The British journal of surgery
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials on safety and efficacy of biliary drainage before surgery for obstructive jaundice.
This meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) is beneficial to patients with obstructive jaundice. ⋯ PBD in patients undergoing surgery for obstructive jaundice is associated with similar mortality but increased serious morbidity compared with no PBD. Therefore, PBD should not be used routinely.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of robotic surgery compared with conventional laparoscopic and open resections for gastric carcinoma.
Robot-assisted gastrectomy (RAG) has been developed in the hope of improving surgical quality and overcoming the limitations of conventional laparoscopically assisted gastrectomy (LAG) and open gastrectomy (OG) for gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of evidence in support of these ideals. ⋯ Short-term oncological outcomes of RAG were comparable with those of the other approaches. LAG was a shorter procedure and less expensive than RAG. Future studies involving RAG should focus on minimizing duration of operation and reducing cost.
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Despite advances in medical therapy, there remains no effective preventive or non-surgical therapeutic option for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease (CD). Symptomatic recurrences are common, necessitating reintervention. Intestinal fibroblasts mediate stricture formation, but their exact source is unclear. Recent evidence indicates that circulating fibrocytes drive fibrosis through differentiation into fibroblasts and the production of extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of this review is to describe current understanding of the pathophysiology underlying fibrosis in CD, the cellular and molecular biology of fibrocytes and their role in CD. ⋯ Levels of circulating fibrocytes are raised in conditions marked by exaggerated fibrosis. These and other observations prompt a characterization of fibrocyte activity in CD with a view to investigating a pathogenic role.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Management of complex colonic polyps in the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Large sessile or flat colonic polyps, defined as polyps at least 20 mm in size, are difficult to treat endoscopically and may harbour malignancy. The aim of this study was to describe their current management to provide insight into optimal management. ⋯ Management of large sessile or flat colonic polyps is safe and effective in the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Wide variation in the use of surgery suggests a need for standardized management algorithms. Presented to a meeting of the British Society of Gastroenterology, Birmingham, U.K., March 2011.
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Patients requiring surgery for complex colonic polyps traditionally undergo colectomy, with significant risks. Typically in excess of 10-30 cm of colon is removed at laparoscopic or open surgery lasting over 60 min. This study details the preclinical development of a rapid, minimally invasive, limited full-thickness colonic resection. ⋯ Full-thickness localized colonic excision with this technique provides a large specimen with adequate healing in a porcine model.