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We report an unusual case of a 76-year-old woman with a necrotic perforated excluded gastric pouch who had stomach partitioning gastrojejunostomy 20 years earlier for morbid obesity. The necrotic mucosa of the excluded gastric pouch was seen on gastroscopy with retrograde cannulation from the pylorus. Laparotomy revealed a distended excluded stomach with full-thickness ischaemia of the posterior wall with perforation into the lesser sac. Partial gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy was performed. We strongly suggest early surgical exploration for these patients when they are hemodynamically unstable or do not have a precise diagnosis despite imaging to prevent potentially life-threatening gastric pouch necrosis. We advocate for avoiding risk factors like alcohol, nicotine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and implement preoperative Helicobacter pylori testing and its eradication to reduce the incidence of perforation in the excluded pouch.

Background Perianal abscesses are a common surgical emergency. Due to their perceived ease, drainage is often delegated to junior trainees with varying levels of experience. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current trend in perianal abscesses management at our institution, and identify factors that predict subsequent fistula formation or abscess recurrence. Methods All acute patients admitted to a major teaching hospital who required surgical drainage of a perianal abscess were analysed over a two‐year period from January 2019 to December 2020. Patient demographics, clinical and laboratory findings were retrospectively reviewed. Proceduralist experience, operative management strategy and recurrence rates (fistula or abscess) were analysed. Results The mean age of patients was 43 years old, and 73% were male. Trainees performed 96% of the procedures. Re‐presentation with a fistula or abscess recurrence requiring further surgery was 31%. Comorbidities of IBD, diabetes, or malignancy were present in one‐third of patients and significantly increased the risk of recurrence (P = 0.01). Searching for a fistula tract was performed in 41% of cases but did not reduce recurrence (P = 0.9). Seton insertion occurred in 10%, and fistulotomy in 2%. Conclusion Perianal abscess drainage at our institution is almost exclusively performed by trainees, the majority of which occurs after‐hours. Patients who present with a fever, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus or malignancy are at an increased risk of recurrent abscess or a subsequent fistula after drainage, and input from an experienced surgeon may be of value when considering seton insertion or fistulotomy.

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Purpose: Anastomotic leak (AL) is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication after rectal resection. We aim to provide an updated assessment of bowel function and quality of life after AL, as well as associated short- and long-term outcomes.Methods: A retrospective audit of all rectal resections performed at a colorectal unit and associated private hospitals over the past 10 years was performed. Relevant demographic, operative, and histopathological data were collected. A prospective survey was performed regarding patients’ quality of life and fecal continence. These patients were matched with nonAL patients who completed the same survey.Results: One hundred patients (out of 1,394 resections) were included. AL was contained in 66.0%, not contained in 10.0%, and only anastomotic stricture in 24.0%. Management was antibiotics only in 39.0%, percutaneous drainage in 9.0%, operative abdominal drainage in 19.0%, transrectal drainage in 6.0%, combination of percutaneous drainage and transrectal drainage in 2.0%, and combination abdominal/transrectal drainage in 1.0%. The 1-year stoma rate was 15.0%. Overall, mean Fecal Incontinence Severity Instrument scores were higher for AL patients than their matched counterparts (8.06±10.5 vs. 2.92±4.92, P=0.002). Patients with an AL had a mean EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) of 76.23±19.85; this was lower than the matched mean EQ-VAS for non-AL patients of 81.64±18.07, although not statistically significant (P=0.180).Conclusion: The majority of AL patients in this study were managed with antibiotics only. AL was associated with higher fecal incontinence scores in the long-term; however, this did not equate to lower quality of life scores.