No abstract

No abstract

The introduction of a standardized proforma for reporting CRC resection specimens improves the quality of histopathological reporting. This aids decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy and further surveillance.

Ann RC oll Surg Engl 2008; 90:5 71-576 571The term complementary and alternativem edicine (CAM) encompassesaw ide range of health-related therapies, The The erm complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompassesaw ide rangeo fh ealth-related therapies, which are often considered outside mainstreambiomedical practice. There is ample evidence to suggestt hat CAM use in the Westerns ociety has increased steadily.AU Ss tudy found that 43% of almost 500 ambulatory surgical patients had consumed some type of CAM duringthe 2weeksprior to surgery. 2 Some products werek nown to have coagulation or cardiovascular effects. An Irish study reported that1 2% of day-case surgery patients wereu sing herbal medicine at thet ime of admission and most patients failed to report thistothe surgical team. To date, no studies have investigated the use of CAM in surgical patients in the Scottish healthcare setting. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and pattern of CAM use in ac onsecutives ample of patients admitted to three surgical units, at amajor regionalhospital in North-East Scotland. Patients and MethodsAt otal of 450 consecutive patients admitted to general, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery wards in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary,S cotland during June and July 2005 were provided with aq uestionnaire along with an information sheet, and were invited to participate. Invitation was restrictedt op atients aged 16 years or older and help was provided to non-English speaking patients as needed.The questionnaire included: at ick-list of 48 common herbal preparations and alternative therapies; items on age, sex, marital status, education, reason for use, opinion on CAM efficacy and whether their general practitioner (GP) had knowledge of their CAM use. The questionnaire was piloted and modified prior to distribution. Reason for admission was recorded from medical records. As ample size of 385 patients was calculated to detect a2 0% prevalence (± 95% confidence interval) of CAM use. Statistical analysisData were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS v13.0. Descriptive statistics were used to explore ever versus never use of CAM by demographics, including age, sex, marital status and education. Education level was analysed as university or college, school qualification only