The British journal of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized clinical trial of perioperative nerve block and continuous local anaesthetic infiltration via wound catheter versus epidural analgesia in open liver resection (LIVER 2 trial).
Analgesia after liver surgery remains controversial. A previous randomized trial of continuous wound infiltration (CWI) versus thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) after liver surgery (LIVER trial) showed a faster recovery time in the wound infiltration group but better early postoperative pain scores in the TEA group. High-level evidence is, however, limited and opinion remains divided. The aim was to determine whether there is a difference in functional recovery time between patients having CWI plus abdominal nerve blocks versus TEA after liver resection. ⋯ NCT01747122 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
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Involvement of the lateral compartment remains a relative or absolute contraindication to pelvic exenteration in most units. Initial experience with exenteration in the authors' unit produced a 21 per cent clear margin rate (R0), which improved to 53 per cent by adopting a novel technique for en bloc resection of the iliac vessels and other side-wall structures. The objective of this study was to report morbidity and oncological outcomes in consecutive exenterations involving the lateral compartment. ⋯ The continuing evolution of radical pelvic exenteration techniques has seen an improvement in R0 margin status from 21 to 66·5 per cent over a 20-year interval by routine adoption of a more lateral anatomical plane. Five-year overall survival rates are comparable with those for more centrally based tumours.
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The best approach for cholecystocholedocholithiasis remains a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical aspects, learning curve and outcome of laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE). ⋯ LTCBDE with or without microincision and/or lithotripsy is a safe and effective approach.
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Retroperitoneal sarcoma comprises a range of different histological subtypes with dissimilar behaviour and biology. This study sought to characterize the morbidity and mortality associated with multivisceral resection and oncological outcomes according to subtype. ⋯ Resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma was associated with a 30-day mortality rate of less than 2 per cent and a morbidity rate of 15·7 per cent. The overall 3-year disease-specific survival rate was 81·2 per cent.