Trends in the incidence, surgical management and outcomes of type B aortic dissections in Australia over the last decade.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the incidence and in-hospital outcomes of surgical repair for type B aortic dissection (TBAD) in Australia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Australasian Vascular Audit (AVA) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The former is a total practice audit mandated for all members of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery (ANZSVS) while the latter is an independent government agency which records all healthcare data in Australia.

Atrioventricular septal defect in Fontan circulation: Right ventricular dominance, not valve surgery, adversely affects survival.

Objective: The effect of ventricular dominance and previous atrioventricular valve (AVV) surgery on patient outcomes after Fontan operation remains unclear. We sought to determine the effect of ventricular dominance and previous AVV surgery on transplantation-free survival and long-term AVV competency in patients with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and Fontan circulation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1703 patients in the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry, who survived Fontan operation between 1987 and 2021.

The Accuracy of Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction HLA Typing in Determining the Presence of Pre-Transplant Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies and Total Eplet Mismatches for Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation.

High resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing is important in establishing eplet compatibility and the specificity of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA). In deceased donor kidney transplantation, high resolution donor HLA typing may not be immediately available, leading to inaccuracies during the organ allocation process. We aimed to determine the concordance and agreement of HLA-Class I and II eplet mismatches calculated using population frequency based allelic haplotype association (linkage disequilibrium, LD) from sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) donor HLA typing (available at time of donor kidney allocation) compared to high-resolution Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) donor typing.

Impact of closed-incision negative pressure wound dressings on surgical site infection following groin incisions in vascular surgery; a single-centre experience.

Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication in vascular surgery, and is associated with increased patient morbidity, readmission and reintervention. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy (CiNPWT) upon rate of SSI and length of hospital stay.

Methods: This study was reported in line with the STROBE guidelines.

Avoiding Toxicity With Lung Radiation Therapy: An IASLC Perspective.

Toxicity concerns from thoracic radiation therapy in the treatment of lung cancers have changed substantially over the past few decades. Survival in the treatment of lung cancer has markedly improved and the introduction of advanced radiation and imaging techniques to treatment planning and delivery has made reducing toxicity possible. Phase 3 dose-escalation trials have revealed that excess dose to critical organs within the thorax can negatively impact overall survival.

Impact of Fontan Fenestration on Long-Term Outcomes: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background The long-term impact of fenestration at the time of Fontan operation remains unclear. We aimed to review the early and long-term impact of Fontan fenestration in the Australia and New Zealand cohort. Methods and Results We reviewed 1443 patients (621 fenestrated, 822 nonfenestrated) from the Australia and New Zealand Fontan registry.

Matched linac stereotactic radiotherapy: An assessment of delivery similarity and distributive patient-specific quality assurance feasibility.

Matching multiple linacs to common baseline data allows patients to be treated, and patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) to be completed on any linac. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) requires higher levels of accuracy and quality assurance than routine radiotherapy. The achieved linac matching must therefore be evaluated before distributive treatment or PSQA models can be implemented safely.

Systemic treatments and outcomes in CIC-rearranged Sarcoma: A national multi-centre clinicopathological series and literature review.

Unlabelled: CIC-rearranged sarcoma is a recently established, ultra-rare, molecularly defined sarcoma subtype. We aimed to further characterise clinical features of CIC-rearranged sarcomas and explore clinical management including systemic treatments and outcomes.

Methods: A multi-centre retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed between 2014-2019.

Cerebral arterial and venous thrombosis due to COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) rarely develops after many COVID-19 vaccines. A 51-year-old woman re-presented to hospital with a 4 day history of headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and left calf pain, 11 days after her first dose of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 (AstraZenica) vaccine. Her neurological examination was normal.

Early Graft Loss Following Transplantation From Expanded Criteria Donors.

Background: Expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys are associated with higher graft loss rates than standard criteria donor kidneys. We sought to determine factors associated with early graft loss and their discrimination ability for this outcome compared with kidney donor risk index.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) for ECD transplants between 1997 and 2014.

Staff perceptions of family access and visitation policies in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units: The WELCOME-ICU survey.

Background: Family-centred critical care recognises the impact of a loved one's critical illness on his relatives. Open visiting is a strategy to improve family satisfaction and psychological outcomes by permitting unrestricted or less restricted access to visit their family member in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, increased family presence may result in increased workload and a risk of burnout for ICU staff.

Investigation of the effects of spinal surgical implants on radiotherapy dosimetry: A study of 3D printed phantoms.

Purpose: The use of three-dimensional (3D) printing to develop custom phantoms for dosimetric studies in radiotherapy is increasing. The process allows production of phantoms designed to evaluated specific geometries, patients, or patient groups with a defining feature. The ability to print bone-equivalent phantoms has, however, proved challenging.

The impact of nurse staffing methodologies on nurse and patient outcomes: A systematic review.

Aim: Aim of this study is to systematically review and synthesize available evidence to identify the association between nurse staffing methodologies and nurse and patient outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Data Sources: A search of MEDLINE (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO) and Web of Science was conducted for studies published in English between January 2000 and January 2020.

Bronchiectasis among Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients in the regional and remote population of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Introduction: Chronic respiratory disorders are highly prevalent among Australian Aboriginal people living in the Top End Health Service region in the Northern Territory, Australia. Bronchiectasis is a heterogenous disease that features among these chronic respiratory conditions in this population. However, there are sparse comparative data between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients with bronchiectasis from this region.

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Emergency Laparotomy Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations: Part 1-Preoperative: Diagnosis, Rapid Assessment and Optimization.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols reduce length of stay, complications and costs for a large number of elective surgical procedures. A similar, structured approach appears to improve outcomes, including mortality, for patients undergoing high-risk emergency general surgery, and specifically emergency laparotomy. These are the first consensus guidelines for optimal care of these patients using an ERAS approach.

A randomized pilot study on self-management in head and neck lymphedema.

Background: The purpose of this pilot trial was to determine the feasibility of a self-managed lymphedema randomized control trial to test the effectiveness of a head and neck-specific exercise protocol.

Methods: Nine participants were randomized to receive usual treatment provided by an Australian metropolitan teaching hospital (n = 4) or usual treatment with an added head and neck exercise regime (n = 5). Feasibility was assessed through ease of recruitment, adherence, and safety.

Recommended dose voxel size and statistical uncertainty parameters for precision of Monte Carlo dose calculation in stereotactic radiotherapy.

Monte Carlo (MC)-based treatment planning requires a choice of dose voxel size (DVS) and statistical uncertainty (SU). These parameters effect both the precision of displayed dose distribution and time taken to complete a calculation. For efficient, accurate, and precise treatment planning in a clinical setting, optimal values should be selected.

Comprehensive investigation into the stability of Varian and Elekta kV imaging systems during arc delivery.

In radiotherapy treatments utilizing accelerator gantry rotation, gantry-mounted kilovoltage (kV) imaging systems have become integral to treatment verification. The accuracy of such verification depends on the stability of the imaging components during gantry rotation. In this study, a simple measurement method and accurate algorithm are introduced for investigation of the kV panel and source movement during gantry rotation.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from a patient with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy caused by the c.768G>T and c.6079C>T mutations in ABCA4.

Autosomal recessive Stargardt disease is the most common cause of inherited retinal disease. In this report, we describe the generation and characterization of two human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from a patient with compound heterozygous mutations in the ABCA4 gene (c.[768G>T];[6079C>T]).

Perioperative antibiotics for preventing post-surgical site infections in solid organ transplant recipients.

Background: Solid organ transplant recipients are at high risk for infections due to the complexity of surgical procedures combined with the impact of immunosuppression. No consensus exists on the role of antibiotics for surgical site infections in solid organ transplant recipients.

Objectives: To assess the benefits and harms of prophylactic antimicrobial agents for preventing surgical site infections in solid organ transplant recipients.

A comparison of middle managers' and paediatric nurses' satisfaction with organisational communication.

Aims: To explore the differences in organisational communication satisfaction between ward paediatric nurses and middle managers, and to assess whether there is a difference in organisational communication satisfaction between paediatric nurses and middle managers with different educational levels, years of nursing and managerial experience, contracted hours, area of work, age and gender.

Background: Previous studies reported a connection between job satisfaction, work commitment and organisational communication; however, nurses' and nursing middle managers' satisfaction with organisational communication has not been extensively studied in recent years and not at all among paediatric nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative research design using online and hard copy self-reported questionnaires was used.