The British journal of surgery
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Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles is a novel method in breast cancer. Several studies have verified the non-inferiority of SPIO compared with the standard use of radioisotope (99m) Tc with or without blue dye. The aim of the MONOS study presented here was to evaluate the use of SPIO as a sole tracer and the efficacy of tracer injection in the preoperative setting. ⋯ The use of SPIO alone is a safe alternative, with results comparable to those of the standard dual technique using (99m) Tc and blue dye. The efficacy of injection in the preoperative setting simplifies logistics and improves performance. Skin staining can be prevented by a deeper peritumoral injection.
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Bleeding activates platelets that can bind tumour cells, potentially promoting metastatic growth in patients with cancer. This study investigated whether reoperation for postoperative bleeding is associated with breast cancer recurrence. ⋯ In this large cohort study, there was no evidence of an association between reoperation for bleeding and breast cancer recurrence.
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Later weekday of surgery seems to affect the prognosis adversely in oesophageal cancer, whereas any such influence on other cancer sites is unknown. This study aimed to test whether weekday of surgery influenced prognosis following commonly performed cancer operations. ⋯ Later weekday of surgery (Thursday or Friday) seems to influence the prognosis adversely for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
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The UK abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programmes currently invite only men for screening because the benefit in women is uncertain. Perioperative risk is critical in determining the effectiveness of screening, and contemporary estimates of these risks in women are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare mortality following AAA repair between women and men in the UK. ⋯ Women have a higher in-hospital mortality rate than men after elective AAA repair even after adjustment. This higher mortality may have an impact on the benefit offered by any screening programme offered to women.
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Little has been reported on mortality following admissions at weekends for many gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The aim was to establish whether GI disorders are susceptible to increased mortality following unscheduled admission on weekends compared with weekdays. ⋯ There is little, or no, evidence of a weekend mortality effect for most major general surgical or medical GI disorders, but large weekend effects for GI cancer and severe liver disease. Lower admission rates at weekends indicate more severe cases. The findings for severe liver disease may suggest a lack of specialist hepatological resources. For cancers, reduced availability of end-of-life care in the community at weekends may be the cause.