The impact of timing on outcomes in appendicectomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Appendicectomy remains the standard treatment for appendicitis. There is a lack of clarity on the timeframe in which surgery should be performed to avoid unfavourable outcomes. AIM: To perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the impact the (1)time-of-day surgery is performed (2), time elapsed from symptom onset to hospital presentation (patient time) (3), time elapsed from hospital presentation to surgery (hospital time), and (4)time elapsed from symptom onset to surgery (total time) have on appendicectomy outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was performed as per PRISMA-NMA guidelines. The time-of-day which surgery was done was divided into day, evening and night. The other groups were divided into < 24 h, 24-48 h and > 48 h. The rate of complicated appendicitis, operative time, perforation, post-operative complications, surgical site infection (SSI), length of stay (LOS), readmission and mortality rates were analysed. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included with a total of 232,678 patients. The time of day at which surgery was performed had no impact on outcomes. The incidence of complicated appendicitis, post-operative complications and LOS were significantly better when the hospital time and total time were < 24 h. Readmission and mortality rates were significantly better when the hospital time was < 48 h. SSI, operative time, and the rate of perforation were comparable in all groups. CONCLUSION: Appendicectomy within 24 h of hospital admission is associated with improved outcomes compared to patients having surgery 24-48 and > 48 h after admission. The time-of-day which surgery is performed does not impact outcomes.

Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative methods for margin assessment in breast cancer surgery: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: There are a wide variety of intraoperative techniques available in breast surgery to achieve low rates for positive margins of excision. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the pooled diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative breast margin assessment techniques that have been evaluated in clinical practice. METHODS: This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative margin assessment techniques. Only clinical studies with raw diagnostic accuracy data as compared with final permanent section histopathology were included in the meta-analysis. A bivariate model for diagnostic meta-analysis was used to determine overall pooled sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Sixty-one studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Cytology demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy, with pooled sensitivity of 0.92 (95 % CI 0.77-0.98) and a pooled specificity of 0.95 (95 % CI 0.90-0.97). The findings also indicate good diagnostic accuracy for optical spectroscopy, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.86 (95 % CI 0.76-0.93) and a pooled specificity of 0.92 (95 % CI 0.82-0.97). CONCLUSION: Pooled data indicate that optical spectroscopy, cytology and frozen section have the greatest diagnostic accuracy of currently available intraoperative margin assessment techniques. However, long turnaround time for results and their resource intensive nature has prevented widespread adoption of these methods. The aim of emerging technologies is to compete with the diagnostic accuracy of these established techniques, while improving speed and usability.

Inflammatory fibroid polyp of the small intestine presenting as small bowel obstruction with intussusception: a case report.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFP) are rare benign neoplasms most commonly occurring within the respiratory tract but are rarely also observed in the gastro-intestinal tract. Herein we present the case of a 73-year-old female presenting with ileo-ileal intussusception secondary to IFP. The patient was treated with emergency laparotomy with segmental bowel resection and primary anastomosis. Histopathological analysis of the excised bowel segment initially revealed a low-grade, mural based spindle cell neoplasm with surrounding benign, reactive lymphadenopathy. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the lesional cells stained positive for Vimentin, Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA), and CD34. On secondary analysis of the specimen, the morphology and immunohistochemical profile of the mass was in keeping with IFP. No invasive malignancy was identified. Such cases have been previously reported under the pseudonym 'the great mimicker', due to their striking similarity to malignant processes. This case report aims to add to the small body of research reporting such atypical presentations.

A case of mediastinal hyperparathyromatosis.

Recurrent hyperparathyroidism (HPT) after initial parathyroid surgery occurs rarely in an ectopic location. The rare phenomenon of parathyromatosis may be the cause of this. We present the case of a 59-year-old woman with recurrent HPT, which presented as a new ectopic mediastinal parathyroid gland 13 years after initial 3.5 gland parathyroidectomy. A 1.5 × 1.3 cm lesion was discovered as an incidental finding in the pretracheal region, closely abutting the aortic arch. An aspirate revealed oncocytic cells, which were positive for parathyroid hormone, confirming a mediastinal parathyroid nodule. Sestamibi scan confirmed an avid nodule in the mediastinum. This patient had multiple co-morbidities but was asymptomatic of HPT. It was therefore decided at multi-disciplinary team discussion that she should undergo surveillance. To our knowledge, no such presentations have been reported in the literature. Thus, our case report is a unique addition of an atypical presentation of HPT.