Patient-reported impact of emergency laparotomy on employment and health status 1 year after surgery.

Background: Whilst there has been significant improvement in mortality outcomes after emergency laparotomy, there is little information on longer term outcomes in the year after discharge. The main aim of the study was to assess the impact that an emergency laparotomy has on patients' and employment and health status 1 year after surgery.

Methods: This study was a questionnaire study conducted in a single centre district general hospital of patients who had undergone an emergency laparotomy between October 2015 and December 2016.

Scotland's "Incentivised Laparoscopy Practice" programme: Engaging trainees with take-home laparoscopy simulation.

Background: The transfer validity of portable laparoscopy simulation is well established. However, attempts to integrate take-home simulation into surgical training have met with inconsistent engagement worldwide, as for example in our 2014-15 study of an Incentivised Laparoscopy Practice programme (ILPv1). Drawing on learning from our subsequent multi-centre study examining barriers and facilitators, we revised the programme for 2018 onwards.

Improving surgical training: Establishing a surgical anatomy programme in Scotland.

Background: It is well recognized that a sound foundation in surgical anatomy is a cornerstone of safe surgical practice, yet many trainees struggle with the upskilling in anatomy that is required to support their day-to-day practice. In the context of the UK-wide Improving Surgical Training pilot, we set out to establish a surgical anatomy programme for core surgical trainees in the Scotland Deanery. The aim was to enable all trainees to review the surgical anatomy of the whole body to MRCS level at least once during core surgical training.

Peritoneal fluid biomarkers in the detection of colorectal anastomotic leaks: a systematic review.

Purpose: Anastomotic leak (AL) in colorectal surgery leads to significant morbidity, mortality and poorer oncological outcomes. Diagnosis of AL is frequently delayed as current methods of detection are not 100% sensitive or specific. 'Biomarkers', such as cytokines and markers of ischaemia, from the milieu of the anastomosis may aid early detection.

Analysis of lesion localisation at colonoscopy: outcomes from a multi-centre U.K. study.

Background: Colonoscopy is currently the gold standard for detection of colorectal lesions, but may be limited in anatomically localising lesions. This audit aimed to determine the accuracy of colonoscopy lesion localisation, any subsequent changes in surgical management and any potentially influencing factors.

Methods: Patients undergoing colonoscopy prior to elective curative surgery for colorectal lesion/s were included from 8 registered U.

Early experience of a virtual journal club.

Background: Traditional journal club models based on didactic presentation sessions followed by group discussion have many limitations. To overcome some of these shortcomings, a virtual journal club (VJC) using social media and e-mail was developed. The aim of this study was to report the initial experience of this novel multimodal e-learning platform to facilitate journal club discussion and promote the development of critical appraisal skills.

Salmonellosis as a differential diagnosis.

With a low incidence of Salmonella infection, salmonellosis is an uncommon problem in Scotland. It occurs in both immune-compromised and immune-competent patients. We present two cases of salmonellosis in immune-competent patients who had had a history of gastroenteritis.

Timely computed tomography scan diagnoses spigelian hernia: a case study.

A spigelian hernia is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain and its diagnosis is often difficult to make. A CT scan of the patient demonstrated an incarcerated spigelian hernia containing small bowel which had subsequently reduced spontaneously. The patient underwent laparoscopic repair of her spigelian hernia the following day and made a fast and uneventful recovery.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for severe obesity.

Background: Morbid obesity is an increasingly common condition with serious associated morbidity and decreased life expectancy. The only treatment with long-term efficacy for this condition is surgical intervention. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a procedure increasingly performed in European centres and recently approved by the FDA in USA.