Venous hypertension results in endothelial activation which may aid endothelial-leukocyte adhesion. Patients with LDS exhibit increased VCAM-1, which is a counterligand for receptors expressed by monocytes and lymphocytes signifying that these cells may be more important in the development of skin changes.

Venous hypertension results in sequestration of the more activated population of neutrophils and monocytes in the microcirculation of the leg in patients with venous disease. These cells bind to the endothelium, releasing L-selectin, and do not emerge from the limb when venous hypertension is reversed. These findings do not differ between patients with varicose veins and those with skin changes.

INTRODUCTION Post-thyroidectomy bleeding is a low frequency but potentially life threatening event that is very difficult to predict. Given the increasing drive towards thyroidectomy with same day discharge, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying patterns, timing and consequences of post-thyroidectomy bleeding to assess the feasibility of day-case thyroidectomy. METHODS All patients who underwent a thyroidectomy between 2008 and 2015 at our institution were identified. Patterns, timing and consequences in all those who developed post-thyroidectomy bleeding were studied. RESULTS Of the 805 patients included in the study, 14 required re-exploration for bleeding; 7 (50%) of these within 8 hours of surgery, 6 (43%) between 18 and 30 hours, and 1 (7%) at 49 hours. Just under half (43%) of those with post-thyroidectomy bleeding had thyrotoxicosis. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of postoperative haemorrhages occurred beyond the immediate postoperative period. Same day discharge after thyroidectomy cannot therefore be recommended as a routine practice.

When SPJ incompetence is suspected, duplex scanning identifies the exact location of the junction and other associated pathology in the popliteal fossa, and allows the position of the junction to be marked on the leg preoperatively.

* common sites affected: cervicofacial (70%), right iliac fossa (20%), lungs (10%) * spread: direct contact and via bloodstream * diagnosis: microscopy and culture of pus (characteristic 'sulphur granules' in pus) * treatment: prolonged course of penicillin/ tetracycline/lincomycin Box 2

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Lack of success in parathyroid surgery is usually due to failure to identify the abnormal parathyroid gland correctly at operation. The surgeon may be helped by rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay in peripheral blood after removal of a suspected adenoma, and by frozen section histology, but these are not true localization techniques. We have adapted a non-isotopic immunoassay for rapid measurement of PTH in samples from the upper, middle and lower thyroid veins taken at operation, before exploration begins. Fifteen patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were operated on. In 10 the parathyroid adenoma was located easily, and was associated with high local venous PTH levels. In four patients the abnormal parathyroid was not immediately apparent but the assay indicated its location, which was confirmed after further exploration. In one patient there was no difference in PTH levels in the six venous samples. An ectopic adenomatous gland was successfully identified behind the thymus. The operation was successful in all patients as shown by a fall in the plasma calcium to the normal range. We conclude that intra-operative selective venous sampling and rapid PTH assay facilitates operative localization of parathyroid adenomas.