Routine extensive dissection of the cystic duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to reduce the risk of residual choledocholithiasis: an unnecessary step and a potentially hazardous concept.

Introduction: Post-cholecystectomy choledocholithiasis can occur from retained stones at the cystic duct stump remnant; however, most surgeons would not proceed with extensive dissection of the cystic duct during routine cholecystectomy, mainly in fear of inadvertent bile duct injuries, given the frequent anatomical variations of the extrahepatic biliary tree.

Aim: To determine the need and feasibility of extensive dissection of the cystic duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, to reduce the risk of post-cholecystectomy choledocholithiasis.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of our institutional database of all patients who had magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) prior to cholecystectomy over a 3-year period (03/2016-04/2019), assessing the anatomical variations of the cystic duct and the incidence of cystic duct stones.

Mobile revolution: a requiem for bleeps?

Objectives: Effective communication is a vital part of good clinical care. Traditionally bleep systems have been used as the mainstay of communication. Mobile technology is increasingly seen as a quicker, easier and more reliable method of communication.

Aspects of mental health dysfunction among survivors of childhood cancer.

Background: Some previous studies have reported that survivors of childhood cancer are at an increased risk of developing long-term mental health morbidity, whilst others have reported that this is not the case. Therefore, we analysed 5-year survivors of childhood cancer using the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (BCCSS) to determine the risks of aspects of long-term mental health dysfunction.

Procedure: Within the BCCSS, 10 488 survivors completed a questionnaire that ascertained mental health-related information via 10 questions from the Short Form-36 survey.