Radiolucent foreign bodies presenting as inflammatory bowel disease: the case of an ingested plastic straw disguising as Crohn's.

More than 80% of ingested foreign bodies are thought to pass spontaneously in the faeces, with fewer than 1% requiring surgical intervention. 'Missed' gastrointestinal foreign bodies are rare and often due to the lack of an obtainable history in patients with communication difficulties or radiolucent foreign bodies. We present the rare case of a 27-year-old woman with severe learning difficulties and a complex surgical history who presented with a 2-year history of increasing abdominal discomfort due to a 'missed' foreign body.

A cadaver lab training facility to facilitate laparoscopic liver resection.

Introduction: Laparoscopic liver surgery is becoming increasingly common; however, doubts still remain regarding its more widespread application and whether it improves patient outcome. The authors would like to present their experience of using a dedicated cadaver laparoscopic training laboratory to facilitate the introduction of a laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) program.

Methods: A course was designed by a faculty of experienced, advanced laparoscopic surgeons providing an intensive 2-day course of lectures, debate, exchange, and practical hands-on with a live link to clinical LLR operations.

A double-blind randomised trial to evaluate the effect of anastrozole for the treatment of non-toxic multinodular goitre.

Multinodular goitre (MNG) is a common clinical finding, particularly in females and is usually asymptomatic. When symptoms occur because of local pressure-related effects the only treatment is surgical involving partial or total thyroidectomy. A number of epidemiological observations and experimental data have suggested that oestrogen aromatase activity may be involved in the pathogenesis of MNG.

Endoscopic stent insertion for the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Background/aims: Controversy exists as to whether endoscopic or minimally invasive/open bypass is superior in cases of malignant gastric outlet obstruction.

Methods: Retrospective observational study following those patients admitted to the hospital between January 1999 and December 2004 (n = 23) with gastric outlet obstruction. In all suitable patients endoscopic stent insertion was attempted.