E-Handover in Surgery Improves Clinical Efficiency and Adherence to COVID-19 Infection Control Measures.

Introduction The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted all aspects of clinical practice. A district general hospital's surgical department identified that ward rounds based on a paper-based handover system did not adhere to good COVID-19 pandemic infection control measures, including social distancing, reduction of footfall, and reducing contact events during documentation. Surgical E-Handover was introduced as a quality improvement project focussing on increasing efficiency and improving patient safety and compliance with COVID-19 social distancing measures. Other objectives were to reduce the risk of information governance breaches. During the COVID pandemic, there was a significant investment in digital technology, which supported rapid advancement in the use of electronic healthcare solutions to deliver new ways of working. We used the opportunity of the emergency situation to disrupt existing work patterns and introduce surgical E-Handover. Methods A quality improvement team of stakeholders was assembled, and a project to introduce E-Handover was carried out using the trust quality improvement methodology aligned to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Questionnaires were sent out pre- and post-implementation to evaluate the impact of using E-Handover during ward rounds. Results The efficiency of ward rounds was improved and improving compliance with COVID 19 social distancing measures was highly successful. These outcomes were achieved by reducing footfall during ward rounds, as key clinical information was available at the bedside (p<0.001). Doctors spent less time in crowded clinical multi-disciplinary team (MDT) rooms, and the integrated paper healthcare records were not accessed by multiple staff members simultaneously. The implementation of the E-Handover improved the safety and efficiency of the surgical department, particularly with reference to potential information governance breaches (p<0.001). Conclusion Surgical E-Handover, as compared to a printed patient list, significantly improved clinical efficiency and adherence to COVID-19 social distancing measures. E-Handover should be routinely used in surgical ward rounds.

Informed Consent for Surgery at Resumption of Elective Activity After the First Wave of COVID-19.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the dynamics of healthcare, and the elective surgical consent process has also evolved. The Royal College of Surgeons of England published guidance on consent during COVID-19. Through this study, we aimed to assess our local consent adherence to these guidelines on the resumption of elective activity after the first wave of COVID-19. Methods This prospective review of consecutive elective surgical consent forms was conducted from 20 July 2020 to 16 August 2020 at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, England. The primary outcome was evidence of COVID-19 risk documentation on the consent forms. Results A total of 116 patients' consent forms were reviewed. Most patients were American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade 2 (n=70; 60.34%). Only 25 consent forms (21.55%) had COVID -19 and its associated risks documented, with registrars being the most compliant (19/46; 41.3%) followed by consultants (6/51; 11.7%). With regards to the surgical sub-specialities, general surgery, orthopaedics and ENT had the highest compliance with the guidance. Conclusions As the elective activity resumes, peri-operative risks of COVID-19 should be weighted in during the informed consent process, as mentioned in the latest international guidelines on consent to avoid litigation and negligence claims.

Single centre concept of 'cold site' elective surgery during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic : A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major strain on healthcare systems across the globe. As these systems got overwhelmed with the emergency care of the infected patients, widespread cancellations of elective surgery occurred. Our hospital utilised local private hospital as a dedicated cold site (CS) for urgent elective surgery during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to analyse the outcomes at this dedicated cold site. METHOD: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all the cases operated at the CS during a 2-month period (30 March 2020 to 29 May 2020) was carried out. The primary outcome was 30-day COVID-19 related mortality. The secondary outcomes were 30-day non-COVID-19 related mortality, complications, readmission and development of COVID-19 symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients were operated at the CS over the study period with a median age of 57 years (Interquartile range, IQR 47-70). 62% were females and 82% had a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30. 73% of the operations were performed for cancer. 59% of the surgeries were graded as intermediate and 26% as major or complex. There was no mortality at 30 days from COVID-19 or non COVID-19 causes. There was only 1 (0.65%) readmission. 7 patients (4.57%) developed complications. 1 (0.65%) patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the postoperative period while 3 had COVID-19 symptoms but were tested negative. CONCLUSION: Urgent elective surgery is safe and feasible during the COVID-19 pandemic if a dedicated cold site is available.

Laparoscopic assisted submucosal excision of an intussuscepting colonic lipoma.

Colonic lipomas are the most widespread non-epithelial tumours of the large bowel. They often present with absent, non-specific or intermittent symptoms. Intussusception is the most common complication that may occur as a result of such a lesion. We present the case of a young female patient with a history of intermittent abdominal pain associated with nausea. She presented to the emergency department with subacute large bowel obstruction. A diagnosis of colo-colic intussusception due to a large descending colonic lipoma was confirmed on CT scan. The patient underwent a laparoscopic assisted submucosal excision of the lipoma. We discuss this unique operative technique as well as preoperative investigations and histopathology findings. Although successful endoscopic excision of lipomas has been reported, segmental resection of the colon is most commonly practiced. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of laparoscopic assisted submucosal excision of an intussuscepting colonic lipoma.

Acute Torsion of Appendicular Mucocele.

We present the case of an 81-year-old man with a known appendicular mucocele who presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain. A CT scan showed a change in orientation of the previously seen ovoid mass with surrounding fat stranding suggesting torsion. An emergency laparotomy with appendicectomy and resection of the caecal pole was performed. We discuss the findings and histopathology.

Transmural eosinophilic gastritis with gastric outlet obstruction: case report and review of the literature.

Eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are uncommon conditions whose aetiologies are unclear, but which are characterised by eosinophilic infiltration and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract in the absence of other causes of eosinophilia. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with eosinophilic gastritis who underwent a Polya gastrectomy for a suspected gastric tumour with gastric outflow obstruction. Subsequent histological examination showed a non-malignant transmural eosinophilic infiltration of the stomach wall, a rare pathological entity. We present a review of the literature and discuss the management of such cases.

The same day admissions unit for elective surgery: a case study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine the activity of a purpose-built elective surgery unit in a busy district general hospital and the patient journey associated with same day admission to the elective surgery unit. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This paper describes the layout of the elective surgery unit in a busy district general hospital and the associated patient journey. Early challenges are identified and potential cost savings calculated. FINDINGS: The potential for cost savings in the NHS with purpose-built units for elective surgery are immense. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: An elective surgery unit has not been described in detail before. Apart from its value to the NHS, hospitals in developing countries can benefit from knowing about the early challenges, described in the paper, that were faced.

An unusual inguinal "hernia"--the value of hernioscopic assessment.

The clinical diagnosis of an inguinal hernia is at times not straightforward and surprises are occasionally encountered intraoperatively. We report the case of an elderly lady who presented with a unilateral inguinal lump, which was subsequently explored using an open approach. The "sac" contained bloody ascitic fluid, which prompted diagnostic hernioscopy through the same. The patient was found to have peritoneal metastases from a primary ovarian carcinoma. This case serves to highlight the potential of hernioscopy for diagnostic biopsies and staging.