Nikita R. Bhatt

Validation of Selection Criteria for Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer.

INTRODUCTION Considerable Proportion of Prostate Cancer (PCa) patients suitable for Active Surveillance (AS) harbour aggressive disease at surgical histopathology. Identification of truly indolent prostate cancer at diagnosis is difficult. AIM Of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of current AS protocols in identifying low risk PCa by comparing the histopathology at biopsy and surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was performed on all patients who underwent Radical Prostatectomy (RP) between 2008 and 2012. We identified patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria of five different established AS protocols. Histopathology at biopsy was compared with final surgical histopathology to identify upgrading or upstaging of disease. The biochemical recurrence rate in the cohort was also determined. RESULTS A total of 59 patients (24%) met criteria of at least one protocol. Sixteen patients (28%) were eligible for AS based on all studied criteria. Overall 24 patients (40.6%) were upgraded in their final histopathology while 12 patients (20%) upstaged from their original TRUS biopsy. Two patients (3%) had PSA failure, both had salvage radiotherapy. CONCLUSION There is considerable discrepency in current AS selection criteria which makes it necessary to introduce novel markers to identify indolent disease as a part of AS protocol for PCa.

Dilemmas in diagnosis and natural history of renal oncocytoma and implications for management

INTRODUCTION Oncocytomas have traditionally been treated with surgical excision; however, their excellent long-term prognosis has popularized conservative and minimally invasive ablative techniques. We evaluated the evolving management and natural history of renal oncocytomas and investigated the relationship between radiological and histopathological diagnosis. METHODS We performed a 17-year retrospective cohort study on all patients with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of renal oncocytoma. The primary outcome variables were long-term outcomes, coexistence with renal cell carcinoma, and development of metastatic disease. RESULTS A total of 38 oncocytomas were reported in 36 patients. Of the 36 patients, 29 (81%) were diagnosed incidentally. Oncocytoma was considered in the differential diagnosis in 4 oncocytomas (10.5%). In total, 34 patients underwent early surgical intervention; of these, 27 (79.4%) underwent radical nephrectomy and 7 underwent partial nephrectomy (20.6%). Four patients (11.1%) were managed conservatively with surveillance. No patients developed recurrence or metastatic disease after a median follow-up of 84 months (range: 4-178). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic accuracy for imaging modalities in renal oncocytoma is poor. Surveillance or minimally invasive ablative techniques are appropriate in selected patients with biopsy-proven oncocytoma that are not increasing in size.

A prospective audit on the effect of training and educational workshops on the incidence of urethral catheterization injuries

INTRODUCTION The incidence of iatrogenic urethral catheterization (UC) injuries is approximately 0.3%. Resultant complications are associated with patient morbidity and unnecessary healthcare costs. Our aim was to investigate whether educational training workshops decreased the incidence of UC-related injuries. METHODS A prospective audit was performed to calculate incidence, morbidity, and costs associated with iatrogenic UC injury from January to July 2015. Educational workshops were then conducted with healthcare staff and training modules for junior doctors. UC-related incidence, morbidity, and costs in the subsequent six-month period were recorded prospectively and compared with the previous data. RESULTS The incidence of iatrogenic UC injuries was reduced from 4.3/1000 catheters inserted to 3.8/1000 catheters after the intervention (p=0.59). Morbidity from UC increased in the second half in the form of increase in cumulative additional inpatient hospital stay (22 to 79 days; p=0.25), incidence of urosepsis (n=2 to n=4), and need for operative intervention (n=1 to n=2). The cost of managing UC injuries almost doubled in the period after the training intervention (€50 449 to €90 100). CONCLUSIONS Current forms of educational and training interventions for UC did not significantly change morbidity or cost of iatrogenic UC injuries despite a decrease in incidence. Improved and intensive training protocols are necessary for UC to prevent avoidable iatrogenic complications, as well as a safer urethral catheter design.

Surgical Considerations for Massive Tarsal Coalitions in Multiple Synostosis Syndrome: A Case Report

Tarsal-carpal coalition syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited condition characterized by fusion of the carpal and tarsal bones and foot deformity. Associated pain and/or gait disturbance are the main complaints. The deformity usually consists of varying degrees of hindfoot varus and forefoot supination. The treatment of these patients is mainly aimed at symptomatic relief. We performed a published data review of this condition and discuss our findings in the context of the case of a 10-year-old female with congenital varus deformity of both feet. The tarsal-carpal coalition syndrome has been included in the spectrum of heritable disorders related to mutations in the NOG gene. Deformity management should be customized to the patients requirements, and satisfactory results are achievable with adequate rehabilitation. It is important to remember that surgery is only necessary for symptomatic relief and that patients with tarsal-carpal coalition syndrome should be followed up over time because the condition can evolve.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the larynx: an extremely unusual tumour.

Osteosarcoma of the larynx is probably the rarest mesenchymal tumour of the larynx, with only 16 cases reported so far. The majority of them occur in males between the sixth and eighth decades of life. Patients usually present with non-specific symptoms such as dysphonia and upper airway compromise. The most common site of distant metastasis is the lung. Clinically, the tumour follows an aggressive course and is associated with high mortality. The case we present is unusual as it occurred at a young age (38 years) as compared with the norm and it did not arise from the endolarynx, unlike many of the other cases. This was the only known case where a Pearson near-total laryngectomy was performed whereby the patients natural speech mechanism was preserved. This surgery was possible because the contralateral half of the larynx was clearly disease free and the interarytenoid region was uninvolved. The patient underwent postoperative adjuvant external beam radiotherapy beginning 4 weeks after surgery. The patient is doing well after 15 months of follow-up and shows no signs of recurrence.

Incidence and immediate management of genitourinary injuries in pelvic and acetabular trauma: a 10-year retrospective study

To report the incidence of genitourinary (GU) injuries in pelvic and acetabular (P + A) fractures, to investigate associations between P + A fractures and GU injury patterns, and, as a secondary objective, to evaluate prospectively P + A fracture referrals with regard to adherence to the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma (BOAST) guidelines over a 12‐month period.

Reconstructive Surgery Camp for Leprosy Deformities in a Tertiary Hospital: An Example of Service Delivery at Low Costs.

INTRODUCTION Seventy percent of all cases of leprosy in the world occur in India. 8,462 new cases of disability were reported in India between 2010-11. Reconstructive Surgery Camps (RSC) provide free of cost plastic surgical expertise to patients of leprosy with deformity. AIM The aim of this article was to report the outcomes of a RSC in a tertiary level university hospital in India. We also described the types of deformities in the patient group and the cost of conducting such a camp. MATERIALS AND METHODS The RSC involved 130 patients with leprosy related deformities operated by a team of plastic surgeons in a tertiary university hospital over 5 days. Health workers of the National Leprosy Elimination Program identified patients at community level. The camp was funded by the central government of India and the patients were provided incentives for undergoing treatment. RESULTS Plantar ulcer was the commonest deformity (51.5%) while lagopthalmos (9.2%) was the least common deformity in the patient group. The overall complication rate in our study was around 10.6% (n=11). The total cost of this camp was 730,000 rupees (£7029.9). CONCLUSION Reconstructive surgery in a camp setup is a low cost alternative of correcting leprosy related deformity. It also provides valuable practical experience in reconstructive surgery to surgical trainees. Tertiary hospital based camps for conducting large-scale surgeries may be a cost effective alternative to reduce waiting lists in public health sectors. Long-term studies monitoring patients operated in a camp setting would be worthwhile.

Pneumobilia with gastric outlet obstruction

Complications of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) like gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) and biliary fistula have become extremely rare with the advent of proton-pump inhibitors.This is a case of PUD presenting with GOO, a cholecystoduodenal fistula discovered incidentally on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the presence of pneumobilia on a contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen. A gastrojejunostomy with internal pyloric exclusion was performed. Since the patient did not have any signs of biliary tract disease,we decided not to operate on the fistula to prevent injury to the bile duct. The patient had an uneventful recovery.