Over a thousand ambulatory hernia repairs in a primary care setting.

Introduction: This paper outlines the development and feasibility of a dedicated ambulatory primary care hernia service and examines the outcomes achieved during the period 1 March 2005 to 31 December 2008.

Patients And Methods: A prospective analysis of 1164 patients who underwent abdominal wall hernia repair at Probus Surgical Centre during the study period. The operations were carried out by two GPs with a special interest (GPwSI) and one retired surgeon.

Early relief of osteoarthritis symptoms with a natural mineral supplement and a herbomineral combination: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN38432711].

Background: This study was designed to determine if a natural mineral supplement, sierrasil, alone and in combination with a cat's claw extract (Uncaria guianensis), vincaria, has therapeutic potential in mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.

Methods: Patients (n = 107) with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups; high dose sierrasil (3 g/day), low dose sierrasil (2 g/day), low dose sierrasil (2 g/day) + cat's claw extract (100 mg/day) or placebo, administered for 8 weeks. Treatment was double blinded.

Feasibility study of hernia surgery in a general practice setting.

Background: In the early 1990s, waiting times for some surgical procedures and opinions for such routine problems as groin hernia repair were unacceptably long. General practitioners with a special interest (GPwSIs) in general surgery may improve this, but little evidence exists as to whether such service developments may improve efficiency and effectiveness of care.

Aims: To reduce the waiting time by offering a surgical service from a general practice setting without compromising on quality and safety of patient care.

A prospective comparison of bubble and membrane oxygenators in short and long perfusions.

In operations with perfusion times longer than 90 min, a hollow-fibre membrane oxygenator causes less damage to red cells and platelets than a standard bubble oxygenator. There is also a trend towards less post-operative pulmonary shunting when a membrane oxygenator is employed.

Primary carcinoma of female urethra: review of 20 cases.

Twenty patients of primary urethral carcinoma in females are presented. Age group affected was between 40 and 60 years. Vague symptoms in early stage delayed the diagnosis in most patients.