pancreatitis not identified by other modalities, which included duct dilatation (n=8), calcification (n=7); parenchymal change (n=6), irregular undilated ducts (n=2), pancreatic ductal calculi (n=1), and fine calcification (n=1). Of the remaining 3 patients, a diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis was made in one, in another there was a pancreatic duct stricture of uncertain origin that was stented, and in only one case was no diagnosis established. All 13 patients with an EUS diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis subsequently underwent a repeat CT scan for surveillance of their disease and in all cases, the CT scans subsequently demonstrated evidence of chronic pancreatitis indicating radiological progression. No new pancreaticobiliary diagnoses were established during this period., Conclusions: EUS is a useful diagnostic tool confirming the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis in 13 of 16 cases where histories were suspicious of chronic pancreatitis, and providing an alternative diagnosis in another two cases. EUS should be considered an important tool for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and should be used when cross-sectional imaging is non-diagnostic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of EUS where other investigative techniques had failed to identify the cause of biochemically proven acute pancreatitis., Setting: All biliary EUS examinations performed between January 2000 and December 2004 were identified from the radiology computerised database., Patients: Forty-two patients (25 male, 17 female; mean age: 53+/-3.2 years) with negative prior radiological investigations underwent EUS., Main Outcome Measures: Prior and later radiological investigations, hospital readmission, and the need for further surgical intervention were also analysed., Results: EUS was normal in 17 patients (40.5%) and demonstrated signs of recent acute pancreatitis but no other aetiological factor in 8 patients (19.0%). Cholelithiasis or microlithiasis was identified in 9 patients (21.4%), combined gallstones/microlithiasis and choledocholithiasis in was seen in 6 patients (14.3%). In one patient (2.4%), calculi were seen in the common bile duct but not the gallbladder. In a further case with recurrent acute pancreatitis (2.4%), chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed on EUS. All patients with common bile duct stones underwent ERCP and sphincterotomy, and stones were universally confirmed. One patient with gallbladder calculi alone required an ERCP after developing jaundice whilst awaiting cholecystectomy., Conclusions: EUS provided additional diagnostic information in 17 of the 42 patients (40.5%). Moreover, exclusion of gallstones/microlithiais is also important as it facilitates a search for other causes of pancreatitis. In conclusion, most cases of cholelithiasis can be diagnosed with standard imaging modalities but when these fail to identify a cause, EUS has an important role to play.

A 44-year-old man presented with acute onset painless haemorrhage from his ileostomy. He had undergone panproctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis 17 years previously. Immediately following admission, he experienced further massive haemorrhage, developing hypovolaemic shock. Active resuscitation including suturing of a bleeding stomal varix was successful. An ultrasound scan of the liver was reported to be normal and the patient was discharged for further outpatient investigation. However he reattended 8 days later with further significant haemorrhage. Investigation with CT revealed portal hypertension and cirrhosis. The patient is currently awaiting a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure and transjugular biopsy to alleviate his portal hypertension and yield a tissue sample for histological diagnosis. The case highlights the need for clinicians to have a high index of suspicion when presented with bleeding stomas. Further investigation is warranted and may reveal significant underlying hepatic disease. Additionally, further procedures may be necessitated to prevent recurrence of haemorrhage.

Background and Aims: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly being used to enlarge the cohort of patients who can be offered hepatic resection for malignancy. However, the impact of these agents on the liver parenchyma itself, and their effects on clinical outcomes following hepatic resection remain unclear. This review identifies patterns of regimen-specific chemotherapy-induced hepatic injury and assesses their impact on outcomes following hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM)., Methods: An electronic search was performed using the MEDLINE (US Library of Congress) database from 1966 to May 2007 to identify relevant articles related to chemotherapy-induced hepatic injury and subsequent outcome following hepatic resection., Results: The use of the combination of 5-flourouracil and leucovorin is linked to the development of hepatic steatosis, and translates into increased postoperative infection rates. A form of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) related to chemotherapy and otherwise known as chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis (CASH) is closely linked to irinotecan-based therapy and is associated with inferior outcomes following hepatic surgery mainly due to hepatic insufficiency and poor regeneration. Data on sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) following treatment with oxaliplatin are less convincing, but there appears to be an increased risk for intra-operative bleeding and decreased hepatic reserve associated with the presence of SOS. Intra-arterial floxuridine therapy damages the extrahepatic biliary tree in addition to causing parenchymal liver damage, and has been shown to be associated with increased morbidity after hepatic resection., Conclusion: Agent-specific patterns of damage are now being recognized with increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery. The potential benefits and risks of these should be considered on an individual patient basis prior to hepatic resection.

Background: Transient transaminitis has been identified following laparoscopic abdominal surgery. However, the importance of posture, duration of surgery, and mechanical retraction in its etiology remain unclear., Methods: Liver function was assessed preoperatively then at 8, 24, 48 and 72 h following laparoscopic surgery including the following procedures: Nissen fundoplication (LN: n = 10); cholecystectomy (LC: n = 10); inguinal herniorrhaphy (LH: n = 10); and gastrectomy (LG: n = 5)., Results: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in LN patients exhibited a rapid rise within 8 h, peaking at 48 h before returning toward baseline. In the LN group, AST levels were significantly higher at 8 h and 24 hours compared to all other groups and compared to LG at 48 h and 72 h. At 6-week follow-up all AST levels were normal. No significant differences were seen in other hepatic parameters, and no correlation between AST and duration of operation, gender, or age was identified., Conclusions: Antireflux surgery is associated with transaminitis related to hepatic retraction, which is independent of patient posture or duration of observation, and it resolves spontaneously with no clinical consequences.

Background: For many patients with aorto-occlusive disease, where stent deployment is not possible, surgery remains the only treatment option available. The aim of this study was to assess the results of aortic reconstruction surgery performed in patients with critical ischaemia., Methods: All patients with critical ischaemia undergoing surgery during 1991-2004 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Mortality data was verified against death certificate data. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the clinical notes and the radiology database. Disease was classified as: type I - limited to aorta and common iliac arteries; type II - external iliac disease and type III combined aortic, iliac and infra-inguinal disease., Results: 86 patients underwent aortic replacement surgery all of whom had critical ischaemia consisting of: type I (n = 16); type II (n = 37) and type III (n = 33). The 30-day mortality rate was 10.4%, the one-year patient survival was 80%, and the 1-year graft survival was 80%. At 2 years the actual patient survival was 73% and no additional graft losses were identified. All patients surviving 30 days reported excellent symptomatic relief. Early, complications occurred in 6 (7%) patients: thrombosis within diseased superficial femoral arteries (n = 4); haemorrhage and subsequent death (n = 2). Ten (14%) late complications (> 12 months) occurred in the 69 surviving patients and included: anastomotic stenosis (n = 3); graft thrombosis (n = 4), graft infection (n = 3). Four patients developed claudication as a result of more distal disease in the presence of a patent graft, and 1 patient who continued smoking required an amputation for progressive distal disease., Conclusion: Aortic reconstruction for patients with extensive aorto-occlusive disease provides long-standing symptomatic relief for the majority of patients. After the first year, there is continued patient attrition due to co-existent cardiovascular disease but no further graft losses.

Introduction: Colonic diaphragm disease is an uncommon condition usually associated with the long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs., Case Presentation: A 48-year-old woman presented as an emergency patient with abdominal pain and vomiting. Past medical history included inflammatory bowel disease of ulcerative colitis type for which she was taking azathioprine and prednisolone. On examination, she was shocked with signs of peritonism. Following resuscitation, she was taken for a laparotomy upon which a small amount of turbid fluid was identified but there was no direct evidence of an intra-abdominal perforation. A peritoneal lavage was performed and she was taken to the intensive care unit. A repeat laparotomy was performed on the sixth postoperative day, following a clinical deterioration and again no leak was identified. Given the history of ulcerative colitis, the perforation was presumed to be of colonic origin and a total colectomy and ileostomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the colectomy specimen revealed extensive colonic diaphragm disease with 30 thin-walled diaphragms, one of which reduced the lumen to a pin-hole. No perforation was identified., Conclusion: To the best of the our knowledge, this is the first report of the development of colonic diaphragm disease in the absence of a history of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ingestion. Given the history of ulcerative colitis we believe that the disease may have arisen as a result of the healing of the underlying inflamed colon rather than as a direct effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Background: To date, there is limited data available on prognostic factors that influence long-term disease-free survival following hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors that were associated with long-term disease-free survival (>5 years) following resection for CRLM., Methods: Patients undergoing resection for CRLM from January 1993 to March 2007 were identified from the hepatobiliary database. Data analyzed included demographics, laboratory results, operative findings and histopathological data., Results: Seven hundred five curative primary hepatic resections were performed, of which 434 patients developed disease recurrence within 5 years and 67 patients were disease-free more than 5 years. There was a significant association between systemic inflammatory response (raised neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and/or C-reactive protein), blood transfusion, >2 tumors, bilobar disease and resection margin involvement with developing recurrence during the follow-up period. On multivariate analysis, three independent predictors for recurrent disease within the 5-year follow-up were identified: pre-operative inflammatory response; blood transfusion requirement; and status of resection margin., Conclusion: Absence of a systemic inflammatory response and surgical technique to minimize transfusion requirements and obtain a R0 resection margin, are associated with long-term disease-free survival., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Aims: To analyse the results and prognostic factors affecting disease-free and overall survival following potentially curative resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC)., Methods: Patients undergoing resection for IHCC from January 1996 to December 2006 were included. Data analysed included demographics, clinical and histopathology data., Results: Twenty-seven patients were identified with a median age of 57 (32-84) years. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 74%, 16% and 16%, and 44%, 15% and 15%, respectively. On univariate analysis, age <65 years, female gender, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) >or= 5, micro-vascular invasion and lymph node involvement were predictors of poorer overall survival. Multivariate analysis did not identify any independent predictors of overall survival. A NLR >or= 5 was the only adverse predictor of disease-free survival. The median disease-free survival of patients with NLR >or= 5 was 6 months compared to 18 months for those with NLR < 5. There was a significant association between patients with a NLR >or= 5 and larger tumour size, satellite lesions, micro-vascular invasion and lymph node involvement., Conclusion: Long-term outcome following resection of IHCC is poor. A pre-operative NLR >or= 5 was an adverse predictor of disease-free survival and was associated with an aggressive tumour biology profile., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Introduction: Over the course of the past decade, numerous changes have occurred in the management of patients undergoing vascular surgical operations. The introduction of high dependency units (HDUs) has meant that many patients previously requiring observation in intensive care units (ICUs) are now managed in this new environment. In addition, many vascular patients may now be suitable for management on a vascular ward immediately following their surgery. This study reports the chronological changes in resource utilisation of patients undergoing major vascular surgery in a district general hospital over a 14-year period., Patients and Methods: Details of all patients admitted to either the ICU or HDU under the care of a single vascular surgeon during the period 1991-2004 were extracted from a prospectively maintained anaesthetic department database. Details of the age and gender of the patients were obtained together with source of admission, place of discharge and need for re-admission. Operative details for each patient were extracted from a prospectively maintained vascular surgery database including type of procedure undertaken and degree of urgency., Results: During the 14-year period under study, there was a dramatic decrease in the use of ICU facilities for the management of vascular patients from 100% in 1991 to 36% in 2004. There was a corresponding increase in the use of HDU for major vascular cases during the same period from 0% to 66%. However, despite a significant increase in the total number of major vascular operations performed, from 67 in 1991 to 185 in 2004 as a result of sub-specialisation, overall use of all high-care facilities fell as the number of patients returned directly to the vascular ward increased from 34% in 1991 to 64% in 2004. The efficacy of the choice of management venue was confirmed by the observation that only 7.7% of those managed on ICU had been initially managed at a lower level of care. In addition, only 1.8% of patients managed on HDU had been admitted after initially being managed on the vascular ward., Conclusions: Sub-specialisation over the past decade has meant a significantly increased major vascular work-load. Since the introduction of the HDU, there has been a significant fall in the use of ICU facilities for routine cases. These changes in resource utilisation have significant implications in terms of budget allocation. It would appear that finances, in relation to vascular surgery, should be concentrated on expanding HDU facilities and ensuring vascular surgery expertise amongst ward nursing staff.

Background: Over the course of the past 40 years, there have been a significant number of changes in the way in which lymphomatous disease is diagnosed and managed. With the advent of computed tomography, there is little role for staging laparotomy and the surgeon's role may now more diagnostic than therapeutic., Aims: To review all cases of lymphoma diagnosed at a single institution in order determine the current role of the surgeon in the diagnosis and management of lymphoma., Patients and Methods: Computerized pathology records were reviewed for a five-year period 1996 to 2000 to determine all cases of lymph node biopsy (incisional or excisional) in which tissue was obtained as part of a planned procedure. Cases of incidental lymphadenopathy were thus excluded., Results: A total of 297 biopsies were performed of which 62 (21%) yielded lymphomas. There were 22 females and 40 males with a median age of 58 years (range: 19-84 years). The lymphomas were classified as 80% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 18% Hodgkin's lymphoma and 2% post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Diagnosis was established by general surgeons (n = 48), ENT surgeons (n = 9), radiologists (n = 4) and ophthalmic surgeons (n = 1). The distribution of excised lymph nodes was: cervical (n = 23), inguinal (n = 15), axillary (n = 11), intra-abdominal (n = 6), submandibular (n = 2), supraclavicular (n = 2), periorbital (n = 1), parotid (n = 1) and mediastinal (n = 1). Fine needle aspiration cytology had been performed prior to biopsy in only 32 (52%) cases and had suggested: lymphoma (n = 10), reactive changes (n = 13), normal (n = 5), inadequate (n = 4). The majority (78%) of cervical lymph nodes were subjected to FNAC prior to biopsy whilst this was performed in only 36% of non-cervical lymphadenopathy., Conclusion: The study has shown that lymphoma is a relatively common cause of surgical lymphadenopathy. Given the limitations of FNAC, all suspicious lymph nodes should be biopsied following FNAC even if the FNAC is reported normal or demonstrating reactive changes only. With the more widespread application of molecular techniques, and the development of improved minimally-invasive procedures, percutaneous and endoscopic techniques may come to dominate, however, at present; the surgeon still has an important role to play in the diagnosis if not treatment of lymphomas.

Background: Sudden onset peri- or post-coital cardiovascular disease is well documented in the literature including myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus and subarachnoid haemorrhage. The occurrence of aortic dissection in this setting has been reported only once previously., Case Presentation: We report the case of a 47 year old man who developed sudden onset right leg pain during coitus. This was initially believed to be neurological due to nerve impingement but an MRI failed to identify a prolapse. On further review after 6 weeks, pulses were noted to be absent in the patient's right leg and an urgent vascular review with investigation identified a dissection of the aorta which was subsequently successfully treated., Conclusion: This case illustrates a rare presentation of aortic dissection and demonstrates the importance of a thorough vascular assessment in the presence of sudden onset limb pain.

Introduction: Internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) is a rare but potentially fatal condition. It usually arises following trauma to the internal jugular vein but is also seen in association with coagulopathies and advanced malignancies as part of a para-neoplastic syndrome., Case Presentation: We report a case of a 44 year old woman with a strong past medical history and family history of thrombotic disease who presented with abdominal pain and ascites. A stage III ovarian carcinoma was diagnosed and she underwent debulking of the tumour. She sustained a peri-operative haemorrhage and required insertion of a central line into the right internal jugular vein. At one month follow-up she presented as an emergency with a left neck mass and painful swallowing. A duplex ultrasound of her neck identified a left IJVT to the level of the brachiocephalic vein which had occurred despite warfarinisation and an INR of greater than 2. She was commenced on intravenous heparin and the swelling resolved over the course of a week., Conclusion: This case illustrates an unusual presentation of a rare condition. In this case, the precise aetiology is unclear as the IJVT may have been related to a coagulopathy or the presence of advanced malignancy and occurred despite adequate anticoagulation.

Background: As a result of improvements in diagnostic accuracy, the primary source of the tumour is identified in more than 99% of cases presenting with a malignancy. Whilst the axial skeleton is a common site of metastases, the sternum is rarely affected, especially by isolated metastases., Case Presentation: We report a case of a 68 year old male who was referred to the surgical outpatient clinic with a six month history of sternal pain. The patient was known to have essential thrombocythaemia, which had recently transformed into acute myeloid leukaemia but a sternal biospy showed mucinous adenocarcinoma. He had not localising symptoms and full evaluation failed to localise the primary tumour., Conclusion: Solitary sternal metastases are rare and when found an underlying neoplasm is usually identified allowing targeted treatment. If however, there is no symptomatic tumour, the metastasis should simply be treated symptomatically.

Background: The presence of perigraft air is a common finding in the immediate post-operative phase following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair whilst the later appearance of air, in association with elevated inflammatory markers, is regarded as being indicative of the serious complication of graft infection. What is not known is at what timepoint following surgery does the perigraft air become a significant finding., Case Presentation: We report the case of a 71 year old man who underwent a computed tomography scan 15 days following repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm because of the presence of unexplained pyrexia. The scan showed the presence of perigraft air and a small haematoma. The patient was managed conservatively and after 6 weeks the air and haematoma had resolved completely., Conclusion: The presence of perigraft air in the early postoperative phase is probably a normal finding, is not associated with graft infection and can be managed non-operatively.

For patients with colorectal liver metastases, hepatic resection is the treatment of choice, and the 5-year survival rate following surgery now exceeds 50%. Timely multidisciplinary and multimodality approaches that may include preoperative systemic chemotherapy, preoperative portal vein embolization, extended hepatic resection, and two-stage hepatectomy, have enabled a large proportion of patients to undergo potentially curative treatment. The definition of resectability has shifted from a focus on tumor characteristics, such as tumor number and size, to determination of whether both intrahepatic and extrahepatic disease can be completely resected and whether such an approach is appropriate from an oncologic standpoint for a given patient. Future identification of molecular factors may aid in predicting prognosis of patients with colorectal liver metastases and in improving the selection of patients most likely to benefit from surgery. Hepatobiliary surgeons and medical oncologists should work together to individualize treatment strategies to maximize long-term survival in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Introduction: Emergency hernia surgery is associated with a higher postoperative complication and a less favourable outcome. The aim of this study was to audit emergency presentations of abdominal hernias prospectively in order to identify delays in patient treatment., Patients and Methods: Prospective audit was carried out between January and September 2003 of all patients presenting acutely with symptomatic hernias. In total, 55 patients presented, 39 of whom needed surgical intervention. The emergency repairs were compared with a cohort of elective repairs performed in the trust at the same time., Results: The median age was 77 years (range, 5-92 years; 35 male, 20 female). The distribution of the hernias, requiring surgery, was inguinal (19), para-umbilical (10), incisional (5) and femoral (5). The overall complication rate was 46.2% and the in-patient stay was 4 days (range, 1-49 days). Six patients required small bowel resection. Conservative management was identified as a key contributing factor in the delay of treatment. There was a significant increase in the in-patient stay, the early complication rate and the small bowel resection rate in the emergency repairs., Discussion: Patients with a symptomatic hernia should be offered elective, surgical repair. Non-operative management is inappropriate for the vast majority of cases, especially when many repairs may be performed with local anaesthetic infiltration. Clinicians should be aware of the high morbidity associated with the emergency repair of abdominal hernias in the elderly.

Background: Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumor that presents in an insidious manner with non-specific symptoms. Given its rarity, there are no consensus guidelines to its management. The aim of this study was to report the clinical experience in the management of patients presenting to our institution during a 12 year period., Patients and Methods: Four patients with leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava were managed at our institution during the period reviewed. Patient details were identified through a search of the pathology department computerized database, and case notes were retrospectively reviewed to obtain details of presentation and management., Results: There were 3 females and 1 male with a mean age of 59 years. All tumors were identified within 2 months of first symptoms. Three of the 4 had localized tumors whilst 1 patient had lung metastases at presentation. The three patients with resectable tumors underwent radical surgical excision of the tumor, and two patients had postoperative radiotherapy. One patient died of recurrence at 7 months, and another at 30 months. The third patient is currently well and disease free at 16 months. The fourth patient with metastatic disease was treated with chemotherapy alone and survived 36 months., Conclusion: Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is an uncommon tumor that presents with non-specific symptoms. At the time of presentation, tumors are usually large and resection is challenging but probably offers the best opportunity for long-term survival.

The exact relationship between transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFbeta-1) and the development of chronic graft nephropathy remains uncertain; however, it would appear that TGFbeta-1 is up-regulated at the protein and mRNA levels during the first year following cadaveric renal transplantation and the effect of 'high producer' gene polymorphisms may also be important. This up-regulation of TGFbeta-1 in plasma may provide a novel. non-invasive means of identifying early fibrotic damage before it becomes clinically apparent thus allowing an opportunity for intervention for grafts that may otherwise fail.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal complications have historically resulted in considerable morbidity and mortality to renal transplant recipients. Over the last decade, antiulcer prophylaxis with proton-pump inhibitors and immunosuppression with tacrolimus-based regimes have been introduced. Little has been written about foregut complications after renal transplantation since the use of these agents. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of upper gastrointestinal complications after renal transplantation in patients treated with (i) omeprazole vs. ranitidine, and (ii) tacrolimus vs. cyclosporin based immunosuppression., Methods: Information on 236 patients undergoing renal transplantation between January 1996 and December 1998 was collected prospectively onto a computerized database., Results: Overall, 20 patients (8%) developed upper gastrointestinal complications, opportunistic infections accounted for 9/20 (45%). No patient developed gastroduodenal ulceration, required laparotomy, suffered graft loss or died. There was no significant difference in the frequency of complications between patients that received antisecretory therapy with omeprazole (9/118, 8%) and those that received ranitidine (11/118, 9%), nor between those that were on tacrolimus (7/101, 7%) and those on cyclosporin (13/135, 10%) based immunosuppression regimes. Patients that developed foregut complications were significantly older than those not developing complications (mean age 50 vs. 43 yrs, p=0.05). Further, patients that developed opportunistic infections were more frequently diabetic than those in whom opportunistic infections were not seen (4/31, 13% vs. 5/205, 2%), p=0.02., Conclusions: We observed a low frequency (8%) of upper gastrointestinal tract complications after renal transplantation. There was no difference in the frequency of complications between patients on tacrolimus and those on cyclosporin based immunosuppression. Furthermore, the complication rates were similar in those that received omeprazole and those that received ranitidine as antiulcer prophylaxis, indicating the equivalence of these two agents in this setting.