Ten-year statewide cross-sectional review of pediatric sinogenic intracranial abscess and empyema in Queensland, Australia: microbial profile before and after COVID-19.

Objective: Sinogenic intracranial infections in children, such as subdural empyema or intracranial abscess, are a rare disease process with significant associated morbidity. Recent literature has suggested that there may have been an increase in frequency of these infections following the COVID-19 pandemic, but the literature has been conflicting, perhaps related to the heterogenous management of COVID-19 lockdowns in various states and differences in data capture between methods. The collection of statewide Australian data overcomes these limitations by capturing a comprehensive sample though the public healthcare system of patients who were subject to a homogeneous statewide approach to public health policy during the COVID-19 pandemic (population 5.

Intraoperative MRI in trans-sphenoidal surgery using frameless stereotaxis.

Background: Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) has been used for pituitary surgery for approximately 20 years. The introduction of frameless stereotaxis allows efficient navigation for both the ENT and neurosurgeon. This allows flexibility in placement of the patients head to facilitate resection, efficient use of theater time and improves the safety profile of the operation.

Characterising the nature of clinical incidents reported across a tertiary health service: a retrospective audit.

Objective Reducing the number of adverse patient safety incidents (PSIs) requires careful monitoring and active management processes. However, there is limited information about the association between hospital settings and the type of PSI. The aims of this study were to describe the severity, nature and characteristics of PSIs from an analysis of their incidence and to assess the relationships between the type of PSI and its setting.

An Australian Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Implications on the Practice of Neurosurgery.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the impact of public health policy in Australia in response to the coronavirus disease identified in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the delivery of neurosurgical services. Being essential services, we postulated that there would not be a decrease in elective and emergency neurosurgical presentations and surgeries.

Methods: This is a prospective, observational, epidemiologic study in strict adherence to the "STROBE" (Strengthening The Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.

Evaluation of a patient safety programme on Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Surgical Safety Checklists (SSC) have been implemented widely across 132 countries since 2008. Yet, despite associated reductions in postoperative complications and death rates, implementation of checklists in surgery remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a patient safety programme over time on SSC use and incidence of clinical errors.

Using normalisation process theory to evaluate the implementation of a complex intervention to embed the surgical safety checklist.

Background: The surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) was introduced in 2008 to improve teamwork and reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with surgery. Although mandated in many health care institutions around the world, challenges in implementation of the SSC continue. To use Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) to help understand how/why implementation of a complex intervention coined Pass The Baton (PTB) could help explain what facets of the Surgical Safety Checklist use led to its' integration in practice, while others were not.

Three-year experience with interventional neuroradiology for management of cerebral aneurysms at a single Australian centre.

Introduction: Over the last decade interventional neuroradiology (NR) has become the mainstay of managing cerebral aneurysms. The aim of our study was to review our growing experiences with interventional NR and quantify morbidity and mortality associated with these procedures.

Methods: The electronic medical records of all patients admitted to the Gold Coast (University) Hospital Intensive Care Unit following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) or elective interventional NR management of cerebral aneurysms between January 2012 and December 2014 were retrieved.

The floating anchored craniotomy.

Background: The "floating anchored" craniotomy is a technique utilized at our tertiary neurosurgery institution in which a traditional decompressive craniectomy has been substituted for a floating craniotomy. The hypothesized advantages of this technique include adequate decompression, reduction in the intracranial pressure, obviating the need for a secondary cranioplasty, maintained bone protection, preventing the syndrome of the trephined, and a potential reduction in axonal stretching.

Methods: The bone plate is re-attached via multiple loosely affixed vicryl sutures, enabling decompression, but then ensuring the bone returns to its anatomical position once cerebral edema has subsided.

Unlocking the "black box" of practice improvement strategies to implement surgical safety checklists: a process evaluation.

Background: Compliance with surgical safety checklists (SSCs) has been associated with improvements in clinical processes such as antibiotic use, correct site marking, and overall safety processes. Yet, proper execution has been difficult to achieve.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to undertake a process evaluation of four knowledge translation (KT) strategies used to implement the Pass the Baton (PTB) intervention which was designed to improve utilization of the SSC.

Impact of workflow on the use of the Surgical Safety Checklist: a qualitative study.

Background: Regardless of the benefits associated of the Surgical Safety Checklist, adherence across its three phases remains inconsistent. The aim of this study was to systematically identify issues around workflow that impact on surgical teams' ability to use the Surgical Safety Checklist in a large tertiary facility in Queensland, Australia.

Method: Observational audit of 10 surgical teams and 33 semi-structured interviews with 70 participants from nursing, medicine and the community were conducted.

Factors that drive team participation in surgical safety checks: a prospective study.

Background: Team-based group communications using checklists are widely advocated to achieve shared understandings and improve patient safety. Despite the positive effect checklists have on collaborations and reduced postoperative complications, their use has not been straightforward. Previous research has described contextual factors that impact on the implementation of checklists, however there is limited understanding of the issues that impede team participation in checklist use in surgery.

Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of human brain metastases identifies alterations of potential clinical significance.

Treatment options for patients with brain metastases (BMs) have limited efficacy and the mortality rate is virtually 100%. Targeted therapy is critically under-utilized, and our understanding of mechanisms underpinning metastatic outgrowth in the brain is limited. To address these deficiencies, we investigated the genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of 36 BMs from breast, lung, melanoma and oesophageal cancers, using DNA copy-number analysis and exome- and RNA-sequencing.

Occipital lobe epilepsy in children: characterization, evaluation and surgical outcomes.

Introduction: Occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE) poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. Here, we present our experience in the surgical management of OLE in children using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the pre-operative evaluation.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed from 2000 to 2010 to identify patients with OLE.