A four-year retrospective study and review of selection criteria and post-operative complications of stapled haemorrhoidopexy.

BACKGROUND: Severe life-threatening complications have been reported from the use of procedure for prolapsed haemorrhoids (PPH). First, we assessed post-operative complication rates over 4 years of PPH experience. We then sought to assess the impact of selection criteria for patients receiving PPH on post-operative complication rates and review our findings in the context of published literature. METHODS: Over a 4-year period 2006-2010 at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, all 118 patients receiving PPH were audited for readmissions with post-operative complications using the admission database. A further retrospective audit of 50 patients' notes assessed the impact of selection criteria for PPH on post-operative complication rates. All PPH operations were performed by one of two senior colorectal consultants using the standard technique with a circular stapler. RESULTS: Of the 118 patients from the 4-year audit, 12 (10 %) patients were readmitted. Two (1.7 %) of these 12 patients had post-operative pain, six (5.1 %) had rectal bleeding, three (2.5 %) had urinary retention, and one (0.8 %) had localised infection. There was one (0.8 %) patient mortality resulting from severe sepsis from an infected intra-abdominal haemorrhagic collection. In the following audit of 50 patients' notes, 15 patients had internal prolapsed haemorrhoids alone, of which one (6.6 %) experienced post-operative complications compared with six (55 %) of the 11 patients who had haemorrhoids and skin tags. CONCLUSIONS: With careful selection of patients, PPH may be indicated for prolapsed internal haemorrhoids. More specific national guidelines are required with regard to contraindications to PPH.

Single-dose metronidazole vs 5-day multi-drug antibiotic regimen in excision of pilonidal sinuses with primary closure: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded pilot study.

AIM: To compare infection-related wound complications following excision of pilonidal sinuses with primary closure using either single-dose intravenous (i.v.) administration of metronidazole preoperatively or a broad-spectrum multi-drug regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a double-blinded study wherein 50 patients were randomized into receiving either single-drug (metronidazole 500 mg i.v.) prophylaxis preoperatively or multi-drug cover (cefuroxime 1.5 g i.v. and metronidazole 0.5 g i.v. preoperatively, and co-amoxiclav 375 mg orally 8-hourly postoperatively for 5 days). They were reviewed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Wounds were graded as follows: I, healthy; II, redness and swelling of edges; III, abscess in relation to a suture; IV, spreading wound infection; and V, wound breakdown. Other factors considered were the distance from the lowest wound margin to the anal verge and previous local surgery. RESULTS: Fifty patients (38 men and 12 women, mean age 27 years) underwent pilonidal sinus surgery. At week 1, there was no difference in wound infection rates (p=0.9). However, there were significantly more wound infections in the single-drug group at week 2 (p<0.0001) and week 4 (p=0.03). Seventy-two per cent of all patients had complete wound healing at week 4. Distance from the anal verge and previous surgery did not affect wound infection rates (p> or =0.2). Treating such complications costs 73,219.20 dollars per 100 patients. CONCLUSION: A broad-spectrum 5-day regimen is superior to 'single-shot' antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing infection-related wound complications. However, this study needs to be conducted in a larger number of patients to have statistical power.

Single-dose metronidazole versus 5-day multi-drug antibiotic regimen in excision of pilonidal sinuses with primary closure: a prospective randomised controlled double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This pilot study examines whether single-dose intravenous metronidazole preoperatively is at least as effective as a broad-spectrum multi-drug regimen in preventing infection-related wound complications following excision of pilonidal sinuses with primary closure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A double-blinded study with 50 patients randomised to receiving either a single drug (intravenous metronidazole 500 mg) prophylaxis preoperatively or multi-drug cover (intravenous cefuroxime 1.5 g and metronidazole 0.5 g preoperatively, and oral co-amoxiclav 375 mg 8-hourly postoperatively). They will be reviewed 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. The wound will be graded as: I, healthy; II, redness and swelling of edges; III, abscess related to a suture; IV, spreading wound infection; V, wound breakdown. Other factors considered are the distance from the lowest wound margin to the anal verge, and previous pilonidal sinus surgery. RESULTS: Results awaited. CONCLUSION: Single-dose metronidazole seems an appropriate and low-cost antibiotic to consider for prophylaxis in pilonidal sinus surgery. This study will form the base for a trial to be conducted in larger numbers as a randomised controlled trial in order to have statistical power.

Toxic megacolon due to Salmonella: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Salmonella colitis is an unusual cause of toxic megacolon. We provide an overview of this condition and report a single case. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 62-year-old man underwent subtotal colectomy with ileostomy formation for toxic megacolon due to Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 colitis, followed by reversal with an ileorectal anastomosis. RESULTS: Twenty-seven cases have been described in the literature. These were first treated conservatively, with antibiotics and systemic/local steroids, and some proceded to surgery. CONCLUSION: Salmonella is a rare cause of toxic megacolon, but it can behave opportunistically in patients with ulcerative colitis. S. enteritidis phage type 4 is typically transmitted via raw or uncooked eggs in most cases of salmonellosis attributed to this organism. The disease is rapidly progressive, and death may ensue due to septicaemia and/or perforation. Toxic megacolon is treated aggressively, initially medically, with high-dose steroids and attention to fluid balance, ulcerative colitis being the usual working diagnosis. Once Salmonella is cultured, appropriate antibiotics are commenced. Non-surgical decompression may be appropriate in some cases, but early surgical intervention is required for failed response to these measures or rapid deterioration in the patient's condition. Following initial surgery - often subtotal colectomy and ileostomy formation - continuity may be restored. For most patients with ulcerative colitis ileal pouch anal anastomosis is the operation of choice, but ileorectal anastomosis may be safely performed for Salmonella-induced toxic megacolon. Prevention is better than cure, and therefore health education needs to reinforce avoidance of use of raw or uncooked eggs.

Diagnostic lessons learnt from a series of enterovesical fistulae.

OBJECTIVE: An enterovesical fistula (EVF) is an uncommon condition requiring careful and sometimes extensive preoperative investigation. Our experience over a 10-year period has been reviewed with emphasis on the diagnostic investigations performed. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Forty-two patients (30 male) have been studied. Presenting symptoms, diagnostic investigations, and subsequent treatment have been reviewed. RESULTS: The site of the fistulae were; 37 colonic, 2 rectal, and 3 ileal. The commonest presenting symptoms were; pneumaturia 75%, faecaluria 63% and urinary tract infections 57%. The positivity rate of the investigations performed were; cystoscopy 89%, urine cytology 86%, barium enema 65%, computerized tomography (CT) scanning 55%, IVP 35%, and cystography 27.5%. The causes of the fistula were; diverticular disease 71%, carcinoma 20%, Crohn's disease 7%, and radiotherapy 2%. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend cystoscopy and urine cytology for faecal material as the first-line investigations in all patients with a suspected enterovesical fistulae. CT scanning and barium enema should not be first line investigations but may be performed subsequently to help determine the aetiology and planning of surgery.

Outcome after multiple colorectal tumours.

BACKGROUND: Patients with primary colorectal cancers have a higher risk of development of second tumours synchronously or metachronously. This special group of patients raise a particular interest in their characteristics and outcome. METHODS: The records of 1009 patients with colorectal cancer were scrutinized. A group with multiple cancers was identified. Perioperative investigations, patterns of follow-up, pathological variables and outcome were noted. RESULTS: There were 22 patients with metachronous tumours and 39 with synchronous tumours following 'curative' operations in 20 and 28 respectively. There was no difference in Dukes classification between the two groups: Polyps were associated with metachronous lesions in ten of 22 patients and synchronous lesions in 17 of 39 patients. Five-year survival was 75 per cent for patients with metachronous tumours and only 18 per cent for those with synchronous tumours. CONCLUSION: In this study patients with metachronous tumours seemed to do very well while those with synchronous lesions did very badly. There were no identifiable demographic or clinical characteristics to account for this. There is a need to study this group of patients and identify factors like tumour biology or host resistance which prevent spread of tumour.

Adrenal abscess in a neonate due to gas-informing organisms: a diagnostic dilemma.

A case of adrenal abscess due to bacteroides and peptostreptococcus in a 16-day-old infant is presented. The clinical manifestations consisted of a huge abdominal swelling associated with fever and lethargy. This is the first case report of an adrenal abscess due to gas-forming organisms, a finding which makes the preoperative diagnosis more difficult. Surgical drainage, subtotal excision of the abscess wall under cover of antibiotics and preservation of the ipsilateral kidney were followed by survival.