Colonic stenting in acute malignant large bowel obstruction: audit of efficacy and safety in a Singapore tertiary referral centre.

Introduction: Acute malignant large bowel obstruction (MBO) occurs in 8%-15% of colorectal cancer patients. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) have progressed from a palliative modality to use as bridge to surgery (BTS). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of SEMS for MBO in our institution. Methods: The data of patients undergoing SEMS insertion for MBO were reviewed. Technical success was defined as successful SEMS deployment across tumour without complications. Clinical success was defined as colonic decompression without requiring further surgical intervention. Rates of complications, median time to surgery, types of surgery and rates of recurrence were studied. Results: Seventy-nine patients underwent emergent SEMS placement from September 2013 to February 2020. Their mean age was 68.8 ± 13.8 years and 43 (54%) patients were male. Mean tumour length was 4.2 cm ± 2.2 cm; 89.9% of malignant strictures were located distal to the splenic flexure. Technical and clinical success was 94.9% and 98.7%, respectively. Perforation occurred in 5.1% of patients, with none having stent migration or bleeding. Fifty (63.3%) patients underwent SEMS insertion as BTS. Median time to surgery was 20 (range 6-57) days. Most (82%) patients underwent minimally invasive surgery. Primary anastomosis rate was 98%. Thirty-nine patients had follow-up beyond 1-year posttreatment (median 34 months). Local recurrence and distant metastasis were observed in 4 (10.3%) and 5 (12.8%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: Insertion of SEMS for acute MBO has high success rates and a good safety profile. Most patients in this audit underwent minimally invasive surgery and primary anastomosis after successful BTS.

Management of malignant colonic polyps.

With the implementation of colorectal cancer screening programs, there has been an increasing incidence of malignant colonic polyps (MP). The attending surgeon is often faced with the management dilemma of whether polypectomy can be considered adequate treatment or if formal oncological resection is required. While endoscopic therapy avoids the risks and morbidity of surgery, there is a potential trade-off of under-staging and inadequate treatment. Surgery, on the other hand confers the benefits of clear resection margins, nodal staging and the ability to prognosticate and guide the decision for adjuvant therapy. This article sets out to review the histopathologic prognostic factors of MP and the various management and surveillance strategies.

Correction to: Prevalence of colorectal cancer in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis and the role of the interval colonoscopy.

The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained errors. The first and family names of the authors were interchanged. The correct author names are now correctly presented in this article. The original article has been corrected.].

Prevalence of colorectal cancer in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis and the role of the interval colonoscopy.

PURPOSE: Although computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing colonic diverticulitis today, there remains a risk of colorectal cancer mimicking diverticulitis due to overlapping imaging features. Current practice guidelines recommend interval colonoscopy after diverticulitis to exclude occult malignancy. Some authors have suggested that this may be unnecessary in patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. The aim of our study was to examine the prevalence of occult colorectal cancer in patients with CT-proven acute uncomplicated diverticulitis in an Asian population. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients admitted for CT-proven acute uncomplicated diverticulitis between 2007 and 2011 in a single institution. Colonoscopy and histopathology reports were reviewed for patients who underwent interval colonic evaluation. For patients who defaulted follow-up, national health records were reviewed for any subsequent diagnoses of colorectal cancer. The primary outcome was prevalence of colorectal cancer in the cohort. Secondary outcome was prevalence of advanced adenomas. RESULTS: A total of 227 patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis were included in our study. One hundred and thirty-five patients (59.5%) underwent follow-up colonic evaluation. The overall prevalence of colorectal cancer was 1.8%, with half these patients presenting with acute colonic obstruction after defaulting follow-up evaluation. Of the patients, 1.5% who underwent colonoscopy had advanced adenomas. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of colorectal cancer in patients with CT-proven acute uncomplicated diverticulitis may not be as low as previously suggested. We recommend that patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis continue to be offered interval colonoscopy until larger studies demonstrate the safety of omission.

Perforated diverticulitis: is the right and left difference present here too?

BACKGROUND: It is unclear if location of disease matters in perforated diverticulitis. Management guidelines for perforated diverticulitis currently do not make a distinction between right perforated diverticulitis (RPD) and left perforated diverticulitis (LPD). We aim to compare disease presentation and management outcomes between RPD and LPD. METHODS: This was a 10-year retrospective comparative cohort study of 99 patients with acute perforated diverticulitis between 2004 and 2013 in a single institution. Patients were divided into RPD and LPD groups based on location of disease and compared. Disease presentation was compared using modified Hinchey classification. Management outcomes assessed were failure of therapy, length of stay, mortality, surgical complications, and disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was performed using Student's t test and χ2 test where appropriate. RESULTS: RPD patients were younger (45.7 ± 16.1 versus 58.3 ± 14.7 years) and presented with lower modified Hinchey stage and no Hinchey IV diverticulitis when compared to LPD (14.3% Hinchey III versus 44.0% Hinchey III or IV). Conservative management of Hinchey I and II RPD and LPD was similarly successful (96.1 versus 96.5%), although RPD patients had shorter inpatient stay (4.6 ± 2.2 versus 6.3 ± 3.8 days) and less disease recurrence (3.1 versus 17.9%). Ten (20.4%) Hinchey I and II RPD patients were initially misdiagnosed with appendicitis and underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: LPD is a more aggressive disease presenting with greater clinical severity in older patients and is associated with frequent disease recurrence when treated conservatively. Misdiagnosis of RPD as appendicitis is common and may lead to unnecessary surgery.

The use of massive transfusion protocol for trauma and non-trauma patients in a civilian setting: what can be done better?

INTRODUCTION: Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) is increasingly used in civilian trauma cases to achieve better haemostatic resuscitation in patients requiring massive blood transfusions (MTs), with improved survival outcomes. However, in non-trauma patients, evidence for MTP is lacking. This study aims to assess the outcomes of a newly established MTP in a civilian setting, for both trauma and non-trauma patients, in an acute surgical care unit. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 46 patients for whom MTP was activated in Changi General Hospital, Singapore. The patients were categorised into trauma and non-trauma groups. Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) score was used to identify MTP trauma patients and analyse over-activation rates. RESULTS: Only 39.1% of all cases with MTP activation eventually received MTs; 39.8% of the MTs were for non-trauma patients. Mean fresh frozen plasma to packed red blood cells (pRBC) ratio achieved with MTP was 0.741, while mean platelet to pRBC ratio was 0.213. The 24-hour mortality rate for all patients who received an MT upon MTP activation was 33.3% (trauma vs. non-trauma group: 45.5% vs. 14.3%). The ABC scoring system used for trauma patients had a sensitivity and specificity of 81.8% and 41.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MTP may be used for both trauma and non-trauma patients in acute care surgery. Scoring systems to predict the need for an MT, improved compliance to predefined transfusion ratios and regular reviews of the MTP are necessary to optimise MTPs and to improve the outcomes of patients receiving MTs.

Can venous base excess replace arterial base excess as a marker of early shock and a predictor of survival in trauma?

INTRODUCTION: Arterial base excess is an established marker of shock and predictor of survival in trauma patients. However, venous blood is more quickly and easily obtained. This study aimed to determine if venous base excess could replace arterial base excess as a marker in trauma patients at presentation and if venous base excess is predictive of survival at 24 hours and one week. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 394 trauma patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital over a 17-month period. Data on base excess at presentation, vital signs, shock index (SI), injury severity score (ISS), and mortality at 24 hours and one week was collected and analysed. RESULTS: Arterial and venous blood gas tests were performed on 260 and 134 patients, respectively. Patients were stratified into groups based on their SI and ISS for analysis. There was no statistical difference between mean venous blood gas and arterial blood gas levels at presentation when SI > 0.7, regardless of ISS (p > 0.05). The mortality rate was 4.57%. Both venous and arterial base excess was lower in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (p < 0.05). However, at 24 hours and one week, the difference in base excess values at presentation between survivors and nonsurvivors was greater when using venous base excess compared to arterial base excess (11.53 vs. 4.28 and 11.41 vs. 2.66, respectively). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, venous base excess can replace arterial base excess in trauma patients as a means of identifying and prognosticating early shock.

Open Thrombectomy for Primary Acute Mesentericoportal Venous Thrombosis--Should It Be Done?

Mesentericoportal venous thrombosis (MVT) is a rare condition, accounting for 5-15% of acute mesenteric ischemia. Primary MVT is even rarer, with some reports quoting an incidence rate of 10-30% of reported cases. It presents a diagnostic challenge and is associated with a significant mortality rate, ranging from 13% to 50%. As it is an uncommon condition, the evidence in current literature regarding the treatment of MVT is limited. We discuss our surgical experience with a case of acute primary MVT that was managed with good clinical outcome and discuss the current evidence for the treatment of acute MVT. A 50-year-old Chinese lady with no significant past medical history presented with a 2-day history of abdominal pain and epigastric tenderness on examination. Computed tomography of her abdomen and pelvis showed evidence of extensive acute thrombi present in portal confluence extending into the superior mesenteric vein, associated with submucosal edema in some central jejunal loops. Despite systemic anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin, the patient deteriorated clinically, and decision was made for an exploratory laparotomy, small bowel resection, and open thrombectomy. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. She was discharged on postoperative day 13 with lifelong oral anticoagulation. In conclusion, we describe the successful management of a patient with extensive acute primary MVT where open thrombectomy was performed together with small bowel resection.

Laparoscopic management of complicated foreign body ingestion: a case series.

This study aims to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic management of complicated foreign body (FB) ingestion in a series of 5 patients. We present the merits of a minimally-invasive approach in this clinical setting from our series as well as published case reports. FB ingestion is occasionally complicated by abscess formation or perforation, requiring surgical intervention. Anecdotal reports of such cases managed by laparoscopic surgery have alluded to its merits over the conventional approach of open surgery. Over an 18-month period, 5 of 256 patients with FB ingestion at our unit were managed by laparoscopic surgery. Clinical and operative data were collected for this study. In all 5 cases, patients could not recall their FB ingestion and had normal plain radiographs. The diagnosis was made on a computed tomography (CT) scan. Laparoscopy was successfully employed to retrieve all FBs (fish bones), deroof abscesses, and primarily repair gastrointestinal perforations. The mean operative time was 69 minutes (55-85), utilizing 2 to 4 noncamera ports. There was no operative mortality and patients were discharged on average postoperative day (POD) 5 (2-8). Laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible in small-diameter, complicated FB ingestion requiring surgical intervention and should be considered in similar patients.

Bone bruise patterns in knee injuries: where are they found?

PURPOSE: Bone bruise represents an entity of occult bone lesions that can occur in the knee, causing knee pain and tenderness clinically. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and pattern of bone bruising seen in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury cohort, the non-ACL injury cohort, and between both cohorts. METHODS: We reviewed 710 knee magnetic resonance imagings performed over a 6-month period. Eighty-eight patients with prior history of a knee injury were identified. The mechanism of injury and other clinical findings was noted. RESULTS: Among these 88 patients, 58 patients had an associated ACL injury (31 had isolated ACL injuries; 27 had combined ACL and other ligamentous injuries). Among the 30 who had non-ACL injuries, 15 had either an MCL, LCL, or PCL injury. The remaining 15 patients had no associated ligament injury. With an ACL injury, the most common bone bruise sites are the lateral femur (74%) and lateral tibia (64%). Without an ACL injury, the pattern of bruising was more common in the lateral femur (69%) and medial tibia (37%). CONCLUSION: Bone bruises are important as previous studies have shown that they can cause persistent knee pain. Our study has shown that there are differences in pattern of bone bruising in knee injuries with or without ACL injuries.

An observational, prospective study to determine the ease of vascular access in adults using a novel intraosseous access device.

INTRODUCTION: Intraosseous access is an alternative to conventional intravenous access when access is difficult or impossible in the adult population. The EZ-IO is a novel intraosseous access device designed for use in adults, utilising a powered driver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study involving a convenience sample of 25 medical students, physicians and nursing staff recruited as study subjects to secure intraosseous access using the EZIO powered drill device, on a bone model. RESULTS: Twenty-three (92%) of the 25 study subjects required only 1 attempt at placing the EZ-IO. There were 24 (96%) successful placements of the EZ-IO. The average time taken to place the EZ-IO was 13.9 seconds. Twenty (87%) of 23 participants reported easier placement with the EZ-IO than an intravenous cannula. The average time taken for the physicians, nursing staff and medical students was 3.71 (+/- SD 1.70) seconds, 7.88 (+/- SD 4.02) seconds and 33.7 (24.5), respectively. Overall mean difficulty of insertion score (VAS) was 3.1 (+/- SD 1.9). CONCLUSION: The intraosseous access device evaluated in this study appears to be easy to use with high success rates of insertion with inexperienced participants. There is potential for use in the Emergency Department.

Managing breast cancer diagnosed in first trimester pregnancy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in pregnant women, occurring at a rate of about 1 in 3000 pregnancies. Unfortunately, this will sometimes occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and this situation warrants discussion of management options with regard to the mother and child, especially with the current trend of deferring child bearing to a later age. CLINICAL PICTURE: We present a 34-year-old primigravida who had a breast lump prior to confirmation of her pregnancy and received her diagnosis of invasive breast cancer at 7 weeks' amenorrhoea. The oncologic management options of this pregnant patient with breast cancer are discussed. TREATMENT: The patient eventually opted to undergo wide excision of the breast cancer with sentinel lymph node biopsy and possible axillary clearance together with termination of her pregnancy. RESULTS: The patient successfully underwent surgery for her breast cancer and was subsequently treated with adjuvant therapy as per normal protocol for a non-pregnant patient. CONCLUSION: The management of breast cancer and pregnancy occurring concurrently is a complex problem fraught with many dilemmas for both the medical team, the patient and her family. The option chosen must involve a multidisciplinary team and have full informed consent of the patient.