The use of intra-operative endo-anal ultrasound in perianal disease.

INTRODUCTION: Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for the structural imaging of anorectal pathology. This study prospectively assessed the impact of intra-operative EAUS on the surgical management of perianal disease. METHODS: EAUS was performed prior to and after examination under anaesthesia (EUA) in a consecutive series of patients with perianal disease. The impact of EAUS on the surgery performed was identified. RESULTS: Forty-three procedures have been performed in 38 patients (21 male, 17 female; mean age 42.7 years, range 6-76 years) over a three year period. Pathologies encountered were fistula-in-ano (42%), fissure-in-ano (26%), complicated perianal sepsis (16%) and carcinoma (5%). No specific abnormality was identified in 5 symptomatic patients (12%). Four patients with fissures had undergone previous sphincterotomy. In 22 cases (51.2%) the EAUS findings affected the surgical management (extent of muscle above a fistula 9 cases, extent of sphincterotomy 7 cases, site of sepsis identified 2 cases, exclusion of sepsis 2 cases, assessment of cancer resectability 1 case, biopsy of intersphincteric lesion 1 case). CONCLUSION: Intra-operative EAUS accurately identifies perianal disease and influences the surgical procedure performed. While not essential, it is a useful adjunct especially in recurrent perianal sepsis, undiagnosed anorectal pain and anal fissure.

Military surgery in the 21st century.

The battlefield has changed. UK and US Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are engaged in asymmetric, three bloc warfare. Three bloc warfare indicates that what is effectively war-fighting occurs in parallel with peace-keeping and humanitarian operations. Casualties are numerically lower than in previous conflicts but many survivors are horrifically mutilated as body armour prevents the fatal injury in this severely injured group. Rapid evacuation of severely injured from the point of injury, usually by helicopter, provides extreme challenges for surgical teams. Damage control surgery requires support in the form of environmental control, adequate diagnostics (including computerised tomography) and effective intensive care facilities if the patient is to survive. Teams need to be highly trained and to have experience of complex surgery and trauma. They must be adequately resourced if lives are to be saved.

Management of the rectal stump after emergency sub-total colectomy: which surgical option is associated with the lowest morbidity?

OBJECTIVE: To identify the preferred surgical management of the rectal stump after emergency subtotal colectomy (ESC) for acute severe colitis by assessing the morbidity associated with each option. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing ESC at a district general hospital between 1999 and 2004 were retrospectively audited for pathology, rectal stump complications and length of postoperative hospital stay (POS). RESULTS: Thirty-seven ESCs were performed, 34 were undertaken for disease refractory to medical treatment, 2 for toxic mega colon and 1 for perforation. Thirty-four cases were for ulcerative colitis, 2 Crohn's colitis and 1 infective colitis. Twenty-seven had an intraperitoneal and 10 a subcutaneously placed closed rectal stump. The median POS for patients with a subcutaneously placed stump was shorter than for those with an intraperitoneal stump, 8 and 15 days, respectively (P = 0.04). Two patients had leakage from an intraperitoneal stump, prolonging POS (33 and 193 days). Three of the subcutaneous stumps leaked causing wound infection but not prolonging the POS (6, 7 and 16 days). CONCLUSION: Avoiding a second stoma by closing the rectal stump after ESC has been confirmed as acceptable practice by studies over the last 15 years, reporting no overall increase in complications. The location of a closed rectal stump appears to influence the incidence of pelvic sepsis. The lowest pelvic sepsis rate is associated with subcutaneous placement; despite a higher wound infection rate this option appears to be associated with a lower total morbidity reflected in a shorter POS.

Efficacy of delayed administration of benzylpenicillin in the control of infection in penetrating soft tissue injuries in war.

In war, uncomplicated penetrating injuries to limbs require evacuation to a surgical facility. A delay is inevitable between injury and definitive surgical treatment. This paper describes an experimental model that has been developed to assess the efficacy of antibiotics in such war wounds; the aim is to develop a treatment protocol to prevent the development of infection before casualties reach a surgical facility. The model is described in detail. Its use to determine efficacy of an antibiotic regimen, and the consequences of delay in the initial administration of antibiotic, are summarized. Streptococcus Lancefield Group L (Strep L) is a pig pathogen analogous to the Streptococcus pyogenes Lancefield Group A in man. The latter is perceived as a major threat to the casualty with a neglected penetrating wound. Strep L caused reproducible infection in a low-energy-transfer fragment wound to a pig thigh. When the wound was observed over a period of 7 days, the only other organisms that appeared consistently were pig pathogenic and nonpathogenic staphylococcal species. Despite the site of the wound, fecal organisms were not observed to colonize the wound significantly, neither were they a cause of early wound infection. The treatment regimen studied as benzylpenicillin, 1 megaunit (6 hourly), given intramuscularly. When commenced 1 hour after wounding, this prevented wound infection for 3 days, when Strep L was deliberately inoculated at the time of wounding. If the start of antibiotics was delayed until 6 hours after wounding, antibiotic regimen was less effective; the wound track remained infected at 3 days. In a further series of experiments, Staphylococcus hyicus, a potential pig pathogen (which is penicillin resistant through beta-lactamase production), was introduced in addition to Strep L. The antibiotic regimen remained effective when the Strep L plus 10(3) S. hyicus were inoculated. When 10(4) S. hyicus were introduced, treatment was less effective, but still of some benefit. Inoculation of > 10(5) S. hyicus rendered treatment commencing at 1 hour ineffective. If the start of treatment was delayed to 6 hours after injury, this treatment regimen was adversely affected by the introduction of only 10(3) S. hyicus. In conclusion, an intramuscular benzylpenicillin regimen, commenced 1 hour after wounding, can prevent infection in penetrating soft tissue missile wounds for up to 3 days. A delay of 6 hours renders treatment ineffective.

Foreign bodies of dental origin in the appendix.

Foreign bodies found in the appendix have been reported many times. To date 254 occurrences have been documented. However, only 4 previously reported episodes involve teeth, dental restoration or dental equipment. We present a patient with a 6 month history of intermittent right iliac fossa pain following the ingestion of a gold inlay restoration, which was found at operation to be in the distal appendix. Previous reports suggest that symptoms from foreign bodies in the appendix occur in 73% of cases, and in 93% when the object is sharp. Therefore, appendicectomy is recommended when a foreign body is detected in the appendix, and particularly if it has sharp edges.

Experimental experience with a temporary intraluminal heparin-bonded polyurethane arterial shunt.

After vascular injury, intraluminal arterial shunting may be employed if definitive surgery must be delayed. This paper describes use of a heparin-bonded polyurethane shunt to restore distal circulation after ligation of the femoral artery in sheep. In studies to determine tissue viability for 12 h after insertion into the femoral artery, five of seven shunts remained patent. In another series of experiments to study tissue viability after limb ischaemia, the femoral artery was ligated and a tight Esmarch bandage applied to the limb for 6 h before shunt insertion. The shunt remained patent for 12 h in five of six cases. Nearly all shunt failures occurred shortly after placement and were attributable to intimal damage arising from difficulties during insertion.

The relationship of blast loading to death and injury from explosion.

Death and injury from explosion are becoming ever more frequent. In this study an attempt is made to relate the blast loading suffered by individual victims of explosions to the injuries sustained. It includes 828 servicemen killed or injured by explosions in Northern Ireland. Two hundred sixteen servicemen were killed, most of them before any assistance could be rendered. In those exposed to a higher blast loading, blast lung was common. Those exposed to lower blast loading died primarily of head injuries. Body armour was worn by 90% of the servicemen and probably reduced the number of fatal secondary missile injuries.

Vesicant burns.

(1) Of the 120,000 victims of sulphur mustard gas in World War I there were only 2-3% fatalities, and few long term effects. (2) The interactions of sulphur mustard with the skin are complete within a few minutes of exposure. Once the victim has been decontaminated there is no risk to the attendant and there is no active agent in the blister fluid. (3) The rate of wound healing is slow for sulphur mustard burns, but in general the wounds heal satisfactorily. (4) There is no specific therapy for poisoning by sulphur mustard.

The aetiology and management of sigmoid volvulus in the UK: how much colon need be excised?

The case notes of 15 patients undergoing colonic resection for sigmoid volvulus at St Mark's Hospital over 25 years have been reviewed. Eight patients underwent sigmoid colectomy, four left hemicolectomy and three total colectomy. Although 12 of the 15 patients complained of a constipated bowel habit for 'all their lives' prior to operation, all but two had a much improved bowel habit thereafter, regardless of the extent of the resection. If there is evidence of acute or recent sigmoid volvulus at operation, sigmoid colectomy alone is recommended in the first instance.

Analysis of 828 servicemen killed or injured by explosion in Northern Ireland 1970-84: the Hostile Action Casualty System.

Death and injury due to terrorist bombings continue to exercise civilian and military surgeons alike. In this paper 828 servicemen killed and injured by explosions in Northern Ireland have been studied, using data stored in the Hostile Action Casualty System (HACS). Because of the nature of the conflict in Northern Ireland, the magnitude of each explosion and the distance of the victims from it are quite accurately known. The overpressure (blast loading) to which the victim was exposed can be estimated from the information on the HACS forms and standard tables, giving overpressures for a given change at a known distance. Using the HACS data, the numbers of injuries due to overpressure (primary blast injury), missiles energized by the blast (secondary injury), displacement of the victim by the blast wind (tertiary injury) and flash burn can be determined. Of the 828 servicemen involved in explosions, 216 were killed, most of them before any treatment could be instituted. Of the servicemen in the survey, 90 per cent were wearing body armour. Although body armour affords considerable protection from secondary missiles, it is unlikely to reduce the number of deaths due to primary blast injury.

Gynaecomastia and occult Leydig cell tumour of the testis.

Two patients with Leydig cell tumours of the testis are described. Both presented with gynaecomastia, but on initial examination had apparently normal testes. The causative tumour did not become obvious for some months, despite being carefully sought. Review of the literature suggests that gynaecomastia preceding a readily palpable tumour is a recognised problem. The detection and management of Leydig cell tumours of the testis are discussed.

Cholecystectomy: safe or not safe to drain?

The aim of this study was to determine whether drains influenced the size of subhepatic collections following cholecystectomy, and if these had any affect on complications. Eighty-five patients undergoing cholecystectomy had either no drain, a narrow bore suction drain or an open corrugated drain. Subhepatic fluid collections were measured by real time ultrasound on the first and fifth postoperative days, and thereafter if necessary. The volumes of fluid drained were also measured and clinical complications recorded. The subhepatic collections were, on average, the same whether a drain was used or not. Drains produced volumes considerably in excess of any subhepatic collection measured, but they did not appear to warn of biliary leakage. More complications (28%) were seen in the drained group compared with the undrained group (10.5%), and furthermore, the complications did not seem to occur in relation to the larger collections. One patient who had had a corrugated drain correctly placed developed biliary peritonitis. We suggest that drainage of simple cholecystectomy is unnecessary and, if an open drain is used, potentially dangerous.

The pathogenesis of blast injury and its management.

Terrorist bombings remain a not uncommon problem. Most of the victims suffering primary blast injury die, if not from the blast then from secondary missile injuries, while most of the survivors have more or less serious secondary injuries alone. A small percentage have either pure blast injury or secondary injuries complicated by blast phenomena. It is important to recognize this group and treat it appropriately.