Autologous pubovaginal slings: back to the future or a lost art?

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is an under-diagnosed problem affecting up to 50% of women worldwide. SUI is a source of psychological distress to the individual and also imposes a financial burden to the individual and the health care system. The role of surgery in the treatment in SUI has evolved steadily in the last two decades.

Developing technical expertise in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in a moderate-volume center through a proctor-based team approach.

Our aim is to report our preliminary experience of a proctor-based team approach in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Data was collected between December 2008 and February 2012. RALP was performed on 100 consecutive patients with prostate cancer by a team of five urologists proctored by two fellowship-trained surgeons from a single hospital.

Surgery for perforated small bowel malignancy: a single institution's experience over 4 years.

Introduction: Surgery for perforated small bowel malignancy is associated with dismal morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of the paper was to highlight our institution's surgical experience in the management of patients with malignant small bowel perforation.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent operative intervention for malignant small bowel perforation from 2004 to 2007 was performed.

Surgery for small bowel perforation in an Asian population: predictors of morbidity and mortality.

Introduction: Peritonitis from small bowel perforation is associated with prohibitive morbidity and mortality rates. The aims of our study were to review our institution's experience in the surgical management of small bowel perforation and to identify factors that could predict morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent operative intervention for peritonitis from small bowel perforation from January 2003 to May 2008 was performed.

Upper limb ischaemia - a single centre experience.

Introduction: This paper reviews the epidemiology, aetiology and management of upper limb ischaemia in a series of 8 patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and the review of the pertinent literature.

Materials And Methods: Details of patients admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) due to critical ischaemia of the upper limbs were obtained from admission summaries through the Computerised Patient Support System (CPSS) and operative notes through LOTUS.

Results: There were 8 patients who presented with upper limb ischaemia excluding trauma and iatrogenic causes over the last 4 years.

Hepatic enzymes have a role in the diagnosis of hepatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma.

Introduction: Delayed diagnosis of patients with severe liver injuries is associated with an adverse outcome. As computed tomographic (CT) scan is not always available in the management of blunt abdominal trauma worldwide, the present study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of selected haematological markers in predicting the presence of hepatic injury and its severity after blunt abdominal trauma.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with blunt abdominal trauma presented to our institution over a 3-year period was performed.