Publications by authors named "Colin Richards"
Background: Rectal division during minimally invasive surgery including robotic assisted surgery remains challenging, with current techniques often requiring multiple stapler firings to achieve effective transection.
Aims: We propose a novel technique which allows the use of a Contour® Curved Cutter Stapler to achieve rectal division during robotic assisted surgery.
Methods: The stapler is inserted through the routinely made pfannenstiel incision and a glove, over an Alexis® port used to create an airtight seal.
Aims: Complete mesocolic excision (CME) has been proposed as a way to improve the oncological outcomes in patients with colon cancer. To investigate whether there is rationale for adopting the technique in Scotland, our aim was to define the incidence of disease recurrence following standard right hemicolectomy and to compare this with published CME outcomes.
Methods: Data was collected on consecutive patients undergoing right or extended right hemicolectomy for colonic adenocarcinoma (2012-2017) at three hospitals in Scotland (Raigmore Hospital, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Glasgow Royal Infirmary).
Background And Study Aims: Endoscopically resected malignant colorectal polyps (MCPs) present a dilemma regarding whether the risk of residual disease justifies a major bowel resection. Overtreatment is common, and the vast majority of patients who undergo resection have no residual tumor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether revising the definition of vertical margin involvement following MCP polypectomy could reduce unnecessary surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the adequacy of assessing gynecologic history for females of reproductive age (FRA) admitted to a general surgery department.
Methods: The present prospective multicenter audit included FRA who were admitted for elective or emergency procedures to general surgery departments in Scotland between May 11 and May 25, 2015. Data were compared between patients who were admitted for elective and emergency treatment.
Background: Previous reports suggest that body composition parameters can be used to predict outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. However, evidence for an association with long-term survival is conflicting, with much of the data derived from patients with advanced disease. This study examined the effect of body composition on survival in primary operable GI cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Documentation of pregnancy status (PS) is an integral component of the assessment of women of reproductive age when admitted to hospital. Our aim was to determine how accurately PS was documented in a multicentre audit of female admissions to general surgery.
Methods: A prospective multicentre audit of elective and emergency admissions was performed in 18 Scottish centres between 08:00 on 11 May 2015 and 07:59 on 25 May 2015.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare a developmental optical coherence tomography (OCT) based contact lens inspection instrument to a widely used geometric inspection instrument (Optimec JCF), to establish the capability of a market focused OCT system.
Methods: Measurements of 27 soft spherical contact lenses were made using the Optimec JCF and a new OCT based instrument, the Optimec is830. Twelve of the lenses analysed were specially commissioned from a traditional hydrogel (Contamac GM Advance 49%) and 12 from a silicone hydrogel (Contamac Definitive 65), each set with a range of back optic zone radius (BOZR) and centre thickness (CT) values.
Purpose: The tumor microenvironment is recognized as an important determinant of progression and outcome in colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a novel tumor microenvironment-based prognostic score, based on histopathologic assessment of the tumor inflammatory cell infiltrate and tumor stroma, in patients with primary operable colorectal cancer.
Experimental Design: Using routine pathologic sections, the tumor inflammatory cell infiltrate and stroma were assessed using Klintrup-Mäkinen (KM) grade and tumor stroma percentage (TSP), respectively, in 307 patients who had undergone elective resection for stage I-III colorectal cancer.
Background: The host immune response is important in the prevention of tumour progression in solid organ cancers. The aim was to evaluate the clinical utility of the local inflammatory response in patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods: Three hundred and sixty-five patients with primary operable colorectal cancer were included.
Objective: To examine the clinical utility of improved detection of venous invasion (VI) in patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer.
Background: VI is a feature of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Elastica staining can be used to improve detection of VI and correspondingly its prediction of patient survival.
Background: Weight loss is recognised as a marker of poor prognosis in patients with cancer but the aetiology of cancer cachexia remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between CT measured parameters of body composition and the systemic inflammatory response in patients with primary operable colorectal cancer.
Patient And Methods: 174 patients with primary operable colorectal cancer who underwent resection with curative intent (2003-2010).
Background: Tumor necrosis has been proposed as a marker of poor prognosis in a variety of solid organ malignant tumor types. Despite this, its assessment has yet to be adopted into routine clinical practice and the mechanisms underpinning the relationships with cancer outcome are undetermined.
Aims: To examine the prognostic value of tumor necrosis in solid organ malignant disease and to summarize the known clinical, pathological and inflammatory associations.
Background: The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) risk-adjustment model for colorectal cancer surgery has been recently revised. The aim of the present study was to compare the performance of the revised ACPGBI model, the original ACPGBI model, P-POSSUM, and CR-POSSUM, in the prediction of operative mortality after resection of colorectal cancer.
Methods: A total of 423 patients who underwent potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer at a single institution (1997-2007) were included.
Objective: The objective of the study was to identify determinants of disease recurrence after potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer.
Summary Background Data: The identification of patients at increased risk of disease recurrence is currently based on pathological factors. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the potential impact of perioperative factors on long-term colorectal cancer outcome.
Introduction: The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) model and its Portsmouth (P-POSSUM) and colorectal (CR-POSSUM) modifications are used extensively to predict and audit post-operative mortality and morbidity. This aim of this systematic review was to assess the predictive value of the POSSUM models in colorectal cancer surgery.
Methods: Major electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Pubmed were searched for original studies published between 1991 and 2010.
Background: Women who are positive for thyroid antibodies in early gestation are prone to post-partum depression, apparently independent of thyroid dysfunction, as measured by serum levels of free thyroxine, free triodothyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone. This finding may be due to infrequent monitoring of thyroid function, because hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and combinations of both may occur post-partum.
Aims: To test the hypothesis that stabilising thyroid function post-partum by administering daily thyroxine reduces the rate of occurrence and severity of associated depression.