Measures of performance and proficiency in robotic assisted surgery: a systematic review.

Robotic assisted surgery (RAS) has seen a global rise in adoption. Despite this, there is not a standardised training curricula nor a standardised measure of performance. We performed a systematic review across the surgical specialties in RAS and evaluated tools used to assess surgeons' technical performance.

Utilising an accelerated Delphi process to develop consensus on the requirement and components of a pre-procedural core robotic surgery curriculum.

Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) continues to grow globally. Despite this, in the UK and Ireland, it is estimated that over 70% of surgical trainees across all specialities have no access to robot-assisted surgical training (RAST). This study aimed to provide educational stakeholders guidance on a pre-procedural core robotic surgery curriculum (PPCRC) from the perspective of the end user; the surgical trainee.

Risk of Recurrent Disease and Surgery Following an Admission for Acute Diverticulitis.

Background: Diverticular disease accounts for significant morbidity and mortality and may take the form of recurrent episodes of acute diverticulitis. The role of elective surgery is not clearly defined.

Objective: This study aimed to define the rate of hospital admission for recurrent acute diverticulitis and risk factors associated with recurrence and surgery.

Survival of autologous osteochondral grafts in the knee and factors influencing outcome.

The primary aim of this retrospective study was to determine the medium-term survival of autologous osteochondral grafts (mosaicplasty) in the knee. The secondary aims were to evaluate any reason for failure, and to ascertain if age, gender, BMI, previous or associated knee surgery, site or size of the osteochondral graft had any influence on outcome. Fifty-five patients undergoing an autologous osteochondral graft procedure between 1999 and 2008 were evaluated, with a mean follow-up of 5.

Patient and other factors influencing the prescribing of cardiovascular prevention therapy in the general practice setting with and without nurse assessment.

Background: Although guidelines indicate when patients are eligible for antihypertensives and statins, little is known about whether general practitioners (GPs) follow this guidance.

Objective: To determine the factors influencing GPs decisions to prescribe cardiovascular prevention drugs.

Design Of Study: Secondary analysis of data collected on patients whose cardiovascular risk factors were measured as part of a controlled study comparing nurse-led risk assessment (four practices) with GP-led risk assessment (two practices).