Publications by authors named "A McCombie"
Background: Advancement in endovascular endografts have paved the way to the possibility of performing endovascular aortic arch repair in recent years. This has started to supersede the need for open aortic arch surgery. There remains a paucity of data looking into the quality of life comparison between open aortic arch surgery and endovascular aortic arch repair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Early onset rectal cancer (EORC) is increasing internationally. While EORC cancer presents with some distinct clinical features, there is currently insufficient evidence that age of onset should alter treatment. This study examines treatment patterns for EO versus late-onset (LO) metastatic rectal cancer in Canterbury, New Zealand, to better understand appropriate treatment strategies and there effect on patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Sessile serrated lesions (SSL) are linked to up to 30% of colorectal cancers, and their true incidence may have been underestimated due to past classification and colonoscopy limitations.
- A study conducted in Canterbury, New Zealand, over one year reviewed colonoscopy records and found that 18.6% of patients had at least one SSL excised among 4,346 procedures.
- Results indicated that SSLs comprised 24% of all polyps removed, were mostly found in the right colon, and were typically smaller than 10 mm, suggesting SSL detection should be prioritized in future screenings.
Introduction: The bidirectional relationship between disease activity and mental health in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has prompted investigations into the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on biopsychosocial outcomes. We aimed to examine the efficacy of an ACT program (intervention) in comparison with a cognitive behavioral therapy-informed psychoeducation program (active control) for individuals with IBD and coexistent psychological distress. Both programs were delivered online through a hybrid format (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To assess the equity of care of patients with non-traumatic dental presentations (NTDP) to Christchurch Emergency Department (ED) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Methods: This retrospective observational study reviews NTDP to Christchurch ED over a 2-year period (2018-2020). ED and hospital outcomes were compared for Māori, Pacific peoples and NZ Europeans.