Aim For patients, an outpatient review can lead to a stressful journey to hospital with the resultant risks associated with breaching social distancing. Despite this, video consultations (VCs) have not been frequently used in colorectal practice. We assessed outcomes, including the economic and environmental impact, of a VC clinic for new colorectal referrals. Method This was a prospective observational study. Fifty consecutive patients attending a VC colorectal appointment were reviewed between March 2019 and February 2020. Face-to-face appointments during the same time period were also assessed. The distance, time, cost and carbon emissions of journeys were estimated using web-based resources. Estimated loss of earnings used data from the Office for National Statistics. The subsequent management plans were also recorded. Results Of 50 patients using VC, 40 used home devices and 10 used equipment in their local medical facility. Three patients had difficulties with the technology and converted to telephone review. Failure to attend VC appointments was less than for face-to-face appointments (4% vs 6.1%). VC appointments saved 6685 miles of travel (range 2-364 miles), 148 h travelling time and £1767 costs. Additional savings for loss of earnings were approximately £33.56 per patient. The carbon emissions saved was 4659 lb CO 2 equivalent, corresponding to over 250 000 charges of a smartphone. Conclusion The use of VC resulted in significant savings related to travel and reduced time and costs for patients who chose to use the service, in addition to the environmental benefits. In this current climate VC clinics have a central role in outpatient care for both new patients and follow-ups.
Background: Quality of life (QOL) of patients is affected due to procedures done to treat the disease. A good QOL is essential to achieve a holistic approach in treating patients.Methods: We did a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital to describe, identify and compare the factors affecting the QOL of these patients.Results: 42.5% had a permanent stoma and a majority 32.5% were due to a malignancy. Major concerns were skin rash and irritation, depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts. 62.5% of the total had not gone to work after creation of a stoma. Malignancy was found to be a significant predictor of having a low QOL score.Conclusions: Quality of life of stoma patients in present study was not ideal. There is a definite need to have support groups for these patients in all hospitals.
Primary omental infarction is a relatively rare and often presents as right sided abdominal pain. It is often diagnosed as appendicitis and is usually picked up intra-operatively, or - as often seen nowadays - on imaging. We describe a series of four cases of primary omental infarction that presented to us with varying clinical features. Three of them had a short history of right sided abdominal pain, whereas the fourth patient had a longer history of left sided abdominal pain. All 4 were managed operatively, with the fourth having presented with an intra-abdominal abscess that required laparotomy. Primary omental infarction is a diagnosis which must be considered in any case of acute abdomen. Cases diagnosed with certainty on imaging may be managed conservatively but must be followed up closely. Need for surgical intervention should be considered in select cases.
Health assessment using Raspberry Pi is a continuous monitoring system at home for assessing early health changes to address the management of chronic conditions as people age. Sensors embedded in the body and environment capture various parameters of health. Changes in those parameters are detected as potential signs of changing health. If changes are detected, an alert message will be sent. Activities will be investigated using in-home sensors both day and night to ensure security. The sensor data will be then sent to mobile devices through the Internet. Also a continuous monitoring can be done through the webpage.
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