Rectal foreign body removal: increasing incidence and cost to the NHS.

INTRODUCTION: Insertion of foreign objects into the rectum is a well-described phenomenon and not an uncommon referral to the general surgeon on call. Although usually not life-threatening, there can be consequences following migration of the object or perforation of the large bowel. This study looks at the incidence of removal of foreign objects from the rectum over the last decade and the financial burden it presents to the NHS. METHODS: Hospital Episode Statistics for 2010-2019 were used to calculate the number of rectal foreign bodies that required removal in hospital. Data for age groups and genders have been compared. RESULTS: A total of 3,500 rectal foreign bodies were removed over the course of 9 years. Males accounted for 85.1% of rectal foreign bodies whilst 14.9% were females. This equates to 348 bed-days per annum. Admission peaks were observed in the second and fifth decades of life. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the incidence of rectal foreign bodies is higher in men and has been increasing over the period studied. Most foreign bodies can be removed trans-anally with the use of anaesthesia, with only a small proportion of patients requiring hospital stay over 24 hours (mean length of stay = 24 hours). Nearly 400 rectal foreign body removals are performed each year with an annual cost of £338,819, illustrating the effect this has on NHS resources.

Incremental benefit of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of left main coronary artery stent protrusion.

Ostial lesions represent a challenging clinical scenario and percutaneous intervention (PCI) of left main coronary artery ostial lesions has been associated with postintervention complications, including protrusion of deployed stents into a sinus of Valsalva or aortic root. We report a case of stent protrusion into the aortic root following aorto-ostial left main coronary artery PCI, in which three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) provided incremental benefit over standard two-dimensional images. Specifically, 3DTEE confirmed the presence of stent protrusion by allowing clear visualization of the stent scaffold, in addition to characterizing the relationship between the stent and surrounding structures.

Assessment of migrated foreign bodies in the maxillae by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

Two cases of foreign bodies that were incidentally observed on orthopantomographs are reported in this study. The foreign bodies were analyzed using an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer to identify what the migrated foreign bodies were and what migration pathways they had taken. The removed metallic foreign bodies from the maxillae of 2 patients, who were referred to the Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery of the University of Fukui Hospital, were analyzed using an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer in the Department of Dental and Biomedical Materials Science, Nagasaki University. The major component of foreign body in patient 1 was silver, and that in case 2 was iron. On the basis of the imaging results and the patients' clinical history, the foreign bodies were considered to be caused by iatrogenic migration. Understanding the existence of foreign bodies and their migration pathway into the jaw bone can thus make clinicians more aware of such migrations and can thereby contribute to reducing iatrogenic accidents.

Laparoscopic assessment of a migrated ventriculoperitoneal shunt into an inguinal hernia.

Placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt may increase intraabdominal pressure and lead to an abdominal or genitourinary complication. We report on a 2-month-old boy with complex congenital neurologic and cardiac anomalies who had a VP shunt migrate into the left inguinal hernia. This report demonstrates how a laparoscopic approach can be successfully used to reposition the VP shunt, identify a contralateral inguinal hernia, and repair both without any additional incisions.

[Migration of a retained intra-abdominal foreign body into the colon]. / Migration eines intraoperativ belassenen Bauchtuches in das Kolon.

Even in the era of correct precautions and risk management culture adverse and preventable adverse events, such as intraoperatively residual foreign bodies remain a hot topic. Due to legal considerations and possible image loss many cases may remain unpublished leading to an underestimation of the real incidence in literature. The following casuistic is an example for a rarely documented and in this case a partial migration of a retained surgical sponge into the colon. The causes for the delayed foreign body detection, accounting for the relative good health even during chemoradiotherapy are analyzed in order to sharpen the awareness of such serious complications.

Polyflex self-expanding, removable plastic stents: assessment of treatment efficacy and safety in a variety of benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Historically, esophageal fistulas, perforations, and benign and malignant strictures have been managed surgically or with the placement of permanent endoprostheses or metallic stents. Recently, a removable, self-expanding, plastic stent has become available. The authors investigated the use of this new stent at their institution. METHODS: The study reviewed all the patients who received a Polyflex stent for an esophageal indication at the authors' institution between January 2004 and October 2006. Duration of placement, complications, and treatment efficacy were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 37 stents were placed in 30 patients (14 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 68 years (range, 28-92 years). Stent placement included 7 for fistulas, 3 for perforations, 1 for an anastomotic leak, 7 for malignant strictures, and 19 for benign strictures (8 anastomotic, 1 caustic, 5 reflux, 2 radiation, and 2 autoimmune esophagitis strictures, and 1 post-Nissen gas bloat stricture). The mean follow-up period was 6 months. Stent deployment was successful for all the patients, and no complications resulted from stent placement or removal. Nine stents migrated spontaneously. Three of three perforations and three of five fistulas sealed. Only one stent was removed because of patient discomfort. One patient with a radiation stricture experienced tracheoesophageal fistulas secondary to pressure necrosis. Of 20 patients with stricture, 18 experienced improvement in their dysphagia. CONCLUSION: Self-expanding, removable plastic stents are easily and safely placed and removed from the esophagus. This has facilitated their use in the authors' institution for an increasing number of esophageal conditions. Further studies to help define their ultimate role in benign and malignant esophageal pathology are warranted.

Objective assessment of the quality of vision before and after repositioning of a dislocated iris-fixated aphakic anterior chamber lens.

PURPOSE: To document severe visual symptoms due to the dislocation of an iris-fixated aphakic anterior chamber lens using wavefront aberrometry. METHODS: A patient complaining of severe visual blur and distortion due to a decentered Artisan iris-fixated anterior chamber lens was evaluated pre- and postoperatively after recentration. The patient underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation including the measurement of corneal topography and wavefront aberrations using the NIDEK OPD-Scan. OPD Station software was used to correlate and simulate the patient's symptoms. RESULTS: After the repositioning procedure, the visual symptoms resolved, and high magnitudes of tilt (7.536 microm) and high order aberrations (5.129 microm) were dramatically reduced by simple lens repositioning (4.40-mm pupil). The cylinder magnitude was reduced from 6.25 to 0.75 diopters. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first diagnostic images of this kind in a highly aberrated eye with iris-fixated anterior chamber lens dislocation. The images documented the optical effect and visual consequences of IOL decentration and subsequent recentration.

Late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation: incidence, prevention, and management.

Dislocation of an intraocular lens (IOL) with the capsular bag is a late complication of cataract surgery, reported with increasing frequency in recent years. Pseudoexfoliation, uveitis, myopia, and other diseases associated with progressive zonular weakening and capsular contraction are the predisposing conditions. Capsular tension rings probably help but do not prevent this complication. Management includes IOL exchange, replacement with an anterior or a sutured posterior chamber IOL, or suturing the IOL through the bag to the iris or the sclera.

Experience with a new flexible hysteroscope.

This is a report of our experience with a new flexible fibroscope, the CHF P 10. We performed more than 50 diagnostic endoscopies and 28 operative procedures. It is extremely practical to perform diagnostic and operative procedures at the same time if necessary. The major advantages of the new fibroscope are its diameter (4.9 mm), flexibility and bendable tip (260 degrees range). This permits a substantial decrease in cervical dilatation and use of anesthesia. Because of this, hospitalization costs decrease and the safety of surgical procedures is increased.