The effect of BMI on cost of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and ward stay in cardiac surgery is currently unknown. To assess these data on BMI, ICU stay and EuroSCORE were prospectively collected for 6100 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2000 and 2004. Patients were categorised according to BMI and comparisons were conducted, using non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests). One day in ICU was costed at pound1,300 and one ward-day pound300/day by this hospital's finance department. Despite similar median (due to a distribution skewed to a short ICU stay), a significant difference is observed between all 6 groups (Kruskal-Wallis; P<0.001) for ICU stay and ward stay. Underweight and morbidly obese patients had longer ICU stays compared with the ideal weight patients (P=0.010 and P=0.004, respectively); while overweight and obese patients had shorter ICU stays (P<0.001 and P=0.007, respectively). Underweight patients had a longer ward stay than ideal weight patients (P=0.005) but there was no difference between ideal and morbidly obese patients (P=0.789). These results demonstrate that BMI has a significant impact on ICU and ward stay with 'ideal weight' not always being ideal for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This cost appears to be independent of EuroSCORE.

Introduction CONTACT is a national multidisciplinary study assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon diagnostic and treatment pathways among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods The treatment of consecutive patients with newly diagnosed PDAC from a pre-COVID-19 pandemic cohort (07/01/2019-03/03/2019) were compared to a cohort diagnosed during the first wave of the UK pandemic (‘COVID’ cohort, 16/03/2020-10/05/2020), with 12-month follow-up. Results Among 984 patients (pre-COVID: n = 483, COVID: n = 501), the COVID cohort was less likely to receive staging investigations other than CT scanning (29.5% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.010). Among patients treated with curative intent, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients recommended surgery (54.5% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.001) and increase in the proportion recommended upfront chemotherapy (45.5% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.002). Among patients on a non-curative pathway, fewer patients were recommended (47.4% vs. 57.3%, p = 0.004) or received palliative anti-cancer therapy (20.5% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.045). Ultimately, fewer patients in the COVID cohort underwent surgical resection (6.4% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.036), whilst more patients received no anti-cancer treatment (69.3% vs. 59.2% p = 0.009). Despite these differences, there was no difference in median overall survival between the COVID and pre-COVID cohorts, (3.5 (IQR 2.8–4.1) vs. 4.4 (IQR 3.6–5.2) months, p = 0.093). Conclusion Pathways for patients with PDAC were significantly disrupted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer patients receiving standard treatments. However, no significant impact on survival was discerned.

Stent-grafting of thoracic aortic diseases has developed as an alternative therapeutic modality in thoracic aneurysm management. Postprocedural complications include mortality, endoleaks, paraplegia and stroke. Other complications that may arise in cases of overstenting the origin of the left subclavian arther include left upper limb ischemia, subclavian steal syndrome and stroke. Posterior circulation strokes due to vertebral artery insufficiency have been reported in the past. In the present case, a fatal stroke caused by a cerebellar infarct culminating in the death of a patient with a leaking thoracic aortic aneurysm is reported. Medical personnel as well as patients should be aware of this possible complication. Vigilance in assessing the contralateral cerebral circulation before the procedure is a prerequisite in less acute circumstances.

Abstract:The use of on table cholangiogram (OTC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) continues to be a debated topic within surgical practice. Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines do not advocate its routine use in adult patients, and there is scarce evidence for its use in paediatric cases. We aimed to analyse the outcomes of OTC during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to see if the NICE guidance holds true for children. A retrospective case note review was performed with IRB approval of all children who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between February 2005 and November 2014. A total of 65 patients were identified, 41 female (63%) and 24 male (37%). The median age was 12 years (IQR 6). None of the patients underwent OTC during their LC. Instead, pre-operative ultrasound scan (USS) was performed in all cases. From the cohort, 5 patients (13%) showed abnormalities; 3 of which had a dilated common bile duct, and 2 of which had bile duct stones. All 5 patients went on to receive additional imaging, 2 patients underwent a repeat USS both of which were normal on review; 1 patient had an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatectography (ERCP), stent and follow-up Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatograthy (MRCP) which was normal; 1 patient had an MRCP, ERCP with sphincterotomy and a follow-up USS which was normal; and 1 patient had an ERCP with follow-up USS which was also normal. In line with current NICE guidance for adults, our study indicates that patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones or a dilated CBD can be identified and managed prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This would suggest that there is no requirement for OTC in children. Similar NICE guidance in Paediatrics may be necessary to avoid unnecessary intervention.

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to examine whether a relationship exists between age, ethnicity, gender and survival of patients within a London Cancer Network. All patients with non metastatic colorectal cancer diagnosed and treated within the South West London Cancer Network between January 2001 and January 2006 were included for analysis. Consent was gained from all hospitals within the London Cancer Network, and data was subsequently requested from the Thames Cancer Registry. In total, 3151 patients were analysed. The results demonstrated that from 2003 there was a yearly increase in new cancer diagnosis. The ratio of male to female patients was approximately equal over the time period (51.5% male, 48.5% female). The overall mean patient age at diagnosis was 70.76 years. Asian, black and mixed race patients had better survival rates than white European patients (hazard ratios 0.96, 0.87, 0.96 respectively). Patients in the age cohort '50-59 years' had a 5 year survival rate of 57.8 months (hazard ratio 1.63), whilst the 'under 40 years' age cohort had the longest 5 year survival rate of 67.4 months. When comparing tumour sites, patients with rectosigmoid tumours had the lowest 5 year survival rate (hazard ratio 1.12), and those with rectal tumours (n=816, hazard ratio 0.88) had the longest 5 year survival rate. Median and overall survival for all patients was 38.84 months and 42.3% respectively. Surgery with neoadjuvant therapy resulted in the longest 5 year survival rate at 62.8%. Surgery alone had a 5 year survival rate of 43%. The results could be used to help design a prognostic indicator tool as a means by which to assist clinicians in providing patients with information on survival outcomes.

lithotripsy to successfully clear his diseased biliary segments. The patient required multiple attempts to clear the volume of stone disease within his biliary system. Over a short-term follow-up period the patient remains sepsis free with clear biliary system within the treated biliary segments. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary HPB approach and utilization of laser lithotripsy in management of complex intrahepatic stones may spare patients repeated surgical drainage procedures; However, such patients may require multiple sessions to minimize the volume of stone disease within the diseased biliary segments.

Background Recent evidence has emerged reporting atypical clinical symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There is a sparsity of existing studies examining COVID-19-related abdominal pain and the role of investigative imaging for the virus in these patients. Study aims were to determine COVID-19 incidence in those with acute abdominal pain in the absence of respiratory symptoms and to assess the diagnostic performance of CT thoracic imaging in such patients. Methods Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients admitted to our emergency general surgical unit between 1st March 2020 and 31st May 2020 was performed. In adherence with national guidelines, all patients underwent nasal and oro-pharyngeal COVID-19 RT-PCR swabs as well as thoracic and abdominal computed tomography (CT) on admission. Results From 112 patients admitted with acute abdominal pain in the absence of respiratory symptoms, 16 (14.3%) tested positive for COVID-19 on RT-PCR swab testing. Overall, 50% (8/16) of these patients had no intra-abdominal pathology on CT. The sensitivity and specificity of CT thoracic imaging for diagnosing COVID-19 was 43.8% and 91.7%, respectively. Patients with positive COVID-19 swabs had higher C-reactive protein levels, lower potassium levels and a higher proportion of those with a low lymphocyte count. Discussion One in seven patients with abdominal pain without any respiratory symptoms tested positive for COVID-19. Half of these patients represented COVID-19 manifesting primarily as acute abdominal pain. Combined swab testing and CT imaging should be performed in all abdominal pain presentations due to the varying diagnostic performance of thoracic CT in diagnosing COVID-19.

Introduction Meticulous operation note documentation is essential for seamless, safe continuity of care in postoperative surgical patients. This study evaluated the standard of emergency operation note documentation at a district general hospital, when compared to the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) guidelines and assessed the impact of a new operation note proforma. Method A retrospective review of 50 emergency operation notes was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020 and compared to RCSEng guidelines. Initial findings were presented at a local clinical governance meeting and a new electronic operation note was introduced. A further 50 emergency operation notes using the new proforma were analysed between August 2020 and December 2020. Results RCSEng mentions 19 main points that all operation notes must include. A total of 100 operation notes were reviewed and each given a score out of 19. Intervention of the new proforma showed significant improvement to the average score (15.64 vs 17.94; p &lt; 0.0001) when compared to RCSEng guidelines. In particular, there was significant improvement in the documentation of assistants involved in the procedure (58% vs 98%; p &lt; 0.0001), estimated blood loss (2% vs 63%; p &lt; 0.0001) and specific mention whether the operation was emergency or elective (20% vs 86%; p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusions Implementation of the new proforma showed significant improvement in operation note documentation when compared to the RCSEng standard. Therefore, this study emphasises the need for surgeons to familiarise themselves with the current guidelines and highlights the importance of tailoring local operation note proformas to match this national standard closely.