Goldschlager T, Selvanathan S, Walker DG. Can a “novice” do aneurysm surgery? Surgical outcomes in a low-volume, non-subspecialised neurosurgical unit.
J Clin Neurosci 2007;
14:1055-61. [PMID:
17702583 DOI:
10.1016/j.jocn.2006.12.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2006] [Revised: 12/04/2006] [Accepted: 12/04/2006] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to review the results of a junior general neurosurgeon performing aneurysm surgery and compare these to the remainder of his low-volume unit. Prospectively collected data was analysed for 114 aneurysms clipped in 99 patients between July 2001 and May 2005. Overall there was a 0.9% mortality rate and 10.8% complication rate. The favourable outcome rate for the unit was 100% for unruptured aneurysms, 90.4% for grades 1-3 patients and 30% for poor grade patients (grades 4 and 5). The novice neurosurgeon had no mortality and a favourable outcome rate of 94.7% for grades 1-3 patients and 50% for poor grade patients. Acceptable results can be obtained with cerebral aneurysm surgery in a low-volume centre by Australian-trained, non-subspecialty neurosurgeons.
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