The British journal of surgery
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Local complications of pancreatic necrosis may occur after surgery, but when they occur spontaneously render surgical treatment more hazardous and impair prognosis. ⋯ In patients with pancreatic necrosis, development of locoregional complications is associated with a high mortality rate. The presence of gastrointestinal bleeding, peritonitis, jaundice or pneumoperitoneum in such patients suggests the presence of a complication of the necrotic process and should prompt early intervention. Early referral of patients with severe acute pancreatitis to specialized units may reduce the risk of locoregional complications.
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Melanoma of the nose is rare and management guidelines are poorly defined. In the past, excision margins have often been much narrower than for melanoma elsewhere. ⋯ Adequate surgical excision is the mainstay of successful treatment for melanoma of the nose. Excision margins for nasal melanoma should not be any less than for melanoma elsewhere. Careful planning is required, not only to gain local disease control and the best chance of cure, but also to achieve functionally and aesthetically acceptable results. Excision margins need not be compromised in view of the variety of local flaps that can be employed to close the primary defect.
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Localized inflammation is a physiological protective response which is generally tightly controlled by the body at the site of injury. Loss of this local control or an overly activated response results in an exaggerated systemic response which is clinically identified as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Compensatory mechanisms are initiated in concert with SIRS and outcome (resolution, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome or death) is dependent on the balance of SIRS and such compensatory mechanisms. No directed therapies have been successful to date in influencing outcome. ⋯ Further clinical and basic scientific research is required to develop the global picture of SIRS, its associated family of syndromes and their natural histories.
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The application of laparoscopy for malignancy has been halted in many centres because of a growing number of reports of metastases arising in port sites. The smoke created by coagulation during laparoscopic surgery appears to contain particles visible to the naked eye. This study tested the hypothesis that whole cells can be carried as an aerosol in the pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy. ⋯ The presence of whole identifiable cells carried in the pneumoperitoneum raises concerns for operating staff and could be a mechanism for tumour implantation. No malignant cells were found, but ethical considerations prevented intentional coagulation of malignant tissue.