Effective peer review audit and identification of the surgeon outlier.

Background: Surgical audit aims to identify ways to maintain and improve the quality of care for patients, in part by assessment of a surgeon's activities and outcomes. However effective data systems to facilitate audit are uncommon. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a tool for Peer Review Audit.

The associations of factors with previous alcohol use in the Northern Territory compared to other states - an observational study.

Background: Data on previous alcohol use in surgical patients who died in the Northern Territory (NT) are lacking and have important public health implications.

Methods: The prevalence of previous alcohol (ab)use among surgical patients who died (n=560) was assessed in patients within the Northern Territory and the remainder of Australia (n=28,245) over nine years.

Results: The likelihood of previous alcohol use (21.

Two-year outcomes from the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Laparotomy Audit-Quality Improvement pilot study.

Background: The aim of the Australian and New Zealand Emergency Laparotomy Audit-Quality Improvement (ANZELA-QI) pilot study was to determine (i) the outcomes of emergency laparotomy (EL) and (ii) the feasibility of a national, multi-disciplinary quality improvement (QI) project based on a bundle of evidence-based care standards.

Methods: An online database was created using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) programme. National ethics approval with waiver of consent was obtained.

Early discharge of patients with acute pancreatitis to enhanced outpatient care.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common cause for hospital admission, but some patients have a prolonged stay. The aim of this study was to identify patients with mild AP who had a prolonged hospital stay, who potentially could be discharged at day 2 to enhanced outpatient care.

Methods: Data was retrospectively collected on all patients admitted to the Royal Darwin Hospital between May 2016 and February 2017 with a diagnosis of mild AP to identify factors that may safely predict early discharge to enhanced outpatient care.

Low Concentration of Sodium Butyrate from Ultrabraid+NaBu suture, Promotes Angiogenesis and Tissue Remodelling in Tendon-bones Injury.

Sodium butyrate (NaBu), a form of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), acts classically as a potent anti-angiogenic agent in tumour angiogenesis models, some authors demonstrated that low concentrations of NaBu may contribute to healing of tendon-bone injury in part at least through promotion of tissue remodelling. Here, we investigated the effects of low-range concentrations of NaBu using in vitro and in vivo assays using angiogenesis as the primary outcome measure and the mechanisms through which it acts. We demonstrated that NaBu, alone or perfused from the UltraBraid+NaBu suture was pro-angiogenic at very low-range doses promoting migration, tube formation and cell invasion in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs).

Is Gastric Banding Appropriate in Indigenous Or Remote-Dwelling Persons?

Background: Gastric banding has been promoted as less suitable for indigenous persons or persons who live remotely as it requires in person follow-up for band adjustment and may have higher rates of reoperation. This study assessed being an indigenous Australian or living remotely (but not both) on outcomes following gastric banding.

Methods: Data was prospectively recorded on all 559 patients who underwent gastric banding by one surgeon at one private hospital in Darwin, between February 1998 and August 2014.

Emergency neurosurgery by general surgeons at a remote major hospital.

Background: Due to the geographical remoteness of Darwin, which has no resident neurosurgeon, emergency transfer of patients for neurosurgery is usually impractical. In Darwin emergency neurosurgery must be undertaken by general surgeons.

Methods: Data from the operating theatre, Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit were prospectively recorded on all patients who underwent an emergency neurosurgical procedure between January 1992 and June 2004.

Prediction of failure of native arteriovenous fistulas using 'on-line' fistula flow measurements.

Background: Measurement of blood flow within native arteriovenous fistula during haemodialysis is recommended to detect incipient fistula failure. In the present study the value of such flow measurements was assessed in a group of patients on maintenance haemodialysis, with access via native arteriovenous fistulas.

Methods: Flow was measured using the 'on-line' thermodilution technique, on three separate occasions, and correlated with subsequent fistula failure within 6 months.

Confidence limits of arteriovenous fistula flow rate measured by the "on-line" thermodilution technique.

Background: A method is presented for estimating the confidence limits (CLs), or accuracy, of the arteriovenous fistula flow rate measured at haemodialysis by the "on-line" thermodilution technique.

Methods: This was by derivation of an expression to estimate what variance a set of repeated measures of flow would yield, using values pertaining to a single measure of flow. (Laws of variance were applied to the formula used to calculate flow, to account for its variables' values and measurement errors.

Flipped out of control: single-vehicle rollover accidents in the Northern Territory.

Objectives: To study the incidence of and factors associated with single-vehicle rollover (SVRO) accidents in the "Top End" of the Northern Territory (NT); to identify factors associated with major injury and death from SVRO accidents.

Design: Retrospective analysis of records from the NT Department of Transport and Works' police database, Royal Darwin Hospital's trauma database, coroner's records, and case notes from public hospitals in the Top End.

Study Population: All patients involved in SVRO accidents in the Top End between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997 whose accident was documented by the police, who attended a public hospital, or who died.

Risks to feet in the top end: outcomes of diabetic foot complications.

Background: The foot complications of diabetes are severe, disabling, costly and common in the Northern Territory. An understanding of the pathogenesis, the disease spectrum and treatment efficacy, however, is poor. The patterns of disease are documented in the present study; factors associated with good and poor outcomes are identified; and improved management strategies are proposed.