The Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery
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Day surgery is a modern, effective and economical way to treat patients while maintaining the same level of quality of patient care. Quality improvement in day surgery units, however, continues to be an issue due to high rates of unplanned admissions. The aim of the present retrospective study was to investigate reasons for and methods of preventing unplanned postoperative admissions in a day surgical unit over a 12-month period in respect to different surgical specialties. ⋯ Strategies to reduce the unplanned admission rate which include patient selection and pre-operative assessment, patient waiting time and education, pre-operative anaesthesia, follow-up with nursing care and postoperative analgesia are discussed.
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Injuries caused by firearms account for only a small percentage of trauma admissions and deaths in Australia but are frequently the subject of media and public attention. The present study examines the epidemiology and management of firearm injuries presenting to St Vincent's Hospital, which is located at the edge of the central business district of Sydney. ⋯ The incidence of trauma due to firearms has not increased at St Vincent's hospital in the period 1988-98. Most GSW were inflicted in the setting of criminal violence, with a high proportion due to handguns. Patients were mostly young men, and alcohol or other drugs were frequently involved. Outcomes are comparable to other centres managing large volumes of penetrating trauma.