Enhancing bowel screening: Preventing colorectal cancer by flexible sigmoidoscopy in New Zealand.

Objectives: The prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) attainable from introducing once-in-a-lifetime flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) screening was assessed.

Study Design: This is a review of relevant available information for the assessment of the impact and resource demands of FSIG in New Zealand.

Methods: The reduction in bowel cancer incidence achievable by one-off FSIG screening from 50 to 59 years of age, an age group for which bowel screening is not currently offered, was reviewed.

Oncoplastic breast surgery in Australia and New Zealand-2014 and beyond.

Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is an established field of surgery bringing together oncological and reconstructive principles to the surgical management of breast disease, which is yet to make inroads into some areas of Australia and New Zealand (A&NZ). Both patients and medical fraternity are supportive of these approaches and improved quality of life and aesthetic outcomes resulting from their application. Oncological outcomes have been shown to be no different when these oncoplastic approaches are utilised.

Oncoplastic breast surgery: a regional Australian 2012 fellowship experience.

Introduction: Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is a developing subspecialty, although many countries are struggling with how to incorporate training in OBS as part of the established breast surgery subspecialization pathways. UK and Brazil have surged ahead with established formal training programmes, whereas countries such as Australia still rely on ad hoc training by interested surgeons. Our aim was to review the possibility of including regional training centres with appropriate OBS expertise into a future formal training programme in OBS.

The iliopubic tract: an important anatomical landmark in surgery.

A band of fascial thickening, termed the iliopubic tract, lies on the posterior aspect of the inguinal region and has been described in the surgical literature as playing an important role during herniorraphy. This study was undertaken to examine the gross and microscopic anatomy of the iliopubic tract in 12 cadavers. The results confirmed that the iliopubic tract can be readily identified as a thickening of the transversalis fascia running deep and parallel to the inguinal ligament.

An audit of pancreatic pseudocyst management and the role of endoscopic pancreatography.

Background: A rational algorithm for the management of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts is necessary with the increasing availability of radiological, surgical and endoscopic methods of treatment.

Methods: A retrospective audit of the management and outcome of all patients who presented with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts to the Auckland Hospital over a 9-year period (1988-96) was made.

Results: There were 44 patients (28 men, 16 women; median age 50; range 18-81) in this series.

Lap seat belt injuries.

Over a 4 month period, three patients presented acutely to Whangarei Area Hospital after receiving severe abdominal injuries caused directly by lap seat belts. They were involved in road traffic crashes and were all seated in the middle rear seat of the car. The aim of this paper is to alert people to the injuries that can occur from two point lap belts.

Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy--what is the correct incision?

Aim: To retrospectively review Starship's complication rates of the vertical midline incision and transverse right upper quadrant incision in Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy.

Method: A retrospective chart and operation note review over a seven and a half year period of all infants having a Ramstedt's pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis at Auckland Hospital.

Results: Of 140 patients there were 117 transverse and 18 midline incisions (with 5 exclusions).