Has the time come for another breakthrough in surgical myocardial revascularization?

Surgical myocardial revascularization has completed its fourth successful decade following the world＇s first clinical trial on coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） in May 1967. Being one of the most popular and best investigated procedures in the history of surgery, CABG has stood the test of time with excellent results as measured by a variety of outcome markers. Even with the recent progress in percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） and rapid development of intra-coronary stents （including drug-eluting stents）, the advantage of CABG over PCI is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.     

Medical teaching in rural Australia: should we be concerned about the international medical graduate connection?

The two rural workforce strategies of rural clinical schools and deployment of international medical graduates (IMGs) geographically overlap in Australia's large expanse of under-served rural and remote areas. We used the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (RCSWA) as a model to examine the relative numbers of IMG clinical academics, and the contribution of IMGs to rural clinical school development and education. IMGs have established six of 10 rural clinical school sites, maintained an academic presence, and continue to staff the RCSWA in high proportions. In a fragile rural work ecology, WA's IMGs are contributing to both meeting current workforce needs and the education of future rural doctors. The "double debt" Australia owes to IMGs, stemming from the rich cross-fertilisation of these two workforce strategies, should be acknowledged.     

Colonoscopic surveillance for family history of colorectal cancer: are NHMRC guidelines being followed?

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether referrals for surveillance colonoscopy and subsequent follow-up recommendations for patients with a family history of colorectal cancer concurred with the published National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines. DESIGN: A prospective audit of patients with a family history of colorectal cancer referred for surveillance colonoscopy. Follow-up recommendations were assessed retrospectively. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: All patients referred to a major teaching hospital for surveillance colonoscopy on the basis of a family history of colorectal cancer from 2 January 2000-15 April 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concurrence of referrals and recommendations with NHMRC guidelines. RESULTS: Of 340 patients referred because of a family history of colorectal cancer, 202 (83 men, 119 women) were asymptomatic. Their mean age was 50 years (95% CI, 48.3-51.6 years). The family history of 95 (47%) of these patients satisfied the NHMRC criteria for colonoscopic surveillance. Another 20 patients (17%) satisfied the criteria, but were referred before the recommended age to commence surveillance. Analysis by referral source showed that the proportion of referrals meeting NHMRC guidelines was higher from specialists than from general practitioners (75% v 45%), and this difference was significant. Follow-up recommendations, when made, concurred with NHMRC guidelines in 81% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Further education of the medical community is required to increase understanding of colorectal screening strategies and ensure appropriate resource allocation.     

Still leaving stains on teeth—the legacy of minocycline?

Minocycline is widely used as a first-line agent for papulopustular acne, and has previously been reported as causing stains on teeth that are still forming. This article reports a case of staining to only the crowns of unerupted third molars in a girl prescribed minocycline at age 16 for papulopustular acne. We review the literature in the area of minocycline teeth staining, consider the role of minocycline as a first-line agent for papulopustular acne, and outline strategies on the prevention of minocycline teeth staining. The case highlights current deficiencies in the disclosure information for minocycline, and provides information that is relevant to practitioners who may prescribe this drug.     

Sickle renal parenchyma incision for the removal of complex staghorn renal stone

Objective To evaluate the sickle renal parenchyma incision for the removal of complex staghorn renal calculi. Methods Sickle parenchyma incision was used to remove stones in 37 patients with complex staghorn renal calculi. The procedure was as follows; the kidney was disected free and the pelvis within sinus renalis was isolated. Two of botton style sutures were made on the renal parenchyma with 2-0 plain catgut along mid-lower 1 /3 of the dorsal surface of kidney free of vessels (Brodie' s line) from the renal posterior lib to the plane of lower major calyx. The renal parenchyma was opened. Then, the incision was developed from the plane of lower major calyx through the middle major calyx to the plane of upper major calyx. The shape of this incision appeared like a sickle. The renal parenchyma and each calyx along this incision were opened and so was all the stones could then be easily removed. The calyces could well be observed. Results The calculi were completely removed in all the 37 cases. 21 neede     

Regionalisation of general practice training--are we meeting the needs of rural Australia?

The concept of "social accountability" has underpinned the development of many medical education programs over the past decade. Success of the regionalisation of the general practice training program in Australia will ultimately be measured by the ability of the program to deliver a sufficient rural general practice workforce to meet the health needs of rural communities. Regionalisation of general practice training in Australia arose from the 1998 recommendations of the Ministerial Review of General Practice Training. The resultant competitive structure adopted by government was not the preferred option of the Review Committee, and may be a negative influence on rural workforce, as the competitive corporate structure of regional training providers has created barriers to meaningful vertical integration. Available data suggest that the regionalised training program is not yet providing a sustainable general practice workforce to rural Australia. The current increase in medical student and general practice training places provides an opportunity to address some of these issues. In particular, it is recommended that changes be made to registrar selection processes, the rural pipeline and vertical integration of training, and training for procedural rural practice. To achieve these goals, perhaps it is time for another comprehensive ministerial review of general practice training in Australia.     

Pap smears for men: a vision of the future?

Background  

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) rarely receives as much publicity as its neighbouring orifice, the cervix. As in the cervix, intraepithelial neoplasias are precursors to cancer in the anal canal. AIN and cervical interstitial neoplasia (CIN) undergo dysplasia as a consequence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Since the advent of screening with the Pap smear in CIN, cervical cancer has plummeted to a fifth of its initial incidence. Anal cancer, however, has been rising, with a predilection for human immunodeficiency virus-infected men. HPV causes a squamous epithelial dysplasia and converts healthy tissue into AINs of increasing severity until anal cancer manifests.     

The effects of the European Working Time Directive on surgical training: the basic surgical trainee’s perspective

Background  

On the 1 August 2009, the implementation of European Working Time Directive became European law and was implemented in Galway University Hospital (GUH).