Adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has now been described as a sequela to such diverse conditions as burns, amniotic fluid embolism, acute pancreatitis, trauma, sepsis and damage as a result of elective surgery in general. Patients with ARDS require immediate intubation, with the average patient now being ventilated for between 8 and 11 days. While the acute management of ARDS is conducted by the critical care team, almost any surgical patient can be affected by the condition and we believe that it is important that a broader spectrum of hospital doctors gain an understanding of the nature of the pathology and its current treatment.

Enhanced recovery programme reduces opiate consumption in hip hemiarthroplasty.

Introduction: The enhanced recovery programme (ERP) is used to improve patient experience before, during and after an operation. Initially designed for colorectal surgery, it has now been adopted by many other disciplines, including orthopaedics. Where applicable, ERP has shown to be associated with less pain, reduced length of hospital stay and increased patient satisfaction in elective orthopaedic procedures.

Aspirin may prevent cholangiocarcinoma: a case-control study from the United kingdom.

Background: The proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells is suppressed in cell culture by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) through the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme and also by statins which decrease the production of mediators of the cell cycle.

Aims: To investigate whether there is an inverse association between NSAIDs, including aspirin, and the development of cholangiocarcinoma and, for the first time in a Western population, between statin use and the development of cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: This epidemiological study had a case-control design in which cases of cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed in Norwich between 2004 and 2010 and in Leicester in 2007 were identified from clinical databases.