Serial Cross-Sectional Observations of Sun-Protective Behaviors at an Annual Outdoor Motorsport Event in Tropical Queensland, Australia.

Skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer in Caucasians residing at low latitudes, can primarily be prevented by avoiding overexposure to sunlight. Serial cross-sectional observations were conducted at an outdoor motorsport event held in Townsville, Queensland each July (Southern winter) to determine whether sun-protection habits changed over time. Most (71.

Socioeconomic disparities in rates of facial fracture surgeries for women and men at a regional tertiary care centre in Australia.

Background: Assault is the most common mechanism of injury in patients presenting with facial trauma in Australia. For women, there is a propensity for maxillofacial injuries to stem from intimate partner violence (IPV). Those with a low socioeconomic status have higher rates of IPV.

Disparities in surgical outcomes for low socioeconomic status patients in Australia.

Background: There are disparities in surgical outcomes for patients of low socioeconomic status globally, including in countries with universal healthcare systems. There is limited data on the impact of low socioeconomic status on surgical outcomes in Australia. This study examines surgical outcomes by both self-reported unemployment and neighbourhood level socioeconomic status in Australia.

Disparities in Advanced Peripheral Arterial Disease Presentation by Socioeconomic Status.

Background: Diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often synergistically lead to foot ulceration, infection, and gangrene, which may require lower limb amputation. Worldwide there are disparities in the rates of advanced presentation of PAD for vulnerable populations. This study examined rates of advanced presentations of PAD for unemployed patients, those residing in low Index of Economic Resources (IER) areas, and those in rural areas of Australia.

Emergency to Elective Surgery Ratio as a Disparities Sensitive Surgical Access Metric, A Study of Low Socioeconomic Status in Australia.

Background: The emergency to elective surgery ratio is a proposed indicator for global access to surgical care. There is a well-established link between low socioeconomic status and increased morbidity and mortality. This study examined the emergency to elective surgery ratios for low socioeconomic patients utilising both self-reported unemployment and the neighbourhood Index of Economic Resources (IER).

Surgical Services for Breast Cancer Patients in Australia, is There a Gap for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Women?

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women. When compared to other Australians, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women have a higher breast cancer mortality rate. This systematic literature review examined disparities in breast cancer surgical access and outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women.

Short and long course neoadjuvant therapy compared for management of locally advanced rectal cancer: 11 years' experience at a regional centre.

Background: Rectal cancer treatment outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged and regional patients have been suggested to be suboptimal in Australia. We investigate outcomes at a regional tertiary centre in order to determine the prognostic impact of patient and treatment factors.

Methods: Patients who underwent short and long course neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery for stage II-III rectal cancer over an 11-year period were identified.

Using sacral nerve modulation to improve continence and quality of life in patients suffering from low anterior resection syndrome.

Background: Sphincter preserving surgery for the treatment of rectal cancer is very often feasible, avoiding a permanent colostomy. It is well recognized that a large proportion of patients will experience altered bowel habit following low anterior resection (LAR). Faecal incontinence is a common symptom associated with LAR syndrome.

Prevalence of low anterior resection syndrome at a regional Australian centre.

Background: With decreasing indication for abdominoperineal resection and an increase in sphincter preserving surgery, there is a growing population of patients who suffer from low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The aim of this study is to use the LARS score to determine the prevalence of LARS at a regional centre in Australia and determine the effect of short- and long-course neoadjuvant therapy, anastomotic technique and interval from surgery will also be assessed.

Methods: Patients who had undergone an anterior resection (high, low or ultralow) at a regional centre over an 11-year period were identified.

Implementation of the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist Correlates with Reduced Surgical Mortality and Length of Hospital Admission in a High-Income Country.

Background: The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC) has been widely implemented in an effort to decrease surgical adverse events. The effects of the checklist on postoperative outcomes have not previously been examined in Australia, and there is limited evidence on the effects of the checklist in the long term.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted using administrative databases to examine the effects of the implementation of the checklist on postoperative outcomes.

A meta-analysis of the prevalence of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome and systematic review of risk factors.

Aim: To summarize the reported prevalence and causative factors of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) from studies using the LARS score.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Ovid Medline and the Cochrane database. Searches were performed using a combination of MeSH (medical subject headings) terms and key terms.

Incisional abdominal hernia repair with concomitant abdominoplasty: Maintaining umbilical viability.

Introduction: Abdominoplasty and abdominal hernia repair are often carried out in two-stage procedures, and those describing single-stage surgery require careful dissection to preserve often only partial blood supply to the umbilicus to maintain its viability. This paper aims to describe the surgical method of laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair in association with abdominoplasty.

Case Presentation: A patient presents with an incisional hernia at a previous periumbilical port site of size 14 x 9 mm observed on ultrasound as well as a recurrent left inguinal hernia from previous bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, oophorectomy, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Postoperative Adverse Events Inconsistently Improved by the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist: A Systematic Literature Review of 25 Studies.

Background: The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) has been widely implemented in an effort to decrease surgical adverse events.

Method: This systematic literature review examined the effects of the SSC on postoperative outcomes. The review included 25 studies: two randomised controlled trials, 13 prospective and ten retrospective cohort trials.

Synchronous primary anorectal melanoma and sigmoid adenocarcinoma: a case report.

Synchronous primary anorectal melanoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma is extremely rare, with only 5 cases reported in the literature. Here, a case is reported and the currently available literature is summarized. A 72-year-old white male presented with changes in his bowel habits and unintentional weight loss.

Supplementary home biofeedback improves quality of life in younger patients with fecal incontinence.

Background: Biofeedback is a scarce, resource-intensive clinical therapy. It is used to treat patients with bowel problems, including fecal incontinence (FI), who fail to respond to simple dietary advice, medication, or pelvic floor exercises. Populations are aging and younger cohorts use technology in managing their health, affording FI self-management opportunities.

The prone position during surgery and its complications: a systematic review and evidence-based guidelines.

Surgery in the prone position is often a necessity when access to posterior anatomic structures is required. However, many complications are known to be associated with this type of surgery, as physiologic changes occur with increased pressure to anterior structures. While several studies have discussed postoperative vision loss, much fewer studies with lower levels of evidence have addressed other complications.

Documented complications of staple hemorrhoidopexy: a systematic review.

A systematic review addressing reported complications of stapled hemorrhoidopexy was conducted. Articles were identified via searching OVID and MEDLINE between July 2011 and October 2013. Limitations were placed on the search criteria with articles published from 1998 to 2013 being included in this review.

Comparing survival and recurrence in curative stage I to III colorectal cancer in transfused and nontransfused patients.

Evidence of the association between blood transfusions and its impact on prognostic outcomes in patients who undergo curative resection of colorectal cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether receiving peri-operative blood transfusions during curative colorectal cancer resection affected overall survival, cancer-related survival, and cancer recurrence. This retrospective study was undertaken at The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Australia, between 1984 and 2004.

Regulation of microRNA-1288 in colorectal cancer: altered expression and its clinicopathological significance.

We aim to examine the miR-1288 expression in cancer cell lines and a large cohort of patients with colorectal cancer. Two colon cancer cell lines (SW480 and SW48) and one normal colonic epithelial cell line (FHC) were recruited. The miRNA expressions of miR-1288 were tested on these cell lines by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Laparoscopic management of diverticular colovesical fistula: experience in 15 cases and review of the literature.

Colovesical fistulas secondary to diverticular disease may be considered a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach. The feasibility of laparoscopic management of complicated diverticulitis and mixed diverticular fistulas has been demonstrated. However, few studies on the laparoscopic management of diverticular colovesical fistulas exist.

Glyceryl trinitrate ointment did not reduce pain after stapled hemorrhoidectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Medications, including topical 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), can reduce anal spasm and pain after excisional hemorrhoidectomy. GTN after stapled hemorrhoidopexy was compared with routine postoperative management.

Metachronous carcinomas in colorectum and its clinicopathological significance.

Purpose: The study was designed to examine the significance of colorectal metachronous carcinoma in a large cohort of patients.

Methods: Over a mean follow-up period of 10 years, the clinicopathological features, microsatellite instability (MSI) and clinical follow-up of 56 patients with metachronous colorectal carcinoma were analysed.

Results: The prevalence of metachronous colorectal carcinoma was 2.