Postoperative Ketamine May be Associated with Venous Thromboembolism in Chronic Opioid Users After Spine Surgery.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious postoperative adverse event after spine surgery. In patients with pain refractory to typical multimodal analgesia regimens after spine surgery, whom are often chronic opioid users, perioperative ketamine is an alternative analgesic that has grown in popularity. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of VTE in chronic opioid users undergoing spine surgery.

Outcomes of asymptomatic common bile duct stones detected at intraoperative cholangiography.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of common bile duct stones (CBDS) in asymptomatic patients at laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and intra-operative cholangiogram (IOC).

Methods: All patients undergoing LC and IOC at Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand Waikato between January 2017 and January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Electronic records were screened for asymptomatic CBDS.

Publication rates of abstracts presented across 6 major spine specialty conferences.

Background: Although scientific researchers aim to present their projects at academic conferences as a step toward publication, not all projects mature to become a peer-reviewed manuscript. The publication rate of meetings can be utilized to assess the quality of presented research. Our objective was to evaluate the contemporary publication rate of abstracts presented at spine conferences.

BMP-6 promotes type 2 immune response during enhancement of rat mandibular bone defect healing.

Introduction: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are used as key therapeutic agents for the treatment of difficult fractures. While their effects on osteoprogenitors are known, little is known about their effects on the immune system.

Methods: We used permutations of BMP-6 (B), vascular endothelial growth factor (V), and Hedgehog signaling pathway activator smoothened agonist (S), to treat a rat mandibular defect and investigated healing outcomes at week 8, in correlation with the cellular landscape of the immune cells in the fracture callus at week 2.

Safety and outcomes after oesophagectomy in southern New Zealand: a 25-year audit of a low volume centre.

Background: Over the last 2 decades, outcomes for oesophageal cancer have improved due to advances in surgical and oncological practice. Optimizing outcomes by centralization of oesophagectomy to high-volume centres has been observed. The aim of this study was to establish if technical and oncological outcomes after oesophagectomy in southern New Zealand are comparable to recent benchmarks.

Declining incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand.

Background: Pyloric stenosis is a relatively common paediatric surgical condition, but a worldwide decline in its incidence has been observed in recent decades. The objective of this study was to identify if the incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand has been declining.

Methods: A retrospective review of the four New Zealand paediatric surgical centres' theatre databases from 2007 to 2017.

Updates on gastric electrical stimulation to treat obesity: Systematic review and future perspectives.

Aim: To evaluate the current state-of-the-art of gastric electrical stimulation to treat obesity.

Methods: Systematic reviews of all studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of different types of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) on obesity.

Results: Thirty-one studies consisting of a total of 33 different trials were included in the systematic review for data analysis.

Patient-reported outcomes following breast reconstruction surgery in a public hospital: use of the Breast-Q questionnaire.

Aim: To assess patients' quality of life and satisfaction with individual outcomes following breast reconstructive surgery, using the BREAST-Q questionnaire.

Methods: The BREAST-Q questionnaire was used to collect information on patients' satisfaction in various domains following breast reconstructive surgery. The questionnaire answers were entered into the Qscore Excel template.

Dietary patterns and information needs of colorectal cancer patients post-surgery in Auckland.

Aim: To test the feasibility of collecting dietary data from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Auckland, New Zealand and to investigate their dietary information needs post-surgery, in terms of current information sources and satisfaction.

Methods: A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information on the dietary intake and patterns of patients who had undergone surgical resection of CRC in the Auckland region. Dietary intakes were compared to the Ministry of Health Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Adult New Zealanders (FNG-MoH) along with other publications of dietary patterns in patients with CRC.