Pilonidal sinus: is histological examination necessary?

Background: Pilonidal sinus is a common pathology occurring in a number of sites including the gluteal cleft between the buttocks. Surgery is the principal mode of treatment with a variety of techniques proposed to cure the disease and prevent recurrence. The rate of malignant degeneration is estimated at 0.

Prophylactic Foley catheter insertion into defunctioning ileostomy to reduce obstruction after colorectal surgery: pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Defunctioning ileostomies provide faecal diversion in major colorectal surgery. This reduces the consequences of an anastomotic leak. However, the formation of an ileostomy carries risks including obstruction at the level of the fascia.

Local Anaesthesia Alone Versus Regional or General Anaesthesia in Excisional Haemorrhoidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Excisional haemorrhoidectomy has been traditionally performed under general or regional anaesthesia. However, these modes are associated with complications such as nausea, urinary retention and motor blockade. Local anaesthesia (LA) alone has been proposed to reduce side effects as well as to expedite ambulatory surgery.

Topical analgesia following excisional haemorrhoidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Purpose: Post-operative pain following excisional haemorrhoidectomy poses a particular challenge for patient recovery, as well as a burden on hospital resources. There appears to be an increasing role for topical agents to improve this pain, but their efficacy and safety have not been fully assessed. This systematic review aims to assess all topical agents used for pain following excisional haemorrhoidectomy.

Intraperitoneal Tramadol in Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Multimodal analgesic regimes are required to treat pain. Intraperitoneal (IP) agents, such as local anesthetics (LAs), have been shown to reduce pain after abdominal surgery. Other IP analgesics have been tested in several randomized control trials (RCTs), but no reviews or guidelines have evaluated their use.

Patient information needs in upper gastrointestinal cancer: what patients and their families want to know.

Background: The treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) patients is complex. Patients are often elderly, comorbid as well as nutritionally depleted and treatment involves multimodality therapy incorporating chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The pre-treatment information requirements of UGIC patients are not clear but crucially important in ensuring they complete treatment successfully.