Screening for colorectal cancer in defunctioned colons.

Objectives: Population-based colorectal (bowel) cancer screening using faecal occult blood tests leads to a reduction in cause-specific mortality. However, in people where the colon is defunctioned, the use of standard faecal occult blood test is not appropriate. The aim of this study was to examine the current trends of clinical practice for colorectal cancer screening in people with defunctioned colons.

Outcomes after stenting for malignant large bowel obstruction without radiologist support.

Aim: To assess outcomes after colonic stent insertion for obstructing colorectal malignancies performed by an endoscopist without radiologist support.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of all stents inserted by a single surgeon in a District General Hospital over an eight year period. All stents were inserted for patients with acute large bowel obstruction secondary to a malignant colorectal pathology either for palliation or as a bridge to surgery.

Changing management of suspected appendicitis in the laparoscopic era.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to examine the trends in performance of open and laparoscopic appendicectomy at a district general hospital, and to compare the diagnostic outcomes in the two patient groups.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected prospectively from patients undergoing an open or laparoscopic procedure for suspected appendicitis in an 8-year period between January 2000 and December 2007.

Results: A total of 1700 patients (873 women, 827 men) with a median age of 24 years underwent surgery for suspected appendicitis in the study period.

Anal ulceration induced by nicorandil.

In patients with anal fissures or anal ulceration, treatment with the drug nicorandil should be considered as a possible cause