Background: Anal dilation during tumour excision with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has caused concerns regarding postoperative anal function. We sought to determine whether TEM affects anorectal function and quality of life.
Methods: All patients undergoing TEM between March 2007 and December 2008 were considered for inclusion.
Background: Today's acute care surgery (ACS) service model requires multiple handovers to incoming attending surgeons and residents. Our objectives were to investigate current handover practices in Canadian hospitals that have an ACS service and assess the quality of handover practices in place.
Methods: We administered an electronic survey among ACS residents in 6 Canadian general surgery programs.
Purpose: To study the possible pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between irinotecan and methimazole.
Methods: A patient treated for colorectal cancer with single agent irinotecan received methimazole co-medication for Graves' disease. Irinotecan pharmacokinetics and side effects were followed during a total of four courses (two courses with and two courses without methimazole).
Purpose: Irinotecan, the prodrug of SN-38, is extensively metabolized by cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4). A randomized trial was done to assess the utility of an algorithm for individualized irinotecan dose calculation based on a priori CYP3A4 activity measurements by the midazolam clearance test.
Experimental Design: Patients were randomized to receive irinotecan at a conventional dose level of 350 mg/m(2) (group A) or doses based on an equation consisting of midazolam clearance, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, and height (group B).