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Khoon Hean Tay

Publications and source records attributed to Khoon Hean Tay.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Hartmann procedure: is it still relevant today?

BACKGROUND: With more and more centres worldwide resorting to primary anastomosis for most left sided colonic pathology, the place for a Hartmann procedure seems to be relegated to surgical history books. However, in our centre it is still being performed on a regular basis. As such, we decided to retrospectively look at our results for the procedure. METHODS: All hospital records of patients undergoing the Hartmann procedure between January 1998 and December 2001 were retrospectively analysed looking at demographics, comorbidities and indications of the procedure. RESULTS: There were 52 men and 33 women with a median age of 69 years (range 31-96 years). Sixty-six per cent of the patients had medical comorbidities at the time of the operation. The indications for performing the procedure were: 45 patients for cancer (31 patients for obstruction, 11 patients for perforation, two patients for fistulation to other organs and one for uncontrollable bleeding). 19 patients had the procedure for complicated diverticulitis while four patients had anastomotic leaks, which required conversion to the procedure. Other indications include trauma (four patients), ischemic bowel (six patients) and iatrogenic (one patient). Our median operating time was 160 min (range 50-415 min). Our reversal rate was 32%. Our mortality rate for the first stage was 16% and our morbidity, 51%. The morbidity for the reversal was 29%, with no mortalities. CONCLUSION: Though the idea of primary anastomosis with on table lavage for left sided anastomosis seems attractive, we think the Hartmann procedure is still useful for selected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an audit of our training programme.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a commonly performed procedure in general surgical practice but it also has an inherently steep learning curve. The training of surgeons in this procedure presents a challenge to teaching hospitals, which essentially have to strike a balance between effective training and safety of the patient. The present study aims first to assess the safety of the structured training programme for this procedure at the Department of Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. Secondly, it seeks to audit the conversion and bile duct injury rates among the laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by the department, and the factors which influence these. METHODS: Notes of all patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the department over an 18-month period were reviewed retrospectively and the relevant data prospectively collected. Demographics, as well as details of cases of conversion to open operation and of bile duct injury were identified and the reasons for each recorded. RESULTS: A total of 443 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the 18-month period. The most common indication for surgery was biliary colic/dyspepsia (61.4%), followed by cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis and common bile duct stone. The overall conversion rate was 11.5%. Three hundred and fifty-five patients were operated on by consultant surgeons, while 88 were by registrars who had been through the structured training programme. There was no statistically significant difference found in the conversion rates between these two groups (P = 0.284). Twenty-two of the 268 female (8.2%) patients had conversion to open operation, while 29 of the 175 male patients (16.6%) underwent conversion (P = 0.007). Amongst cases of cholecystitis and cholangitis, the conversion rate for patients operated on within 7 days of onset of symptoms was 35%, while those operated on 8 or more days later had a conversion rate of 29.7% (P = 0.639). There was a solitary case of bile duct injury among the 443 cases, equating to a bile duct injury rate of 0.23%. CONCLUSION: A structured training programme involving stepwise progression of training, with close supervision by consultant surgeons and a built-in system of audit can effectively train junior surgeons in laparoscopic cholecystectomy without exposing patients to undue risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Breast cancer in young Asian women: study on survival.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer in young patients is often associated with a poorer prognosis, but there has been a paucity of published data in an Asian population. METHODS: One hundred and six patients (12.6%) under the age of 40 years with breast cancer (group V) were compared with 737 patients with breast cancer aged 40 years or more (group W). Demographics, presentations, pathological profiles, treatment and survival measures were analysed. RESULTS: Median tumour size was similar in both groups. Group V had more patients with grade 3 tumours and nodal involvement compared to group W (51.5% vs 38.1%, P = 0.012 and 52.5% vs 41.8%, P = 0.045). The mean Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) score was significantly higher in group V compared to group W (4.75 vs 4.26, P < 0.001). The incidences of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in group V were higher than group W (69.2% vs 35.2%, P < 0.001 and 41.1% vs 24.4%, P = 0.002). There were no differences in overall survival and disease-free survival (local recurrence). CONCLUSION: Patients below 40 years with breast cancer have tumours with a poorer prognostic profile. However, this did not translate into a poorer overall survival, and this might be attributable to more aggressive adjuvant treatment of younger patients.

Adult↗