We realise there is a considerable amount of uncertainty at the moment with the Corona virus outbreak. Much of the advice relates to minimising the risk of transmission by limiting contact between people. This, of course, could also apply to hospital visits. We continue to follow the advice laid out by the government and healthcare […]

Inguinal hernia repair and controversies in the use of mesh Comment on recent article : Chronic pain after surgery is a very topical subject and one of the commonest questions I am fielding in clinics surrounds the use of mesh. This is a controversial subject that has featured in the national press in recent times. […]

Andrew Davies, a Consultant General Surgeon at Spire Clare Park, Farnham and Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, explains why gallstones cause so much trouble. Unless you’ve had gallstones (or alternatively kidney stones or been through labour) it is almost impossible to appreciate just how painful this common condition can be. About 15% of […]

Comment on recent publication : Surgical margin assessment in oesophageal cancer surgery is a controversial subject. Because the oesophagus is surrounded by vital anatomical structures (heart, airway, aorta) the boundaries of surgical resection are limited. Obtaining a clear margin is important for prognosis and this study demonstrates that the greater the margin, the better the […]

Comment on recent publication : Understanding recurrence patterns after cancer surgery is very important because it provides an understanding of where treatments are failing and what improvements in decision making could improve outcomes. In this large series of consecutive patients treated at Guy’s & St Thomas’, key predictors of both local and systemic relapse were […]

Comment on recent publication : A invited review article on optimisation of patients for oesophageal cancer treatment. Historically there was a focus on enhanced recovery following surgery (i.e. structured programmes that aim to set targets for patients on a daily basis to help their recovery after surgery). Increasingly there is an appreciation that preparing patients […]

Comment on recent publication : A collaboration to develop and validate a gene signature to predict prognosis in UGI cancer patients. Identifying groups that have very poor survival after surgery is crucial to improve decision making. A patient that recurs and dies within 12 months of their operation seldom recovers their quality of life after […]

The 6th annual Houses of Parliament Upper GI research day was hosted by the surgical team at St Thomas’. Once again there was an excellent turnout from South East London and Kent, consisting of surgeons, anaesthetists, oncologists, gastroenterologists, dietitians, physiotherapists and nurse specialists amongst others. Additionally we welcomed surgeons and oncologists from outside the region […]

Comment on recent publication : One of the first studies to examine the response to chemotherapy in lymph nodes (rather than the primary tumour itself) in oesophageal cancer. Published in the British Journal of Surgery. This is an important study because it challenges conventional assessments of chemotherapy response which is one of the most important […]