Post-operative abdominal drainage following major upper gastrointestinal surgery: single drain versus two drains.

Background: Traditionally, surgeons have resorted to placing drains following major gastrointestinal surgery. In recent years, the value of routine drainage has been questioned, especially in the light of their role in post-operative pain, infection, and prolonged hospital stay. The aim of this study was to compare the peri-operative outcomes following the use of a single versus two drains for gastric and pancreatic resections.

Perioperative outcomes after ultra low anterior resection in the era of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Data on perioperative outcomes of sphincter preserving ultra low anterior resections (ULAR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NA-CTRT) is sparsely reported in literature.

Methods: Prospective data of 68 patients was reviewed retrospectively. Patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CTRT, Group A, n = 45) were compared with those who were operated upfront (Group B, n = 23).

Complications as indicators of quality assurance after 401 consecutive colorectal cancer resections: the importance of surgeon volume in developing colorectal cancer units in India.

Background: The low incidence of colorectal cancer in India, coupled with absence of specialized units, contribute to lack of relevant data arising from the subcontinent. We evaluated the data of the senior author to better define the requirements that would enable development of specialized units in a country where colorectal cancer burden is increasing.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 401 consecutive colorectal resections from a prospective database of the senior author.

Superior mesenteric artery first combined with uncinate process approach versus uncinate process first approach in pancreatoduodenectomy: a comparative study evaluating perioperative outcomes.

Purpose: During pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), two techniques have been described to dissect the head of pancreas, viz. the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) approach by dissecting the uncinate process and the uncinate process first approach.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients, who underwent PD between June 2009 and April 2010, were analyzed.