Issue

Vol 129 No 1446: 2 December 2016

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Issue Summary

SUMMARY

'Out of the frying pan, but not into the fire’: quantifying commercial cosmetic tanning services in New Zealand to inform endgame regulation

Bronwen M McNoe, Anthony I Reeder

This research was conducted in response to the Ministry of Health s consultation document on reducing harm from commercial sunbeds. One of the main negative impacts of banning the provision of sunbed services was thought to be potential business closure resulting in loss of jobs. We conducted a nationwide audit of businesses potentially providing sunbed services to test whether this is likely to be the case. We found that a ban would have no more than minimal impact on only a very small number of businesses and so we believe, like in Australia, all commercial sunbeds should be banned.

SUMMARY

High rate of incidental glaucoma detection in New Zealand

Benjamin R LaHood, Joshua Erceg, Tui H Bevin, Gordon Sanderson

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye which can lead to permanent loss of vision starting with the peripheral vision, and if untreated, also affecting the central vision. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness in developed countries and usually has no symptoms until it is quite advanced. This study surveyed New Zealanders with glaucoma to assess how and why they were diagnosed with glaucoma. It confirmed that the majority of glaucoma was discovered through incidental findings when health professionals were not necessarily looking for glaucoma and the patient had no suspicion of the disease. The most common reason that people were suspicious was a family history of glaucoma. This means that there are a lot of New Zealanders who do not realise they have glaucoma, and if we are to prevent permanent loss of vision for these people, we need to raise awareness of this disease that has no symptoms and consider a screening program.

SUMMARY

The impact of a surgical assessment unit on numbers of general surgery outliers

Alexandra Jacobson, Garth Poole, Andrew G Hill, Magdalena Biggar

In July 2015 a surgical assessment unit was established at Middlemore Hospital. This is a 10 bed area adjacent to the emergency department, the aims of which include assessing and managing surgical patients who are likely to have short hospital stays with increased efficiency. Our study investigated the impact of the assessment unit s introduction on the numbers of general surgery patients admitted to non-general surgery wards, something which is necessary if there are no available beds on general surgery wards. We found that the establishment of the assessment unit was associated with a decreased number of such patients. Previous research suggests that this is likely to be associated with improved quality of care for patients and improved hospital efficiency.

SUMMARY

The value of CT cardiac angiography and CT calcium score testing in a modern cardiology service in New Zealand: a report of a single centre eight-year experience from 5,237 outpatient procedures

Chris Ellis, Greg Gamble, Colin Edwards, Niels van Pelt, Ruvin Gabriel, Boris Lowe, Jonathan Christiansen, Andrew To, Helen Winch, Mark Osborne, John Ormiston, Malcolm Legget

CT cardiac angiography has become established in the modern management of cardiology patients. It has particular value as a tool to rule out severe coronary stenoses, and as a tool to give a more accurate assessment of CVS risk. It adds significant value to the care of many patients within an established cardiology practice.

SUMMARY

The scratch test for identifying the lower liver edge is at least as accurate as percussion and is significantly more effective for young trainees—a randomised comparative trial

Alexander Huelsen, Jesse Fischer, Justin Hegarty, Anna Ashcroft, Christopher MA Frampton, Murray L Barclay

Clinical examination of the liver is traditionally performed with a combination of percussion and palpation. This study compares the scratch test, a newer and less well-known technique, with the percussion method in a randomised comparative trial. The results demonstrate that both clinical test are overall similarly accurate and perform considerably better than previously reported. The scratch test however appears easier to learn and was significantly more accurate in the young trainee group.

SUMMARY

Efficacy and safety of TC-325 (HemosprayTM) for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Middlemore Hospital: the early New Zealand experience

Hannah Giles, Dinesh Lal, Stephen Gerred, Paul Casey, Alasdair Patrick, Derek Luo, Ravinder Ogra

Hemospray is a new addition to the armamentarium against gastrointestinal bleeding. It is very easy to use and can be used safely and effectively in a wide variety of conditions that cause bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. The technique is very easy to learn and the equipment easy to use.

ALL ARTICLES
SUMMARY

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents

'Out of the frying pan, but not into the fire’: quantifying commercial cosmetic tanning services in New Zealand to inform endgame regulation

Bronwen M McNoe, Anthony I Reeder

New Zealand s voice at the World Health Organization (WHO)

Frank Houghton

CT coronary angiography in 2016

Christopher J Occleshaw

High rate of incidental glaucoma detection in New Zealand

Benjamin R LaHood, Joshua Erceg, Tui H Bevin, Gordon Sanderson

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung

Jumpei Katayama

The impact of a surgical assessment unit on numbers of general surgery outliers

Alexandra Jacobson, Garth Poole, Andrew G Hill, Magdalena Biggar

Falls prevention as everyday heroism

Frances Healey

The value of CT cardiac angiography and CT calcium score testing in a modern cardiology service in New Zealand: a report of a single centre eight-year experience from 5,237 outpatient procedures

Chris Ellis, Greg Gamble, Colin Edwards, Niels van Pelt, Ruvin Gabriel, Boris Lowe, Jonathan Christiansen, Andrew To, Helen Winch, Mark Osborne, John Ormiston, Malcolm Legget

The scratch test for identifying the lower liver edge is at least as accurate as percussion and is significantly more effective for young trainees—a randomised comparative trial

Alexander Huelsen, Jesse Fischer, Justin Hegarty, Anna Ashcroft, Christopher MA Frampton, Murray L Barclay

New Zealand’s voice at the World Health Organization (WHO)

Frank Houghton

Biliary dilatation induced by different opiate drugs: a case series of eight patients

Duncan Smyth, Nigel Stace

Efficacy and safety of TC-325 (HemosprayTM) for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Middlemore Hospital: the early New Zealand experience

Hannah Giles, Dinesh Lal, Stephen Gerred, Paul Casey, Alasdair Patrick, Derek Luo, Ravinder Ogra

Accidental abdominal rectus sheath infiltration with chlorhexidine-alcohol

Tess Brian, Winston McEwan

SUMMARY

'Out of the frying pan, but not into the fire’: quantifying commercial cosmetic tanning services in New Zealand to inform endgame regulation

Bronwen M McNoe, Anthony I Reeder

This research was conducted in response to the Ministry of Health s consultation document on reducing harm from commercial sunbeds. One of the main negative impacts of banning the provision of sunbed services was thought to be potential business closure resulting in loss of jobs. We conducted a nationwide audit of businesses potentially providing sunbed services to test whether this is likely to be the case. We found that a ban would have no more than minimal impact on only a very small number of businesses and so we believe, like in Australia, all commercial sunbeds should be banned.

SUMMARY

High rate of incidental glaucoma detection in New Zealand

Benjamin R LaHood, Joshua Erceg, Tui H Bevin, Gordon Sanderson

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye which can lead to permanent loss of vision starting with the peripheral vision, and if untreated, also affecting the central vision. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness in developed countries and usually has no symptoms until it is quite advanced. This study surveyed New Zealanders with glaucoma to assess how and why they were diagnosed with glaucoma. It confirmed that the majority of glaucoma was discovered through incidental findings when health professionals were not necessarily looking for glaucoma and the patient had no suspicion of the disease. The most common reason that people were suspicious was a family history of glaucoma. This means that there are a lot of New Zealanders who do not realise they have glaucoma, and if we are to prevent permanent loss of vision for these people, we need to raise awareness of this disease that has no symptoms and consider a screening program.

SUMMARY

The impact of a surgical assessment unit on numbers of general surgery outliers

Alexandra Jacobson, Garth Poole, Andrew G Hill, Magdalena Biggar

In July 2015 a surgical assessment unit was established at Middlemore Hospital. This is a 10 bed area adjacent to the emergency department, the aims of which include assessing and managing surgical patients who are likely to have short hospital stays with increased efficiency. Our study investigated the impact of the assessment unit s introduction on the numbers of general surgery patients admitted to non-general surgery wards, something which is necessary if there are no available beds on general surgery wards. We found that the establishment of the assessment unit was associated with a decreased number of such patients. Previous research suggests that this is likely to be associated with improved quality of care for patients and improved hospital efficiency.

SUMMARY

The value of CT cardiac angiography and CT calcium score testing in a modern cardiology service in New Zealand: a report of a single centre eight-year experience from 5,237 outpatient procedures

Chris Ellis, Greg Gamble, Colin Edwards, Niels van Pelt, Ruvin Gabriel, Boris Lowe, Jonathan Christiansen, Andrew To, Helen Winch, Mark Osborne, John Ormiston, Malcolm Legget

CT cardiac angiography has become established in the modern management of cardiology patients. It has particular value as a tool to rule out severe coronary stenoses, and as a tool to give a more accurate assessment of CVS risk. It adds significant value to the care of many patients within an established cardiology practice.

SUMMARY

The scratch test for identifying the lower liver edge is at least as accurate as percussion and is significantly more effective for young trainees—a randomised comparative trial

Alexander Huelsen, Jesse Fischer, Justin Hegarty, Anna Ashcroft, Christopher MA Frampton, Murray L Barclay

Clinical examination of the liver is traditionally performed with a combination of percussion and palpation. This study compares the scratch test, a newer and less well-known technique, with the percussion method in a randomised comparative trial. The results demonstrate that both clinical test are overall similarly accurate and perform considerably better than previously reported. The scratch test however appears easier to learn and was significantly more accurate in the young trainee group.

SUMMARY

Efficacy and safety of TC-325 (HemosprayTM) for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Middlemore Hospital: the early New Zealand experience

Hannah Giles, Dinesh Lal, Stephen Gerred, Paul Casey, Alasdair Patrick, Derek Luo, Ravinder Ogra

Hemospray is a new addition to the armamentarium against gastrointestinal bleeding. It is very easy to use and can be used safely and effectively in a wide variety of conditions that cause bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. The technique is very easy to learn and the equipment easy to use.

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