ANZ journal of surgery
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created a global pandemic. Surgical care has been impacted, with concerns raised around surgical safety, especially in terms of laparoscopic versus open surgery. Due to potential aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, precautions during aerosol-generating procedures and production of surgical plume are paramount for the safety of surgical teams. ⋯ As a result of the rapid review, evidence-based guidance has been produced to support safe surgical practice.
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The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused the COVID-19 global pandemic. In response, the Australian and New Zealand governments activated their respective emergency plans and hospital frameworks to deal with the potential increased demand on scarce resources. Surgical triage formed an important part of this response to protect the healthcare system's capacity to respond to COVID-19. ⋯ During the COVID-19 pandemic, urgent and emergency surgery must continue. A carefully staged return of elective surgery should align with a decrease in COVID-19 caseload. Combining evidence and expert opinion, schemas and recommendations have been proposed to guide this process in Australia and New Zealand.
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ANZ journal of surgery · Jun 2020
Basic study on improvement of plastic drape adhesion for surgery: effect of adhesive layer thickness on drape detachment from wound edge.
Plastic drapes are used in surgery for a wide range of purposes, but currently marketed drapes often become detached from the wound edge during surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate adhesive layer thickness for optimal peel and shear strength and the smallest peeled area to improve surgical drape wound adhesion. ⋯ It is possible to control the peeling of plastic drapes during surgery by limiting the peeled area at the time of cutting. Three-hundred micrometres is the suitable adhesive layer thickness to minimize the peeled area at cutting.
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ANZ journal of surgery · Jun 2020
Evaluation of communication to general practitioners when opioid-naïve post-surgical patients are discharged from hospital on opioids.
To address the opioid crisis, much work has focused on minimizing opioid supply to surgical patients upon hospital discharge. Research is limited regarding handover to primary care providers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the communication of post-operative opioid prescribing information provided by hospitals to general practitioners (GPs). ⋯ When opioid-naive patients are discharged from hospital on opioids, communication from hospitals to GPs is poor. Future interventions should focus on strategies to improve this.