The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed ...The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis.There is an increasing volume of evidence-although mostly retrospective-that if traditional conservative management is adopted,there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who continue to develop recurrent symptoms.On the other hand,the routine adoption of emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in patients presenting with appendiceal mass obviates the need for a second admission and an operation for I.A with a considerable complication rate.It also abolishes misdiagnoses and deals promptly with any unexpected ileo-cecal pathology.Moreover,it may prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment even without I.A due to a much shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of intravenous antibiotic administration.If emergency LA is to become the standard of care for appendiceal mass,I.A will certainly become 'something' of the past.展开更多
The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of a pharmacist-implemented protocol on number of post-operative alvimopan doses. The secondary objective of this study is to assess LOS (length of stay), ...The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of a pharmacist-implemented protocol on number of post-operative alvimopan doses. The secondary objective of this study is to assess LOS (length of stay), in days, before and after protocol implementation. A retrospective chart review was conducted from October 2015 through March 2016 for all laparoscopic colorectal surgeries. Number of post-operative alvimopan doses received and LOS was recorded for each patient that received at least one dose of alvimopan. Comparative data, before protocol implementation, from November 2014 through June 2015 were analyzed against the study data. Number of post-operative alvimopan doses and LOS were recorded. The mean number of doses was 6.41 in the comparator group and 4.25 in the study group (probability size P 〈 0.001), which did meet statistical significance. Although the secondary objective was not statistically significant, LOS slightly decreased as the mean LOS was 5.01 days in the comparator group versus 4.49 days in the study group (P = 0.256). At the current price of $120 per capsule, close to $30,000 was saved during the study period, projecting an annual cost savings of approximately $68,000. Results from this study show that pharmacists can play a vital role in cost savings and ensuring appropriate use of certain high-risk medications, like alvimopan, without increasing overall length of stay.展开更多
Throughout history,surgeons have been on a quest to refine the surgical treatment options for their patients and to minimize operative trauma.During the last three decades,there have been tremendous advances in the fi...Throughout history,surgeons have been on a quest to refine the surgical treatment options for their patients and to minimize operative trauma.During the last three decades,there have been tremendous advances in the field of minimally invasive colorectal surgery,with an explosion of different technologies and approaches offered to treat well-known diseases.Laparoscopic surgery has been shown to be equal or superior to open surgery.The boundaries of laparoscopy have been pushed further,in the form of single-incision laparoscopy,natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and robotics.This paper critically reviews the pathway of development of minimally invasive surgery,and appraises the different minimally invasive colorectal surgical approaches available to date.展开更多
文摘The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis.There is an increasing volume of evidence-although mostly retrospective-that if traditional conservative management is adopted,there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who continue to develop recurrent symptoms.On the other hand,the routine adoption of emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in patients presenting with appendiceal mass obviates the need for a second admission and an operation for I.A with a considerable complication rate.It also abolishes misdiagnoses and deals promptly with any unexpected ileo-cecal pathology.Moreover,it may prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment even without I.A due to a much shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of intravenous antibiotic administration.If emergency LA is to become the standard of care for appendiceal mass,I.A will certainly become 'something' of the past.
文摘The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of a pharmacist-implemented protocol on number of post-operative alvimopan doses. The secondary objective of this study is to assess LOS (length of stay), in days, before and after protocol implementation. A retrospective chart review was conducted from October 2015 through March 2016 for all laparoscopic colorectal surgeries. Number of post-operative alvimopan doses received and LOS was recorded for each patient that received at least one dose of alvimopan. Comparative data, before protocol implementation, from November 2014 through June 2015 were analyzed against the study data. Number of post-operative alvimopan doses and LOS were recorded. The mean number of doses was 6.41 in the comparator group and 4.25 in the study group (probability size P 〈 0.001), which did meet statistical significance. Although the secondary objective was not statistically significant, LOS slightly decreased as the mean LOS was 5.01 days in the comparator group versus 4.49 days in the study group (P = 0.256). At the current price of $120 per capsule, close to $30,000 was saved during the study period, projecting an annual cost savings of approximately $68,000. Results from this study show that pharmacists can play a vital role in cost savings and ensuring appropriate use of certain high-risk medications, like alvimopan, without increasing overall length of stay.
文摘Throughout history,surgeons have been on a quest to refine the surgical treatment options for their patients and to minimize operative trauma.During the last three decades,there have been tremendous advances in the field of minimally invasive colorectal surgery,with an explosion of different technologies and approaches offered to treat well-known diseases.Laparoscopic surgery has been shown to be equal or superior to open surgery.The boundaries of laparoscopy have been pushed further,in the form of single-incision laparoscopy,natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and robotics.This paper critically reviews the pathway of development of minimally invasive surgery,and appraises the different minimally invasive colorectal surgical approaches available to date.