The British journal of surgery
-
Performing cancer surgery in high-volume centres may lead to improved outcomes. This study explored the relationship between annual workload and outcome following resection for carcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia. ⋯ In this unselected population-based series there was little evidence of a trend of improving 30-day mortality rate with increasing workload, or between workload and long-term survival.
-
Comparative Study
Ultrasonography is superior to plain radiography in the diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum.
The aim of this study was to compare plain radiography with abdominal ultrasonography in the detection of pneumoperitoneum. ⋯ Ultrasonography is more sensitive than plain radiography in the diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum.
-
All patients with organ dysfunction are currently classified as having severe acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to characterize the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and early organ dysfunction in patients with acute pancreatitis and the relationship with overall mortality. ⋯ Early organ dysfunction in acute pancreatitis usually resolves and in itself has no significant influence on mortality. In contrast, worsening organ dysfunction was associated with death in more than half of the patients (11 of 20); it is this group of patients who should be classified as having severe acute pancreatitis.