BACKGROUND Laparoscopic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality rates,shorter post-operative recovery periods and lower complication rates than open surgery.It is routine practice in high-income countries and is b...BACKGROUND Laparoscopic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality rates,shorter post-operative recovery periods and lower complication rates than open surgery.It is routine practice in high-income countries and is becoming increasingly common in countries with limited resources.However,introducing laparoscopic surgery in low-and-middle-income countries(LMIC)can be expensive and requires resour-ces,equipment,and trainers.AIM To report the challenges and benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMIC as well as to identify solutions to these challenges for countries with limited finances and resources.METHODS MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting first experience in laparoscopic surgery in LMIC.Included studies were published between 1996 and 2022 with full text available in English.Exclusion criteria were studies considering only open surgery,ear,nose,and throat,endoscopy,arthro-scopy,hysteroscopy,cystoscopy,transplant,or bariatric surgery.RESULTS Ten studies out of 3409 screened papers,from eight LMIC were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis,totaling 2497 patients.Most reported challenges were related to costs of equipment and training programmes,equipment pro-blems such as faulty equipment,and access to surgical kits.Training-related challenges were reliance on foreign trainers and lack of locally trained surgeons and theatre staff.The benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery were economic and clinical,including a reduction in hospital stay,complications,and morbidi-ty/mortality.The introduction of laparoscopic surgery also provided training opportunities for junior doctors.CONCLUSION Despite financial and technical challenges,many studies emphasise the overall benefit of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMICs such as reduced hospital stay and the related lower cost for patients.While many of the clinical centres in LMICs have proposed practical solutions to the challenges reported,more support is critically required,in particular regarding training.展开更多
Background: As the coronavirus spared accelerated, various sectors began to deteriorate since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector as one of the major areas where the pandemic put a huge strain...Background: As the coronavirus spared accelerated, various sectors began to deteriorate since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector as one of the major areas where the pandemic put a huge strain was also affected in different ways. Precisely, patient adherence to medication despite difficulties was a point of a question for health staff. Thus, this survey aims to distinguish and discuss the possibility of patients with chronic medications receiving their drugs and taking them regularly as prescribed. Method: Two online questionnaires were generated using Google forms and distributed among patients with chronic illnesses and pharmacists in the Khartoum locality. The survey was conducted during the period of the study to get the most recent data. Results: 81.4% of the population stated that they did encounter difficulties in obtaining their chronic medication during the pandemic. Pharmacists reported that drug availability decreased by 87% in pharmacies, but a considerable proportion of patients adhered to their medications (84%), and obtained their medications through a variety of means. More than half of the patients ordered their medication illegally, in addition to another approach discussed in the paper.展开更多
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery exa...Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery examination pass rate. Methods: This was a cross-sequential study involving 148 surgical candidates (72 UK trainees, 75 non-UK trainees) who had attended our revision course (Phoenix FRCS Course) from June 2017 until 2023. Each course comprised a two-day weekend preparation with dedicated sections for clinical, viva, and academic reading, incorporating SBL as its key learning style. We maintained a prospective database of candidate and course details, examination results, and feedback since the course inception. Results: We found that 97% of candidates passed the FRCS examination after their first attempt. The course was attended once by 89% of candidates, and only 3 of the 148 candidates exhausted all four attempts at the examination. Candidate feedback for the course and its style of learning was positive, with simulation-based table viva sessions and virtual clinical sessions proving the most popular learning sessions (95% and 80% of candidates attending courses run in December 2017, April 2018, and May 2021 rated them “Excellent” respectively). Conclusions: The course is centered around shared adult learning and mindfulness tools to encourage candidates to learn from each other and develop confidence and mastery in all domains of surgical practice. These methods have been shown to be effective in achieving high success rates in the Intercollegiate and International FRCS examinations for UK and overseas surgeons.展开更多
AIM: To determine the morbidity and mortality associated with emergency laparotomy for a clinically acute abdomen in patients aged ≥ 80 years. METHODS: In this retrospective audit, octogenarians undergoing emergency ...AIM: To determine the morbidity and mortality associated with emergency laparotomy for a clinically acute abdomen in patients aged ≥ 80 years. METHODS: In this retrospective audit, octogenarians undergoing emergency laparotomy between 1st January 2005 and 1 st January 2010 were identified using the Galaxy Theatre System. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery through groin crease incisions or Lanz or Gridiron incisions were excluded. Also simple appendectomies were excluded. All patients were aged 80 years or more at the time of their surgery. Data were obtained using casenote review with a standardised proforma to determine patient age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, indications for surgery, early (within 30 d) and late (after 30 d) complications, mortality and length of stay. Data were inserted into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were identified from the database (Galaxy) as having undergone emergency laparotomy. Of those, 55 underwent the procedure for intestinal procedures and 37 for secondary peritonitis.There was a 2:1 female predominance; average age 85 and ASA grade 3. Bowel resection was required in 51 out of the 100 patients and 22 (43%) died. Other procedures included appendicectomy, adhesiolysis, repair of AAA graft leak and colostomies for the pathological process resulting in an acute abdomen. Twelve of 100 patients (12%) suffered intra-operative complications, including splenic and bowel-serosal tears. Seventy patients (70%) had postoperative complications including myocardial infarction, wound infection, haematoma and sepsis. Overall mortality was 45/100 patients (45%). The major causes of death were sepsis (19/45 patients, 42%), underlying cancer (13/45 patients, 29%); with others including bowel obstruction (2/45 patients, 4%), myocardial and intestinal ischaemia and dementia. CONCLUSION: Emergency laparotomy in octogenarians carries a significant morbidity and mortality. In particular, surgery requiring bowel resection has higher mortality than without resection.展开更多
A man who developed profound septic shock was treated for Escherichia colisepsis of unknown origin. Following stabilisation, a diagnosis of pylephlebitis (infection and thrombosis in the portal vein) was made at compu...A man who developed profound septic shock was treated for Escherichia colisepsis of unknown origin. Following stabilisation, a diagnosis of pylephlebitis (infection and thrombosis in the portal vein) was made at computed tomography. A review of the condition, its primary causes,typical features, investigation and management was presented.展开更多
Colorectal cancer is one of the commonly encountered cancers across the Western World. In United Kingdom, this constitutes third most common ranked cancer and second most common ranked cause of cancer related deaths. ...Colorectal cancer is one of the commonly encountered cancers across the Western World. In United Kingdom, this constitutes third most common ranked cancer and second most common ranked cause of cancer related deaths. Its acute presentation as a malignant colonic obstruction imposes challenges in its management. Colonic stent has been used for many years to alleviate acute obstruction in such cases allowing optimisation of patient's physiological status and adequate staging of cancer. In this review, current literature evidence regarding use of colonic stent in acute malignant colonic obstruction is critically appraised and recommendations on the use of colonic stent are advocated.展开更多
Enteric fever remains a tropical disease of public health significance in Africa, due to its high endemicity and transmission rates, more in sub-Saharan Africa with 7.2 million cases of typhoid fever annually and inci...Enteric fever remains a tropical disease of public health significance in Africa, due to its high endemicity and transmission rates, more in sub-Saharan Africa with 7.2 million cases of typhoid fever annually and incidence rate of 762 per 100000 person-years when compared with Northern Africa with a reported incidence rate of 557 per 100000 person-years and lower. Recent studies show that almost all regions of sub-Saharan Africa are tending towards high incidence rates, especially Central and Western Africa. Though clinically indistinguishable from paratyphoid fever, typhoid fever causes more morbidity and mortality than paratyphoid fever, with a greater threat to children. Risk factors include consumption of contaminated water, patronizing food vendors and a history of contact with a case or a chronic carrier, amongst others. Environmental factors such as the rainy season, open sewers, contaminated water bodies and areas of low elevation have been implicated. Diagnosis in Africa is challenging due to resource constraints, as many centres still depend on clinical diagnosis and serodiagnosis using Widal test, in an era where more sensitive and specific tests exist. The polymerase chain reaction is one of the most sensitive diagnostic methods, while culture (particularly bone marrow) is considered to be one of the most specific. Quinolones (ciprofloxacin) and third-generation cephalosporins, amongst others, remain potent in the management of enteric fever, with resistance to quinolones gradually on the rise. Poor diagnostics, poor antibiotic stewardship and lack of drug (antibiotic) regulation are contributors to the problem of antibiotic resistance in Africa. Prevention of typhoid fever through;vaccination, especially in children is still under investigation, with steady progress being documented. Overall, long term prevention strategies for typhoid fever should be based on improved sourcesof drinking water, good sanitation and hygiene, food safety and poverty alleviation.展开更多
Objective: To report our experience of a contemporary series of patients who underwent radical orchidectomy for non-palpable testicular masses, in order to comment on their malignant potential and identify any factors...Objective: To report our experience of a contemporary series of patients who underwent radical orchidectomy for non-palpable testicular masses, in order to comment on their malignant potential and identify any factors predictive of a malignant outcome. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the case-notes of patients who underwent radical inguinal orchidectomy over a 22-month period between January 2010 and October 2011. Results: A total of 71 patients were analysed, with a mean (range) age of 45 years (17 - 82). Overall, 41 (57.7%) orchidectomies were malignant and 30 (42.3%) were benign. There were 20 (28%) non-palpable testicular masses found incidentally on ultrasound, and of these 40% were malignant and 60% were benign. In total 6 of these non-palpable lesions were <1 cm in size, and of these 66.6% were malignant and 33.3% were benign. The majority of tumours were in patients under the age of 50, but there was no correlation between the lesion size and the risk of a malignant outcome. Conclusion: In view of the significant rate of malignancy in non-palpable testicular masses we recommend surgical intervention over surveillance alone. However, as the majority of these lesions may eventually turn out to be benign, we suggest that testis-sparing surgery is the optimal approach, and should be performed in centres where the required radiological, histopathological, and surgical expertise exists.展开更多
Cw is a low frequency red cell antigen that belongs to the Rh blood groups system. While not uncommon, anti-Cw is rarely associated with clinically significant haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). When it does occ...Cw is a low frequency red cell antigen that belongs to the Rh blood groups system. While not uncommon, anti-Cw is rarely associated with clinically significant haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). When it does occur, it is often subclinical or of mild to moderate clinical severity. In the majority of pregnancies it is considered to be a naturally occurring antibody and has not been reported to cause hydrops fetalis or stillbirth. We report a case of anti-Cw alloimmunization, which was associated with significant anaemia and hydrops fetalis, presenting at 35 wk gestation. Conclusion: Pregnancies affected by anti-Cw merit closer scrutiny. Consideration should be given to performing more frequent antenatal ultrasound assessments to detect hydrops fetalis. This may help to support the need for more invasive procedures (cordocentesis and intrauterine transfusions).展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Laparoscopic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality rates,shorter post-operative recovery periods and lower complication rates than open surgery.It is routine practice in high-income countries and is becoming increasingly common in countries with limited resources.However,introducing laparoscopic surgery in low-and-middle-income countries(LMIC)can be expensive and requires resour-ces,equipment,and trainers.AIM To report the challenges and benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMIC as well as to identify solutions to these challenges for countries with limited finances and resources.METHODS MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting first experience in laparoscopic surgery in LMIC.Included studies were published between 1996 and 2022 with full text available in English.Exclusion criteria were studies considering only open surgery,ear,nose,and throat,endoscopy,arthro-scopy,hysteroscopy,cystoscopy,transplant,or bariatric surgery.RESULTS Ten studies out of 3409 screened papers,from eight LMIC were eligible for inclusion in the final analysis,totaling 2497 patients.Most reported challenges were related to costs of equipment and training programmes,equipment pro-blems such as faulty equipment,and access to surgical kits.Training-related challenges were reliance on foreign trainers and lack of locally trained surgeons and theatre staff.The benefits of introducing laparoscopic surgery were economic and clinical,including a reduction in hospital stay,complications,and morbidi-ty/mortality.The introduction of laparoscopic surgery also provided training opportunities for junior doctors.CONCLUSION Despite financial and technical challenges,many studies emphasise the overall benefit of introducing laparoscopic surgery in LMICs such as reduced hospital stay and the related lower cost for patients.While many of the clinical centres in LMICs have proposed practical solutions to the challenges reported,more support is critically required,in particular regarding training.
文摘Background: As the coronavirus spared accelerated, various sectors began to deteriorate since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector as one of the major areas where the pandemic put a huge strain was also affected in different ways. Precisely, patient adherence to medication despite difficulties was a point of a question for health staff. Thus, this survey aims to distinguish and discuss the possibility of patients with chronic medications receiving their drugs and taking them regularly as prescribed. Method: Two online questionnaires were generated using Google forms and distributed among patients with chronic illnesses and pharmacists in the Khartoum locality. The survey was conducted during the period of the study to get the most recent data. Results: 81.4% of the population stated that they did encounter difficulties in obtaining their chronic medication during the pandemic. Pharmacists reported that drug availability decreased by 87% in pharmacies, but a considerable proportion of patients adhered to their medications (84%), and obtained their medications through a variety of means. More than half of the patients ordered their medication illegally, in addition to another approach discussed in the paper.
文摘Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery examination pass rate. Methods: This was a cross-sequential study involving 148 surgical candidates (72 UK trainees, 75 non-UK trainees) who had attended our revision course (Phoenix FRCS Course) from June 2017 until 2023. Each course comprised a two-day weekend preparation with dedicated sections for clinical, viva, and academic reading, incorporating SBL as its key learning style. We maintained a prospective database of candidate and course details, examination results, and feedback since the course inception. Results: We found that 97% of candidates passed the FRCS examination after their first attempt. The course was attended once by 89% of candidates, and only 3 of the 148 candidates exhausted all four attempts at the examination. Candidate feedback for the course and its style of learning was positive, with simulation-based table viva sessions and virtual clinical sessions proving the most popular learning sessions (95% and 80% of candidates attending courses run in December 2017, April 2018, and May 2021 rated them “Excellent” respectively). Conclusions: The course is centered around shared adult learning and mindfulness tools to encourage candidates to learn from each other and develop confidence and mastery in all domains of surgical practice. These methods have been shown to be effective in achieving high success rates in the Intercollegiate and International FRCS examinations for UK and overseas surgeons.
文摘AIM: To determine the morbidity and mortality associated with emergency laparotomy for a clinically acute abdomen in patients aged ≥ 80 years. METHODS: In this retrospective audit, octogenarians undergoing emergency laparotomy between 1st January 2005 and 1 st January 2010 were identified using the Galaxy Theatre System. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery through groin crease incisions or Lanz or Gridiron incisions were excluded. Also simple appendectomies were excluded. All patients were aged 80 years or more at the time of their surgery. Data were obtained using casenote review with a standardised proforma to determine patient age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, indications for surgery, early (within 30 d) and late (after 30 d) complications, mortality and length of stay. Data were inserted into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analysed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were identified from the database (Galaxy) as having undergone emergency laparotomy. Of those, 55 underwent the procedure for intestinal procedures and 37 for secondary peritonitis.There was a 2:1 female predominance; average age 85 and ASA grade 3. Bowel resection was required in 51 out of the 100 patients and 22 (43%) died. Other procedures included appendicectomy, adhesiolysis, repair of AAA graft leak and colostomies for the pathological process resulting in an acute abdomen. Twelve of 100 patients (12%) suffered intra-operative complications, including splenic and bowel-serosal tears. Seventy patients (70%) had postoperative complications including myocardial infarction, wound infection, haematoma and sepsis. Overall mortality was 45/100 patients (45%). The major causes of death were sepsis (19/45 patients, 42%), underlying cancer (13/45 patients, 29%); with others including bowel obstruction (2/45 patients, 4%), myocardial and intestinal ischaemia and dementia. CONCLUSION: Emergency laparotomy in octogenarians carries a significant morbidity and mortality. In particular, surgery requiring bowel resection has higher mortality than without resection.
文摘A man who developed profound septic shock was treated for Escherichia colisepsis of unknown origin. Following stabilisation, a diagnosis of pylephlebitis (infection and thrombosis in the portal vein) was made at computed tomography. A review of the condition, its primary causes,typical features, investigation and management was presented.
文摘Colorectal cancer is one of the commonly encountered cancers across the Western World. In United Kingdom, this constitutes third most common ranked cancer and second most common ranked cause of cancer related deaths. Its acute presentation as a malignant colonic obstruction imposes challenges in its management. Colonic stent has been used for many years to alleviate acute obstruction in such cases allowing optimisation of patient's physiological status and adequate staging of cancer. In this review, current literature evidence regarding use of colonic stent in acute malignant colonic obstruction is critically appraised and recommendations on the use of colonic stent are advocated.
文摘Enteric fever remains a tropical disease of public health significance in Africa, due to its high endemicity and transmission rates, more in sub-Saharan Africa with 7.2 million cases of typhoid fever annually and incidence rate of 762 per 100000 person-years when compared with Northern Africa with a reported incidence rate of 557 per 100000 person-years and lower. Recent studies show that almost all regions of sub-Saharan Africa are tending towards high incidence rates, especially Central and Western Africa. Though clinically indistinguishable from paratyphoid fever, typhoid fever causes more morbidity and mortality than paratyphoid fever, with a greater threat to children. Risk factors include consumption of contaminated water, patronizing food vendors and a history of contact with a case or a chronic carrier, amongst others. Environmental factors such as the rainy season, open sewers, contaminated water bodies and areas of low elevation have been implicated. Diagnosis in Africa is challenging due to resource constraints, as many centres still depend on clinical diagnosis and serodiagnosis using Widal test, in an era where more sensitive and specific tests exist. The polymerase chain reaction is one of the most sensitive diagnostic methods, while culture (particularly bone marrow) is considered to be one of the most specific. Quinolones (ciprofloxacin) and third-generation cephalosporins, amongst others, remain potent in the management of enteric fever, with resistance to quinolones gradually on the rise. Poor diagnostics, poor antibiotic stewardship and lack of drug (antibiotic) regulation are contributors to the problem of antibiotic resistance in Africa. Prevention of typhoid fever through;vaccination, especially in children is still under investigation, with steady progress being documented. Overall, long term prevention strategies for typhoid fever should be based on improved sourcesof drinking water, good sanitation and hygiene, food safety and poverty alleviation.
文摘Objective: To report our experience of a contemporary series of patients who underwent radical orchidectomy for non-palpable testicular masses, in order to comment on their malignant potential and identify any factors predictive of a malignant outcome. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the case-notes of patients who underwent radical inguinal orchidectomy over a 22-month period between January 2010 and October 2011. Results: A total of 71 patients were analysed, with a mean (range) age of 45 years (17 - 82). Overall, 41 (57.7%) orchidectomies were malignant and 30 (42.3%) were benign. There were 20 (28%) non-palpable testicular masses found incidentally on ultrasound, and of these 40% were malignant and 60% were benign. In total 6 of these non-palpable lesions were <1 cm in size, and of these 66.6% were malignant and 33.3% were benign. The majority of tumours were in patients under the age of 50, but there was no correlation between the lesion size and the risk of a malignant outcome. Conclusion: In view of the significant rate of malignancy in non-palpable testicular masses we recommend surgical intervention over surveillance alone. However, as the majority of these lesions may eventually turn out to be benign, we suggest that testis-sparing surgery is the optimal approach, and should be performed in centres where the required radiological, histopathological, and surgical expertise exists.
文摘Cw is a low frequency red cell antigen that belongs to the Rh blood groups system. While not uncommon, anti-Cw is rarely associated with clinically significant haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). When it does occur, it is often subclinical or of mild to moderate clinical severity. In the majority of pregnancies it is considered to be a naturally occurring antibody and has not been reported to cause hydrops fetalis or stillbirth. We report a case of anti-Cw alloimmunization, which was associated with significant anaemia and hydrops fetalis, presenting at 35 wk gestation. Conclusion: Pregnancies affected by anti-Cw merit closer scrutiny. Consideration should be given to performing more frequent antenatal ultrasound assessments to detect hydrops fetalis. This may help to support the need for more invasive procedures (cordocentesis and intrauterine transfusions).
