Preoperative serum C-reactive protein levels and post-operative lymph node ratio are important predictors of survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Context: There is paucity of data on the prognostic value of pre-operative inflammatory response and post-operative lymph node ratio on patient survival after pancreatic-head resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of the preoperative inflammatory response and postoperative pathology criteria to identify predictive and/or prognostic variables for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Design: All patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2002 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.

Lichtenstein hernia repair under different anaesthetic techniques with special emphasis on outcomes in older people.

Background: This study compared local (LA) and general anaesthesia (GA) for elective inguinal hernia repair with specific reference to older people (≥70 years).

Methods: A total of 470 inguinal hernia repairs were compared for demographics, operating time, day case rates and complications. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate outcomes in <70 and >70 years.

Compliance to recommended liver function monitoring in patients on statin therapy.

Product information and national guidelines consistently recommend the estimation of serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT) before and after approximately 3 months as part of risk management following initiation of statin therapy. The aim of this study was to determine compliance to the recommendations for monitoring ALT in patients initiated on statin therapy. The prevalence of abnormal serum ALT levels was also evaluated and compared with current data.