The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery
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Historical Article
The John Graham Extrication Prize: its history and importance.
Management of Severe Trauma Coursersef Severe Trauma (EMST) course is unique in providing instructive exposure to techniques used in the extrication of severely injured victims from difficult locations using a role play method. Dr John C. Graham FRACS, vascular surgeon in Lismore, was responsible for the initiation of this concept in 1989. Since this component of the trauma course is not used in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course in the USA, from which the EMST course was derived, the purpose of the present study is to determine the opinions of all EMST course directors as to the value of including an extrication scenario station in the EMST course in its current form in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ The extrication station is considered constructive by the great majority of EMST directors. Both historical and competitive aspects are important since most directors still award a named prize for this station. The extrication station promotes a feeling of cohesion among Faculty and participants on an EMST course. The station is a memorable event for many participants and should be retained as a uniquely Australasian contribution to the course.
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The purpose of this study was to create a system of mass casualty incident triage that provides a common language platform for both ambulance and hospital personnel based upon standard daily operating procedures for both groups. ⋯ The Homebush Triage Standard provides a basis for both seamless patient reassessment at all points along the casualty evacuation chain and the audit of the medical response to mass casualty incidents. It allows hospital and ambulance staff to keep working using familiar routines and removes fundamental barriers to good communication during a time of crisis.
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Editorial Comment
Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer and diet in Australia.
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With the trend towards conservation in splenic trauma, the ability to identify a group of patients for whom we can safely offer conservative treatment becomes an important factor. ⋯ Although these results did not reach statistical significance, by coupling the trends seen together with other work, CT grading of splenic injury is a predictive indicator and does appear to have a role in the early allocation of patients to appropriate treatment plans.
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Biography Historical Article
Thomas Peel Dunhill: pioneer thyroid surgeon.
Thomas Peel Dunhill, a name by now almost completely forgotten in his native Australia, was born in 1876 near Kerang in the State of Victoria. Although he qualified as a pharmacist in 1898, Dunhill had already decided to study medicine and graduated in 1903 from the Clinical School of the Melbourne Hospital. He was regarded as an outstanding student. ⋯ Dunhill retired from surgical practice in 1949 and died at the age of 80 in 1957 at his London home. Many eulogies were delivered, especially by Sir James Paterson Ross and Sir Geoffrey Keynes, his former pupils. Dunhill's exploits as a thyroid surgeon in the development of a safe and effective treatment for thyrotoxicosis and in operating on the thyrocardiac enables this modest, courteous and loyal Australian to be included with Theodor Kocher, Charles Mayo, William Halsted and George Crile in the pantheon of pioneer thyroid surgeons.