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Biomedical subjects

B I Rees

Publications and source records attributed to B I Rees.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effectiveness of preoperative staging in rectal cancer: digital rectal examination, endoluminal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging?

In rectal cancer, preoperative staging should identify early tumours suitable for treatment by surgery alone and locally advanced tumours that require therapy to induce tumour regression from the potential resection margin. Currently, local staging can be performed by digital rectal examination (DRE), endoluminal ultrasound (EUS) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each staging method was compared for clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness. The accuracy of high-resolution MRI, DRE and EUS in identifying favourable, unfavourable and locally advanced rectal carcinomas in 98 patients undergoing total mesorectal excision was compared prospectively against the resection specimen pathological as the gold standard. Agreement between each staging modality with pathology assessment of tumour favourability was calculated with the chance-corrected agreement given as the kappa statistic, based on marginal homogenised data. Differences in effectiveness of the staging modalities were compared with differences in costs of the staging modalities to generate cost effectiveness ratios. Agreement between staging and histologic assessment of tumour favourability was 94% for MRI (kappa=0.81, s.e.=0.05; kappa(W)=0.83), compared with very poor agreements of 65% for DRE (kappa=0.08, s.e.=0.068, kappa(W)=0.16) and 69% for EUS (kappa=0.17, s.e.=0.065, kappa(W)=0.17). The resource benefits resulting from the use of MRI rather than DRE was 67164 UK pounds and 92244 UK pounds when MRI was used rather than EUS. Magnetic resonance imaging dominated both DRE and EUS on cost and clinical effectiveness by selecting appropriate patients for neoadjuvant therapy and justifies its use for local staging of rectal cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Skill transfer from virtual reality to a real laparoscopic task.

BACKGROUND: To validate the usefulness of virtual reality surgical simulators, we investigated the transfer of skills achieved by their use to real tasks. METHODS: Thirty medical students underwent a pretest using a real laparoscopic trainer. They were then randomized to the following three groups: group I received no training; group II received training using the Minimal Invasive Surgical Trainer in Virtual Reality (MIST-VR); and group III received training using conventional training exercises. Each group then underwent a posttest. Using the Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device (ICSAD), scores were generated for time taken, distance traveled, number of movements made, and speed of instrument movement. RESULTS: Significant changes between the MIST-VR group (group II) and the conventionally trained group (group III), were observed in the speed of movement of the left hand and the numbers of movements taken by each hand, when compared to the untrained group (group I). CONCLUSION: The training of novices using MIST-VR yields quantifiable changes in skill that are transferable to a simple real task and are similar to the results achieved with conventional training.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2000

The role of simulation in surgical training.

Surgical training has undergone many changes in the last decade. One outcome of these changes is the interest that has been generated in the possibility of training surgical skills outside the operating theatre. Simulation of surgical procedures and human tissue, if perfect, would allow complete transfer of techniques learnt in a skills laboratory directly to the operating theatre. Several techniques of simulation are available including artificial tissues, animal models and virtual reality computer simulation. Each is discussed in this article and their advantages and disadvantages considered.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1999

Outcome of oesophagogastric carcinoma in young patients.

The survival of young patients (< or = 50 years of age) with carcinoma of the oesophagus or stomach has been reported to be poorer than that of their older counterparts. The aim of the current study was to review the outcome of such young patients with oesophagogastric cancer and to compare the outcome in patients with carcinoma of the oesophagus/cardia with patients with carcinoma of the more distal stomach. The study population was 50 patients. Tumour location was oesophagus/cardia (n = 33) and gastric body/antrum (n = 17). The most common presenting symptoms were weight loss (66%), epigastric pain (54%), dysphagia (50%), and heartburn (40%). Seventeen patients had experienced foregut symptoms for a period of > or = 6 months. These patients were more likely to have symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and to have received acid suppression therapy than patients with shorter symptom durations. Only 20 patients underwent a potentially curative resection, while 10 underwent open and close laparotomy. The overall median survival was 7 months and the 5-year survival was 8%. Multivariate analysis revealed that surgical resection and UICC stage were the only factors that significantly influenced survival. There was no difference in the survival of patients with proximally situated tumours compared to those with distally located tumours. Wide variations in clinical practice were seen between different surgeons. Consequently, a multidisciplinary team designed to manage all patients with oesophagogastric cancer according to nationally agreed protocols has been established in our hospital. Earlier diagnosis of these tumours is to be encouraged, even if this necessitates the more liberal use of endoscopy in the evaluation of young patients with persistent foregut symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Handwashing: simple, but effective.

Using ward rounds in the department of surgery at a major teaching hospital, and with the help of the preregistration house officers (PRHO), we assessed whether the lesson taught to us by Semmelweis had been forgotten. We asked the PHROs to count the number of patients examined by their consultant or registrar on a ward round, together with the number of wounds examined, and the number of times they washed their hands between patients. Over a 2-week period, following seven consultants and four registrars, 26 ward rounds were followed. Of 239 patient events, which are defined as a clinician reviewing a patient in order to assess their treatment, a total of 88 involved an examination (37%) and, of these, 41 had postoperative wounds (47%). The number of times clinicians washed their hands between examinations was 36 (41%). Between the two groups of clinicians, the consultants washed their hands 30 times in 55 examinations (55%), while the registrars washed their hands six times in 23 examinations (26%). When Semmelweis died in 1865 his beliefs were still largely ignored by clinicians. It would seem from our results that in both senior and junior staff the simple exercise of handwashing is not practised de rigor. For the safety of the patient and the clinician we recommend a more fastidious adoption of the handwashing practice.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1998

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in multiple laparotomy Crohn's disease.

Patients with complicated Crohn's disease often require several surgical procedures resulting in multiple adhesions. They also have an increased incidence of gallstones. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with several advantages but is problematic for the inexperienced surgeon in the presence of multiple adhesions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed successfully in three patients with Crohn's disease who had previous extensive abdominal surgery. The average operative time was 75 min, with an average hospital stay of 2 days and minimal blood loss. There were no postoperative complications. Provided specific precautions are taken during establishment of the pneumoperitoneum, an adequate adhesiolysis can be performed, rendering laparoscopic cholecystectomy feasible and safe in such patients.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗
PubMed1998

Out-patient follow-up after routine surgery: a questionnaire study.

A questionnaire was sent to all consultant general surgeons and urologists in Wales to assess current practice in out-patient follow-up after surgery for nine commonly performed procedures. A further questionnaire was sent to a random sample of general practitioners in South Glamorgan to assess the possibility of GPs taking on responsibility for post-operative follow-up. This should, therefore, reduce the number of post-operative patients passing through the out-patient department. Of the 58 (77%) consultants who responded, the percentage who routinely followed up patients with at least one post-operative visit was calculated. Of the 33 (66%) GPs who responded the percentage who were prepared to take responsibility for post-operative follow-up was calculated for patients having the same operations. There was agreement and disagreement between consultants and GPs, but not distinct pattern emerged. A larger study must be performed before the out-patient department is rationalized using protocols based on this study.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1997

Liposarcoma: a review of current diagnosis and management.

Liposarcoma is an uncommon sarcoma. Its presentation can be deceptive, varying from innocuous to frank malignancy. Liposarcoma behaves differently from other sarcomas. This article highlights the key prognostic factors of liposarcoma, based on current literature, and suggests a plan of management.

Female↗
PubMed1996

A simplified and safe method of open gastrostomy.

The establishment of a gastrostomy by the percutaneous endoscopic route (PEG) is now accepted as a safe and easy procedure which can be performed under combined sedation and infiltration of local anaesthetic at the chosen site on the anterior abdominal wall. However, surgeons are still not infrequently called upon to perform an open gastrostomy in a selected group of patients, namely: (1) those with extensive laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours in whom it is impossible to pass even a paediatric gastroscope; (2) neonates with oesophageal atresia. Various forms of open gastrostomy have been described through the years. The Foley and dePezzer catheters are commonly used for such gastrostomies. These latex catheters are prone to problems such as tube migration (causing intestinal obstruction), fractures and balloon rupture. The mushroom catheter used in the PEG procedure is easier to manage and lasts longer without requiring replacement. It has a retaining disc at its skin exit site, preventing migration, and can also be closed to prevent leakage of gastric contents. We report a quick and easy way of performing an open gastrostomy utilizing the advantages of the mushroom catheter where the wound and the gastrostomy site are also separate.

Gastrostomy↗
PubMed1996

Contamination of evacuated pneumoperitoneum air following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: preliminary results from a prospective study.

A prospective microbiological analysis of evacuated pneumoperitoneum air in 20 patients following laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease is reported. In six patients (30%) a positive culture was obtained, out of which five had bowel derived organisms. Bile specimens taken at the same time as the air specimens were similarly cultured but failed to yield any organisms. There were no post-operative septic complications. There were no deaths. The initial results suggest that the evacuated peritoneal air is a potential source of contamination to the theatre staff and environment. This must be borne in mind when advocating laparoscopic procedures for treatment of high-risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Corrosive injuries of the oesophagus and stomach: experience in management at a regional paediatric centre.

In a 21-year period between June 1974 and May 1995, eight children required surgery for the treatment of complications after ingestion of corrosive substances. There were six oesophageal injuries due to alkali ingestion and two gastric injuries secondary to acid ingestion. Of those ingesting alkali, diagnosis of stricture was made at a mean of 28 days and all children underwent endoscopic dilatation with a mean of six treatments (range 2-13). Two children subsequently required oesophageal replacement and colonic interposition. One of the children ingesting acid presented as an emergency with peritonitis and required laparotomy at which partial gastrectomy and pyloroplasty were performed. The second child presented 3 weeks after ingestion with a gastric stricture and required gastrostomy. All children are currently alive and well and are asymptomatic. The details of management are discussed, together with a review of the literature.

Acids↗
PubMed1994

Long-term pain: less common after laparoscopic than open cholecystectomy.

Persistent symptoms after cholecystectomy are common, occurring in up to 40 per cent of patients. Severe pain persists in 10 per cent of cases. A total of 450 patients were studied, 200 after open cholecystectomy and 250 after the laparoscopic operation. Patient notes were reviewed and a postal questionnaire was circulated. Responses were obtained from 155 patients (77.5 per cent) undergoing open cholecystectomy and 205 (82.0 per cent) having the laparoscopic operation. Mean (s.d.) follow-up was 32(23) months after open cholecystectomy and 15(7) months after the laparoscopic procedure. Right upper quadrant pain was more common after open cholecystectomy (9.7 versus 3.4 per cent, P < 0.05). Indigestion and heartburn were equally prevalent in the two groups. Some 59.4 per cent of patients were free from symptoms after open cholecystectomy compared with 63.4 per cent following the laparoscopic operation; there was symptomatic improvement in 30.3 and 31.7 per cent respectively. Symptoms were the same or worse in 10.3 per cent of patients after open cholecystectomy compared with 4.9 per cent after the laparoscopic operation (P < 0.05). Patients report significantly less right upper quadrant pain after laparoscopic than after open cholecystectomy.

Cholecystectomy↗