Medical versus surgical causes of death following colorectal resection: a Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality (QASM) study.

Background: The causes of death following colorectal resection remain poorly explored. Few studies have addressed whether early post-operative mortality is predominantly caused by a patient's medical co-morbidities, or from factors pertaining to the presenting surgical disease process itself. This study analyses data from the Queensland audit of surgical mortality (QASM) to report the causes of in-hospital death following colorectal resection, identifies whether these were due to either medical or surgical factors, and determines the patient characteristics associated with a medical cause of death.

Critical Analysis of the Causes of In-Hospital Mortality following Colorectal Resection: A Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality (QASM) Registry Study.

Background: Colorectal resection is a major gastrointestinal operation. Improvements in peri-operative care has led to improved outcomes; however, mortalities still occur. Using data from the Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality (QASM), this study examines the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who died in hospital following colorectal resection, and also reports the primary cause of death in this population.

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.

Surgeons' Responses to a Surgical Mortality Audit: Accepting and Improving: A Cross Sectional Survey.

Background: Surgeons strive to provide the best care possible to their patients. The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality is a process for improving surgical care and outcomes via peer-review assessment of mortality cases. This article examines the acceptability of the assessments to Queensland surgeons, in addition to examining their impact on surgical care.

Learning from regret.

Background: Death after surgery is infrequent but can be devastating for the surgeon. Surgeons may experience intense emotional reactions after a patient's death, reflecting on their part in the death and the patient's loss of life. Excessive rumination or feelings of regret may have lasting negative consequences, but these reactions may also facilitate learning for future decision-making.