Embolisation of contraceptive implants to the pulmonary arterial system.

Contraceptive implants are widely used for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) due to their high efficacy and convenience. However, complications including migration and, rarely, embolisation to the pulmonary arterial system have been reported. This case series presents three cases of contraceptive implant embolisation to the pulmonary arterial system, managed at a tertiary thoracic surgery unit in London between 2021 and 2024.

The 1st London Head and Neck Reconstruction Course: Discussion and Review.

Performing free flap microsurgery is an important skill in head and neck reconstruction and is associated with a steep learning curve. Learning to raise free flaps can be challenging, and opportunities can be limited in early surgical training. Surgical trainees may wish to undertake a course to develop these fundamental skills outside of clinical practice.

A validation study of a novel metacarpal simulator: The next step in hand fracture fixation training.

Simulated bones play a crucial role in surgical training, yet existing models vary in fidelity and cost. We developed a novel, low-cost, high-quality SLA 3D-printed metacarpal to enhance hand trauma training. Our design incorporates novel cortico-medullary differentiation to replicate the tactile feedback experienced when drilling through real bone.

Breaking the Mould: Comparing 3D-Printed and Composite Bone Models in Orthopaedic Training.

Background and aim Synthetic composite bone models (reinforced solid foam) have become the standardised material used in practical orthopaedic education. However, with discussions regarding whether composite foam truly replicates human bone, there has been a drive to explore other available models. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has risen in both popularity and availability, providing a new option in the creation of anatomically accurate bone models.

Surgical Simulation of Kirschner Wiring-Discussion and Review of the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre K-Wiring Course May 2024.

Simulation training has been growing in popularity, as a means to help supplement the training of surgical residents. The Newcastle Surgical Training Centre K-wiring course, a 1-day course designed for early-years surgical trainees, aims to teach essential skills in K-wire fixation for hand fractures. The course integrates lectures and hands-on practice with both simulated and cadaveric specimens, supported by a high faculty-to-delegate ratio.

The Packed Epistaxis Patient: Risks of Rebleeding? A Pilot Study to Inform Outpatient Management of Packed Patients.

Objective: Current common practice for patients with idiopathic epistaxis which requires nasal packing is to admit as an in-patient for overnight observation. Anecdotally, many patients do not re-bleed, so admissions may be unnecessary. Several factors have been suggested to be associated with an increased risk of re-bleeding, such as hypertension, anticoagulant use, and male gender.

Course Review: National Microsurgery Course at the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre March 2024.

Microsurgery is a unique and specific surgical skill, known to have a steep learning curve. Surgical trainees may wish to undertake a microsurgical skills course to learn the rudiments of microsurgery and to direct future practice and skill acquisition. The National Microsurgery Course in Newcastle, United Kingdom, aims to equip early-year surgical trainees with basic microsurgical skills including tissue handling, vessel anastomosis, and nerve coaptation.

Course Review: Lessons Learned by MY Plastic Surgery Course 2022.

Plastic surgery is a surgical speciality, which typically receives little attention during medical school. Students and newly qualified doctors may therefore wish to develop skills and knowledge within the field of plastic surgery to mitigate a lack of undergraduate exposure. The MY Plastic Surgery Course-Essential Plastic Surgery Skills for Junior Doctors is a course aimed at this cohort; it is a 2-day course based in Yorkshire, organized by plastic surgeons, and covers a broad range of foundational skills in plastic surgery.

Stenting versus stentless repair for bilateral choanal atresia: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: Bilateral choanal atresia requires prompt surgical intervention. Surgeons have historically used stents in the repair process, however their efficacy has come into question in recent years. We performed a systematic review to investigate, primarily, whether stents enjoy more favourable outcomes compared to stentless repair.

Pregnancy, cold water swimming and cortisol: The effect of cold water swimming on obstetric outcomes.

Cold water swimming is an activity which has received increased attention in recent years, with advertised benefits including improvements in mood, energy and exercise recovery. Cold water swimmers also report experiencing less stress in daily life, the health implications of which may be far-reaching. This may be of particular interest to expecting mothers, as we explore how stress may negatively impact upon birth outcomes.

Some Scars Do Not Run Deep: The Qualitative and Quantitative Nature of Neonatal Seldinger Pigtail Chest Drain Scars.

Pneumothorax is a complication of respiratory distress syndrome, of which many preterm babies suffer. If significant, these pneumothoraces can be treated by the insertion of a chest drain. There are a number of different types of chest drain, and techniques of insertion.