Illicit Drug Use and Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) signal cerebral small vessel disease and are associated with ischemic stroke. While illicit drug use (IDU) is linked to cerebral vasculopathy, the association between CMB and IDU is poorly characterized.

Aims: Our primary aim was to explore the relationship between IDU and CMB and delineate differences in vascular risk factors between those with and without CMB.

Failure to Rescue in Major Abdominal Surgery: A Regional Australian Experience.

Background: Failure to rescue (FTR) is increasingly recognised as a measure of the quality care provided by a health service in recognising and responding to patient deterioration. We report the association between a patient's pre-operative status and FTR following major abdominal surgery.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent major abdominal surgery and who suffered Clavien-Dindo (CDC) III-V complications at the University Hospital Geelong between 2012 and 2019.

Effect of preoperative nutritional supplementation on postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: This review aims to present the best available evidence related to the effect of preoperative nutritional supplementation on postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer.

Introduction: Pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery is the only curative option for early head of pancreas and periampullary cancers. This complex, high-risk procedure is associated with significant morbidity, making opportunities to improve outcomes paramount.

Treatment of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia with associated wandering spleen: Case report of a 17-year-old girl.

Introduction: A congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is rarely diagnosed in adults and can allow passage of abdominal viscera into the chest cavity. A particularly rare association is a wandering spleen due to absence of its diaphragmatic and retroperitoneal attachment which predisposes to elongation of the vascular pedicle with risk of torsion, infarction and rupture.

Presentation Of Case: A 17-year-old girl presented with a two-day history of increasing abdominal pain.

Perihematomal edema surrounding spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage by CT: Ellipsoidal versus morphometric volumetry.

Perihematomal edema (PHE) surrounding intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may contribute to disease-associated morbidity. Before quantifying PHE's effects on morbidity, a fast, accurate, and reproducible method for measuring PHE volume is needed. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the use of a semiautomated dual clustering segmentation algorithm to generate PHE volumetrics on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) of the head and compare this technique to physicians' manual calculations.

The role of bile leak testing in liver resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Bile leak following liver resection can be associated with significant morbidity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of intraoperative bile leak testing on postoperative bile leak rate and other complications after liver resection without biliary reconstruction for any cause.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and grey literature databases were searched for articles between 1960 and 2017 comparing bile leak rates with or without bile leak testing.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of hepatic resection versus transarterial chemoembolization for solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Surgical techniques and pre-operative patient evaluation have improved since the initial development of the Barcelona clinic liver cancer staging system. The optimal treatment for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma ≥5 cm remains unclear. The aim of this study was to review the long-term survival outcomes of hepatic resection versus transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) for solitary large tumours.

How Does Cholecystectomy Influence Recurrence of Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis?

Background: Idiopathic acute pancreatitis is diagnosed in approximately 10-30 % of cases of acute pancreatitis. While there is evidence to suggest that the cause in many of these patients is microlithiasis, this fact has not been translated into a resource efficient treatment strategy that is proven to reduce recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to examine the value of prophylactic cholecystectomy following an episode of acute pancreatitis in patients with no history of alcohol abuse and no stones found on ultrasound.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of vascular resection in the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has evolved over time and extended liver resection, including the caudate lobe, and major vascular resection and extended lymphadenectomy have become established practice. The benefit of vascular resection has not been investigated.

Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was used to identify studies.

Molecular biology of adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic duct, current state and future therapeutic avenues.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a lethal disease; currently surgery offers five years survival of less than 5%. Any improvement in the outcome is likely to be through novel therapeutic agents that will target the genetic machinery of the cell. Knowledge of genetic alterations in the process of carcinogenesis is expanding rapidly, the targeted therapy, however, is progressing slowly.

In colorectal liver metastases, the presence of extrahepatic disease correlates with the pathology of the primary tumour.

Background. FDG-PET scan detects extrahepatic metastases in 20% of patients with colorectal liver metastases but it is reported to have approximately 16% false negative rates. Patients and Methods.

Ten-year survival after liver resection for colorectal metastases: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background. Liver resection in metastatic colorectal cancer is proved to result in five-year survival of 25-40%. Several factors have been investigated to look for prognostic factors stratifications such as resection margins, node involvement in the primary disease, and interval between the primary disease and liver metastases.

Impact of gastrografin in clinical practice in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Background: Gastrografin (GG) has been shown to accelerate the resolution of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) and decrease length of stay (LOS) in hospital. Consequently, we instituted a protocol recommending the routine use of GG in patients with ASBO. This study reviews patient outcomes after protocol implementation.

The Simple Prognostic Index (SPI)--a pathophysiologic prognostic scoring tool for emergency laparotomy.

Background: Laparotomy is commonly performed as an emergency operation. It is often performed on elderly patients with high risks of mortality and morbidity. Currently, there is no accurate scoring system to predict mortality and morbidity, preoperatively, in these circumstances.

Use of statins in adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Background: Adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) causes considerable morbidity and may require surgical intervention. The role of statins in adhesion prevention is of increasing interest, though no investigation of its impact on ASBO and operative rates has been conducted. This study investigates the impact of statin use on operative rates in ASBO.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the used surgical techniques to reduce leg lymphedema following radical inguinal nodes dissection.

Background: Inguinal nodes dissection is associated with high rates of morbidity, lymphedema in particular is a chronic disabling condition which is a common complication following this operation. Prevention or minimization of this condition is an important aim when considering this procedure. Many technical modifications are suggested for this purpose.

Smoking is a major risk factor for wound dehiscence after midline abdominal incision; case-control study.

Background: The incidence of acute fascial wound dehiscence (AFWD) after major abdominal operations is as high as 3%. AFWD is associated with mortality rates of 15-20%. Male gender, advanced age and numerous systemic factors including malignancy hypoproteinemia and steroid use have been associated with increased risk.

What happens to the external carotid artery following carotid endarterectomy?

Aims: The effect of carotid endarterectomy on the patency of the external carotid artery is unknown. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the long-term changes in the external carotid artery following carotid endarterectomy.

Methods: Data was prospectively recorded for all patients who had carotid endarterectomy between 1997 and 2006 in our vascular surgical unit.

Detection of the bladder volume from the neural afferent activities in dogs: experimental results.

Objective: We evaluate the bladder volume and pressure through recording the bladder afferent activity in the sacral nerve roots in acute experiments of paraplegic dogs. These measurements are intended to report the status of the bladder and to adjust the stimulation parameters of an implantable electric stimulator.

Methods: The extraction of neural information for feedback in functional electrical stimulation is limited by the poor signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the sacral nerve recordings.

Delayed rupture of common carotid artery following rugby tackle injury: a case report.

Background: Common Carotid Artery (CCA) is an uncommon site of injury following a blunt trauma, its presentation with spontaneous delayed rupture is even more uncommon and a rugby tackle leading to CCA injury is a rare event. What makes this case unique and very rare is combination of all of the above.

Case Presentation: Mr H.

Resection of peritoneal metastases causing malignant small bowel obstruction.

Background: Resection of peritoneal metastases has been shown to improve survival in patients with abdominal metastatic disease from abdominal or extra abdominal malignancy. This study evaluates the benefit of peritoneal metastatic resection in patients with malignant small bowel obstruction and a past history of treated cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing laparotomy for resection of peritoneal metastases from recurrence of previous cancer between 1992-2003 were reviewed retrospectively.