ANZ journal of surgery
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ANZ journal of surgery · Oct 2014
Long-term clinical outcomes of selective segmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion combined with posterior spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis.
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of this technique for degenerative scoliosis (DS). ⋯ Selective segmental transforaminal interbody fusion combined with posterior-instrumented spinal fusion appears to have reasonable long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes for the treatment of DS.
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ANZ journal of surgery · Sep 2014
Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality: concordance between reported and audited clinical events and delays in management in surgical mortality patients.
The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM) is a nationwide confidential peer review of deaths associated with surgical care. This study assesses the concordance between treating surgeons and peer reviewers in reporting clinical events and delays in management. ⋯ There is significant discordance between treating surgeons and assessors. This suggests the need for in-depth analysis and possible refinement of the audit process.
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ANZ journal of surgery · Sep 2014
Clinical TrialPrinted quit-pack sent to surgical patients at time of waiting list placement improved perioperative quitting.
This study aimed to measure the effects of sending a smoking cessation 'quit-pack' to all patients placed on the elective surgical waiting list. ⋯ Smoking cessation outcomes before elective surgery are significantly improved by systematic application of a printed intervention delivered at time of wait list placement that encourages and supports perioperative quitting.
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ANZ journal of surgery · Jul 2014
ReviewDo medical procedures in the arm increase the risk of lymphoedema after axillary surgery? A review.
Lymphoedema of the arm is a potentially serious consequence of any axillary procedure performed during the management of breast cancer. In an attempt to reduce its incidence and severity, patients are instructed to avoid venepunctures and blood pressure measurements on the treated arm. These precautions are not possible in some patients and attempts to adhere to them can cause discomfort, anxiety and stress for both patients and their health-care workers. ⋯ With this evidence generally being anecdotal in nature, there appears to be no rigorous evidence-based support for the risk-reduction behaviours of avoiding blood pressure monitoring and venepuncture in the affected arm in the prevention of lymphoedema after axillary procedure. A clinical trial was proposed to investigate whether such avoidance measures were valuable, but failed during its inception. There remains a need for research from prospective trials on this controversial topic to determine the most appropriate patient recommendations that should be provided after axillary procedure regarding the risks for development of lymphoedema.