HighlightsIn patients with history of Invasive lobular cancer of breast with positive faecal occult blood with or without bowel symptoms should have high clinical suspicion of bowel metastasis.Breast cancer is the second most common cancer to metastasise to anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract from oropharynx to anus.

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Background Current NICE guidelines recommend healthy low risk patients who present with acute biliary disease should be offered laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the same index admission. The increased complexity of the acute operations may impact on the operative complication rates; hence the aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the operative complication rates between elective and emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomies and additionally to assess the difference in surgical techniques comparing complete cholecystectomy versus subtotal versus open procedures. Methods Retrospectively, data was collected from emergency and elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies completed in the period 01/01/2021-01/06/2021 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead. The data set was gathered from an electronic theatre database and the individual cases were sub-analyzed further by delving into the electronic patient records database.  Statistical analysis done by using Excel 2010. Results The average age of both groups was 50 years. There wasn’t a statistical significance on the rate of complication between the elective Vs emergency cholecystectomies (Elective 2%, Emergency 9% P = 0.17). Out of 42 Elective procedures, 4 had Sub-total cholecystectomy Vs 3 out of 42 patients on the emergency group who had Subtotal cholecystectomy (9% Vs 7%), implying there was no significant difference noted between the two groups. Average hospital stays was 5.6 days for the acute presentation with biliary disease Vs 0.14 days on the planned elective group. 2% of the elective group were noted to have a surgical drain inserted during the operation; whilst the emergency cohort had a slightly higher rate at 5%. Conclusions Overall there was no significant difference noted between the surgical complications arising in emergency cholecystectomy compared to planned surgeries.  In addition to this the data also suggests that there is negligible difference in the rates of sub-total cholecystectomies in both cohorts.

Background Gallbladder polyps are common findings on transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) and their implications are not entirely clear. Current guidelines advise monitoring with serial TAUS and to offer laparoscopic cholecystectomy if criteria are met to minimise risk of malignant transformation. TAUS is easily accessible and useful at identifying gallbladder polyps, however, has limitations when differentiating between pseudopolyps and true gallbladder polyps with malignant potential. This study looks at a district general hospital’s outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps. Methods This retrospective study identified patients who had polyps identified on TAUS and subsequently undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 2011 to 2021. We identified patients using hospital coding and subsequently assessed their pre-operative imaging and clinic letters to ensure gallbladder polyps were the reason for cholecystectomy. The size of polyp on TAUS was noted and pathology reports were assessed to determine if polyps had been correctly identified on TAUS and if these were true or pseudopolyps. Clinic letters were assessed to determine if patients were symptomatic pre-operatively. Results 66 patients were identified as having polyps pre-operatively. The size of polyp ranged from 2-19mm with a mean of 7.4mm. 39 (59%) patients were symptomatic pre-operatively. TAUS findings correlated with pathology findings of polyps in 45 (68%) patients. Of the 21 patients with no polyps on pathology: 11 had gallstones, 9 had chronic cholecystitis and 1 normal gallbladder. Of the polyps identified 44 were pseudopolyps and only 1 was a true adenoma – 39 cholesterol polyps, 3 inflammatory polyps and 2 adenomyomatosis. There was no evidence of dysplasia on the adenoma, it measured 5mm on TAUS and the patient was symptomatic. Conclusions This study highlights the limitations of TAUS in correctly identifying true polyps. The 41% of asymptomatic patients all had benign findings on pathology and likely had no benefit from surgery. Whilst TAUS is a useful method of identifying potential polyps these findings would suggest that other methods of identifying true polyps should be sought to minimise patients undergoing unnecessary surgery.

Background Gallbladder polyps are common findings on ultrasound with a prevalence between 0.3-9.5%. Their significance is not clear but are theorised to have potential risk of transformation into gallbladder malignancy which have poor prognosis if not caught early. Current guidelines recommend surveillance of polyps and that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be offered if certain criteria are met. Most patients are asymptomatic and regular reviews in clinic is time consuming for patients and adds to strain on services. This study looks at the use of virtual clinics in gallbladder polyp surveillance. Methods Since January 2019 patients identified with gallbladder polyps have been added to virtual clinic. Each patient is added to a database which is maintained by one upper GI surgeon. Current guidelines are followed: laparoscopic cholecystectomy is offered if polyps are greater than 1cm, there is an increase greater than 2mm between scans, and in high-risk groups or in symptomatic patients. All other patients are offered interval scans as per guidelines and a template letter is generated informing patients of their scan results and date of their follow up scan. Results Since January 2019, 70 patients have been identified to have gallbladder polyps. Of these 48 patients so far have benefitted from involvement from follow up in virtual clinic to date, this has resulted in 88 clinic appointments being saved. 12 patients have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to increase in size of their gallbladder polyps or secondary to symptoms. 7 patients have been lost to follow up, 2 discharged due to the gallbladder polyps disappearing and the other 49 remain under surveillance in the virtual clinic. Conclusions Long term polyp surveillance can be time consuming for both the patient and clinician. This model of a virtual clinic maintains clear communication with patients about their scan findings, the risks associated and plans for future scans. This is an efficient method of monitoring these patients that has good compliance and identifies patients appropriate for surgery.