Explore the vast range of titles available.

Contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (CRRM) rates have tripled over the last 2 decades. Reasons for this are multi-factorial, with those harbouring a pathogenic variant in the BRCA1 / 2 gene having the greatest survival benefit. On May 14th, 2013, Angelina Jolie shared the news of her bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy (BRRM), on the basis of her BRCA1 pathogenic variant status. We evaluated the impact of this news on rates of CRRM in women with increased risk for developing breast cancer after being diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer. The prospective cohort study included all women with at least a moderate lifetime risk of developing breast cancer who attended our family history clinic (1987–2019) and were subsequently diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer. Rates of CRRM were then compared between patients diagnosed with breast cancer before and after Angelina Jolie’s announcement (pre- vs. post-AJ). Of 386 breast cancer patients, with a mean age at diagnosis of 48 ± 8 years, 268 (69.4%) were diagnosed in the pre-AJ period, and 118 (30.6%) in the post-AJ period. Of these, 123 (31.9%) underwent CRRM, a median 42 (interquartile range: 11–54) days after the index cancer surgery. Rates of CRRM doubled following AJ’s news, from 23.9% pre-AJ to 50.0% post AJ ( p  < 0.001). Rates of CRRM were found to decrease with increasing age at breast cancer ( p  < 0.001) and tumour TNM stage ( p  = 0.040), and to increase with the estimated lifetime risk of breast cancer ( p  < 0.001) and tumour grade ( p  = 0.015) on univariable analysis. After adjusting for these factors, the step-change increase in CRRM rates post-AJ remained significant (odds ratio: 9.61, p  < 0.001). The AJ effect appears to have been associated with higher rates of CRRM amongst breast cancer patients with increased cancer risk. CRRM rates were highest amongst younger women and those with the highest lifetime risk profile. Clinicians need to be aware of how media news can impact on the delivery of cancer related services. Communicating objective assessment of risk is important when counselling women on the merits of risk-reducing surgery.

Introduction. Therapeutic mammaplasty (TM) is a useful technique in the armamentarium of the oncoplastic breast surgeon (OBS). There is limited guidance on patient selection, technique, coding, and management of involved margins. The practices of OBS in England remain unknown. Methods. Questionnaires were sent to all OBS involved with the Training Interface Group. We assessed the number of TM cases performed per surgeon, criteria for patient selection, pedicle preference, contralateral symmetrisation, use of routine preoperative MRI, management of involved margins, and clinical coding. Results. We had an overall response rate of 43%. The most common skin resection technique utilised was wise pattern followed by vertical scar. Superior-medial pedicle was preferred by the majority of surgeons (62%) followed by inferior pedicle (34%). Twenty percent of surgeons would always proceed to a mastectomy following an involved margin, whereas the majority would offer reexcision based on several parameters. The main absolute contraindication to TM was tumour to breast ratio >50%. One in five surgeons would not perform TM in smokers and patients with multifocal disease. Discussion. There is a wide variation in the practice of TM amongst OBS. Further research and guidance would be useful to standardise practice, particularly management of involved margins and coding for optimal reimbursement.

Background Rates of contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (CRRM) are rising, despite a decreasing global incidence of contralateral breast cancer. Reasons for requesting this procedure are complex, and we have previously shown a variable practice amongst breast and plastic surgeons in England. We propose a protocol, based on a published systematic review, a national UK survey and the Manchester experience of CRRM. Methods We reviewed the literature for risk factors for contralateral breast cancer and have devised a 5-step process that includes history taking, calculating contralateral breast cancer risk, cooling off period/counselling, multi-disciplinary assessment and consent. Members of the multi-disciplinary team included the breast surgeon, plastic surgeon and geneticist, who formulated guidelines. Results A simple formula to calculate the life-time risk of contralateral breast cancer has been devised. This allows stratification of breast cancer patients into different risk-groups: low, above average, moderate and high risk. Recommendations vary according to different risk groups. Conclusion These guidelines are a useful tool for clinicians counselling women requesting CRRM. Risk assessment is mandatory in this group of patients, and our formula allows evidence-based recommendations to be made.

This thesis assesses the main risk factors contributing to contralateral breast cancer(CBC) amongst high-risk breast cancer patients with a view to formulating clinicallyuseful guidelines. The work has focused on several keys areas; a literature review ofthe various factors contributing to CBC, changing trends towards increasingnumbers of contralateral risk-reducing mastectomies (CRRMs), internationalvariations amongst breast surgeons' attitudes towards risk-reducing mastectomy(RRM), attitudes towards CRRM amongst UK breast and plastic surgeons,assessment of CBC risk amongst BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and finally theformation of the 'Manchester Guidelines for CRRM'.Breast cancer patients harbouring mutations in high penetrance genes (i.e. BRCA1/2,TP53, CHEK2, PALB) have the highest risk of developing breast cancer. A positivefamily history also increases the risk of subsequent breast cancer, with not muchevidence to support variation in risk with histological type. Risk reducing strategiesinclude anti-endocrine treatment, risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy(RRBSO) and CRRM with the former likely to account for the global trend ofdecreasing rates of CBC.Over the last decade, rates of CRRM have trebled in the USA - such a clear trendhas not yet been confirmed in Europe. Factors driving this trend include young ageat diagnosis, histological type (lobular carcinoma, lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS]and ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) and female surgeons. A direct comparison(USA v 4 European countries) found that American surgeons overall had a greaterknowledge of cancer genetics and nearly all (including Dutch and British surgeons)had positive attitudes towards RRM.A proportion of British surgeons were quoting inaccurate levels of CBC risk to theirpatients. Practices in the UK varied regarding CRRM - only 58% of surgeons alwaysdiscussed these cases in the MDT, with less than a third ever seeking apsychological or formal genetic assessment. Surgeons primarily offered thisprocedure to high-risk patients (gene mutation carriers or positive family history)but felt that the main reason patients requested CRRM was to alleviate anxiety.Studying over 1000 breast cancer patients who also had a mutation in either BRCA1or BRCA2 gene revealed that the risk of CBC was approximately 2-3% per year, forat least 2 decades. Young age at first breast cancer development (

BRCA1 carriers with high grade triple negative cancers are known to do better with aggressive treatment. 5 Additionally, if the threshold for genetic testing is lowered, we may not have sufficient resources to provide complex reconstructions.Knowledge of mutation status undoubtedly affects subsequent treatments, including adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment and reconstructive options, but the threshold for genetic testing must be clearly determined.

Isolated duodenal injury due to blunt abdominal trauma is extremely rare. We present a series of three such injuries due to go-karting accidents, which presented to our hospital over 5 months. Between October 2007 and February 2008, three cases of D3/D4 duodenal rupture presented to our hospital after go-karting accidents. Trauma occurred as a result of the steering wheel impacting on the abdomen. All patients presented similarly with symptoms of epigastric and right upper quadrant pain. In all cases, computed tomography scanning was highly suggestive of duodenal injury and, in particular, demonstrated presence of retroperitoneal air centred around the duodenum. Treatment required laparotomy and operative repair in all cases. Duodenal injury presents insidiously due to its retroperitoneal position. A low threshold for investigating patients presenting with epigastric and right upper quadrant pain should be adopted along with active clinical vigilance to exclude serious and life-threatening trauma after go-karting accidents.

Introduction - Morphine is used regularly in day surgery despite its known side-effects. We assessed whether this delayed discharge. Patients and methods - 100 patients were divided into 2 groups: 50 patients received morphine and 50 patients received non-morphine analgesia. Demographic data and reasons for delayed discharge were recorded. Results – 73% of all major cases received morphine compared to only 19% of minor cases. Operative and recovery times were significantly greater in the morphine group. 58% of patients given morphine had a delayed discharge compared to 14% of patients not given morphine. Conclusions - Morphine use in day surgery is associated with increased operating and recovery times and higher rates of delayed discharge.

BACKGROUND: Multi-transfused thalassemic children are at higher risk of acquiring transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). There are limited data available on TTIs among thalassemic children, especially on its impact on their quality of life (QoL). AIM: The aim of this study is to find out the proportion of multi-transfused β-thalassemia major (β-TM) children suffering from TTIs, its risk factors and impact on QoL. METHODS: This was a hospital-based, analytical observational study, cross-sectional in design, conducted among 328 β-TM children and their caregivers attending thalassemia day care unit of a medical college during May 2015-April 2016, with a structured schedule. Data were analyzed with appropriate statistical methods using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS: Two-fifth (39.9%) of them were found to have TTIs with hepatitis C being the most common (34.5%), followed by hepatitis B (4.5%) and human immunodeficiency virus (1.8%). In the multivariable model, place of residence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] - 2.23 [1.19-4.17]), per capita monthly family income (AOR - 1.84 [1.10-3.07]), and blood transfusion frequency (AOR - 1.19 [1.10-1.29]) were significant predictors of TTIs adjusted with their age, age at diagnosis, last pretransfusional hemoglobin level, size of spleen, and caregivers knowledge regarding the disease. The study participants with TTIs had a lower QoL compared to others as there were significant differences in between the total QoL scores ([49.9 ± 15.6 vs. 57.4 ± 15.5], P ≤ 0.001) and its various domains. CONCLUSION: There was high burden of TTIs among multi-transfused β-TM children and it has significant negative impact on their quality of lives.

Caregivers are the persons who provide care at the time of distress or illness. They face many stress and strain to provide the best possible medical care for their children. There are very few studies that explored the care-related quality of life (CarerQoL) of the caregivers of thalassemic children and its correlates. With this background, the current study was designed to explore the CarerQoL of the caregivers of β -Thalassemia Major ( β -TM) children and its various correlates. It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among caregivers of β -TM children attending a tertiary care health facility of Eastern India in between May 2016 and April 2017 with a structured schedule. The median CarerQoL score was found to be 5 with an interquartile range of 4–7 (range: 11). In the final multivariable logistic regression model, care receivers’ (thalassemic children) age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.2 (1.2–4.2)], spleen status [AOR: 4.1 (2.0–8.7)], blood transfusion frequency [AOR: 2.1 (1.1–3.9)], and quality of life (QoL) [AOR: 3.0 (1.6–5.5)] and caregivers’ educational level [AOR: 2.3 (1.2–4.1)], perceived social discrimination [AOR: 2.3 (1.3–4.1)], debt [AOR: 2.3 (1.2–4.3)], nongovernmental organization assistance [AOR: 2.0 (1.0–4.0)], and wage loss due to seeking treatment [AOR: 1.9 (1.1–3.4)] were significant predictors of CarerQoL of the study participants adjusted with their age, sex, working status, per-capita monthly income, knowledge level related to the disease, and care receivers’ comorbidity status. To conclude, CarerQoL of the study participants were significantly associated with QoL of their wards. Other significant associates of CarerQoL were caregivers’ education level, financial profile, patients’ age, and their clinico-therapeutic profile.