Nurse-led audit of post-operative morbidity following colorectal resection: making the most of existing resources

Introduction: Colorectal and stoma care nurses have been auditing their specialist services for years, but have contributed less frequently to colorectal surgical service-wide audit measuring clinical outcomes relating to surgical as well as nursing care. Nurse-led follow-up provides the ideal platform to measure key indicators of quality care and identify areas for both service improvement and future research activity. Method: A nurse-led follow-up clinic at 30 days following patient discharge was used to audit 142 consecutive patients undergoing elective (n= 98) or emergency (n=44) colorectal resection over a three month period. Audit data were recorded at two time-points, discharge from hospital and at clinic, with audit templates developed using validated tools designed to measure general post-operative morbidity (Grocott et al, 2007; Dindo et al, 2004) and modified to include a focus on colorectal surgery-specific complications. Audit templates were tested during two clinics prior to full data collection to ensure they included all required variables. Results: A wide range of anticipated and unanticipated findings were identified relating to both inpatient and early post- discharge morbidity. Findings were presented to the whole colorectal team, including upper GI and colorectal surgeons and their teams, specialist nurses, theatre-based and ward-based nursing staff. Areas of clinical practice identified by the audit as requiring improvement were identified and discussed, with immediate changes to surgical practice agreed by the whole team. Nurse-led follow-up for all colorectal patients was established as a potential goal for future service improvement. Conclusion: This nurse-led audit enabled the whole colorectal team to scrutinise their clinical practice by comprehensively examining patient outcomes at two time-points following colorectal resection. Nurse-led follow-up using an auditable documentation template facilitates the recognition and reporting of a wide range of post-operative complications and provides valuable support for patients, particularly those who do not have routine access to specialist nursing services. References: Dindo, D. et al (2004) Classification of Surgical Complications: a new proposal with evaluation in a cohort of 6336 patients and results of a survey. Annals of Surgery 240(2):205-213 Grocott MPW et al (2007) The Postoperative Morbidity Survey was validated and used to describe morbidity after pelvic surgery. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 60: 919-92

Hidden Morbidity following Colorectal Resection: postoperative evaluation

Introduction: The implementation and evaluation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery programmes over the past 15 years has ensured the accurate reporting of inpatient morbidity post colorectal resection. However, there is a paucity of audit or research examining post-operative morbidity in the early discharge period. Method: 142 consecutive patients undergoing elective (n= 98) or emergency (n=44) colorectal resection over a three- month period were invited to attend a nurse-led outpatient clinic at 30 days post-discharge. Audit data were collected at two time-points, discharge from hospital and at clinic. Audit templates were developed using the Postoperative Morbidity Survey (Grocott et al, 2007), Clavien-Dindo classification criteria (Dindo et al, 2004) and modified to include additional colorectal surgery-specific outcomes. Results were recorded and analysed using SPSS. Results: Unanticipated findings relating to post-discharge morbidity identified through the audit included: 35% (n=32) of infection-free inpatients developed surgical site infections following discharge. 34% (n=47) of all patients had significant urinary symptoms when seen in clinic. Dietary implications at 30 days post-discharge included an appetite of half or less than usual intake in 27% of patients (n=37) and moderate to major changes in dietary intake compared to their pre- operative diet in 30% (n=42). 27% (n=38) of patients had an ileostomy; of those without an ileostomy, 20% (n=21) had four or more daily bowel movements, with 22% (n=23) describing their stool consistency as watery, loose or unsettled. 45% (n=46) of those without an ileostomy reported one or more problematic bowel symptom related to their surgical experience at 30 days post-discharge. Conclusion: These audit findings suggest that individuals undergoing colorectal resection experience significant levels of post-discharge morbidity, extending the burden on them and the services required to support them for longer than may have been previously anticipated. Nurse-led follow-up using auditable documentation templates facilitates the recognition and reporting of complications following discharge and provides valuable support for patients. References: Dindo, D. et al (2004) Classification of Surgical Complications: a new proposal with evaluation in a cohort of 6336 patients and results of a survey. Annals of Surgery 240(2):205-213 Grocott MPW et al (2007) The Postoperative Morbidity Survey was validated and used to describe morbidity after pelvic surgery. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 60: 919-92

Effects of supplementary dietary polyunsaturated fat on cancer incidence:Protocol

Published in PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic review

Dietary polyunsaturated fat for prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease:Protocol

Published in PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic review

Omega-3, omega-6 and total dietary polyunsaturated fat on cancer incidence: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

Background: The relationship between long-chain omega-3 (LCn3), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), omega-6 and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intakes and cancer risk is unclear. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and trials registries for RCTs comparing higher with lower LCn3, ALA, omega-6 and/or total PUFA, that assessed cancers over ≥12 months. Random-effects meta-analyses, sensitivity analyses, subgrouping, risk of bias and GRADE were used. Results: We included 47 RCTs (108,194 participants). Increasing LCn3 has little or no effect on cancer diagnosis (RR1.02, 95% CI 0.98–1.07), cancer death (RR0.97, 95% CI 0.90–1.06) or breast cancer diagnosis (RR1.03, 95% CI 0.89–1.20); increasing ALA has little or no effect on cancer death (all high/moderate-quality evidence). Increasing LCn3 (NNTH 334, RR1.10, 95% CI 0.97–1.24) and ALA (NNTH 334, RR1.30, 95% CI 0.72–2.32) may slightly increase prostate cancer risk; increasing total PUFA may slightly increase risk of cancer diagnosis (NNTH 125, RR1.19, 95% CI 0.99–1.42) and cancer death (NNTH 500, RR1.10, 95% CI 0.48–2.49) but total PUFA doses were very high in some trials. Conclusions: The most extensive systematic review to assess the effects of increasing PUFAs on cancer risk found increasing total PUFA may very slightly increase cancer risk, offset by small protective effects on cardiovascular diseases

Long-term effects of increasing omega-3, omega-6 and total polyunsaturated fats on inflammatory bowel disease and markers of inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background & Aims: Effects of long-chain omega-3 (LCn3) and omega-6 fatty acids on prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, including Crohn’s Disease, CD and ulcerative colitis, UC), and inflammation are unclear. We systematically reviewed long-term effects of omega-3, omega-6 and total polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) on IBD diagnosis, relapse, severity, pharmacotherapy, quality of life and key inflammatory markers.  Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and trials registries, including RCTs in adults with or without IBD comparing higher with lower omega-3, omega-6 and/or total PUFA intake for ≥24 weeks that assessed IBD-specific outcomes or inflammatory biomarkers.  Results: We included 83 RCTs (41,751 participants), of which 13 recruited participants with IBD. Increasing LCn3 may reduce risk of IBD relapse (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.01) and IBD worsening (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.03), and reduce erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, SMD -0.23, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.01), but may increase IBD diagnosis risk (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.92), and faecal calprotectin, a specific inflammatory marker for IBD (MD 16.1μg/g, 95% CI -37.6 to 69.8, all low-quality evidence). Outcomes for alpha-linolenic acid, omega-6 and total PUFA were sparse, but suggested little or no effect where data were available.  Conclusion: This is the most comprehensive meta-analysis of RCTs investigating long-term effects of omega-3, omega-6 and total PUFA on IBD and inflammatory markers. Our findings suggest that supplementation with PUFAs has little or no effect on prevention or treatment of IBD and provides little support for modification of long-term inflammatory status

Social adaptation following intestinal stoma formation in people living at home: a longitudinal phenomenological study

Purpose: Intestinal stoma formation profoundly changes the relationship between a person and their social world. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of living with a new stoma; this paper explores the theme ‘ disrupted social world,’ highlighting how stoma-forming surgery impacts on individuals’ abilities to participate and interact socially over time. Method: A longitudinal phenomenological approach. Twelve participants with a new stoma were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected at three, nine and fifteen months following surgery through in-depth, unstructured interviews and analysed using a bespoke iterative framework. Results: Three categories were identified: participation in the social environment; interpersonal relationships: changes and challenges; and setting and achieving goals. Conclusions: Stoma-forming surgery changes the ways people relate to their social environment and connect with others, creating self-consciousness and impeding social confidence and autonomy. Understanding the social implications of stoma-forming surgery can help clinicians to provide responsive and appropriate support to facilitate social rehabilitation

Adjusting to bodily change following stoma formation: a phenomenological study

Purpose: Scant research has been undertaken to explore in-depth the meaning of bodily change for individuals following stoma formation. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of living with a new stoma, with a focus on bodily change. Method: The study adopted a longitudinal phenomenological approach. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit twelve participants who had undergone faecal stoma-forming surgery. Indepth, unstructured interviews were conducted at three, nine and fifteen months following surgery. A five-stage framework facilitated iterative data analysis. Results: Stoma formation altered the taken-for-granted relationship individuals had with their bodies in terms of appearance, function and sensation, undermining the unity between body and self. Increasing familiarity with and perceived control over their stoma over time diminished awareness of their changed body, facilitating adaptation and self-acceptance. Conclusions: Stoma formation can undermine an individual’s sense of embodied self. A concept of embodiment is proposed to enable the experience of living with a new stoma to be understood as part of a wider process of re-establishing a unity between body, self and world. In defining a framework of care, individuals with a new stoma can be assisted to adapt to and accept a changed sense of embodied self

Formation of a conceptual framework during the development of a patient-reported outcome measure for early gastrointestinal recovery: Phase I of the PRO-diGi study

Aim: Patients admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery often experience gastrointestinal dysfunction. Many studies have reported outcomes following gastrointestinal dysfunction, yet there is no unified definition of recovery or a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). The first stage of PROM development requires formation of a conceptual framework to identify key themes to patients. The aim of this study was to utilize semistructured interviews to identify core themes and concepts relevant to patients to facilitate development of a conceptual framework. Method: Adult patients admitted to hospital for major gastrointestinal, urological or gynaecological surgery, in an emergency or elective setting, were eligible to participate. Patients treated nonoperatively for small bowel obstruction were also eligible. Interviews were conducted by telephone, audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed using NVivo software by two researchers and reviewed by lay members of the steering group. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Ethical approval was gained prior to interviews (21/WA/0231). Results: Twenty nine interviews were completed (17 men, median age 64 years) across three specialties (20 gastrointestinal, six gynaecological, three urological). Two overarching themes of ‘general recovery’ and ‘gastrointestinal symptoms’ were identified. General recovery included three themes: ‘life impact’, ‘mental impact’, including anxiety, and ‘physical impact’, including fatigue. Gastrointestinal symptoms included three themes: ‘abdominal symptoms’ such as pain, ‘diet and appetite’ and ‘expulsory function’, such as stool frequency. A total of 18 gastrointestinal symptoms were identified during patient recovery—many of which lasted several weeks following discharge. Conclusion: This study reports a range of gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal symptoms experienced by patients during early gastrointestinal recovery. Identified symptoms have been synthesized into a conceptual framework to enable development of a definitive PROM for early gastrointestinal recovery

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead