Pregnancy and stomas: a 9-year retrospective series at a major metropolitan hospital in Brisbane Queensland.

Background: Over 42 000 Australians live with a stoma, and this number increases annually. Pregnancy in stoma patients is a rare but complex condition and there is limited published literature regarding surgical and obstetric complications in pregnant stoma patients. The aim of this paper was to review stoma outcomes, perinatal morbidity and mortality, and early postpartum period in pregnant stoma patients.

Endoscopic findings after CT proven acute diverticulitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Traditionally, international guidelines recommend patients with acute diverticulitis should be followed up with a colonoscopy 6-8 weeks after discharge. However, the need for an interval colonoscopy has been increasingly challenged in the setting of computed tomography (CT). Previous meta-analyses have included studies which combined suspected rather than imaging confirmed diverticulitis and often without correlation with endoscopic findings.

Skin to origin of mesenteric artery study (STOMA): prospective study of distances between stoma location and proximal superior mesenteric artery.

Background: Traditional siting of stomas, in the lower abdomen, has been guided by surgical dogma lacking evidence. In the lower abdomen, the combination of a thick and pendulous abdominal apron, can create a challenging and suboptimal site for a stoma. The anatomical determinant limiting delivery of a stoma to the abdominal skin is the distance of the SMA from the lower border of the pancreas.

Chest radiographs for acute lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) (e.g. pneumonia) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and management focuses on early treatment.