Arun Ariyarathenam

Breast surgery using thoracic paravertebral blockade and sedation alone.

Introduction. Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) provides superior analgesia for breast surgery when used in conjunction with general anesthesia (GA). Although TPVB and GA are often combined, for some patients GA is either contraindicated or undesirable. We present a series of 28 patients who received a TPVB with sedation alone for breast cancer surgery. Methods. A target controlled infusion of propofol or remifentanil was used for conscious sedation. Ultrasound guided TPVB was performed at one, two, or three thoracic levels, using up to 30u2009mL of local anesthetic. If required, top-up local infiltration analgesia with prilocaine 0.5% was performed by the surgeon. Results. Most patients were elderly with significant comorbidities and had TPVB injections at just one level (54%). Patient choice and anxiety about GA were indications for TVPB in 9 patients (32%). Prilocaine top-up was required in four (14%) cases and rescue opiate analgesia in six (21%). Conclusions. Based on our technique and the outcome of the 28 patients studied, TPVB with sedation and ultrasound guidance appears to be an effective and reliable form of anesthesia for breast surgery. TPVB with sedation is a useful anesthetic technique for patients in which GA is undesirable or poses an unacceptable risk.

Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy Using the Modified Prolonged Prefiring Compression Technique Reduces Pancreatic Fistula

BACKGROUNDnPancreatic fistula (PF) is a common postoperative complication following distal pancreatectomy. The prolonged prefiring compression (PFC) technique to reduce PF has been described by Nakamura and colleagues in Japan. The present study assessed if this technique can be applied to the United Kingdom patient population in a tertiary referral center and replicate the low incidence of PF after the laparoscopic approach to distal pancreatectomy (Lap-DP).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThis is a retrospective study of all patients who underwent Lap-DP using the modified PFC technique by the senior author between June 2011 and July 2014. The modified PFC technique involved compression of the pancreatic parenchyma with an endo-stapler for a 3-minute period prior to firing and further 1-minute compression after firing prior to removal of the stapler, which is a small variant to the original technique of maintaining a 2-minute compression post firing.nnnRESULTSnTwenty patients (15 females; median age, 66 [range, 25-77] years) underwent Lap-DP using the PFC technique during the study period. Six patients had splenic-preserving Lap-DP. Median operating time was 240 minutes (range, 150-420 minutes) with a median length of hospital stay of 6 days (range, 3-22 days). Six patients (30%) developed Type A (biochemically noted as high drain fluid amylase) PF, and none of the patients had Type B/C PF. In the splenic preservation group, 1 patient had complete splenic infarction requiring laparoscopic splenectomy on Day 3, and 1 patient had partial infarction requiring prolonged hospital stay for pain relief. One patient required prolonged respiratory support due to severe preexisting lung disease. Overall mortality was zero.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOur data confirm that the PFC technique is safe, feasible, and effective in reducing clinically significant PF post-Lap-DP in the United Kingdom patient population.

Transplant nephrectomy - A single-center experience.

Transplant nephrectomy (TN) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and influences the outcome of subsequent renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify the reasons for TN in a single transplant center in the United Kingdom and to determine the complication rate, effect on relisting and re-transplantation. We studied all the TNs in our center from January 2000 to December 2011. Detailed information including cause of allograft failure and reason for TN were analyzed. Of 602 renal transplants performed at our center during the period of the study, 42 TNs were performed on 38 (6%) patients (24 men and 14 women). The median age of the patients at the time of transplantation who subsequently underwent TN was 56 years (range: 28-73 years) and 71% of the allografts were donated after circulatory death. The mean human leucocyte antigen mismatch for these patients was 2.3. The most commonly used immunosuppression was a combination of prednisolone, mycophenolate and tacrolimus, which was used in 50% of the patients. Twenty-five (60%) of the TNs in this series were for allografts failing during the first month of transplantation. The most common indication for the TN was graft thrombosis (50%), with an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 9.5% and a morbidity rate of 31%. Seven of 19 patients listed underwent successful re-transplantation. Although TN is associated with a risk of significant morbidity and mortality, it does not preclude from listing for re-transplantation. The difficulty of access to complete information about transplant failures and TN highlights the need for a national registry.

Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma causing small bowel intussusception in a patient with multiple myeloma - A case report

INTRODUCTIONnMultiple myeloma is a monoclonal, immunoproliferative plasma-cell neoplasm of the B lymphoid cells. Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a type of plasma-cell neoplasm that can present as a primary tumour or secondary to another plasma-cell neoplasm, such as multiple myeloma. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma is usually noted in the advanced stages of the disease with ileum involvement being very rare.nnnPRESENTATION OF CASEnWe report a rare case of a 58-year-old man, with known multiple myeloma, re-presenting with evidence of small bowel obstruction, secondary to an intussusception due to a malignant plasma cell deposit, which was successfully resected at laparotomy. Previous two similar admissions, prior to this index admission, failed to arrive at this difficult rare diagnosis.nnnDISCUSSIONnPrimary and secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma mainly affects the upper aero-digestive tract. Involvement of the ileum, as in this case, is a rare complication. Prognosis of secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma affecting the gastrointestinal tracts is unknown, due to the small number of cases reported in the literature, but suggestive of a poor prognosis. The role of surgery is often palliative to deal with resolvable life-threatening emergencies and where possible to prolong life.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe case adds to the current literature of the rare event of visceral secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the gastrointestinal tract, in the course of multiple myeloma and highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for such uncommon complications, to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Prospective cohort study of neoadjuvant therapy toxicity in the treatment of oesophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUNDnEarly studies investigating the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy in oesophageal cancer showed conflicting results, taking many years before a survival advantage was demonstrated in randomised trials. Gains are modest, limited by progressive disease and toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neoadjuvant therapy-associated toxicity and clinical outcomes including survival in patients with potentially curable oesophageal adenocarcinoma.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnA cohort of 286 patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection at a single institution was identified from a prospective database. Adverse events from neoadjuvant therapy were recorded and graded. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they suffered toxicity or not. Clinical outcomes including whether patients completed the neoadjuvant course, whether they proceeded to resection and overall survival, were compared between the groups.nnnRESULTSnNeoadjuvant therapy-related toxicity was identified in 67/286 patients. 46 patients suffered severe, life-threatening or fatal adverse events. In patients with toxicity, 47% did not complete the chemotherapy course compared to 17% without toxicity, RR 2.7 (95%CI 1.7-4.4), (Pu202f<u202f0.001). In patients suffering toxicity, 17.9% failed to proceed to resection compared with 7.8% in those without toxicity, RR 2.3 (95%CI 1.2-4.6) Pu202f=u202f0.02. Median overall survival was shorter in patients suffering toxicity (20.7 months) compared to those without toxicity (37.8 months), Pu202f=u202f0.008. When patients failing to proceed to resection were excluded, median overall survival was shorter in patients suffering toxicity (26.2 months) compared with those without toxicity (47.8), Pu202f=u202f0.039.nnnCONCLUSIONnNeoadjuvant therapy-related toxicity is common and can have serious consequences including failure to complete chemotherapy cycles, a higher risk of not proceeding to surgical resection and poorer overall survival. Efforts should be made to reduce toxicity and research should aim to identify responders and factors predictive of toxicity.

Impact of age extension to include 47–49 year old women on the workload of the surgical department of a single Breast Cancer Screening Unit – The first non-randomized experience in UK

INTRODUCTIONnThe aim of this study was to assess the impact on the surgical unit of the first year (prevalence screening) of non-randomized invitations to 47-49 year old women for breast screening, from a single breast screening unit.nnnMETHODSnAll women undergoing surgery in the age group 47-49 years, referred via screening were identified and the increased workload analysed.nnnRESULTSn4250 (76%) women were screened of the 5624 invited. 396 women were recalled, of whom 88 (22%) underwent a core biopsy. 32 patients required surgical intervention. 20 patients (62.5%) were confirmed to have either DCIS (6 patients) or invasive malignancy (14 patients). They required 37 theatres attendances requiring 42 operations. 16 wire guided wide local excisions (14 with sentinel node biopsy), 7 mastectomies (2 with sentinel node biopsy; 1 with axillary clearance), 6 margin re-excisions, 1 tissue expander insertion and removal, 3 Latissimus Dorsi with implant and 2 TRAM reconstructions. Other cases include haematoma drainage, scar revisions and nipple reconstructions. This group generated 100 NHS surgical outpatient consultations (78 breast and 22 plastic surgery). 12 patients (37.5%) underwent surgery for a B3 vacuum result; 10 underwent wire guided and 1 ultrasound guided skin marked excision biopsy. 1 patient was treated privately. This group generated 25 NHS surgical outpatients consultations.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis study highlights the impact of the 47-49 year age extension within the breast screening programme on the workload of the surgical department of a UK Breast Cancer Screening Unit offering non-randomized invitations. The study will inform other surgical units of expected workload when age extension is fully implemented.

Impact of age extension to include 47 - 49 year old women on the workload of the surgical department of a single breast cancer screening unit – The first non randomized experience in UK

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the impact on the surgical unit of the first year (prevalence screening) of non-randomized invitations to 47e49 year old women for breast screening, from a single breast screening unit. Methods: All women undergoing surgery in the age group 47e49 years, referred via screening were identified and the increased workload analysed. Results: 4250 (76%) women were screened of the 5624 invited. 396 women were recalled, of whom 88 (22%) underwent a core biopsy. 32 patients required surgical intervention. 20 patients (62.5%) were confirmed to have either DCIS (6 patients) or invasive malignancy (14 patients). They required 37 theatres attendances requiring 42 operations. 16 wire guided wide local excisions (14 with sentinel node biopsy), 7 mastectomies (2 with sentinel node biopsy; 1 with axillary clearance), 6 margin re-excisions, 1 tissue expander insertion and removal, 3 Latissimus Dorsi with implant and 2 TRAM reconstructions. Other cases include haematoma drainage, scar revisions and nipple reconstructions. This group generated 100 NHS surgical outpatient consultations (78 breast and 22 plastic surgery). 12 patients (37.5%) underwent surgery for a B3 vacuum result; 10 underwent wire guided and 1 ultrasound guided skin marked excision biopsy. 1 patient was treated privately. This group generated 25 NHS surgical outpatients consultations. Conclusions: This study highlights the impact of the 47e49 year age extension within the breast screening programme on the workload of the surgical department of a UK Breast Cancer Screening Unit offering non-randomized invitations. The study will inform other surgical units of expected workload when age extension is fully implemented. Crown Copyright 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Surgical Associates Ltd. All rights reserved.