Closing the gap on Achilles tendon rupture: A cadaveric study quantifying the tendon apposition achieved with commonly used immobilisation practices.

The relative benefits of surgical and conservative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture are widely debated. With modern conservative management protocols, the re-rupture risk appears to fall to one similar to surgical repair with negligible loss of function. Conservative management typically employs a period of time in an equinus cast with sequential ankle dorsiflexion in a functional orthosis. The optimal duration of immobilisation and rate of dorsiflexion is unknown. We aimed to quantify the change in Achilles tendon approximation achieved in common immobilisation techniques to assist the design of rehabilitation protocols. Twelve fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens had 2.5cm of Achilles tendon excised. The gap between the tendon ends were measured via windowed full equinus casts and compared with functional boots with successively removed heel wedges. The greatest tendon apposition was achieved with the equinus cast. Each wedge removed decreased the reapproximation by approximately 5mm. This paper supports the early use of maximal equinus casting in early management of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.

Prone position for acute respiratory failure in adults.

BACKGROUND: Acute hypoxaemia de novo or on a background of chronic hypoxaemia is a common reason for admission to intensive care and for provision of mechanical ventilation. Various refinements of mechanical ventilation or adjuncts are employed to improve patient outcomes. Mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome, one of the main contributors to the need for mechanical ventilation for hypoxaemia, remains approximately 40%. Ventilation in the prone position may improve lung mechanics and gas exchange and could improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review are (1) to ascertain whether prone ventilation offers a mortality advantage when compared with traditional supine or semi recumbent ventilation in patients with severe acute respiratory failure requiring conventional invasive artificial ventilation, and (2) to supplement previous systematic reviews on prone ventilation for hypoxaemic respiratory failure in an adult population. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2014, Issue 1), Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to 31 January 2014), EMBASE (1980 to 31 January 2014), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (1982 to 31 January 2014) and Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) (1992 to 31 January 2014) in Ovid MEDLINE for eligible randomized controlled trials. We also searched for studies by handsearching reference lists of relevant articles, by contacting colleagues and by handsearching published proceedings of relevant journals. We applied no language constraints, and we reran the searches in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and LILACS in June 2015. We added five new studies of potential interest to the list of "Studies awaiting classification" and will incorporate them into formal review findings during the review update. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of prone position versus supine/semi recumbent position during conventional mechanical ventilation in adult participants with acute hypoxaemia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently reviewed all trials identified by the search and assessed them for suitability, methods and quality. Two review authors extracted data, and three review authors reviewed the data extracted. We analysed data using Review Manager software and pooled included studies to determine the risk ratio (RR) for mortality and the risk ratio or mean difference (MD) for secondary outcomes; we also performed subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. MAIN RESULTS: We identified nine relevant RCTs, which enrolled a total of 2165 participants (10 publications). All recruited participants suffered from disorders of lung function causing moderate to severe hypoxaemia and requiring mechanical ventilation, so they were fairly comparable, given the heterogeneity of specific disease diagnoses in intensive care. Risk of bias, although acceptable in the view of the review authors, was inevitable: Blinding of participants and carers to treatment allocation was not possible (face-up vs face-down).Primary analyses of short- and longer-term mortality pooled from six trials demonstrated an RR of 0.84 to 0.86 in favour of the prone position (PP), but findings were not statistically significant: In the short term, mortality for those ventilated prone was 33.4% (363/1086) and supine 38.3% (395/1031). This resulted in an RR of 0.84 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69 to 1.02) marginally in favour of PP. For longer-term mortality, results showed 41.7% (462/1107) for prone and 47.1% (490/1041) for supine positions, with an RR of 0.86 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.03). The quality of the evidence for both outcomes was rated as low as a result of important potential bias and serious inconsistency.Subgroup analyses for mortality identified three groups consistently favouring PP: those recruited within 48 hours of meeting entry criteria (five trials; 1024 participants showed an RR of 0.75 (95% CI 0.59 to 94)); those treated in the PP for 16 or more hours per day (five trials; 1005 participants showed an RR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.99)); and participants with more severe hypoxaemia at trial entry (six trials; 1108 participants showed an RR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.92)). The quality of the evidence for these outcomes was rated as moderate as a result of potentially important bias.Prone positioning appeared to influence adverse effects: Pressure sores (three trials; 366 participants) with an RR of 1.37 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.79) and tracheal tube obstruction with an RR of 1.78 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.60) were increased with prone ventilation. Reporting of arrhythmias was reduced with PP, with an RR of 0.64 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.87). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no convincing evidence of benefit nor harm from universal application of PP in adults with hypoxaemia mechanically ventilated in intensive care units (ICUs). Three subgroups (early implementation of PP, prolonged adoption of PP and severe hypoxaemia at study entry) suggested that prone positioning may confer a statistically significant mortality advantage. Additional adequately powered studies would be required to confirm or refute these possibilities of subgroup benefit but are unlikely, given results of the most recent study and recommendations derived from several published subgroup analyses. Meta-analysis of individual patient data could be useful for further data exploration in this regard. Complications such as tracheal obstruction are increased with use of prone ventilation. Long-term mortality data (12 months and beyond), as well as functional, neuro-psychological and quality of life data, are required if future studies are to better inform the role of PP in the management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in the ICU.

Say what you mean, mean what you say: The importance of language in the treatment of obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a highly stigmatized disease, and despite the understanding of the processes involved, negative language reinforcing outdated views of obesity persists within the scientific literature. This is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, to determine how widespread stigmatizing language is within publications on obesity and examine its impact on patients. METHODS: Two standard terms within obesity publications were identified, and a literature search was carried out to determine their prevalence. A parallel qualitative analysis was conducted with patients with obesity to determine perceptions of these terms. RESULTS: Of the 3,020 papers screened, 2.4% included the term fail, and 16.8% contained morbid used in conjunction with obesity. Sixteen patients participated in the qualitative analysis. They felt that negative language, particularly failure, implied a personal responsibility for lack of weight loss. Clinically meaningful terminology fostered a more constructive relationship with health care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Although most journals object to overtly stigmatizing language, using phrases or words that carry negative connotations is less clearly discouraged. It is important to recognize that language that implies a moral responsibility for weight loss or the development of obesity contradicts the well-established evidence base that obesity results from complex biological processes.

Medication following bariatric surgery for type 2 diabetes mellitus (BY-PLUS) study: rationale and design of a randomised controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery is an effective method of controlling glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Long-term studies suggest that although glycaemic control remains good, only 20%-40% of patients will maintain remission according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. PURPOSE: This trial aims to examine the safety and efficacy of combining Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy with goal-directed medical therapy to improve long-term glycaemic control of T2DM. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This prospective, open-label multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) will recruit 150 patients with obesity and T2DM from tertiary care obesity centres. Patients will be randomised 1:1 to receive either bariatric surgery and standard medical care or bariatric surgery and intensive goal-directed medical therapy, titrated to specific targets for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol. The primary endpoints are the proportion of patients in each arm with an HbA1c<6.5% (48 mmol/mol) at 1 year and the proportion of patients in each arm achieving the composite endpoint of HbA1c<6.5% (48 mmol/mol), BP<130/80 mm Hg and LDL<2.6 mmol/L at 5 years. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The local institutional review board approved this study. This study represents the first RCT to examine the safety and efficacy of combining bariatric surgery with intensive medical therapy compared with bariatric surgery and usual care for long-term diabetes control. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04432025.

The role of staging laparoscopy in complex bariatric surgery.

Determining which patients will benefit from bariatric surgery is complex; however, in those who have had previous bariatric surgery or extensive abdominal surgery, this can be particularly challenging. Decisions are often made based on assumptions rather than a complete assessment of all the anatomical and physiological factors. Adopting the approach utilised in gastrointestinal surgery with a diagnostic or staging laparoscopy, it may be possible to more accurately stage disease and determine fitness bariatric surgery. Laparoscopy is relatively low risk and contributes critical information with regard to access, post-operative anatomical changes and response to anaesthetic. Additionally, it allows surgeons to accurately determine the feasibility of undertaking a procedure and facilitates a more precise discussion with patients regarding suitability for surgery. Denying patients bariatric procedures based on an incomplete assessment of risk is unfair. Scenarios in which patients have had previous surgery, particularly bariatric surgery are increasingly common with the numbers requiring revisional surgery steadily rising. Although only applicable in highly selected, very complex cases, diagnostic laparoscopy adds critical information in the preoperative assessment of patients, not only improving care but potentially widening the numbers considered eligible for bariatric surgery. Our limited experience with staging laparoscopy in patients with previous complex abdominal surgery requiring revisional surgery illustrates the potential benefit it offers in determining patient suitability for further bariatric procedures. The adoption of an established technique, applied in a novel setting offers surgeons the opportunity to more thoroughly assess potentially high risk patients as well as the ability to offer personalised care.

An Exploration of the Patient Lived Experience of Remission and Relapse of Type 2 Diabetes Following Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), inducing profound metabolic changes associated with improvements in glycaemic control. In spite of the recognition of the physiological changes associated with bariatric surgery, what remains underappreciated is the patient experience of surgery to treat T2DM. OBJECTIVES: This study explored the patient experience with regard to motivations, expectations and outcomes, including remission and relapse of diabetes. METHODS: An in-depth qualitative approach was adopted, encompassing semi-structured interviews with patients (n=17) living with obesity and T2DM both pre- and postsurgery. Interpretive thematic analysis identified emergent themes using a grounded approach. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a number of themes throughout the interviews which included motivations and perceived benefits of surgery, obesity stigma and its impact on self-worth as well as perceptions of remission or relapse and the implications for sense of control. CONCLUSIONS: The motivation for undergoing bariatric surgery was driven by health concerns, namely T2DM and the desire to reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. Patients highlighted social and self-stigmatisation associated with obesity and T2DM, leading to feelings of shame and an inability to seek support from family or healthcare professionals. Stigmatisation created a sense of failure and feeling of guilt for having T2DM. As a result, patients felt responsible for maintaining disease remission postoperatively and regarded the need for medication as a sign of treatment failure.

Long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with diabetes.

Introduction: Initially seen as a weight-loss operation, bariatric surgery is now recognized as a metabolic procedure with a critical role in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Early improvement in glucose metabolism is a remarkable effect of surgery; however, what deserves equal thought are implications for long-term diabetes control and relapse. Evidence suggests the metabolic effects of surgery fatigue and a proportion of patients will experience relapse of T2DM, with or without weight regain. Herein, we discuss the evidence examining the durability of these effects and approaches to improve long-term control.Areas covered: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Medline were searched for trials looking at outcomes for patients with obesity and T2DM undergoing bariatric surgery between January 2000 andDecember 2019. Additional studies were found by searching publications from related journals and references.Export opinion: Bariatric surgery is a safe and effective treatment for T2DM and obesity however the response to surgery, like any other treatment is variable. Some patients will experience a relapse of diabetes in the long term. Recent developments in pharmacotherapy present an opportunity to augment or sustain what can be achieved with surgery. Combinational treatment may dramatically change the way both diseases are managed.

The metabolic benefits of different bariatric operations: what procedure to choose?

Bariatric surgery is established as a highly effective treatment for obesity and related metabolic complications. Although once seen as a last resort for patients with obesity, given the data demonstrating the profound weight loss, improvement in comorbidity and safety, perceptions have since shifted. There is evidence from 12 RCTs demonstrating its safety and efficacy in terms of weight loss which is sustained in the long term with a resultant improvement in co-morbidity. Clinicians are increasingly recognising the importance of timely intervention to maximise the effects of bariatric surgery, particularly in light of the low likelihood of being able to adequately manage patients with medication or lifestyle interventions alone. The inclusion of bariatric surgery in the standard treatment algorithm has been a step forward in the approach to treating patients with obesity. What remains challenging for clinicians is knowing which procedure is most beneficial to patients. There is no level one data demonstrating the superiority of one procedure over another. Head to head RCTs are ongoing which may shed light on this question; however, it is likely that there is no single procedure that will be demonstrated to be the gold standard. Herein we review the most commonly performed procedures along with the evidence available to support their effects with regards to weight loss and metabolic changes along with their limitations and recognised risks. The aim is to provide a general framework to allow clinicians to take advantage of the variety of operative approaches to tailor their treatment strategy to the individual patient.

Review of Advances in Anti-obesity Pharmacotherapy: Implications for a Multimodal Treatment Approach with Metabolic Surgery.

There is a growing need for treatments for patients who would benefit from further weight loss following bariatric surgery or weight loss maintenance/long-term disease remission. Currently, therapeutic options are limited. Although largely dismissed previously, advances in weight loss pharmacotherapy now offer the possibility of achieving clinically significant weight loss. Historical comparisons drawn between the effects of medications vs surgery are generally inaccurate as novel classes of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy have since been developed and moreover, reflect an outdated approach in comparing medicine with surgery. Herein, we provide an overview of the most recently developed anti-obesity medications which may not only present a potentially innovative approach to medical treatment of obesity but may also inspire renewed enthusiasm for investigating what can be achieved through multimodal care.

Review of multimodal treatment for type 2 diabetes: combining metabolic surgery and pharmacotherapy.

Treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with obesity remains a challenge for physicians, endocrinologists and surgeons, a fact supported by uncontroverted evidence from studies looking at mortality and associated morbidity. Metabolic surgery remains the most effective treatment for obesity and T2DM with evidence demonstrating an improvement or resolution of symptoms of T2DM and a reduction in a mortality and rates of cardiovascular events compared with pharmacotherapy alone. While these results are promising, two important limitations must be recognized and addressed. With regards to long-term remission of T2DM, the metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery appear to fatigue with time and a proportion of patients will not maintain normoglycaemia without pharmacotherapy. Second, there has been noteworthy progress in the development of several classes of medications for the treatment of T2DM which were unavailable when the original studies comparing the effects of bariatric surgery with pharmacotherapy were conducted. Recognizing the need for further treatment following metabolic surgery for long-term disease control in conjunction with the availability of newer medications offering more effective, nonsurgical treatment presents a critical turning point in treatment treating obesity. While the traditional approach would be to determine the superiority (or non-inferiority) of these agents compared with surgery, clinicians and surgeons must acknowledge the limitations of this attitude towards treatment given evidence from fields such as cancer, where a combinational approach is the gold standard. Recent advances in pharmacotherapy, present not only a novel approach to medical therapy but a renewed impetus to investigate what can be achieved through multimodal care.

Radiological assessment of ankle syndesmotic reduction.

INTRODUCTION: The intraoperative assessment of adequacy of syndesmotic reduction is challenging. The aim of this study was to develop a radiographic measure based on the lateral ankle view to assess both the normal and abnormal relationship between the tibia and fibula after simulated syndesmotic malreduction and to evaluate the effect on commonly used mortise measurements. METHODS: Mortise and talar dome lateral radiographs were obtained in eight fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens before and following syndesmosis division and posterior fibular displacement of 2mm increments. Using the technique described, on the lateral radiograph the anterior fibular line ratio (AFL ratio) and posterior fibular line distance (PFL distance) were measured. Both measures were based on the anterior and posterior distal tibia articular margins and flat borders of the fibula. RESULTS: Inter- and intraobserver reliability of the AFL ratio and PFL distance measured almost perfect agreement. In all uninjured specimens the AFL lay just anterior to the midpoint of the tibia and the PFL intersected the posterior tibia articular margin or lay just anterior to it, not posterior. At 2, 4 and 6mm of posterior fibular displacement the decrease in AFL ratio and PFL distance showed significant differences between all pairwise comparisons. CONCLUSION: The proposed new measures of syndesmotic reduction are reproducible and capable of detecting from 2mm of sagittal fibula displacement and can be useful adjuncts in the assessment of syndesmotic reduction.

Carcinosarcoma of the Rectum: Report of a Rare Colorectal Malignancy and Review of the Literature.

Carcinosarcoma (CS) is a rare mixed mesodermal malignancy most commonly affecting the female reproductive organs, respiratory tract, head, and neck. Though infrequent, it may affect the gastrointestinal tract, most often the oesophagus and only very rarely the rectum. Histologically, it is composed of two distinct elements of epithelial and mesenchymal origin. Clinically, it is a very aggressive tumour with many patients presenting with metastatic lymph nodes or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Prognosis is poor despite intervention with the majority of patients dying within six months. Due to the rarity of this condition, there are no specific treatment guidelines presently available. We describe the case of an 80-year-old patient with carcinosarcoma of the rectum with discussion of the immunohistochemistry and review the available literature pertaining to this rare presentation.

Destination healthcare facility of patients with suspected traumatic brain injury in Scotland: analysis of pre-hospital data.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury is common. Guidelines from the Brain Trauma Foundation and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network recommend that patients with suspected severe traumatic brain injury should be treated in centres with neurosurgical expertise. Scotland does not have a framework for the delivery of trauma care. The aim of this study was to examine the demographic characteristics of incidents involving patients who have suffered a suspected traumatic brain injury, and to evaluate the level of the destination healthcare facility which patients are currently taken to. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected Scottish Ambulance Service data on incidents involving traumatic injury, between Nov 2008 and Oct 2010. Two groups of casualties were analysed: those who had a Glasgow coma scale of less than 14 (GCS<14), and those who had a Glasgow coma scale of less than 9 (GCS<9). RESULTS: 126,934 incidents were identified and analysed. 3890 (3.1%) patients had a GCS of less than 14, and 657 (0.5% of total) had a GCS of less than 9. Almost one-third of incidents involving patients with either a GCS<14 or GCS<9 occurred in the greater Glasgow health board area. The Lothian health board region had the second-highest number of patients with either a GCS<14 or GCS<9. Only 13.8% of patients with a GCS<14, and 16.7% of those with a GCS<9, were taken to a hospital with a neurosurgical service. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients who may harbour a traumatic brain injury are taken to a facility which may not be equipped or staffed to deal with such injuries. This mismatch needs to be addressed. However, the care of patients with head injuries is only one aspect of trauma care. The UK has long lagged behind North America in terms of the quality of trauma care provided, although the provision of trauma care in England is currently undergoing major changes. Scotland should consider the development of a similar service delivery framework.