ANZ journal of surgery
-
Surgical mentors have helped trainees develop fulfilling and academically productive careers, while supervisors are formally assigned to impart skills and oversee training. This paper reviews the comparative roles of the supervisor and mentor and how they overlap, while exploring the impact of the 'unknown' mentor. While the supervisor's role in directing the student is formally recognized, the mentee will personally select a mentor who successfully models the career and life balance to which the mentee aspires. ⋯ Confusion between the two roles - mentor and supervisor - is due to their complementary nature as well as an overlap in roles. Both remain essential to the growth and development of the surgical trainee. The unknown mentor could give detached advice and guidance to the student, while acting as a positive role model.
-
ANZ journal of surgery · Mar 2015
Comparative StudyLaparoscopic versus robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: an Australian single-surgeon series.
In Australia, robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has steadily replaced open and laparoscopic surgery in the management of localized prostate cancer. Given the increased cost of this technology, we aimed to compare the perioperative, pathological, oncological and functional outcomes as well as short-term complications of laparoscopic and RARP. ⋯ We conclude from our single-surgeon comparative series that the robotic approach results in a significantly shorter length of hospital stay and improved 12 months continence rates and demonstrated a trend towards better potency rates. Complications, positive surgical margin rates and the requirement for adjuvant therapy are all improved with the robotic approach but did not show statistically significant differences.
-
ANZ journal of surgery · Jan 2015
Review Meta AnalysisEpidural versus local anaesthetic infiltration via wound catheters in open liver resection: a meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis was designed to systematically analyse all published studies comparing local anaesthetic infiltration with wound catheters and epidural catheters in open liver resection. ⋯ Local anaesthetic infiltration via wound catheters combined with patient-controlled opiate analgesia provides comparable pain relief to epidural catheters except for the first POD. Both techniques are associated with similar hospital stay and opioid use with wound catheters associated with lower complication rate.
-
ANZ journal of surgery · Jan 2015
Outcomes from the Northern Territory Audit of Surgical Mortality: Aboriginal deaths.
A significant 'gap' in life expectancy exists for Australian Aboriginal people. The role of surgical care in this gap has been poorly addressed. This study has compared in-hospital surgical deaths of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons in order to identify patient factors plus deficiencies of care that may have contributed to the gap. ⋯ A large gap of 12 years exists for age at death between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons admitted as surgical patients in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal persons had significantly more co-morbidities at time of death, particularly diabetes, renal and hepatic disease. No significant discrepancies of surgical care were identified between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons.