Predicting long-term risk of reoperations following abdominal and pelvic surgery: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of reoperations after abdominal and pelvic surgery is multifactorial and difficult to predict. The risk of reoperation is frequently underestimated by surgeons as most reoperations are not related to the initial procedure and diagnosis. During reoperation, adhesiolysis is often required, and patients have an increased risk of complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based prediction model based on the risk of reoperation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted including all patients undergoing an initial abdominal or pelvic operation between 1 June 2009 and 30 June 2011 in Scotland. Nomograms based on multivariable prediction models were constructed for the 2-year and 5-year overall risk of reoperation and risk of reoperation in the same surgical area. Internal cross-validation was applied to evaluate reliability. RESULTS: Of the 72 270 patients with an initial abdominal or pelvic surgery, 10 467 (14.5%) underwent reoperation within 5 years postoperatively. Mesh placement, colorectal surgery, diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, previous radiotherapy, younger age, open surgical approach, malignancy, and female sex increased the risk of reoperation in all the prediction models. Intra-abdominal infection was also a risk factor for the risk of reoperation overall. The accuracy of the prediction model of risk of reoperation overall and risk for the same area was good for both parameters ( c -statistic=0.72 and 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for abdominal reoperation were identified and prediction models displayed as nomograms were constructed to predict the risk of reoperation in the individual patient. The prediction models were robust in internal cross-validation.

Adhesion-related readmissions after open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery in 16 524 patients.

AIM: Colorectal surgery is associated with a high risk of adhesion formation and subsequent complications. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery reduces adhesion formation by 50%; however, the effect on adhesion-related complications is still unknown. This study aims to compare differences in incidence rates of adhesion-related readmissions after laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery. METHOD: Population data from the Scottish National Health Service were used to identify patients who underwent colorectal surgery between June 2009 and June 2011. Readmissions were registered until December 2017 and categorized as being either directly or possibly related to adhesions, or as reoperations potentially complicated by adhesions. The primary outcome measure was the difference in incidence of directly adhesion-related readmissions between the open and laparoscopic cohort. RESULTS: Colorectal surgery was performed in 16 524 patients; 4455 (27%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were readmitted less frequently for directly adhesion-related complications, 2.4% (95% CI 2.0%-2.8%) versus 7.5% (95% CI 7.1%-7.9%) in the open cohort. Readmissions for possibly adhesion-related complications were less frequent in the laparoscopic cohort, 16.8% (95% CI 15.6%-18.0%) versus 21.7% (95% CI 20.9%-22.5%), as well as reoperations potentially complicated by adhesions, 9.7% (95% CI 8.9%-10.5%) versus 16.9% (95% CI 16.3%-17.5%). CONCLUSION: Overall, any adhesion-related readmissions occurred in over one in three patients after open colorectal surgery and one in four after laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Compared with open surgery, incidence rates of adhesion-related complications decrease but remain substantial after laparoscopic surgery.

Transepithelial nasal potential difference in patients with, and at risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Impaired alveolar fluid clearance, determined in part by alveolar sodium transport, is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Nasal sodium transport may reflect alveolar transport. The primary objective of this prospective, observational study was to determine if reduced nasal sodium transport, as measured by nasal potential difference (NPD), was predictive of the development of and outcome from ARDS. METHODS: NPD was measured in 15 healthy controls and in 88 patients: 40 mechanically ventilated patients defined as 'at-risk' for ARDS, 61 mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS (13 who were previously included in the 'at-risk' group) and 8 ARDS survivors on the ward. RESULTS: In at-risk subjects, maximum NPD (mNPD) was greater in those who developed ARDS (difference -8.4 mV; 95% CI -13.8 to -3.7; p=0.005) and increased mNPD predicted the development of ARDS before its onset (area under the curve (AUC) 0.75; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.89). In the ARDS group, mNPD was not significantly different for survivors and non-survivors (p=0.076), and mNPD was a modest predictor of death (AUC 0.60; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.75). mNPD was greater in subjects with ARDS (-30.8 mV) than in at-risk subjects (-24.2 mV) and controls (-19.9 mV) (p<0.001). NPD values were not significantly different for survivors and controls (p=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Increased NPD predicts the development of ARDS in at-risk subjects but does not predict mortality. NPD increases before ARDS develops, is greater during ARDS, but is not significantly different for controls and survivors. These results may reflect the upregulated sodium transport necessary for alveolar fluid clearance in ARDS. NPD may be useful as a biomarker of endogenous mechanisms to stimulate sodium transport. Larger studies are now needed to confirm these associations and predictive performance.

Pre-hospital pain assessment in paediatric patients.

The aim of this article is to review the literature on pre-hospital assessment of pain in paediatric patients. Many articles highlight the under-treatment of pain in paediatrics by pre-hospital clinicians, showing that this is an area falling short of best practice. This article evaluates the effectiveness of two established pain assessment tools authorised for the pain assessment of children in pre-hospital environments.

A historical perspective on the introduction of laparoscopic basic surgical training in the Caribbean and factors that contribute to sustainability of such training.

OBJECTIVE: To report the development of minimally invasive training courses and workshops in the Caribbean and specifically the establishment of the Basic Surgical Skills Course of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) in Trinidad with respect to their value toward Surgical laparoscopic or minimally invasive training in the Caribbean. DESIGN: & Methods: The literature written on laparoscopy in the region was reviewed and in particular that related to the minimally invasive training courses provided over the period 2004 to 2019 and the development of laparoscopic surgical training described from a historic perspective. The factors that contribute to sustainability of courses were identified. RESULTS: Laparoscopic surgical training courses were sporadically introduced into the Caribbean over the period 2004 to 2019 in countries including Barbados, Curacao, Guyana, St. Lucia, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. These were timed and closely related to the establishment of the Caribbean College of Surgeons (CCOS) with the help of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. However, the only certified course introduced was the Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course of the RCSEng into Trinidad in 2012. This has now been established as a recognised overseas centre by the RCSEng and provides the Intercollegiate BSS course annually forming a solid basis for trainees to learn safe surgical and laparoscopic skills prior to commencing formal surgical training. This has resulted in the sustainable development of minimally invasive training in Trinidad in particular. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic skills courses and workshops have been established in the Caribbean for 15 years beginning circa. 2004 to 2019 and have grown in number and locations throughout the Caribbean. The RCSEng and the CCOS have been instrumental in the development process. Of note, the only recognised overseas training centre for Basic Surgical Skills Course was established in Trinidad & Tobago with the support of the RCSEng and seems to be the main contributor to the successful, regular maintenance of these and other minimally invasive courses in General Surgery, ENT, Gynaecology and other fields on an annual, sustainable basis.

Provider-based barriers to provision of intrauterine contraception in general practice.

OBJECTIVES: Intrauterine contraception (IUC) is highly effective, safe and long-lasting, but is not a popular method of contraception among British women. This study examined barriers to the uptake of IUC in general practice in England. METHOD: A sequential mixed-method approach to explore the views of practitioners regarding the provision of IUC. We e-surveyed 208 practitioners from 69 practices in a region of England and subsequently interviewed 14 practitioners from eight practices. RESULTS: Just under half of general practitioners (GPs) (46.8%; 58/124), and only 8.2% (4/49) of nurses reported being trained to fit IUC. Lack of knowledge of IUC was a barrier to fitting, and also to recommending IUC, especially by practitioners who were not trained to fit. There was discordance between reported knowledge of eligibility for IUC and the likelihood of recommending IUC. Respondents were less likely to recommend IUC to young, nulliparous women, women who had experienced a previous ectopic pregnancy, a recent sexually transmitted infection (STI), or an abnormal cervical smear. The qualitative data indicate that risk aversion and limited training, together with practitioners' assessments that women are uninterested, may lead to IUC being precluded as a suitable method. CONCLUSIONS: Increased practitioner education, for those not trained to fit IUC, may remove a barrier to the uptake of IUC in general practice. More research is required on the discordance between the practitioners' views on the characteristics of women considered suitable for IUC, and the criteria set out in the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC) guidelines.

Need to improve awareness and treatment compliance in high-risk patients for diabetic complications in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE/INTRODUCTION: It is known that knowledge, awareness, and practice influence diabetic control. We compared factors pertaining to healthy lifestyle (exercising, avoiding smoking), self-help (attending appointments, following treatment regimens), and diabetic awareness in high-risk patients for diabetic complications, specifically, those on insulin versus non-insulin treatment, and also those with a longer diabetic duration (≥5 years) versus a shorter duration. METHODS: 200 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes (52.0±11.6 years) attending diabetic clinic at a referral hospital in Nepal were recruited. A structured questionnaire explored non-clinical parameters including age, gender, diabetic duration, awareness about diabetes control, self-help, and lifestyle. Clinical data were also measured: HbA1c, fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood pressure, and treatment type (insulin, diet/tablet). RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of patients on insulin (vs non-insulin) or with diabetic duration ≥5 years (vs <5 years) self-reported not doing regular exercise, forgetting to take medicine, and not knowing whether their diabetes was controlled (p≤0.005). HbA1c/FBS levels were significantly higher for patients on insulin or with a longer diabetic duration (p≤0.001). 92% of those on insulin (vs 31% on non-insulin) and 91% with diabetic duration ≥5 years (vs 28% of <5 years) self-reported to seeking medical help due to episodes of uncontrolled blood sugar in the last year (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Poor self-help/lifestyle and reduced knowledge/awareness about diabetic control was found in patients on insulin or with longer diabetic duration. This is a worrying finding as these patients are already at high risk for developing diabetic complications. The findings highlight need for targeting this more vulnerable group and provide more support/diabetic educational tools.

Feasibility randomised multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy controlled trial of anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist versus intramuscular methylprednisolone for acute gout attacks in patients with chronic kidney disease (ASGARD): protocol study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute gout occurs in people with chronic kidney disease, who are commonly older people with comorbidities such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. Potentially harmful treatments are administered to these vulnerable patients due to a lack of clear evidence. Newly available treatment that targets a key inflammatory pathway in acute gout attacks provides an opportunity to undertake the first-ever trial specifically looking treating people with kidney disease. This paper describes the protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing anakinra, a novel interleukin-1 antagonist versus steroids in people with chronic kidney disease (ASGARD). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: ASGARD is a two-parallel group double-blind, double-dummy multicentre RCT comparing anakinra 100 mg, an interleukin-1 antagonist, subcutaneous for 5 days against intramuscular methylprednisolone 120 mg. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility of the trial design and procedures for a definitive RCT. The specific aims are: (1) test recruitment and retention rates and willingness to be randomised; (2) test eligibility criteria; (3) collect and analyse outcome data to inform sample and power calculations for a trial of efficacy; (4) collect economic data to inform a future economic evaluation estimating costs of treatment and (5) assess capacity of the project to scale up to a national multicentre trial. We will also gather qualitative insights from participants. It aims to recruit 32 patients with a 1:1 randomisation. Information from this feasibility study will help design a definitive trial and provide general information in designing acute gout studies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The London-Central Ethics Committee approved the protocol. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EudraCT No. 2015-001787-19, NCT/Clinicalstrials.gov No. NCT02578394, pre-results, WHO Universal Trials Reference No. U1111-1175-1977. NIHR Grant PB-PG-0614-34090.

Should nurses receive formal commendations?

On 22 March news broke that an incident had occurred at the Palace of Westminster in London. The Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service responded and, as details emerged, it became clear there had been a terrorist attack.