Background: The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in patients with oesophageal cancer is controversial, owing to a perceived risk of tumour seeding at the PEG site, theoretical difficulty in formation of gastric conduit during oesophagectomy and a fear of increased post-operative complications, including anastomotic leak. We aimed to assess the impact of PEG tubes on nutritional status and post-operative complications in patients with oesophageal cancer who underwent PEG tube insertion prior to neo-adjuvant treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 800 patients with oesophageal or gastro oesophageal junction (GOJ) cancer, who underwent PEG insertion from June, 2010 to May, 2015. Out of these, 168 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analysed further. All of them were followed up for 3 years after treatment to assess overall survival. Thus, the follow up of the last patient included in the study was completed on May, 31, 2018. Results: The average body mass index (BMI) of patients was maintained following PEG tube, during neoadjuvant treatment (22.34±4.84 before PEG vs. 21.85±3.90 after PEG, P value: 0.1). Out of 168 patients, 33 (19.7%) developed a complication following PEG tube, with PEG site infection as the most common in 24 (14.2%). PEG-related mortality at 1 month was 0%. Ninety out of 168 patients (59%) underwent surgery after neo-adjuvant treatment. Three patients had tumour seeding at the PEG site and thus surgery could not be performed. Gastric conduit formation was possible in all 99 patients. Postoperative complications were seen in 17/99 (17%) patients, including surgical site infections in 7 (7.07%), anastomotic leak in 6 (6.06%) and anastomotic stricture in 4 (4.04%). Overall survival at 3 years was 87%. Conclusions: Pre-operative PEG tube in oesophageal cancer is safe and does not compromise the future anastomosis. Also, it helps in maintaining the nutritional status during neo-adjuvant treatment.

Background: Wound injury is a critical issue in hair restoration. The shape and size of blades cause varying degree of tissue trauma. Aims:To check (mathematically) the tissue trauma (injury) caused by different shapes of the blades at varying angles.Patients/Methods: The trigonometric theories were applied to each shape and angles to calculate the surface area (correlating with the tissue injury). These shapes included rectangular blade, 30°-angled blades, 60°-angled blade, 30°-sapphire blade, and 60°-sapphire blade. The surface areas were calculated at 90°, 45°, 30°, and 15° insertion angles. Results:The 30°-sapphire blade caused the least injury followed by 30°-angled blade.The rectangular blade had the largest surface area and hence will produce the maximum amount of tissue injury. The blade at 90° produced maximum injury whereas the blade entering at 15°, produced lowest amount of tissue injury. The blade in sagittal direction caused less injury as compared to the blade in coronal direction. Conclusion:The 30°-sapphire blade caused the least tissue injury whereas the rectangular blade caused maximum injury. The amount of tissue injury decreases as the angle of insertion decreases and vice versa.

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Introduction: Sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease is a serious health concern because of its associatedcomplications and recurrence. Pilonidal sinus disease is presented with symptoms ranging fromasymptomatic pits to painful draining lesions that are predominantly located in the sacrococcygeal region. Itis characterized by multiple subcutaneous sinuses, containing hairs. The exact etiology of the disease is notknown. Various treatment options are available. The choice of a particular surgical approach depends on thesurgeon's familiarity with the procedure and perceived results. The present study was aimed to compare twotreatment regimens i.e.excision and primary closure verses excision and healing by secondary intention.Patients and methods: The study was conducted in the department of surgery, Saidu Teaching HospitalSaidu Sharif Swat. Forty nine (49) human subjects with informed consent were included in the study.Patients were divided in two groups, depending on their preference and acceptance of the procedure.Patients in group A under went excision of the tract with primary closure of the defect by primary simpleclosure, Rhomboid Limberg flap or by Karydakis procedure. Patients in group B were those in whom sinustracts were excised and wound was left open for healing by secondary intention.Results: Out of the total 49 patients 3 (6.122%) were female. Mean age was 26 years (range 18-40years).Group A comprised of 24 patients in whom wide local excision was performed and wound was closedprimarily while Group B comprised of 25 patients who underwent wide local excision and wound was leftopen for healing by secondary intention. Mean hospital stay of patients in group B was significantly longerthan group A (p=0.002). The mean time for complete healing of the wound after primary closure wasmarkedly shorter.mConclusion: Primary closure of the wound after excision of the sinus tract is preferable over simple excisionand healing by secondary intention.Key words; Pilonidal sinus, primary closure, simple excision.