Prospective Validation of the APPEND Clinical Prediction Rule for Appendicitis: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Right iliac fossa (RIF) pain is a common referral to general surgery as acute appendicitis is one of the most common underlying diagnoses. The clinical diagnosis of appendicitis continues to challenge clinicians. Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are one method used to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce negative appendicectomy rates. The APPEND score is a novel CPR that was developed at Middlemore Hospital. AIM: To prospectively evaluate the performance of the APPEND CPR within a pathway dedicated to the management of RIF pain. METHODS: A comparative cohort study of the clinical pathway incorporating the APPEND CPR pain was performed from January to July 2016. This was compared to the retrospective cohort used to develop the APPEND CPR. The primary end point was negative appendicectomy rate. RESULTS: The negative appendicectomy rate in the prospective cohort was 9.2% (95% CI: 5.3%, 13.2%) compared to 19.8% (CI 16.2, 23.4%) in the retrospective cohort that did not use the APPEND CPR. After adjusting for multiple variables, the odds ratio of a negative appendicectomy was 2.33 times higher (95% CI; 1.26, 4.3, P value 0.007) in the retrospective cohort compared to the prospective cohort. An APPEND score of ≥5 was 87 % specific for ruling in appendicitis (PPV 94%) and a score of ≥1 was 100% sensitive in ruling out appendicitis (NPV 100%). CONCLUSIONS: In a comparative cohort study of an RIF pain pathway incorporating the APPEND CPR, the rate of negative appendicectomy showed a significant reduction by more than 50%.

Uncomplicated Acute Diverticulitis: Identifying Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The management of uncomplicated (Modified Hinchey Classification Ia) acute diverticulitis (AD) has become increasingly conservative, with a focus on symptomatic relief and supportive management. Clear criteria for patient selection are required to implement this safely. This retrospective study aimed to identify risk factors for severe clinical course in patients with uncomplicated AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients admitted to General Surgery at two New Zealand tertiary centres over a period of 18 months were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out in order to identify factors associated with a more severe clinical course. This was defined by three endpoints: need for procedural intervention, admission >7 days and 30-day readmission; these were analysed separately and as a combined outcome. RESULTS: Uncomplicated AD was identified in 319 patients. Fifteen patients (5%) required procedural intervention; this was associated with SIRS (OR 3.92). Twenty-two (6.9%) patients were admitted for >7 days; this was associated with patient-reported pain score >8/10 (OR 5.67). Thirty-one patients (9.8%) required readmission within 30 days; this was associated with pain score >8/10 (OR 6.08) and first episode of AD (OR 2.47). Overall, 49 patients had a severe clinical course, and associated factors were regular steroid/immunomodulator use (OR 4.34), pain score >8/10 (OR 5.9) and higher temperature (OR 1.51) and CRP ≥200 (OR 4.1). CONCLUSION: SIRS, high pain score and CRP, first episode and regular steroid/immunomodulator use were identified as predictors of worse outcome in uncomplicated AD. These findings have the potential to inform prospective treatment decisions in this patient group.

Clinical Prediction Rules for Appendicitis in Adults: Which Is Best?

BACKGROUND: Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) provide an objective method of assessment in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. There are a number of available CPRs for the diagnosis of appendicitis, but it is unknown which performs best. AIM: The aim of this study was to identify what CPRs are available and how they perform when diagnosing appendicitis in adults. METHOD: A systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Studies that derived or validated a CPR were included. Their performance was assessed on sensitivity, specificity and area under curve (AUC) values. RESULTS: Thirty-four articles were included in this review. Of these 12 derived a CPR and 22 validated these CPRs. A narrative analysis was performed as meta-analysis was precluded due to study heterogeneity and quality of included studies. The results from validation studies showed that the overall best performer in terms of sensitivity (92%), specificity (63%) and AUC values (0.84-0.97) was the AIR score but only a limited number of studies investigated at this score. Although the Alvarado and Modified Alvarado scores were the most commonly validated, results from these studies were variable. The Alvarado score outperformed the modified Alvarado score in terms of sensitivity, specificity and AUC values. CONCLUSION: There are 12 CPRs available for diagnosis of appendicitis in adults. The AIR score appeared to be the best performer and most pragmatic CPR.

Double Trouble: A Case of Gallstone Ileus as a Result of Multiple Obstructive Gallstones.

Gallstone ileus is a rare condition. It accounts for approximately 1% of small bowel obstruction and is more prevalent in the elderly population. It is usually present in relatively comorbid patients posing further operative challenges. The following report investigates the management of two large gallstones resulting in two different points of obstruction. Is double trouble doubly hard to manage?

Does Bariatric Surgery Affect the Incidence of Endometrial Cancer Development? A Systematic Review.

Obesity has been linked to an increased prevalence in multiple cancers. Studies have suggested a reduction in the overall risk of cancer after bariatric surgery. We reviewed the evidence for bariatric surgery reducing the risk of endometrial cancer. Data was extracted from PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline to perform a systematic review. Thirty-one full text articles were identified from 265 abstracts. Nine observational studies were relevant to endometrial cancer. In the five controlled studies, 462 of 113,032 (0.4%) patients receiving bariatric surgery versus 11,997 of 848,864 (1.4%) controls developed endometrial cancer, odds ratio of 0.317 (95% CI 0.161 to 0.627) using random effects model (P < 0.001). Bariatric surgery seems to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer; however, more research is required.

A Randomised Trial of Text Message Support for Reducing Weight Regain Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a common bariatric procedure with high rates of weight regain (WR). Clinicians and patients have identified a lack of follow-up support and maladaptive lifestyle behaviours as potential causes for WR. While text message support has been shown to be effective for weight loss in non-surgical patients, it has not been investigated for reducing WR in bariatric patients. PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of text message support in reducing weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy. METHODS: A text message intervention was designed. The effectiveness of the intervention was investigated by a randomised trial powered to detect a 15% difference in the primary outcome of percent excess weight loss (84 participants required). Secondary outcomes were the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting System (BAROS) score and patient satisfaction. Outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Ninety-five participants were randomised to either standard care or text message support (daily text message for 1 year). While there was no significant difference in the primary outcome at 6 or 12 months, patients who received the intervention tended to have less WR and a significantly better BAROS score at 12 months. Participants who received text message support found it beneficial, would have liked the messages to continue, and felt WR was reduced by having the text message support. CONCLUSION: Text message support following SG is feasible, may reduce weight regain, improves the BAROS score and is valued by patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02341001.

Derivation and validation of the APPEND score: an acute appendicitis clinical prediction rule.

BACKGROUND: Although many clinical prediction rules (CPRs) for appendicitis exist, none have been developed for a New Zealand population presenting with right iliac fossa (RIF) pain. The aim of this study was to derive and validate an appendicitis CPR for our population. METHOD: This is a retrospective review of all patients from December 2010 to February 2012 of at least 15 years of age presenting to the general surgery service with RIF pain. Patient data were divided into derivation and validation groups. Univariate and multiple regression analyses identified significant predictors of appendicitis which were used to construct a CPR. A retrospective validation study was then performed and the CPR was refined accordingly. Finally, the accuracy of the CPR was tested. RESULTS: The final components of the new CPR, the APPEND score, were Anorexia, migratory Pain, local Peritonism, Elevated C-reactive protein, Neutrophilia and male gender (Dude). This CPR has an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84. The CPR can stratify patients into low, intermediate and high-risk groups which may standardize patient care and reduce the negative appendicectomy rate. CONCLUSION: A new CPR for predicting appendicitis, in patients presenting with RIF pain, has been derived and validated for use in our population. A prospective study to further evaluate its performance is required.

Does Bariatric Surgery Affect the Incidence of Breast Cancer Development? A Systematic Review.

We reviewed the evidence for bariatric surgery reducing the risk of breast cancer. Data was extracted from multiple libraries, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline, to perform a systematic review. Abstracts were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Thirty-eight full-text articles were identified from 1171 abstracts. Four studies were included for meta-analysis; 114 of 10,533 (1.1%) patients receiving bariatric surgery versus 516 of 20,130 (2.6%) controls developed breast cancer, odds ratio 0.564 (95% CI 0.453 to 0.702) using a fixed effects model (P < 0.001) and odds ratio 0.585 (95% CI 0.247 to 1.386) using a random effects model (P 0.223). Bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of breast cancer. More research is required due to heterogeneity of studies, difficulty in identifying accurate controls, and limited follow-up.

Weight Regain Following Sleeve Gastrectomy-a Systematic Review.

Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a commonly performed bariatric procedure. Weight regain following SG is a significant issue. Yet the defining, reporting and understanding of this phenomenon remains largely neglected. Systematic review was performed to locate articles reporting the definition, rate and/or cause of weight regain in patients at least 2 years post-SG. A range of definitions employed to describe weight regain were identified in the literature. Rates of regain ranged from 5.7 % at 2 years to 75.6 % at 6 years. Proposed causes of weight regain included initial sleeve size, sleeve dilation, increased ghrelin levels, inadequate follow-up support and maladaptive lifestyle behaviours. Bariatric literature would benefit from standardising definitions used to report weight regain and its rate in clinical series. Larger prospective studies are required to further understand mechanisms of weight regain following SG.