s / International Journal of Surgery 8 (2010) 501–578 540 therapy. We also studied the effect of patients' awareness as a possible tool to reduce the prevalence of errors. Prospective follow-up of 500 adult patients admitted for elective-surgery and were subjected to thromboprophylaxis therapy during peri-operative period. Data were collected on daily base, computed and analyzed. Failure of thromboprophylaxis application was recorded in 46%,48.59%,51.43% among those required stocking, Enoxeparine and heparin . Analysis proved that 93% of patients had at least one-error, 77% a combined error while 37.08% failed to be mobilized when appropriate. Patients who were aware of the value of therapy had remarkably less prevalence of errors(p 40.1]. Results: 39 patients were classed as underweight, 1513 normal, 2807 overweight, 1451 Obese, and 73morbidly obese. The median postoperative stay for all patients was 7 days, spending one day in ICU and HDU. The Mean length of stay was 15 days for the underweight group, 14 days for the normal group and 11 days for the other three groups. The morbidly obese spent more hours ventilated in CSICU at a mean of 16 hours. The discharge day was broken down into groups. Morbidly obese patients who get discharged day 0 to 4 have a lowmean Euroscore [1.73], if they are discharged after day 11 the Euroscore is significantly higher[6.76]. Conclusions: The median time to discharge when operating on patients with a BMI greater than 25 is not significantly increased from normal patients. ANATOMICAL VARIATION IN THE POSITION OF THE UMBILICUS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY D. Fawkner-Corbett , J.A. Nicholson , T. Bullen , P. Cross , D. Bailey , M.H. Scott . 1 University of Liverpool Medical School; Department of General Surgery, Whiston, Merseyside Background: In current surgical practice the umbilicus is accepted as being in a constant position at the midpoint of the abdomen. This is the rationale for the umbilicus being selected for the initial port in conventional laparoscopic surgery and the sole port employed in single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We propose the umbilicus is not an anatomical constant and thus should be reconsidered as an automatic insertion point in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: 119 patients were prospectively recruited in a surgical outpatient clinic over a four week period. A ratio of xiphoid process to umbilicus and xiphoid process to pubic symphysis was calculated for each (SUM value). Height, weight and presence of abdominal scars were also recorded. The populations mean age was 49.6 years (31.4-67.8). There was an equal male:female ratio. Results: Results found a mean SUM value of 0.53(0.46-0.60), 58% had a “central” umbilicus (SUM 0.50 0.05). Of the remaining 42%, 34% had a “low” umbilicus (SUM 1⁄4 0.56) and 8% a “high” umbilicus (SUM 1⁄4 0.44). Conclusion: Results show a large proportion of subjects had a central umbilicus but this was by no means an anatomical constant. Large variation was demonstrated which has implications for more accurate initial camera port placement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. “BARE BELOW THE ELBOWS” – PROFESSIONALISM VS INFECTION RISK J. Baxter, O. Dale, J. Morgan, A. Morritt, J. Pollock. Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Objectives: In 2007 the Department of Health published the document “Uniforms and Workwear: An evidence base for developing local policy” which is the basis for the national “bare below the elbows” dress code. Our study aimed to establish what the public think about hospital work-wear with regard to professionalism and infection risk. Methods: 480 hospital patients and visitors were surveyed. They were shown photographs of male doctors in three examples of work-wear: surgical scrubs, shirt and tie and bare below the elbows. They were asked to select which best answered each question: 1) Who do you think looks the most professional? 2) Who do you think poses the greatest risk of transmitting a hospital infection to you? 3) How would you like your doctor to dress? Results: Question 1) Shirt and tie 77%, scrubs 22%, bare below the elbows 1% (p 0.05). Question 3) Shirt and tie 64%, scrubs 33%, bare below the elbows 3% (p < 0.01).