When One Size Does not Fit All-Artificial Intelligence in Australian Rural Health.

Aims: Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an increasing impact on many aspects of our day-to-day lives. This change is also true in healthcare, with various tools being developed to hasten burdensome administrative tasks and increase overall healthcare efficiency, particularly in metropolitan centres.

Context: AI has remained comparatively clear of rural, regional and remote Australian hospitals, where it has the potential to provide significant benefits.

The Need for a Rural Surgeon Speciality Pathway in Australia and New Zealand.

Aims: This commentary aims to address the critical shortage of surgeons in rural Australia and propose the development of a sustainable rural surgical training pathway. By examining current healthcare disparities and workforce challenges, it highlights the need for locally trained and retained rural surgeons to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare inequities.

Context: Rural Australians experience significant healthcare disparities due to geographical isolation, lower socioeconomic status and limited availability of specialist care.

Traumatic chylothorax management post-coronary artery bypass grafting - A systematic review.

IntroductionCoronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is performed globally around 400,000 times annually. Despite its benefits, CABG can lead to complications, including chylothorax, a rare condition where chyle accumulates in the pleural cavity due to thoracic duct trauma. Currently, there are no international guidelines for traumatic chylothorax management post-CABG.

The Adelaide Score: prospective implementation of an artificial intelligence system to improve hospital and cost efficiency.

Background: The Adelaide Score is an artificial intelligence system that integrates objective vital signs and laboratory tests to predict likelihood of hospital discharge.

Methods: A prospective implementation trial was conducted at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in South Australia. The Adelaide Score was added to existing human, artificial intelligence, and other technological infrastructure for the first 28 days of April 2024 (intervention), and outcomes were compared using parametric, non-parametric and health economic analyses, to those in the first 28 days of April 2023 (control).

The use of a porcine model to teach advanced abdominal wall dissection techniques.

Background: In the era of minimally invasive surgery, it is clear that a robust simulation model is required for the training of surgeons in advanced abdominal wall reconstruction. The purpose of this experimentation was to evaluate whether a porcine model could be used to teach advanced minimally invasive abdominal wall dissection techniques to novice surgeons. Secondary objectives included: time to completion, identification of various anatomical landmarks, to note the difference in porcine and human models and finally, the ability to dock a Da Vinci Xi robotic platform on the porcine model.

Abdominal wall heterotopic ossification following damage control laparotomy: an unusual bone to pick.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to the development of extra-skeletal bone in muscle and soft tissues, following tissue insult secondary to surgery or trauma. This pathological process is considered as the result of severe inflammatory cell cascade initiated after local trauma and subsequent attempt at tissue repair involving resident mesenchymal cells. We present a series of 12 cases of abdominal HO (AHO), over 8 years, following damage control laparotomies (DCLs).