The British journal of surgery
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The intraoperative classification of appendicitis dictates the patient's postoperative management. Prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for complex appendicitis (gangrenous, perforated, abscess), whereas preoperative prophylaxis suffices for simple appendicitis. Distinguishing these two conditions can be challenging. The aim of this study was to assess interobserver variability in the classification of appendicitis during laparoscopy. ⋯ There is considerable variability in the intraoperative classification of appendicitis and the decision to prescribe postoperative antibiotic treatment.
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Preoperative staging of the axilla is important to allow decisions regarding neoadjuvant treatment and the management of the axilla. Invasive lobular carcinoma metastases are difficult to detect because of the infiltrative pattern of the nodal spread. In this study the sensitivity of preoperative axillary staging between invasive lobular (ILC) and ductal (IDC) carcinoma was compared. ⋯ AUS is inferior in detecting axillary node metastasis in ILC compared with IDC. Women with cT3-4 lobular carcinoma may benefit from ultrasound-guided axillary biopsy regardless of the ultrasonographic appearance of the nodes.
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Socioeconomic deprivation is a potentially important factor influencing surgical outcomes. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence for any association between socioeconomic group and mortality after colorectal surgery, and to report the definitions of deprivation used and the approaches taken to adjust for co-morbidity in this patient population. ⋯ This systematic review suggests that socioeconomic deprivation influences mortality after colorectal surgery.
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Observational Study
Relationship between intraoperative non-technical performance and technical events in bariatric surgery.
The operating theatre is a unique environment with complex team interactions, where technical and non-technical performance affect patient outcomes. The correlation between technical and non-technical performance, however, remains underinvestigated. The purpose of this study was to explore these interactions in the operating theatre. ⋯ This study demonstrated that technical and non-technical performances are related, on both an individual and a team level. Valuable data can be obtained around intraoperative errors, events and rectifications.
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Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common indication for emergency laparotomy. There are currently variations in the timing of surgery for patients with SBO and limited evidence on whether delayed surgery affects outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of time to operation on 30-day mortality in patients requiring emergency laparotomy for SBO. ⋯ In patients who require an emergency laparotomy with adhesiolysis or resection for SBO, a delay to surgery of more than 72 h is associated with a higher 30-day postoperative mortality rate.