Effect of the introduction of an emergency general surgery service on outcomes from appendicectomy.

BACKGROUND: Appendicectomy is a common general surgical emergency procedure and may be used as a surrogate marker to evaluate quality in surgical management. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of appendicectomy before and after the introduction of a consultant-led emergency general surgery (EGS) service at a large metropolitan tertiary referral centre. METHODS: A retrospective historical control study was performed that included all adult patients undergoing appendicectomy during two 18-month periods, before and after the introduction of the EGS service. Data collected included patient demographics, use of radiological investigations, time to surgery, length of hospital stay and histopathology findings. Outcome measures were time to surgery, hospital length of stay, use of radiological investigations, negative appendicectomy rate and perforation rate. RESULTS: A total of 675 patients were identified of whom 276 had an appendicectomy before the EGS service was introduced (2008-2009) and 399 after its introduction (2011-2012). The EGS service resulted in an increase in time to surgery (15 versus 18 h; P < 0.001) with no increase in length of hospital stay (3 days for both periods; P = 0.424). An increase in the rate of appendicectomies performed within office hours was seen (54.3 versus 64.4 per cent; P < 0.001), with no significant increase in negative appendicectomy (13.0 versus 15.8 per cent; P = 0.322) or perforation (8.3 versus 5.5 per cent; P = 0.149) rates. The use of preoperative computed tomography reduced from 38.4 to 26.6 per cent (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The introduction of a consultant-led EGS service resulted in a decrease in the use of computed tomography and a greater proportion of appendicectomies performed within office hours, with no increase in length of stay. Overall negative appendicectomy and perforation rates did not change.

Preoperative immunonutrition and its effect on postoperative outcomes in well-nourished and malnourished gastrointestinal surgery patients: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Invasive procedures such as surgery cause immunosuppression, leading to increased risk of complications, infections and extended hospital stay. Emerging research around immune-enhancing nutrition supplements and their ability to reduce postoperative complications and reduce treatment costs is promising. This randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effect of preoperative immunonutrition supplementation on length of hospital stay (LOS), complications and treatment costs in both well-nourished and malnourished gastrointestinal surgery patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Ninety-five patients undergoing elective upper and lower gastrointestinal surgery were recruited. The treatment group (n=46) received a commercial immuno-enhancing supplement 5 days preoperatively. The control group (n=49) received no supplements. The primary outcome measure was LOS, and secondary outcome measures included complications and cost. RESULTS: A nonsignificant trend towards a shorter LOS within the treatment group was observed (7.1 ± 4.1 compared with 8.8 ± 6.5 days; P=0.11). For malnourished patients, this trend was greater with hospital stay reduced by 4 days (8.3 ± 3.5 vs 12.3 ± 9.5 days; P=0.21). Complications and unplanned intensive care admission rates were very low in both the groups. The average admission cost was reduced by AUD1576 in the treatment group compared with the control group (P=0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative immunonutrition therapy in gastrointestinal surgery has the potential to reduce the LOS and cost, with greater treatment benefit seen in malnourished patients; however, there is a need for additional research with greater patient numbers.

The potential for induction peptide receptor chemoradionuclide therapy to render inoperable pancreatic and duodenal neuroendocrine tumours resectable.

AIMS: To assess the clinical utility of peptide receptor chemoradionuclide therapy (PRCRT) using (177)Lu-octreotate (LuTate) with concurrent 5FU chemotherapy in patients with inoperable primary pancreatic and duodenal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). METHODS: Between December 2006 and October 2009, five patients with progressive inoperable pancreatic and duodenal NETs without distant metastatic disease or with a potentially resectable solitary distant metastasis were treated with PRCRT; in combination with external beam radiotherapy in one case. Patients were followed up three months post-treatment with somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, radiology, biochemical markers and clinical assessment. Radiological response classification was defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) with the addition of a minor response (MR; 10-30% size reduction) classification. Long-term follow up was performed until July 2011. RESULTS: At three months post-treatment, all five patients had a scintigraphic response, four had a radiological response and three of the four symptomatic patients responded clinically. All five patients had an ongoing treatment response beyond three months including one where further tumour shrinkage facilitated curative surgery. All five patients are alive with 12-42 months of follow-up post-treatment. CONCLUSION: PRCRT can be effective in inoperable pancreatic and duodenal neuroendocrine tumours and may play a role as neoadjuvant therapy in this patient group.

Liver resection and transplantation in the management of iatrogenic biliary injury.

BACKGROUND: Biliary injury during cholecystectomy can be managed successfully by biliary reconstruction in the majority of patients; however, a proportion of patients may require hepatic resection or even liver transplantation. METHODS: Data on all patients referred with biliary injuries were recorded prospectively. The details of patients who required hepatic resection or transplantation were analyzed and compared to those patients managed with biliary reconstruction alone. RESULTS: From November 1984 until November 2003 there were 119 patients referred with Strasberg grade E injuries to the biliary tree, 14 of whom (9 women, 5 men) required hepatic resection or transplantation. The median age of these 14 patients was 48 (range: 30-81) years. Nine patients were considered for hepatic resection, and of these six underwent right hepatectomy, two had a left lateral sectionectomy, and one patient was deemed unfit for surgery and underwent metal stenting of the right hepatic duct. All patients are alive and remain well. Five patients developed hepatic failure and were considered for liver transplantation. Two patients who were unfit for transplantation died, and another died while on the waiting list for transplantation. The remaining two patients underwent liver transplantation, and one of them died from overwhelming sepsis. Concomitant vascular injury was demonstrated in 8 of the 14 patients (57%), and in 3 of the 4 (75%) patients that died. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic atrophy or sepsis after biliary injury can be managed successfully with hepatic resection. Liver transplantation is required occasionally for patients with secondary biliary cirrhosis, but is rarely successful for early hepatic failure following iatrogenic biliary injury.

Refining the role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound in the staging of presumed pancreatic head and ampullary tumours.

Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound have been validated previously as staging tools for pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to identify if assessment of vascular involvement with abdominal computed tomography (CT) would allow refinement of the selection criteria for laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS). The details of patients staged with LUS and abdominal CT were obtained from the unit's pancreatic cancer database. A CT grade (O, A-F) of vascular involvement was recorded by a single radiologist. Of 152 patients, who underwent a LUS, 56 (37%) had unresectable disease. Three of 26 (12%) patients with CT grade O, 27 of 88 (31%) patients with CT grade A to D, 17 of 29 (59%) patients with CT grade E and all nine patients with CT grade F were found to have unresectable disease. In all, 24% of patients with tumours <3 cm were found to have unresectable disease. In those patients with tumours considered unresectable, local vascular involvement was found in 56% of patients and vascular involvement with metastatic disease in 17%, while 20% of patients had liver metastases alone and 5% had isolated peritoneal metastases. The remaining patient was deemed unfit for resection. Selective use of laparoscopic ultrasound is indicated in the staging of periampullary tumours with CT grades A to D.

Early specialist repair of biliary injury.

BACKGROUND: Considerable debate surrounds the timing of repair of injury to the common bile duct following cholecystectomy. In the absence of sepsis or significant peritoneal soiling, repair within the first week may be optimal. This study compared the outcome of early (within the first 2 weeks) and delayed (between 2 weeks and 6 months) repair. METHODS: Data on all patients referred with biliary injuries were recorded prospectively. In the absence of sepsis or significant peritoneal soiling, repair was considered within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Between November 1988 and November 2003, 123 patients were referred with injury to the biliary tree. Repair of the injury had been attempted in 55 patients (44.7 per cent) before referral. Of the 68 patients with no previous repair, nine were managed without surgery and 59 required subsequent surgical reconstruction of the ductal injury. Within the first 2 weeks after injury, 22 patients underwent primary biliary repair and three had revision of a failed biliary repair. Between 2 weeks and 6 months, a further 22 injuries were repaired. Successful repair was possible in 22 of 25 early repairs compared with 20 of 22 delayed repairs (P = 0.615). The overall operative mortality rate for patients undergoing repair was 4 per cent (two of 47 patients). CONCLUSION: A successful outcome was achieved in a high proportion of patients (42 of 47) when repair of the bile duct injury was undertaken in a unit experienced in the management of biliary injury. In selected patients, early repair within the first 2 weeks resulted in a similar outcome to that of delayed repair.

Palliation of pancreatic neoplasms.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for 80% of pancreatic tumours. The majority are unresectable at diagnosis and only 10% of patients survive to 1 year. Therefore, selection of appropriate palliative procedures for jaundice, gastric outlet obstruction or pain is a vitally important aspect of the management of these patients. Overall survival is equivalent following surgical or non-surgical palliation of biliary obstruction. Operative biliary bypass is a more major intervention but is associated with longer relief of symptoms and fewer readmissions compared to non-operative procedures. Prognostic factors such as histopathology, presence of metastatic disease and C reactive protein levels may allow better prediction of survival, therefore aiding selection of the most appropriate palliative techniques.

Predicting survival in patients with liver cancer considered for transarterial chemoembolization.

INTRODUCTION: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been used extensively to treat tumours confined to the liver in patients unsuitable for surgical resection. This study attempts to identify patients with liver cancer most likely to benefit from this type of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing TACE for liver cancer between 1989 and 2001 were included in the study. RESULTS: In a group of 137 consecutive patients undergoing TACE, univariate analysis identified a number of pre-treatment factors that were associated with poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis of these factors subsequently identified three pre-treatment factors; age greater than 60, serum alkaline phosphatase concentration >120U/l and albumin less than 35 g/l; that were independently and significantly associated with reduced survival duration. A scoring system was devised with one point allocated for each adverse factor which produced median survivals related to points scored as follows, 0 points-20 months, 1 point-12 months, 2 points-7 months and 3 points-4 months. To validate this scoring system the next 40 consecutive patients undergoing TACE were studied prospectively. These patients had median survival durations related to points scored as follows 0 points not calculable, 1 point-10 months, 2 points-7 months, 3 points-4 months. CONCLUSION: This simple scoring system can be used to predict prognosis in patients with liver cancer and may assist in clinical decision making in the selection of patients likely to benefit from TACE.

Operative treatment of pancreatico-bronchial fistula.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatico-bronchial fistulas are a rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Both conservative and surgical management have been described previously. CASE OUTLINE: The management of a 68-year-old woman with acute pancreatitis complicated by a pancreatico-bronchial fistula was reviewed. CT scanning and magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography demonstrated a pancreatic pseudocyst with extension into the posterior mediastinum and right pleura. Despite conservative management as well as ERCP with pancreatic stent insertion, the fistula failed to resolve. Successful management of this difficult problem was achieved with distal pancreatectomy and intercostal drainage. DISCUSSION: Pancreatico-bronchial fistulas may be managed conservatively, but there should be a low threshold for surgical intervention if endoscopic measures fail.

Postchemoembolisation syndrome--tumour necrosis or hepatocyte injury?

Transarterial chemoembolisation of liver tumours is typically followed by elevated body temperature and liver transaminase enzymes. This has often been considered to indicate successful embolisation. The present study questions whether this syndrome reflects damage to tumour cells or to the normal hepatic tissue. The responses to 256 embolisations undertaken in 145 patients subdivided into those with hepatocyte-derived (primary hepatocellular carcinoma) and nonhepatocyte-derived tumours (secondary metastases) were analysed to assess the relative effects of tumour necrosis and damage to normal hepatocytes in each group. Cytolysis, measured by elevated alanine aminotransferase, was detected in 85% of patients, and there was no difference in the abnormalities in liver function tests measured between the two groups. Furthermore, cytolysis was associated with a higher rate of postprocedure symptoms and side effects, and elevated temperature was associated with a worse survival on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that there was no benefit in terms of survival from having elevated temperature or cytolysis following embolisation. Cytolysis after chemoembolisation is probably due to damage to normal hepatocytes. Temperature changes may reflect tumour necrosis or necrosis of the healthy tissue. There is no evidence that either a postchemoembolisation fever or cytolysis is associated with an enhanced tumour response or improved long-term survival in patients with primary or secondary liver cancer.