Transgastric drainage of the perforated esophagus: our experiences over 10 years.

We first described the technique of transgastric drainage of esophageal injuries in 2008. The method establishes vacuum drainage of the lumen of the esophagus, while maintaining patency, effectively exteriorizing the perforation to allow healing. We summarize this technique and present our experiences from the largest published series of patients.

Systematic review of quality of life after esophagectomy and total gastrectomy in patients with gastro-esophageal junction cancer.

The optimal management of cancer of the gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) is an area of contention. GEJ tumors are typically resected via total gastrectomy or esophagectomy. Despite many studies aiming to determine the superiority of either procedure based on surgical or oncological outcomes, the evidence is equivocal.

Oesophagectomy or Total Gastrectomy for the Management of Siewert II Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: There is no consensus on the ideal surgical management of patients with Siewert type II gastroesophageal junctional (GEJ) cancers. Due to its anatomical location, total gastrectomy and oesophagectomy are widely used methods of resection. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal surgical treatment of these patients.

Gut hormones profile after an Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy and its relationship to delayed gastric emptying.

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is common after an Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy (ILGO). The risk of a dilated conduit is the much-feared anastomotic leak. Therefore, prompt management of DGE is required.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the influence of prophylactic pyloric balloon dilatation in the prevention of early delayed gastric emptying after oesophagectomy.

Background: Early delayed gastric emptying (DGE) occurs in up to 50% of patients following oesophagectomy, which can contribute to increased anastomotic leak and respiratory infection rates. Although the treatment of DGE in the form of pyloric balloon dilatation (PBD) post-operatively is well established, there is no consensus on the optimal approach in the prevention of DGE. The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy of prophylactic PBD in the prevention of DGE following oesophagectomy.

Nutritional deficiency post esophageal and gastric cancer surgery: A quality improvement study.

Background: Esophagectomy or gastrectomy for malignant tumors can have a profound effect on nutritional status of patients undergoing the procedure. Hence, postoperative nutritional status is an important prognostic factor to consider in ensuring optimal recovery. In this study, we looked at assessing the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies post esophagectomy or gastrectomies and the efficiency of Allied Health Professionals (AHP) led clinics in identifying and appropriately managing the deficiencies.

Lasting Symptoms After Esophageal Resection (LASER): European Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: To identify the most prevalent symptoms and those with greatest impact upon health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among esophageal cancer survivors.

Background: Long-term symptom burden after esophagectomy, and associations with HRQOL, are poorly understood.

Patients And Methods: Between 2010 and 2016, patients from 20 European Centers who underwent esophageal cancer surgery, and were disease-free at least 1 year postoperatively were asked to complete LASER, EORTC-QLQ-C30, and QLQ-OG25 questionnaires.

Laparoscopically assisted versus open oesophagectomy for patients with oesophageal cancer-the Randomised Oesophagectomy: Minimally Invasive or Open (ROMIO) study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Introduction: Surgery (oesophagectomy), with neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy, is the main curative treatment for patients with oesophageal cancer. Several surgical approaches can be used to remove an oesophageal tumour. The Ivor Lewis (two-phase procedure) is usually used in the UK.

Prospective cohort study of neoadjuvant therapy toxicity in the treatment of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Early studies investigating the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy in oesophageal cancer showed conflicting results, taking many years before a survival advantage was demonstrated in randomised trials. Gains are modest, limited by progressive disease and toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neoadjuvant therapy-associated toxicity and clinical outcomes including survival in patients with potentially curable oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Transplant nephrectomy - A single-center experience.

Transplant nephrectomy (TN) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and influences the outcome of subsequent renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify the reasons for TN in a single transplant center in the United Kingdom and to determine the complication rate, effect on relisting and re-transplantation. We studied all the TNs in our center from January 2000 to December 2011.

Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy Using the Modified Prolonged Prefiring Compression Technique Reduces Pancreatic Fistula.

Background: Pancreatic fistula (PF) is a common postoperative complication following distal pancreatectomy. The prolonged prefiring compression (PFC) technique to reduce PF has been described by Nakamura and colleagues in Japan. The present study assessed if this technique can be applied to the United Kingdom patient population in a tertiary referral center and replicate the low incidence of PF after the laparoscopic approach to distal pancreatectomy (Lap-DP).

Breast surgery using thoracic paravertebral blockade and sedation alone.

Introduction. Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) provides superior analgesia for breast surgery when used in conjunction with general anesthesia (GA). Although TPVB and GA are often combined, for some patients GA is either contraindicated or undesirable.

Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma causing small bowel intussusception in a patient with multiple myeloma - A case report.

Introduction: Multiple myeloma is a monoclonal, immunoproliferative plasma-cell neoplasm of the B lymphoid cells. Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a type of plasma-cell neoplasm that can present as a primary tumour or secondary to another plasma-cell neoplasm, such as multiple myeloma. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma is usually noted in the advanced stages of the disease with ileum involvement being very rare.

Acute cholecystits leading to ischemic ECG changes in a patient with no underlying cardiac disease.

Although chest pain with ST-segment elevation is often indicative of cardiac ischemia, it has also been described with surgical conditions such as acute cholecystitis. We report the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian female who was referred with symptoms consistent with acute cholecystitis. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed unexpected changes with inferolateral ST-segment elevation indicative of an inferolateral myocardial infarct.

Transomental defects as a cause of chronic abdominal pain, the role of diagnostic laparoscopy: a case series.

Introduction: Transomental herniation is a rare but recognised clinical condition, which usually presents as an emergency with bowel obstruction. It accounts for 1-4% of intra-abdominal herniations. We reviewed 3 patients found to have a transomental defect during elective diagnostic laparoscopy performed for chronic abdominal pain.