Abdominal Wall Actinomycosis Associated with Foreign Body Perforation.

Abdominal wall actinomycosis is a very rare infection caused by anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria Actinomyces. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with chronic pain located in the right hypochondriac region and anterior abdominal wall mass which had developed six months before. An ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen were performed and showed an inflammatory change with a strong internal linear reflection in the right upper abdomen. The tumor was located inside the rectus abdominis muscle and connected with internal organs and subcutaneous tissue. The patient qualified for surgery. En block tumor excision was made with partial resection of the transverse colon. Postoperative study revealed fishbone-associated inflammatory actinomycosis tumor. The patient was successfully managed postoperatively with penicillin and discharged on the 11th day after the surgery.

An audit of the cervical screening programme in the National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC).

BACKGROUND: Women diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs) have higher rates of major medical conditions compared to women without SUDs. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20-39 years worldwide and women with SUDs have an increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women without SUD. The National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC) cervical screening programme, derived from the national CervicalCheck programme, offers free cervical screening to patients attending for treatment of SUDs. AIMS: This study aimed to audit adherence to the NDTC Cervical Screening guidelines before and after the implementation of an awareness-raising educational intervention. METHODS: The electronic clinical records of women aged between 25 and 60 years attending the lead consultant's (M.S.) outpatient clinic were reviewed for documentary evidence indicating that information about the cervical screening programme had been discussed. This was completed before and one month after the implementation of an awareness-raising educational intervention. RESULTS: All women (n = 46, mean age 36.3 (SD = 6.5) years) had an opioid use disorder; 85% had a benzodiazepine use disorder, and 24% had an alcohol use disorder. Of these, 80% had at least one chronic medical condition, 76% had a psychiatric disorder, and 59% were homeless. Adherence to the NDTC cervical screening guideline, as indicated by documentary evidence in clinical records, was 33% (14/43) at baseline, and rose to 88% (36/41) (p < 0.0001) one month after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This completed audit cycle shows that an awareness-raising educational intervention can significantly improve adherence to a cervical screening programme in women with SUDs.

Surgical treatment of haemorrhoidal disease - the current situation in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: In cases of haemorrhoidal disease resistant to conservative treatment, surgical treatment is necessary to relieve the symptoms. AIM: To investigate the current methods used by Polish surgeons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surveys were distributed to members of the Association of Polish Surgeons (APS), in which participants were asked a number of closed-ended questions regarding haemorrhoidal disease and the way they treated suffering patients. RESULTS: Out of the 1523 members of APS who received questionnaires, responses were received from 807 (52.9%) members. The Milligan-Morgan technique was indicated by 72.5% of surgeons as a leading surgical treatment, followed by Ligasure (15.5%), Ferguson (3.5%), DGHL (3.5%), other methods (3.5%), Parks (1.7%), and Longo (0%). The majority of participants (93%) indicated from 0 to 1 life threatening complications, 5% - from 2 to 3, and 2% > 4. A total of 83% of participants use a single dose of antibiotics prior to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The Milligan-Morgan technique is the preferred method. The majority of procedures are performed in regional hospitals and university departments, and less commonly in private practices. The vast majority of surgeons in Poland are not convinced about the stapler technique, justifying this fact with the possibility of developing serious complications.