The Birmingham Standardized Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Shunt Protocol: Technical Note.

Background: Insertion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is challenging mainly due to the small ventricles and phenotypical body habitus. In this report the authors present their surgical protocol for insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in patients with IIH and the associated revision rates.

Methods: The protocol comprises the following: shunt surgery by neurosurgeons with expertise in CSF disorders; a frontal VPS usually right sided but left sided if the left ventricle is bigger; use of the proGAV 2.

Vascular calcification does not predict anastomotic leak or conduit necrosis following oesophagectomy.

Background: Anastomotic leaks (AL) and gastric conduit necrosis (CN) are serious complications following oesophagectomy. Some studies have suggested that vascular calcification may be associated with an increased AL rate, but this has not been validated in a United Kingdom population.

Aim: To investigate whether vascular calcification identified on the pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan is predictive of AL or CN.

Validation of the NUn score as a predictor of anastomotic leak and major complications after Esophagectomy.

Predicting major anastomotic leak (AL) and major complications (Clavien-Dindo 3-5) following esophagectomy improves postoperative management of patients. The role of the NUn score in their prediction is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the predictive ability of this simple score.

Prognostic significance of circumferential resection margin involvement in patients receiving potentially curative treatment for oesophageal cancer.

Introduction: The utility of Circumferential Resection Margin (CRM) status in predicting prognosis in oesophageal cancer is controversial, with different definitions used by the College of American Pathologists and the Royal College of Pathologists. We aimed to determine prognostic significance of CRM involvement and evaluate which system is the best predictor of prognosis.

Methods: A cohort of 390 patients who had potentially curative oesophagectomy (- + neoadjuvant chemotherapy) were analysed.

Prognostic significance of tumor length in patients receiving esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Aims: We investigated the prognostic value of tumor length measurements acquired both from pre-operative imaging and post-operative pathology in esophageal cancer.

Methods: Tumor lengths were examined retrospectively for 389 esophagectomy patients with respect to Endoscopy, EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound), CT and PET-CT, and pathology. Correlations between the measurements on the different approaches were assessed, and associations between tumor length and survival were analyzed.