scholarly journals Short and medium-term outcomes for general surgery in nonagenarian patients in a district general hospital

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 401-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Hayes ◽  
A Davda ◽  
M El-Hadi ◽  
P Murphy ◽  
T Papettas

IntroductionSurgeons are increasingly performing surgery on older patients. There are currently no tools specifically for risk prediction in this group. The aim of this study was to review general surgical operations carried out on patients aged over 90 years and their outcome, before comparing these with predictors of morbidity and mortality.MethodsA retrospective review was carried out at our district general hospital of all general surgery patients aged over 90 years who underwent a general surgical operation over a period of 14 years. Information collected included demographics, details of procedures, P-POSSUM (Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity), complications and outcomes.ResultsA total of 119 procedures were carried out, 72 involving entry into the peritoneal cavity. Overall, 14 patients (12%) died within 30 days and 34 (29%) died within one year. Postoperative complications included infection (56%), renal failure (24%), need for transfusion (17%) and readmission within 30 days (11%). Logistical regression analysis showed that the P-POSSUM correlated well with observed mortality and infection was a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality (p=0.003).ConclusionsThe P-POSSUM correlates significantly with outcome and should be used when planning major elective or emergency surgery in patients over 90 years of age. Infective complications appear to be a significant predictor of postoperative mortality. This study supports operative intervention as an option in this extreme age group but we emphasise the importance of appropriate patient selection and judicious clinical care.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1474.1-1474
Author(s):  
L. Parker ◽  
F. Coldstream

Background:The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a rapid adoption of remote consultations in order to limit face to face clinical contact wherever appropriate, as recommended by the British Society for Rheumatology. The same clinic templates which existed for face-to-face encounters have been retrospectively adapted, without consideration of any potential difference in duration of consultations. Rheumatology practitioners from a variety of clinical backgrounds work alongside the rheumatology consultants, providing clinical care to patients with both inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease.Objectives:To record the duration of all scheduled telephone consultations carried out by advances rheumatology practitioners in a 4-week period.Methods:All scheduled telephone clinic encounters over a 4-week period were timed and the duration recorded in a spreadsheet. Data was collected in real time by all 8 rheumatology advanced practitioners working within the rheumatology department of a district general hospital, following each clinic episode.Results:Data was recorded from a total of 337 clinic appointments. Of these, 317 (94%) were booked as routine, 3 (0.9%) as urgent, 4 (1.2%) were expedited following an advice line contact, and 13 (3.9%) no data was recorded. 28 (8%) of the patients did not answer when contacted. 80 (24%) clinic appointments lasted 15 minutes or less, 186 (55%) lasted 16 - 30 minutes, 37 (11%) lasted 31 - 45 minutes, and 6 (2%) lasted 46 - 60 minutes. The average duration was 22 minutes.Conclusion:Within this department, remote consultations appear to have a similar duration when compared against the traditional clinic template for a fully face-to-face clinic, with some encounters lasting significantly longer than the planned duration. This would appear to differ to telephone consultations used in other settings, such as general practice where the duration is reportedly shorter1. This may be representative of the additional complexity and co-morbidity of a typical rheumatology patient, or due to the multi-faceted nature of a rheumatology follow-up appointment2. Although remote consultations are effective in limiting risk of exposure to Covid-19, they may not offer a quicker or more efficient service compared with the face-to-face model. Further study in this field is required to evaluate this widely adopted new pattern of working.References:[1]Pinnock H, Bawden R, Proctor S, Wolfe S, Scullion J, Price D, Sheikh A. Accessibility, acceptability, and effectiveness in primary care of routine telephone review of asthma: pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2003 Mar 1;326(7387):477-9. doi: 10.1136/bmj.326.7387.477. PMID: 12609944; PMCID: PMC150181.[2]National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2018) rheumatoid arthritis in adults: management (NICE Guideline NG100). Available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100 [Accessed 05 January 2021].Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e000745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaki Antoniou ◽  
Olivia Burke ◽  
Roland Fernandes

Cancelled operations represent a significant burden on the National Health Service in terms of theatre efficiency, financial implications and lost training opportunities. Moreover, they carry considerable physical and psychological effects to patients and their relatives. Evidence has shown that up to 93% of cancelled operations are due to patient-related factors. An analysis at our District General Hospital revealed that approximately 18 operations are cancelled on the day of surgery each month. This equates to 27 hours of allocated operating time valued by the trust as £67 500, not being used effectively. This retrospective quality improvement report aims to reduce unused theatre time due to cancelled elective operations in general surgery theatres—thereby improving theatre efficiency and patient care. To ascertain the baseline number of cancelled operations, an initial review of theatre cases was undertaken. Further review was then completed after implementation of two improvements—a short notice surgical waiting list and fast track pre-assessment clinics. The results showed that implementation of the reserve surgical waiting list reduced unused operating time by an average of 2.25 hours per month. By further adding in the fast track preassessment clinic, these figures increased to an average of 11.5 hours over the next 3 months. This precipitated a reutilisation of otherwise wasted theatre time. Economic impact of this time amounts around £28 750 a month, after implementation of both improvements. Simple protocol changes can lead to large improvements in the efficient running of theatres. The resultant change has improved patient satisfaction, led to greater training opportunities and improved theatre efficiency. Extrapolation of our results show better usage of previously underused theatre time, to the equivalent worth of £345 000. Further implementation of these improvements in other surgical specialities and hospitals would be beneficial.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 301-308
Author(s):  
Sonia Ike ◽  
Chijioke Ikechi ◽  
Jaideep Rait ◽  
Ankur Shah

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused major change across the world and in the National Health Service. In order to cope and help limit contagion, numerous institutions recognised the need to adjust clinical practice quickly yet safely. In this paper, we aim to describe the changes implemented in a general surgery department at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom. Across the surgical specialties, frameworks, protocols and guidelines have been established locally and nationally. The aerosol generating procedures involved in general surgery required us to alter our daily activities. Modifications to patient management were necessary to try and reduce viral spread. Staff wellbeing was heavily promoted in order to help maintain the frontline workforce. A holistic approach was required.


2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (8) ◽  
pp. 763-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Patel ◽  
N Foden ◽  
A Rachmanidou

AbstractBackground:Tonsillectomy is a common, low-risk procedure. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage remains the most serious complication. Recent nationwide studies in the UK have identified an increased morbidity and mortality for both high-risk and low-risk elective general surgery performed at the weekend.Methods:Data for tonsillectomies performed at a district general hospital over a three-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The same group of surgeons performed elective tonsillectomies on both weekends and weekdays. All patients who developed a post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage were identified and the day of original operation was noted.Results:Between 2010 and 2013, 2208 (94.00 per cent) elective tonsillectomies were performed on a weekday and 141 (6.00 per cent) were performed on the weekend. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhages occurred in 104 patients (4.71 per cent) who underwent their procedure on a weekday and in 10 patients (7.09 per cent) who had their surgery at the weekend (p = 0.20).Conclusion:There is no difference in the rate of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage for procedures performed on a weekday or weekend.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document