Antibiotics for preventing recurrent sore throat.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent recurrent sore throat, despite concern about resistance. However, there is conflicting primary evidence regarding their effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of antibiotics in patients with recurrent sore throat. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group (CENTDG) Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the CENTDG Trials Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2015, Issue 5); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; Clinicaltrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the search was 25 June 2015. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of antibiotics in adults and children suffering from pre-existing recurrent sore throat, defined as three or more sore throats in a year, examining the incidence of sore throat recurrence, with follow-up of at least 12 months post-antibiotic therapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Multiple attempts to contact the authors of one study yielded no response. MAIN RESULTS: We identified no trials that met the inclusion criteria for the review. We discarded the majority of the references retrieved from our search following screening of the title and abstract. We formally excluded four studies following review of the full-text report. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics for preventing recurrent sore throat. This finding must be balanced against the known adverse effects and cost of antibiotic therapy, when considering antibiotics for this purpose. There is a need for high quality RCTs that compare the effects of antibiotics versus placebo in adults and children with pre-existing recurrent sore throat on the following outcomes: incidence of sore throat recurrence, adverse effects, days off work and absence from school, and the incidence of complications. Future studies should be conducted and reported according to the CONSORT statement.

Impact of single-stage laparoscopic trans-cystic exploration on hospital procedures, admissions and length-of-stay in common bile duct stone clearance.

BACKGROUND: Single-stage approach with bile duct exploration is considered the most efficient and cost-effective method of bile duct clearance. In Australia, apart from centres with subspecialty interests, notably in Brisbane, Queensland, a multi-stage approach with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used more frequently. We aim to evaluate the impact of single stage laparoscopic trans-cystic exploration (LTCE) versus multi-stage approach for choledocholithiasis. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Medicare Benefits Schedule codings were used to identify patients who had the following procedures between December 2011 and December 2019: laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and ERCP, LC and LTCE, LC and LTCE and ERCP. Primary outcomes were number of hospital procedures, admissions and additive length of stay (aLOS), the cumulative hospital stay from admission to discharge. RESULTS: Of 607 patients, 204 (34%) patients received a single-stage LTCE, while 403 (66%) patients had a multi-stage approach. In the LTCE group, 82% (168) patients and 93% (190) patients had one procedure and one admission respectively for stone clearance (P = 0.001). The median aLOS was 4 days for LTCE versus 7 days for multi-stage approach (P = 0.001; 95% CI for difference - 3 to -2). In the multi-stage group, 16% (65) patients had three or more procedures and 49% (199) patients required two or more hospital admissions to achieve stone clearance. CONCLUSION: LTCE for stone clearance can be successfully accomplished with reductions in hospital admissions, number of procedures and length of stay. This has further economic and health resource implications.

The Role of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy After Severe and/or Necrotic Pancreatitis in the Setting of Modern Minimally Invasive Management of Pancreatic Necrosis.

OBJECTIVES: The trend toward minimally invasive procedures (MIP) in necrotizing pancreatitis is increasing. The optimal timing and technique of cholecystectomy in severe/necrotizing pancreatitis is unclear. This study aims to determine the role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after severe/necrotizing pancreatitis in the context of MIP. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database was performed for consecutive patients after cholecystectomy for gallstone pancreatitis between January 2011 and January 2018 at Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-five patients with gallstone pancreatitis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 2 conversions. Patients with severe pancreatitis were older (P = 0.002), with a more even sex distribution when compared with mild pancreatitis. Females predominated in the mild pancreatitis group.Patients with moderate/severe pancreatitis (P = 0.002) and necrosis (P > 0.001) were more likely to have delayed cholecystectomy compared with mild pancreatitis. There was no increase in biliary presentations while awaiting cholecystectomy. Length of stay for patients with severe/necrotizing pancreatitis (P = 0.001) was increased, surgical complications appeared similar. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely and effectively for pancreatitis, irrespective of severity. The paradigm shift in the management of severe necrotizing pancreatitis away from open necrosectomy toward MIP can be extended to encompass laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Continuous Suction Isoperistaltic Gastroesophagostomy for Esophageal Perforation.

Esophageal perforation is a surgical emergency with significant morbidity. Management of this condition is complex and constantly evolving. To our knowledge, this is the first case series describing repair of esophageal perforation with the use of an isoperistaltic gastroesophagostomy tube connected to continuous suction. We present three patients successfully managed using this technique.