Should incompetent perforating veins surgery be a part of the surgical management of venous ulceration?

The standard treatment of chronic venous hypertension and venous ulceration consists of elevation and compression bandaging in nurse-led community clinics. Since the 1930s, surgeons have been developing various techniques to alleviate chronic venous hypertension. These can be broadly divided into perforator and superficial venous surgery. Parallel developments in imaging techniques have led to a better understanding of venous flow haemodynamics. Large well conducted randomised controlled studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of superficial venous surgery but, so far, there is a lack of similarly strong evidence in favour of perforating veins surgery. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the available evidence for or against these two forms of treatment.

Duodenal polypectomy is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic duodenal polypectomy is a routine procedure particularly useful for obtaining histological diagnosis but it is not without serious complications. This is a case report of severe necrotising pancreatitis after duodenal polypectomy. We suggest that experienced endoscopists should carry out polypectomies and that clear guidelines for the management of duodenal polyps are required. Patients undergoing endoscopic duodenal polypectomies should be placed at the beginning of the endoscopy list and observed for at least 4 h.

Use of barrier products in the prevention of adhesion formation following surgery.

Postoperative adhesion formation is a significant health-care problem with no universally accepted method of prevention. Barrier methods of prevention have been extensively tested and licensed, and this article examines the evidence.

Trend towards primary closure following laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was the assessment of patient outcome, peri-operative complications, length of stay and duration of operation after laparoscopic primary closure of the common bile duct (CBD) compared with choledochotomy with T-tube drainage and trans-cystic exploration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected data on 71 explorations of the common bile duct between July 2001 and March 2006. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients had exploration of the CBD. Within this group, 12 were referred after failed endoscopic retro-grade cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The methods of exploration included trans-cystic (9 cases), choledochotomy with T-tube (12), and choledochotomy with primary closure (50). CBD stones were found in 66 patients. In the remaining cases, we found a stricture in 1, debris in 2, and dilatation of the CBD without a stone in 2. There were 5 conversions to open technique and 3 patients required postoperative ERCP (1 with permanent stenting). Peri-operative complications included T-tube (3), primary closure group (9), and trans-cystic (0). There was no statistical significant difference (Chi-square test, P = 0.296) between the groups. There was a trend towards a shorter length of stay in the primary closure group as compared with the trans-cystic and T-tube groups of 4.16, 4.44, and 6.33 days, respectively. However, it did not reach statistical significance (one-way analysis of variance with Boneferroni correction, mean difference between groups 1.89, 0.28, 2,17, statistical significance at P < 0.05). The shortest operating time was in the primary closure group (95.92 min) which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). We did not use a biliary drain in the last 48 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Primary laparoscopic closure of the CBD is safe and results in a reduction in operating time. Choledochoscopy ensures clearance of the CBD and eliminates the need for T-tube.

Is there any justification for the routine histological examination of straightforward cholecystectomy specimens?

INTRODUCTION: Gall bladder carcinoma is a rare malignancy that carries a very poor prognosis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is established as the gold-standard treatment for symptomatic gall stones. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of gall bladder carcinoma and the possibility of reducing the routine histological examination of gall bladder specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pathology laboratory data of gall bladder specimens over a period of 5 years (June 2000 to July 2005) were analysed retrospectively. The case notes were retrieved in all cases of malignancies. RESULTS: The total number of specimens was 1452. Four (0.27%) cases of primary gall bladder carcinoma, one case of primary B-cell lymphoma and one secondary carcinoma were detected as well as one case of intra-epithelial neoplasia. Operative notes revealed that there was a high index of suspicion of malignancy in all cases. Of the 4 primary gall bladder carcinomas, 3 were stage T2 and one T4. Pre-operative ultrasound suspected carcinoma in only one case but a thickened gall bladder wall was noted in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: All cases of gall bladder carcinoma were suspected pre-operatively or intra-operatively. Histological examination did not alter the management or outcome in any of the cases. We suggest that selectively sending specimens for histopathological examination would result in reduced demands on the histopathology department without compromising patient safety.