Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
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Surgical training has undergone many changes in the last decade. One outcome of these changes is the interest that has been generated in the possibility of training surgical skills outside the operating theatre. ⋯ Several techniques of simulation are available including artificial tissues, animal models and virtual reality computer simulation. Each is discussed in this article and their advantages and disadvantages considered.
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The evidence for and against the prophylactic use of anticonvulsants and antibiotics in head injury is reviewed. There is a lack of blinded placebo-controlled trials in this area. On balance there is no compelling evidence to support the use of either anticonvulsant or antibiotic prophylaxis in head injury, with the possible exception of antibiotic prophylaxis in compound depressed skull fractures and penetrating brain injuries.