Impact of penicillin allergy labels on surgical site infections in a large UK cohort of gastrointestinal surgery patients.

Objectives: Studies in the USA, Canada and France have reported higher surgical site infection (SSI) risk in patients with a penicillin allergy label (PAL). Here, we investigate the association between PALs and SSI in the UK, a country with distinct epidemiology of infecting pathogens and range of antimicrobial regimens in routine use.

Methods: Electronic health records and national SSI surveillance data were collated for a retrospective cohort of gastrointestinal surgery patients at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2021.

Systematic review and meta-analysis comparing perioperative outcomes of emergency appendectomy performed by trainee vs trained surgeon.

Background: Appendectomy is a benchmark operation for trainee progression, but this should be weighed against patient safety and perioperative outcomes.

Methods: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of appendectomy performed by trainees versus trained surgeons.

Results: Of 2086 articles screened, 29 studies reporting on 135,358 participants were analyzed.

Systematic review and meta-analysis comparing perioperative outcomes of pediatric emergency appendicectomy performed by trainee vs trained surgeon.

Appendicectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure performed by trainees and surgeons with varying reported outcomes. It is a benchmark procedure for trainee progression and training benefits should be weighed against patient safety and perioperative outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated any differential perioperative outcomes dependent on the grade of the operating surgeon.

Small bowel intussusception and concurrent jejunal polyp with neoplastic transformation: a new diagnosis of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary disease characterised by hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps. We report a case of a 27-year-old man who presented with a 5-day history of epigastric pain and rectal bleeding. Computed tomography suggested small bowel obstruction secondary to ileocolic intussusception and an incidental polyp in the mid jejunum.

Compliance with evidence-based clinical guidelines in the management of acute biliary pancreatitis: the MANCTRA-1 study protocol.

Despite existing evidence-based practice guidelines for the management of biliary acute pancreatitis (AP), the clinical compliance with recommendations is overall poor. Studies in this field have identified significant discrepancies between evidence-based recommendations and daily clinical practice. The most commonly reported gaps between clinical practice and AP guidelines include the indications for CT scan, need and timing of artificial nutritional support, indications for antibiotics, and surgical/endoscopic management of biliary AP.

Re-exploring the pelvic neuroanatomy from a new perspective and a potential guidance for TaTME: a "bottom-up" approach.

Neuro-anatomy of the perineum has gained renewed attention due to its significance in the transanal procedures for rectal cancer (eg TaTME). Surgeons embarking on this technique must have sophisticated knowledge and a precise anatomical understanding of the perineum before proceeding with this reversed rectal approach. We report anatomical observations deriving from a relevant experience in the colorectal surgery field.

Fishbone perforation of the small bowel mimicking internal herniation and obstruction in a patient with previous gastric bypass surgery.

Intestinal perforation following the ingestion of fishbone is unusual and rarely diagnosed preoperatively, as clinical and radiological findings are non-specific. We report a case of a female patient post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) for obesity, who presented with severe abdominal pain and guarding in left iliac fossa. Computed tomography (CT) suggested internal herniation with compromised vascular supply to the bowel.

Diaphragm disease of the terminal ileum presenting as acute small bowel obstruction.

Diaphragm disease (DD) of the small bowel is a rarely reported complication of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, characterised by diaphragm-like strictures, most commonly in the ileum, causing varying degrees of obstruction. It typically presents in the elderly, over many years with non-specific symptoms. Diagnosis is challenging, the majority of cases relying on histopathology for confirmation.

"Falling down": a retroperitoneal catastropheC.

Hemoperitoneum due to ruptured retroperitoneal varices is an extremely rare condition and a poor prognostic sign with a catastrophic and life-threatening situation. Early recognition affords appropriate management and urgent surgical intervention in order to favor the survival rate. In this case report we accurately describe the complex clinical course of a 56-year old woman with retroperitoneal varices, who few months earlier had a chest trauma with multiple left lower rib fractures and 10 years earlier she underwent to ovarian hyperstimulation for an ovulation induction.

Spontaneous bowel perforation in the setting of colonic involvement with scleroderma.

Here we present a rare case of spontaneous colonic perforation in a middle-aged woman affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc). In spite of maximal medical support and prompt emergency laparotomy for source control the patient died due to multiorgan failure within 48 hours of admission. This case emphasises that although rarely, patients with scleroderma can present with colonic perforation which unfortunately due to their decreased physiological reserve, can lead to rapid and irreversible deterioration and subsequent death.

Enhancing the emergency general surgical service: an example of the aggregation of marginal gains.

Introduction: We aimed to enhance the emergency general surgical service in our high-volume centre in order to reduce four-hour target breaches, to expedite senior decision making and to avoid unnecessary admissions.

Materials And Methods: The aggregation of marginal gains theory was applied. A dual consultant on-call system was established by the incremental employment of five emergency general surgeons with a specialist interest in colorectal or oesophagogastric surgery.

Rare Case of Hepatic Endometriosis as an Incidental Finding: Difficult Diagnosis of a Diagnostic Dilemma.

Endometriosis is the abnormal existence of functional uterine mucosal tissue outside the uterus. It is a usual disorder of women in reproductive age which is mainly located in the female genital tract. Hepatic endometriosis is one of the rarest disorders characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrium in the liver.

Assessing the clinical utility of Wnt pathway markers in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: β-catenin and AXIN2 play an important role in the Wnt signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate β-catenin and AXIN2 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and relate these findings with patients' clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Methods: 57 consecutive patients with surgically treated CRC were included in this study.

Asymptomatic extraperitoneal inguinoscrotal hernia involving ureter: A case presentation and review of the literature.

An inguinoscrotal hernia is a common disorder that usually contains intraperitoneal organs (small intestine, colon, appendix, ovaries). Extraperitoneal ureteral herniation into an inguinoscrotal hernia is a rare condition and often associated with congenital abnormalities or postoperative anatomic changes. A high index of suspicion is needed in order to avoid intraoperative ureteric injuries.

Sigmoid carcinoma localized in the sac of a right inguinoscrotal hernia.

The inguinoscrotal hernia with colonic malignancy in the sac presents rare but severe consequence. The most common side of this type of hernia is the left one while the most common part of the large bowel is the sigmoid colon. The clinical picture can be easily confused with simple inguinoscrotal hernia unless the clinician is alert to the presence of certain sinister symptoms and signs.

Neuroprotective Effects of Erythropoietin in Patients with Severe Closed Brain Injury.

Aim: Our research was focused on the neuroprotective function of erythropoietin (Epo) in patients with severe closed traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Material And Methods: Our model examined the influence of the outcome and neurological recovery in 42 adults with TBI who were admitted to ICU within 6 hours of their injury and were recruited into a randomized controlled study of two groups; only the patients of the intervention group received 10,000 i.u.