scholarly journals O-P08 Optimising design of national collaborative studies in surgery: national availability of electronic data in the NHS

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Thorne ◽  
Lewis Hall ◽  
Siobhan C McKay ◽  
Richard W Wilkin ◽  
Phillip Harvey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Clinical trials are constrained in part by cost and limited funding opportunities. Trainee-led collaborative, multi-centre research models have become increasingly popular, enabling clinicians to undertake impactful national and international practice-changing studies with limited funding. However, ensuring equitable and efficient data collection from participating centres requires understanding data accessibility. Here, we reflect upon our strategies in designing and delivering collaborative research (The RICOCHET Study). Specifically, we consider the availability of data sources for UK hospitals, to enable effective design of study case report forms to ensure study success. Methods RICOCHET was a National trainee-led audit of UK hospitals treating patients with pancreatic cancer. All registered hospitals were asked to complete a site-survey at point of registration. The site survey was completed by the lead consultant (surgeon or gastroenterologist) or the lead trainee at each site. The site-survey detailed hospital demographics, including size, availability of services and availability of patient data electronically. The survey was completed online via REDCap. Sites lacking full reporting were excluded from the analyses. Results 98 UK sites registered for RICOCHET, and 94 completed the site-survey (26 specialist pancreatic sites; 68 non-specialist sites). 100% sites had electronic radiology reports. However, electronic ward-round notes were available at only 19% (5/26, 19.2% specialist vs. 13/68, 19.1% non-specialist; p = 0.99). Furthermore, sources such as external letters were low (29%; 11/26 42.3% specialist vs. 16/68, 23.5% non-specialist; p = 0.072). Although electronic interventional radiology reports were broadly available at 79% sites, this was significantly lower at non-specialist sites (49/68 72.1% vs. 25/26 96.2%; p = 0.011). Conclusions Availability of electronic data is not consistent across sites managing pancreatic cancer patients. Significant disparity exists between specialist and non-specialist centres, highlighted by lack of availability of interventional radiology reports. To ensure success in trainee-led cohort studies we recommend designing concise case report forms that can be easily completed from electronic data sources. Until this report, there was no data available for the availability of electronic data across the NHS. This represents the most comprehensive report of such data sources, and will guide future study design of national studies at both specialist and non-specialist pancreatic centres in the UK.

Author(s):  
Christopher Hood ◽  
Rozana Himaz

This chapter draws on historical statistics reporting financial outcomes for spending, taxation, debt, and deficit for the UK over a century to (a) identify quantitatively and compare the main fiscal squeeze episodes (i.e. major revenue increases, spending cuts, or both) in terms of type (soft squeezes and hard squeezes, spending squeezes, and revenue squeezes), depth, and length; (b) compare these periods of austerity against measures of fiscal consolidation in terms of deficit reduction; and (c) identify economic and financial conditions before and after the various squeezes. It explores the extent to which the identification of squeeze episodes and their classification is sensitive to which thresholds are set and what data sources are used. The chapter identifies major changes over time that emerge from this analysis over the changing depth and types of squeeze.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoyuki Ishida ◽  
Jun Kanamori ◽  
Hiroyuki Daiko

Abstract Background Management of postoperative chylothorax usually consists of nutritional regimens, pharmacological therapies such as octreotide, and surgical therapies such as ligation of thoracic duct, but a clear consensus is yet to be reached. Further, the variation of the thoracic duct makes chylothorax difficult to treat. This report describes a rare case of chylothorax with an aberrant thoracic duct that was successfully treated using focal pleurodesis through interventional radiology (IVR). Case presentation The patient was a 52-year-old man with chylothorax after a thoracoscopic oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. With conventional therapy, such as thoracostomy tube, octreotide or fibrogammin, a decrease in the amount of chyle was not achieved. Therefore, we performed lymphangiography and pleurodesis through IVR. The patient appeared to have an aberrant thoracic duct, as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, after focal pleurodesis, the leak of chyle was diminished, and the patient was discharged 66 days after admission. Conclusions Chylothorax remains a difficult complication. Focal pleurodesis through IVR can be one of the options to treat chylothorax.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1036
Author(s):  
Sangeetha Shyam ◽  
Darren Greenwood ◽  
Chun-Wai Mai ◽  
Seok Shin Tan ◽  
Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof ◽  
...  

(1) Background: We studied the association of both conventional (BMI, waist and hip circumference and waist–hip ratio) and novel (UK clothing sizes) obesity indices with pancreatic cancer risk in the UK women’s cohort study (UKWCS). (2) Methods: The UKWCS recruited 35,792 women from England, Wales and Scotland from 1995 to 1998. Cancer diagnosis and death information were obtained from the National Health Service (NHS) Central Register. Cox’s proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline obesity indicators and pancreatic cancer risk. (3) Results: This analysis included 35,364 participants with a median follow-up of 19.3 years. During the 654,566 person-years follow up, there were 136 incident pancreatic cancer cases. After adjustments for age, smoking, education and physical activity, each centimetre increase in hip circumference (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05, p = 0.009) and each size increase in skirt size (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.23, p = 0.041) at baseline increased pancreatic cancer risk. Baseline BMI became a significant predictor of pancreatic cancer risk (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.08, p = 0.050) when latent pancreatic cancer cases were removed. Only baseline hip circumference was associated with pancreatic cancer risk (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.05, p = 0.017) when participants with diabetes at baseline were excluded to control for reverse causality. (4) Conclusion: Hip circumference and skirt size were significant predictors of pancreatic cancer risk in the primary analysis. Thus, hip circumference is useful to assess body shape relationships. Additionally, standard skirt sizes offer an economical and objective alternative to conventional obesity indices for evaluating pancreatic cancer risk in women.


Author(s):  
John Alexander McHardy ◽  
Vathshalan Selvaganeshapillai ◽  
Priya Khanna ◽  
Ashley Michael Whittington ◽  
Jane Turton ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This case report describes a neck abscess caused by a strain of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in a middle aged man with diabetes without a history of travel to East and South East Asia. This case report is of notable significance as Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae neck abscesses are rarely seen in the UK and are very infrequently documented in individuals who have not first travelled to the high prevalence areas of East and South East Asia. Case presentation This case report describes a 53 year old diabetic man who contracted a Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae neck abscess which led to the development of sepsis. Klebsiella pneumoniae was cultured from blood cultures and fluid aspirated from the abscess grew the pathogen with same antimicrobial susceptibility. Hypervirulence was demonstrated after the samples were analysed, at the Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Reference Unit Public Health England Colindale, and found to contain the K20 (rmp)A and rmpA2 virulence genes. Discussion Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, encapsulated, non-motile bacillus notable for its ability to metastatically spread and cause potentially life threatening infections in otherwise healthy adults, but especially in those with diabetes. Genes responsible for the production of hyperviscous mucoid polysaccharide capsules and siderophores, such as those isolated in this case, enable the bacteria to more efficiently evade the hosts immune system and disseminate and invade surrounding and distant tissues. Data from Public Health England shows Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae are rare in the UK. A review of current literature also showed Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae almost exclusively occur in those who have traveled to East and South East Asia. Conclusions This case reported a rare Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae neck abscess outside of, and without travel to, East and South East Asia. This raises concerns about future, potentially life threatening, Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infections becoming more widespread without the need for endemic travel. This concern is further exacerbated by the growing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.


Author(s):  
Carmelo Tiberio Currò ◽  
Giulia Nicocia ◽  
Vanessa Ziccone ◽  
Antonio Ciacciarelli ◽  
Giuseppina Russo ◽  
...  

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