Prophylactic antibiotics for penetrating abdominal trauma: duration of use and antibiotic choice.

Background: Penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT) is a common type of trauma leading to admission to hospital, which often progresses to septic complications. Antibiotics are commonly administered as prophylaxis prior to laparotomy for PAT. However, an earlier Cochrane Review intending to compare antibiotics with placebo identified no relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Closure methods for laparotomy incisions for preventing incisional hernias and other wound complications.

Background: Surgeons who perform laparotomy have a number of decisions to make regarding abdominal closure. Material and size of potential suture types varies widely. In addition, surgeons can choose to close the incision in anatomic layers or mass ('en masse'), as well as using either a continuous or interrupted suturing technique, of which there are different styles of each.

Antibiotic treatment for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea in adults.

Background: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is recognized as a frequent cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis. This review is an update of a previously published Cochrane review.

Surgery for complete (full-thickness) rectal prolapse in adults.

Background: Complete (full-thickness) rectal prolapse is a lifestyle-altering disability that commonly affects older people. The range of surgical methods available to correct the underlying pelvic floor defects in full-thickness rectal prolapse reflects the lack of consensus regarding the best operation.

Objectives: To assess the effects of different surgical repairs for complete (full-thickness) rectal prolapse.

Anal fissure (chronic).

Introduction: Anal fissures are a common cause of anal pain during, and for 1 to 2 hours after, defecation. The cause is not fully understood, but low intake of dietary fibre may be a risk factor.

Methods And Outcomes: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of surgical treatments for chronic anal fissure? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to January 2014 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review).

Antimicrobial prophylaxis for colorectal surgery.

Background: Research shows that administration of prophylactic antibiotics before colorectal surgery prevents postoperative surgical wound infection. The best antibiotic choice, timing of administration and route of administration remain undetermined.

Objectives: To establish the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis for the prevention of surgical wound infection in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Treatment of an initial infection with clostridium difficile in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

: Although the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in the general population has increased dramatically over the past decade, an even greater rate of infection exists in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Susceptibility in this population is likely inherent to the pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases. C.

Surgery for faecal incontinence in adults.

Background: Faecal incontinence is a debilitating problem with significant medical, social and economic implications. Treatment options include conservative, non-operative interventions (for example pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, drugs) and surgical procedures. A surgical procedure may be aimed at correcting an obvious mechanical defect, or augmenting a functionally deficient but structurally intact sphincter complex.

Transparent cap colonoscopy versus standard colonoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Due to the increasing demand for colonoscopy, devices to advance examination techniques are highly sought after. Several studies have examined the use of a transparent cap attached to the tip of the colonoscope, but the data are inconsistent. The aim of our study was to establish whether transparent cap colonoscopy is beneficial in the improvement of caecal intubation rate, time and polyp detection.

Transparent cap colonoscopy versus standard colonoscopy to improve caecal intubation.

Background: Colonoscopy is considered the gold-standard investigation for screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. It is also becoming increasingly desirable for assessment, management, diagnosis and follow-up of other colorectal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and acute diverticulitis. Hence, due to the increasing demand for colonoscopy, devices to advance examination techniques are highly sought-after and the colonoscope with the transparent cap could be one of these.

Pregabalin for chronic prostatitis.

Background: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a condition that is detrimental to the quality of life of men. Evidence suggests that it may have a neuropathic origin and therefore medications such as pregabalin might have a role in the controlling of symptoms.

Objectives: The primary objective was to compare pregabalin to other modalities of pain relief to alleviate men's symptoms of CP/CPPS.

Non surgical therapy for anal fissure.

Background: Because of the disability associated with surgery for anal fissure and the risk of incontinence, medical alternatives for surgery have been sought. Most recently, pharmacologic methods that relax the anal smooth muscle, to accomplish reversibly what occurs in surgery, have been used to obtain fissure healing.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and morbidity of various medical therapies for anal fissure.

Operative procedures for fissure in ano.

Background: Reports of direct comparisons between operative techniques for anal fissure are variable in their results. These reports are either subject to selection bias (in non-randomized studies) or observer bias (in all studies) or have inadequate numbers of patients enrolled to answer the question of efficacy.

Objectives: To determine the best technique for fissure surgery.

Antibiotic treatment for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults.

Background: Clostridium difficile is recognized as a frequent cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis.

Objectives: The aim of this review is to investigate the efficacy of antibiotic therapy for C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD).

Nitrous oxide for colonoscopy.

Background: Colonoscopy is the gold standard investigation for large bowel disease. With the increase in demand, pressure is on clinics to shorten lengths of time per procedure in addition to maintaining high levels of patient safety. Analgesia has always been the mainstay of adequate pain relief, but it leads to prolonged recovery and lengths of hospital stay, in addition to increased risk of cardio-respiratory side effects.

Energy source instruments for laparoscopic colectomy.

Background: Colectomy is a common procedures for both benign and malignant conditions. Increasingly more colectomy has been performed laparoscopically and there are several available instruments being used for this procedure. Of which three common dissecting instruments are: monopolar electrocautery scissors (MES), ultrasonic coagulating shears (UCS) and electrothermal bipolar vessel sealers (EBVS).

Transparent Cap Colonoscopy versus Standard Colonoscopy for Investigation of Gastrointestinal Tract Conditions.

Background: Colonoscopy is considered the gold-standard investigation for screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. It is also becoming increasingly desirable for assessment, management, diagnosis and follow-up of other colorectal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and acute diverticulitis. Hence, due to the increasing demand for colonoscopy, devices to advance examination techniques are highly sought-after and the colonoscope with the transparent cap could be one of these.