The British journal of surgery
-
Review Meta Analysis
Umbrella review and meta-analysis of antiplatelet therapy for peripheral artery disease.
The literature on antiplatelet therapy for peripheral artery disease has historically been summarized inconsistently, leading to conflict between international guidelines. An umbrella review and meta-analysis was performed to summarize the literature, allow assessment of competing safety risks and clinical benefits, and identify weak areas for future research. ⋯ Antiplatelet monotherapy has minimal clinical benefit for asymptomatic peripheral artery disease, and limited benefit for symptomatic disease, with a clear risk of major bleeding. There is a lack of evidence to guide antiplatelet prescribing after peripheral endovascular intervention.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of the impact of progesterone receptor status on oncological outcomes in oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
Assessment of the oestrogen receptor (ER) provides important prognostic information in breast cancer. The impact of progesterone receptor (PgR) status is less clear. Standardization of immunohistochemical analysis of these receptors has reduced interstudy heterogeneity. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of PgR negativity on outcomes in ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer. ⋯ PgR negativity is associated with significant reductions in disease-free and overall survival in ER+ breast cancer. Treatment and surveillance strategies in these patients should be tailored accordingly.
-
Multicenter Study
Multicentre study of the risk of invasive cancer and use of sentinel node biopsy in women with a preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the breast that is diagnosed by biopsy implies a risk of upstaging to invasive carcinoma (IC) on final pathology. These patients require a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for axillary staging. A two-stage procedure is not always feasible and precise selection of patients who should be offered SLNB is crucial. The aims were: to determine the rate of upstaging, and use of redundant and required SLNB in women with a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS; and to identify patient and tumour characteristics that increase the risk of upstaging. ⋯ Most patients with IC on final pathology underwent SLNB, but a considerable number of patients with DCIS had a redundant SLNB. Lesion size, palpability and mass formation, but not Van Nuys classification group, are suggested risk factors for upstaging.
-
Obesity has become an increasing problem worldwide during the past few decades. Hence, surgeons and anaesthetists will care for an increasing number of obese patients in the foreseeable future, and should be prepared to provide optimal management for these individuals. This review provides an update of recent evidence regarding perioperative strategies for obese patients. ⋯ Obese patients require comprehensive preoperative evaluation. Experienced medical teams, appropriate equipment and monitoring, careful anaesthetic management, and an adequate perioperative ventilation strategy may improve postoperative outcomes. Additional perioperative precautions are necessary in patients with severe morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome, untreated or severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, or obesity hypoventilation syndrome; patients receiving home ventilatory support or postoperative opioid therapy; and obese patients undergoing open operations, long procedures or revisional surgery.
-
Reducing operative blood loss improves patient outcomes and reduces healthcare costs. The aim of this article was to review current surgical, anaesthetic and haemostatic intraoperative blood conservation strategies. ⋯ Reducing perioperative blood loss requires a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach. Although high-quality evidence exists in certain areas, the overall evidence base for reducing intraoperative blood loss remains limited.