Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Mar 2021
Observational StudyThe hidden dangers of staying home: a London trauma unit experience of lockdown during the COVID-19 virus pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reconfiguration of the NHS. Elective services were stopped and trauma services focused on decreasing patient-clinician interactions and managing injuries nonoperatively wherever possible. The everyday life of the general public changed dramatically with the introduction of a national lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This paper looks at the experience of a South West London trauma unit. ⋯ Overall, both the number of injuries seen and trauma operations completed during the enforced lockdown decreased. This is probably due to a change in the way the general public are living their lives, and the reconfigurations within the NHS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an interesting time within trauma and orthopaedic departments, as they continue to adapt to the changing injuries and working environment.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Mar 2021
The provision of a time-critical elective surgical service during the COVID-19 Crisis: a UK experience.
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, all elective surgery was temporarily suspended in the UK, allowing for diversion of resource to manage the anticipated surge of critically unwell patients. Continuing to deliver time-critical surgical care is important to avoid excess morbidity and mortality from pathologies unrelated to COVID-19. We describe the implementation and short-term surgical outcomes from a system to deliver time-critical elective surgical care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ This study has demonstrated the implementation of a safe system for delivery of time-critical elective surgical care at a COVID-19 clean site. Other healthcare providers may benefit from implementation of similar methodology as hospitals plan to restart elective surgery.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Mar 2021
Clinical frailty and its effect on the septuagenarian population after emergency laparotomy.
The UK has an ageing population with an increased prevalence of frailty in the over 70s. Emergency laparotomy for acute intra-abdominal pathology is increasingly offered to this population. This can challenge decision making and information given to patients should not only be based on mortality outcomes but on relative expected quality of life and change to frailty syndromes. ⋯ In the septuagenarian-plus population it is important to consider not only risk stratification with mortality scoring (P-POSSUM or NELA-adjusted risk), but to take into account frailty. Postoperative rehabilitation and careful recovery is paramount. Where possible, during the counselling and consent for emergency laparotomy, significant postoperative long-term deterioration in physical, emotional and social function should be considered.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Mar 2021
Case ReportsPenile fracture associated with complete urethra and bilateral corpora cavernosa transection.
Penile fracture is a rare urological emergency caused by blunt trauma to the erect penis. It occurs due to the forcible bending of the turgid erect penis against resistance leading to tunica albuginea tear. The rupture of tunica albuginea surrounding the corpora cavernosa leads to hematoma formation and classical 'aubergine' deformity. ⋯ On surgical exploration, complete bilateral corpora cavernosa tear and penile urethral transection was noted. The patient was successfully managed with timely repair. This case highlights the need for suspicion of an associated urethral injury in patients of penile fracture with blood at the meatus.
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Ann R Coll Surg Engl · Feb 2021
Short-term outcomes after Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy for cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elective surgery in the UK came to a halt during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID-19-related infection and mortality rates in Devon and Cornwall were relatively low, however, urgent elective surgery continued in Plymouth, with the necessary precautions in place. This study aimed to assess outcomes following Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy (ILO) during the pandemic. ⋯ ILO can be performed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic with the necessary precautions in place.