Natural language processing for the automated detection of intra-operative elements in lumbar spine surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to conduct automated identification of incidental durotomy, wound drains, and the use of sutures or skin clips for wound closure, in free text operative notes of patients following lumbar surgery.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective case series analysis was conducted between January 2015 and June 2022, analysing operative notes of patients aged >18 years who underwent a primary lumbar discectomy and/or decompression at any lumbar level. Extreme gradient-boosting NLP algorithms were developed and assessed on five performance metrics: accuracy, area under receiver-operating curve (AUC), positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, and Brier score.

Temporal trends in neurosurgical volume and length of stay in a public healthcare system: A decade in review with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Over the past decade, neurosurgical interventions have experienced changes in operative frequency and postoperative length of stay (LOS), with the recent COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacting these metrics. Evaluating these trends in a tertiary National Health Service center provides insights into the impact of surgical practices and health policy on LOS and is essential for optimizing healthcare management decisions.

Methods: This was a single tertiary center retrospective case series analysis of neurosurgical procedures from 2012 to 2022.

Permanent hair loss associated with taxane chemotherapy use in breast cancer: A retrospective survey at two tertiary UK cancer centres.

Purpose: Taxane chemotherapy is commonly used in the management of breast cancer. Hair loss (alopecia) is an expected side effect which may have a significant effect on quality of life. Alopecia is normally temporary but permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (pCIA) is increasingly recognised especially following docetaxel chemotherapy.

Comparison of portable blood-warming devices under simulated pre-hospital conditions: a randomised in-vitro blood circuit study.

Pre-hospital transfusion of blood products is a vital component of many advanced pre-hospital systems. Portable fluid warmers may be utilised to help prevent hypothermia, but the limits defined by manufacturers often do not reflect their clinical use. The primary aim of this randomised in-vitro study was to assess the warming performance of four portable blood warming devices (Thermal Angel, Hypotherm X LG, °M Warmer, Buddy Lite) against control at different clinically-relevant flow rates.