Three port versus four port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective comparative clinical study

Background: Although, traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using four-port technique, various modifications were made to further enhance the advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Aim of the study is to compare the results of three-port and four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy at single center in terms of technical feasibility, safety of the procedure, operative time, intra-operative complications, postoperative pain and post-operative analgesia requirementMethods: It was a  prospective comparative study conducted  in the department of surgery Skims Medical college Srinagar, India from July 2015 to March 2017. The study was performed on all adult patients with ultrasound documented cholelithiasis and gall bladder Polyposis. The total number of patients studied was 100 which were divided into two groups of 50 each.Results: The average operative time in three port group was 29.2 minutes (range, 15-37) compared to 30.66 minutes (range, 15-42) in four port group, which was statistically insignificant. The final visual analog scores for pain in the postoperative period was 2.30 vs 2.86 in three port and four port group respectively, with a P value=0.008, which was statistically significant.Conclusions: The three-port technique is as safe as the standard four-port technique and can be a viable alternative to four port cholecystectomy with an advantage of less pain and less analgesic requirement and better cosmetic results

Outcome of albendazole therapy in the management of hepatic hydatid disease

Background: The treatment modalities for managing patients with hepatic hydatidosis include surgical treatment and non-surgical treatments. The non-surgical methods include albendazole therapy and percutaneous management. Use of albendazole as an adjuvant therapy to surgery has been found to significantly reduce the viability of daughter cyst and recurrence of hydatid disease. The aim of the study was to understand the effect of albendazole therapy on the viability of protoscoleces and recurrence rate of hydatid disease of liver.Methods: The study was conducted at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir India, from March 2010 to February 2012 with further follow up of 3-4 years and the total of 64 patients were studied. ; Patients were divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, each comprising of 32 patients. In group A, patients were given albendazole for 12 weeks preoperatively followed by further postoperative course for 12 weeks. In group B, patients were first taken for surgery followed by postoperative course of albendazole for 12 weeks. The two main outcome measures studied and compared during present study were the viability of the hydatid cysts and the recurrence rate in two groups.Results: Out of those, patients who received preoperative albendazole, 9.37% had viable cysts at the time of surgery as compared to 96.87% of patients who did not receive any preoperative albendazole. In those patients who received only postoperative albendazole therapy, recurrence rate was 18.75% while as there was no recurrence was in patients who received both preoperative and postoperative albendazole therapy.Conclusions: Study concludes that albendazole is safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of hydatid liver disease.

Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula: Clinical presentation and outcome

Objective:To evaluate the presentation, clinical course and outcome of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) withendovascular treatment at our institution during the last five years. Design: Retrospective descriptive study. Setting: The study included patients seen at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2005. Methods: Retrospective analysis based on data retrieval from medical records using ICD coding system. Only those cases who had traumatic CCF and underwent endovascular treatment were included in the study. Results: A total of 8 patients were diagnosed with post-traumatic CCF and 11 procedures were done. Mean age at presentation was 35.6 years; mean duration of symptoms was 23 weeks after trauma; 6 patients were male and 2 female. Patients presented from 1 week to 2 years after the trauma; 7 had high-flow fistulas and 1 had low-flow fistula. Proptosis was the most common symptom (6 patients); decreased vision was present in 3 patients; 4 patients had an accompanying skull base fracture; and 1 patient had bilateral CCF. All patients were treated by endovascular procedures; 2 patients had recurrences, seen within 1 month of initial treatment and subsequently successfully treated. In 1 patient, the procedure failed due to the small size of the fistula. Conclusion: High success rate with minimal complications as seen in our series supports endovascular treatment as the leading option for CCF managemen

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication

Surgical management of complicated hydatid cysts of the liver

AIM: To review the clinical presentation and surgical management of complicated hydatid cysts of the liver and to assess whether conservative surgery is adequate in the management of complicated hydatid cysts of liver

Pyogenic liver abscess: Changing patterns in approach

AIM: To define optimum management of the pyogenic liver abscess and assess new trends in treatment