Implementation of a geriatric in-reach service improves acute surgical unit outcomes; a retrospective before-and-after study.

BACKGROUND: Australia's ageing population is challenging for surgical units and there is a paucity of evidence for geriatric co-management in acute general surgery. We aimed to assess if initiating a Geriatric Medicine in-reach service improved outcomes for older adults in our Acute Surgical Unit (ASU). METHODS: The Older Adult Surgical Inpatient Service (OASIS) was integrated into ASU in 2021. We retrospectively reviewed all patients over age 65 admitted to ASU over a 12-month period before and after service integration with a length of stay (LOS) greater than 24 h. There was no subsequent truncation or selection. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality, LOS, and 28-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes were discharge disposition, in-hospital mortality, and hospital-acquired complications (HACs). RESULTS: 1339 consecutive patients were included in each group, with no differences in baseline characteristics. There was a significant decrease in 28-day readmissions from 20.2% to 16.0% (P < 0.05), greatest in patients undergoing non-EL operative procedures (21.9% pre-OASIS vs. 12.6% post-OASIS; P < 0.05). Trends towards reduced 30-day mortality (7.17% vs. 5.90%; P = 0.211), in-hospital mortality (3.88% vs. 2.91%; P = 0.201), permanent care placement (7.77% vs. 7.09%; P = 0.843) and HACs (8.14% vs. 7.62%; P = 0.667) were seen, although statistical significance was not demonstrated. LOS remained unchanged at 4 days (P = 0.653). CONCLUSION: The addition of a geriatric in-reach service to a tertiary ASU led to a significant reduction in 28-day readmissions. Downtrends were seen in mortality, permanent care placement, and HAC rates, while LOS remained unchanged.

Synchronous intussusception with primary neuroendocrine tumour in an adult.

Intussusception in adults is rare. There are only a few cases in the literature that report two lead points resulting in double or synchronous intussusception. We present a case of synchronous intussusception in a 45 year old man with neuroendocrine tumour of the ileocaecal valve and lipomatous polyp of the jejunum.

Acute abdomen in third trimester of pregnancy-a rare case of perforated Meckel's diverticulitis.

Acute abdomen in pregnancy presents many diagnostic challenges. Non-specific symptoms, anatomical and physiological changes and diagnostic imaging limitations lead to diagnostic uncertainty and delayed diagnosis and treatment. Meckel's diverticulitis in pregnancy is extremely rare with only 27 cases reported in literature, only 11 of which are found to be perforated intraoperatively. We present a rare case of a patient in third trimester of pregnancy with perforated Meckel's diverticulitis.

Extensive subcutaneous emphysema and intra-abdominal sepsis following haemorrhoid operation: a rare complication of a novel procedure.

Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation and recto anal repair (HAL-RAR) procedure is a relatively new, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of Grades III and IV haemorrhoids. A 71-year-old female presented with sepsis, abdominal distension and extensive subcutaneous emphysema and was found to have intra- and extraperitoneal rectal perforation requiring repair, laparoscopy and sigmoid colostomy. Suture ligation of the haemorrhoidal artery can inadvertently be above the peritoneal reflection and result in full thickness rectal perforation secondary to ischaemic necrosis. Previous vaginal prolapse mesh repair should be considered as a relative contraindication to HAL-RAR as it can significantly distort the anatomy.