{"title":"A simple trick for supinated hand positioning during hand surgery.","authors":"M A Imam, C Hutton","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2024.0118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2024.0118","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Massive simple hepatic cyst triggered sudden cardiac arrest in a middle-aged, female patient due to compression of the right heart.","authors":"F Dimek, M Williams, K Nelson, J J French","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2024.0108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2024.0108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liver cysts are common, often remain clinically silent and need treatment only if symptoms occur. A 65-year-old woman presented with abdominal bloating and swelling due to a massive liver cyst (190×210mm). Urgent surgical treatment (laparoscopic deroofing) was planned. Before the surgical date the patient suffered a nonfatal cardiac arrest, likely due to a cardiac compression by the cyst. This is a rare case of a liver cyst causing a very serious cardiac adverse event. Pre-event, there were no signs of cardiac decompensation. We want to highlight the importance of early surgical treatment of large liver cysts, even in patients with mild symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P Janardhanan, A Khalid, M H Anwaar, R Williams, E Timms, S Ward, S Karandikar, M Dattani
{"title":"The 'hub' model for colorectal surgery: a viable paradigm shift?","authors":"P Janardhanan, A Khalid, M H Anwaar, R Williams, E Timms, S Ward, S Karandikar, M Dattani","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2024.0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2024.0003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nationally, in the aftermath of the first COVID-19 lockdown, the waiting list for elective surgery is approximately 7 million. To ameliorate an evolving crisis and improve system resilience, the Royal College of Surgeons of England proposed a 'New Deal for Surgery', promoting COVID-light sites and elective hubs. We evaluate the short-term outcomes, safety and sustainability of the hub model at a large National Health Service trust.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All major elective colorectal operations performed at the hub between 8 March 2021 and 8 March 2022 were included for analysis. Pertinent data on patient demographics, operative performance and postoperative outcomes were analysed using SPSS 27.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 401 cases were analysed. There was one same-day cancellation because of the unavailability of beds (0.2%). Median distance displacement for patients for their primary surgery was +3.2 miles. Twenty-one patients (5.2%) required postoperative blood transfusion. One patient had nosocomial COVID-19 (0.2%), severe complications of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 were observed in 33 patient (8.2%) and transfer-out for higher level care occurred in 34 cases (8.5%). Forty-six 30-day readmissions (11.5%) and two deaths (0.4%) were noted. Median length of stay was 6 days.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The volume of major colorectal surgery at the hub, with acceptable incidence of major complication, transfer-out and minimal patient displacement, attests to the efficacy and safety of the new model.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A systematic review of patient and clinician experiences of bariatric tourism.","authors":"C Carey, S James, S Jaunoo","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2025.0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although bariatric surgery is highly cost effective, accessing this treatment in the UK and other western nations is often challenging. Patients are therefore increasingly engaging in bariatric health tourism despite its associated risks and warnings from health institutions. A systematic review was performed to assess the reasons why patients are travelling abroad for surgery and common practices among bariatric tourism service providers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medline and PubMed were searched for articles analysing the experiences of patients and service providers. Articles published in English between 2010 and 2023 were considered and seven were included for review after title, abstract and full text analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four studies assessing patients' experiences and outcomes following bariatric tourism and three examining the perspectives of bariatric service providers were reviewed. Patients across the studies were mostly from western Europe, North America and the Middle East. The most common reasons for pursuing bariatric tourism were a lack of bariatric service provision in patients' home nations, high costs of surgery in the private sector and long waiting times. Examples of practice outside the scope of most internationally recognised guidelines were identified across multiple studies, especially regarding patients' pre-operative optimisation and follow-up. The studies therefore suggest that bariatric tourism may lead to significant health risks and issues that need managing once patients return home.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Bariatric tourism is a common practice with significant associated risks. The reasons underpinning its appeal however, reflect genuine problems with accessing bariatric services and a lack of pre-operative education and optimisation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Q Al Banna, H Lalgudi Srinivasan, J C Knight, M Samuel, I Bodi, K Ashkan
{"title":"Fatigue fracture of a DBS extension cable: a pictorial review.","authors":"Q Al Banna, H Lalgudi Srinivasan, J C Knight, M Samuel, I Bodi, K Ashkan","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2025.0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead hardware complications are quite uncommon. They are observed more with tremor and dystonia patients due to constant strain on the neck region. However, occurrence of such complication over a two-decade period has not been reported. Twenty years after DBS implantation, a patient presented with a wear and tear fracture in the extension cable, which we describe as a fatigue fracture of the extension cable. Delayed hardware complications following DBS implantation is an under-reported entity due to follow-up compliance over the long term. Reporting such complications is essential to understand the durability of the hardware, and to anticipate and manage implant failure.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Utilising tracking technology to reduce the financial and patient care impact of lost ear, nose and throat equipment.","authors":"J Bass, M Patel, K Kapoor","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2025.0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The effective treatment of a patient in a timely manner requires specialist equipment, including in ear, nose and throat (ENT) services, where orifices require careful inspection. Otoscopy, flexible nasendoscopy, peritonsillar abscess drainage and nasal cautery are all common practices and cannot be successfully completed without the necessary equipment. These tasks all require expensive equipment that can easily be misplaced in a busy hospital. A paucity of equipment can delay patient assessment and negatively impact treatment, as well as reduce clinician efficiency and effectiveness. Here, we investigate the impact of equipment loss, and discuss a cost-effective solution to the problem.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We surveyed ENT departments from 15 different trusts on how equipment loss impacted their patients, staff and their department financially. We also calculated the cost of equipment lost in our department over the course of a year. We subsequently placed trackers on our equipment and calculated the cost of lost equipment after 12 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 15 trusts surveyed, 13 responded. Our survey demonstrated the average cost of lost items to be more than £4,900 per department, with concurrent delays in treatment and a reduction in patient-facing time. No equipment was lost after the trackers were placed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The use of commercially available tracking technology can help reduce the amount of time taken to locate equipment, prevent incurring higher costs and, most importantly, improve patient safety, with an estimated return on investment of more than 3000% and an increase in direct clinical care simultaneously.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Longitudinal studies on interdisciplinary teaching models incorporating plastic surgery.","authors":"N Sivathasan, B Robertson","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2025.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L R Hector, N To, A E Leusink, D Elfadl, V Voynov, N Roche, J E Rusby
{"title":"Effect of drain omission after mastectomy on cosmesis, patient satisfaction and interval to adjuvant therapy.","authors":"L R Hector, N To, A E Leusink, D Elfadl, V Voynov, N Roche, J E Rusby","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2024.0104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2024.0104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Omission of closed suction drains in women undergoing simple mastectomy has become the standard in the United Kingdom (UK) with studies demonstrating no difference in symptomatic seroma rates or complications. A theoretical concern is that a large-volume seroma distorts the skin envelope, potentially resulting in inferior long-term postoperative aesthetic appearance and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the seroma may lead to a delay in adjuvant treatment, in particular, chest wall radiotherapy. There is currently no objective scoring system to evaluate the postoperative appearance after simple mastectomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients who had undergone a drainless unilateral simple mastectomy at the Royal Marsden Hospital attending for annual surveillance contralateral mammography between October 2016 and July 2017 were invited to complete a BREAST-Q questionnaire and attend medical photography for panel assessment of aesthetic outcome. Patient satisfaction in this cohort was compared with results from the UK National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit (NMBRA) 2011, which was conducted at a time when surgical drains were routinely placed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of patients satisfied with their appearance was similar to that of NMBRA 2011. BREAST-Q results were in line with the published literature. A panel assessment scoring system for simple mastectomies was developed. There was no difference in delays to adjuvant treatment between the study and NMBRA cohort.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Omission of drains in women undergoing simple mastectomy did not result in inferior aesthetic outcomes or lower patient satisfaction, nor did it result in delay to adjuvant treatment. BREAST-Q results were in line with the literature. A panel assessment scoring system for simple mastectomy was developed.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Gopal, U Ibrahim, I Salphale, M Mostafizur, S Walker, M Clement, D Macafee, A Patel, R Balu, K S Eswaravaka Sudha Radha
{"title":"Hurdles to boys with acute scrotal pain being evaluated and treated in district general hospitals: we are not Getting It Right the First Time yet.","authors":"M Gopal, U Ibrahim, I Salphale, M Mostafizur, S Walker, M Clement, D Macafee, A Patel, R Balu, K S Eswaravaka Sudha Radha","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2024.0078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2024.0078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Testicular torsion is a time-critical emergency, though its incidence in the paediatric age group is relatively rare. Changes in training pathways have led to a decreasing number of adult general surgical and urological trainees being comfortable in performing an emergency scrotal exploration in children, resulting in children being transferred to regional units with the requisite expertise. This delay has been shown to increase the risk of orchidectomy. There is, therefore, an increased emphasis on the diagnostic evaluation of these children by emergency department staff.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We explore how lack of experience and availability of appropriate investigations led to transfer of children presenting to a district general hospital in the North East of England.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children with true testicular torsion in this cohort had an unacceptably high rate of needing an orchidectomy (∼67%) compared with the reported incidence of orchidectomy with testicular torsion (∼20%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We offer potential solutions to the hurdles that have to be overcome to improve this service. This will align the service to the recently published Get It Right First Time report on the management of testicular torsion in children and young adults and is within the remit of Operational Delivery Networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Management of persistent postoperative wound leakage after total hip and knee arthroplasty: a regional perspective in the north west of England.","authors":"M Choi, A Wheelton, T Naylor","doi":"10.1308/rcsann.2025.0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2025.0002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There is a well-documented association between persistent wound drainage and the development of prosthetic joint infections in total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite this, there are no national clinical guidelines in the United Kingdom on the diagnosis or management of postoperative wound drainage. We aimed to evaluate what variability exists within clinical practice in the recognition and treatment of persistent wound leakage following THA and TKA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An anonymous online survey consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions was distributed among hip and knee arthroplasty consultants in the north west of England. Topics covered in the questionnaire included definition, diagnosis, classification, timing and treatment of persistent wound drainage.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve orthopaedic centres across the region participated in data collection. A total of 65 consultants completed the questionnaire. Some 45% of respondents used a definition of persistent wound leakage after arthroplasty, which ranged from drainage beyond 48h to that lasting more than 2 weeks. Only 54% of consultants reported having a monitoring system in place for patients with persistent wound drainage after discharge from hospital. There was wide variation in the preferred timing of initiating both non-operative and surgical management of wound leakage, as well as different treatment modalities used. Most respondents rated C-reactive protein as the most useful serological marker in aiding decision making.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results demonstrate a lack of concurrence in the recognition and management of postoperative wound drainage. Formal national clinical guidelines are necessary to standardise practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":8088,"journal":{"name":"Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}