Wishaw General Hospital

About: Wishaw General Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 256 authors who have published 222 publications receiving 4324 citations.

Complications and functional outcomes after ileo-anal pouch excision-a systematic review of 14 retrospective observational studies

Abstract: The ileo-anal pouch (IAP) has been the gold standard procedure for maintenance of bowel continuity after panproctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. However, the IAP has an estimated failure rate of 13% at 10 years post-procedure (Tulchinsky et al., Ann Surg 238(2):229–34, 2003), which can result in pouch excision (P.E.). This systematic review aims to synthesise all the available studies reporting post-operative outcomes of P.E. and its impact on patient quality of life (QoL), when available, which have not previously been summarised. PubMed, Embase, Medline and the Cochrane library databases were searched with terms ‘Pouch AND excision’ OR ‘Pouch AND removal’ OR ‘Pouch AND remove’ OR ‘IAP AND excision’. All studies reporting post-operative morbidity, mortality or functional outcomes in patients who had P.E. were included. Studies with < 5 patients, non-English studies and conference abstracts were excluded. 14 studies comprising 1601 patients were included. Overall complications varied from 18 to 63% with the most common being persistent perineal sinus (9–40%) or surgical site infection (wound—2 to 30%; intra-abdominal collection—3 to 24%). The mortality rate was between 0.58 and 1.4%. QoL is generally lower in P.E. patients compared to the normal population across various QoL measures and P.E. patients often had urinary and sexual dysfunction post-operatively. There is a substantial incidence of complications after P.E.; however, there is no evidence describing QoL pre- and post-P.E. Further longitudinal research comparing QoL in patients undergoing P.E. and other treatment options such as indefinite diversion is required to definitively assess QoL post-procedure.

Non-invasive treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Abstract: There is good evidence that timely restoration of coronary blood flow in obstructed infarct related arteries is a significant determinant of both short and long term mortality and morbidity. This is irrespective of whether it is achieved using fibrinolytic therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Despite the clear advantages of primary PCI, it is thrombolysis that remains the main reperfusion strategy in the UK. Recent data have highlighted mortality benefits when antiplatelet treatment and anticoagulation are used as adjuncts to thrombolysis. Moreover, of those who receive thrombolysis, 60% proceed to coronary arteriography within 6 months of their index event. Recent studies have been published clarifying the timing of coronary arteriography in patients who receive thrombolysis as reperfusion therapy.

Correction to: Dubin-Johnson syndrome and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in a Sri Lankan family: a case report.

Abstract: Following publication of the original article [1], the authors requested the following corrections:

Assessment and Localisation of Response to Primary Systemic Therapy in Breast Cancer

Abstract: Primary systemic therapy (PST) is used in non-metastatic breast cancer to decrease tumour size and reduce the extent of surgery. This article reviews imaging and surgical issues associated with the increasing use of PST in the management of breast cancer. The role of imaging, with a special focus on ultrasound, is evaluated.

Collaborative approach to reducing cardiac arrests in an acute medical unit.

Abstract: Cardiac arrests are often preceded by a period of physiological deterioration. Preventing potentially avoidable cardiac arrests therefore depends on reliable recognition of, and response to, those deteriorations. Our hospital’s acute medical unit had one of the highest rates of cardiac arrest in our organisation at baseline. The aim was to reduce our unit’s cardiac arrest rate by over 50%. Pareto chart analysis identified unreliable processes in the recognition and response to deteriorating patients. Process mapping exercises were performed, then the model for improvement and rapid cycle tests of change were used to develop standardised processes for clinical observations, recognising deteriorating patients and responding to hypoxia. Multidisciplinary learning from what went well, incorporating resilience engineering principles, helped to identify good practice and then test ways of making good practice happen more reliably. Learning from success also addressed some of the psychological barriers to change by encouraging pride in work and a positive focus within our unit. The cardiac arrest rate reduced from 4.3/1000 (October 2014 to February 2016) to 1.1/1000 (March 2016 to end of 2016), associated with improved reliability of the following process measures: reliability of clinical observations, documentation of target oxygen saturations, identification of hypoxia and completion of structured response to hypoxia. This study is an example of a multidisciplinary team engaging in quality improvement, identifying their own local problems and testing their solutions scientifically. Learning from what went well had a positive impact on the project, and the team plans to spread the successful interventions across the organisation.