This is a repository copy of Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH) : a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial. Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH) : a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32521-2 eprints@whiterose.ac.uk https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ ReuseThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND) licence. This licence only allows you to download this work and share it with others as long as you credit the authors, but you can't change the article in any way or use it commercially. More information and the full terms of the licence here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Implications of all the available evidenceDespite the success of some smaller projects, there was no survival benefit from a national quality improvement programme to implement a care pathway for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. To succeed, large national quality improvement programmes need to allow for differences between hospitals and ensure teams have both the time and resources needed to improve patient care.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly awaited general surgical procedures in the UK. However, many patients awaiting a cholecystectomy are admitted with recurrent gallstone related symptoms while on the waiting list, resulting in significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to quantify this problem, and also to analyse the cost implications of these admissions for the NHS. A retrospective study was performed of all patients who underwent an elective cholecystectomy by three consultants in a district general hospital between January 1999 and January 2000. The demographic details, indications for surgery, details of the emergency admissions while on the waiting list, and the treatment given during these episodes were recorded. One hundred and fifty six patients were included in the study, of which 122 (78%) were females. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 54 (5) years. The mean waiting time for surgery in these patients was 12 (3) months. Thirty seven patients (23.7%) were admitted as an emergency due to gallstone related symptoms and complications while awaiting surgery. There were 47 episodes of admissions in total, of which 32 were for biliary colic, 13 were for acute cholecystitis, and two were for acute pancreatitis. In addition to routine blood tests, 20 abdominal radiographs, 10 chest radiographs, three endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography tests, five ultrasonograms, and one computed tomogram were carried out in these patients. The mean duration of each episode of admission was three days. The cost of treatment per episode was £946 and the total cost of treating the 37 patients was calculated to be £44 462. Performing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis may help to reduce costs by preventing recurrent emergency admissions in these patients. Further studies to identify risk factors associated with recurrent symptoms and complications in patients with gallstone disease may help to prioritise them for early surgery. P atients with gallstone disease make up a significant percentage of those awaiting elective surgical procedures. Many of these patients are admitted as an emergency with recurrent gallstone related symptoms. In addition to the morbidity, significant costs are involved in treating these patients.Our aims were to study the incidence of emergency inpatient admissions because of gallstone related problems among those awaiting an elective cholecystectomy, and to assess the direct NHS costs involved in treating these patients. METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed of all the patients who underwent an elective cholecystectomy by three consultants in a district general hospital between January 1999 and January 2000. Data were collected on demographics, the duration of the waiting time, the specific indications for including the patients in the waiting list, details of emergency admissions while awaiting surgery, and the investigations and treatment given during these episodes. RESULTSA total number of 156 patients underwent elective cholec...

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LNF can be safely performed without the routine use of an oesophageal bougie and this practice does not result in increased post-operative dysphagia rates.

Background: Ultrasound is being used increasingly in the assessment of acute non-traumatic abdominal pain as it is non-invasive and does not carry the risk of radiation. However, the inappropriate use of ultrasound can lead to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis, more work for the personnel involved, and increased hospital costs. Methods: A prospective study was conducted to analyse the clinical indications for requesting an ultrasound in those admitted to a district general hospital with acute non-traumatic abdominal pain, and to assess whether there is a correlation between clinical and laboratory findings and ultrasound results. A total of 110 patients were studied during a three month period. Results: The results suggest that ultrasound is useful in the investigation of suspected biliary colic and abdominal masses. However, the yield of ultrasound in other patients with acute non-traumatic abdominal pain is low. This study also suggests that the yield of ''positive'' reports on ultrasound is significantly higher in patients with localised abdominal pain and tenderness and in those with acute abdominal pain and a raised white cell count or raised liver function tests. The yield of positive reports in patients with acute abdominal pain was found to be lower those less than 25 years of age than in older patients.

INTRODUCTION: Fast Track Colorectal Clinics are becoming a requirement to meet the government's 10-day rule for patients with suspected cancers to be seen by a specialist. However, such clinics soon tend to get overwhelmed by huge numbers of referrals, many of them inappropriate. The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland has published criteria for appropriate referral. We evaluated the sensitivity of these criteria and attempted to recommend appropriate changes. METHODS: Data of 50 consecutive colorectal cancers from our DGH since January 2000 has been collected in relation to demographics, presenting signs and symptoms, haemoglobin levels as well as treatment. The new Criteria were then applied strictly to these cases and we evaluated whether these patients would have been eligible for fast track referral, if these criteria had been in force since January 2000. RESULTS: Forty-one (82%) of 50 patients would have been eligible for referral as follows: 11 (22%) rectal bleeding with diarrhoea; 8(16%) persistent diarrhoea without bleeding (>60 years), 12 (24%) bleeding without anal symptoms (>60 years), 0 (0%) palpable right sided abdominal mass, 7 (14%) palpable rectal mass, 16 (32%) iron deficiency anaemia (<11 g/dl in men & <10 g/dl in women), 10 (20%) patients qualifying on more than one criterion. However, 9 (18%) patients had presenting features that would have excluded them from a fast track referral as follows: 4 (8%) only abdominal pain + weight loss (48, 54, 72, 75 years old), 2 (4%) change in bowel habit + no rectal bleeding (54, 57 years old), 1 (2%) palpable mass at a site other than the right side of the abdomen. CONCLUSIONS: We feel that this study, although small, highlights the dangers of having very rigid criteria for such clinics. The new criteria though high in specificity have low sensitivity for safety. We recommend some modifications to the criteria as follows: rectal bleeding without anal symptoms >50 years instead of 60 years; patients with a palpable mass anywhere on the abdomen; and the adddition of a new criterion of abdominal pain with weight loss. These modifications would significantly increase the sensitivity from 82% to 94%.

Both overtube-assisted endoscopy and laparoscopy-assisted ERCP appear to be safe, with good success rates. The other methods may be suitable for selected patients and centres with specific interest in such techniques.

The authors present a case of necrotising fasciitis of the peristomal area, in a patient who had undergone a previous ileostomy for ulcerative colitis. This was associated with neutropaenia, secondary to carbimazole, which had been commenced a few weeks previously for thyrotoxicosis. The authors therefore, stress the importance of monitoring patients closely for possible side effects and complications, while they are on immunosuppressive medication.