Background: Patient complaints are an underutilized and under-addressed issue in general surgery. They represent a unique sphere of interaction for surgeons and patients to understand motivations and failures in the delivery of healthcare. The aims of this study were to identify motivators of patient complaints and understand surgeon's awareness of this issue. Methods: A retrospective review of patient complaint data in a single regional general surgical department was undertaken between the periods October 2017 to June 2020 and June 2018 to October 2020 relating to patient demographics and subject of complaint. Secondly, an anonymous survey was conducted across the same department and results tabulated by seniority. Results: Two hundred and nineteen complaints were received during the study period. One hundred and thirteen were made by patients, while 56 were made by family members. One hundred and fifty-nine complaints were related to an inpatient episode of care, and 152 were made in writing. The majority of complainants were female, with a mean age of 52. The most common reason for complaint was "treatment" (n = 102), followed by communication (n = 48), and humaneness/caring (n = 44). Consultant surgeons and surgical trainees placed communication, humaneness/caring, and professionalism as most likely to incite complaints, while interns were more likely to prioritize other measures such as patient healthcare rights and medications. Conclusion: Patient complaints remain a relatively under-utilized resource in addressing the downfalls of general surgical departments. This study reports patient demographics that are congruent with the literature and highlights that surgeons prioritize many non-technical skills in the maintenance of the doctor-patient relationship, in contrast to preconceptions.

Situs inversus is described as exact mirroring of the normal anatomical arrangement of the major visceral organs. Polysplenia is a congenital anomaly associated with situs inversus and causes various splenic abnormalities. This case discusses a 62-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with hypotension and abdominal pain. Commuted tomography reveals situs inversus and a lobulated mass in the right upper quadrant consistent with a splenic rupture intraoperatively. This is the first reported case of a spontaneous splenic rupture in a patient with situs inversus. This case highlights the rarity of splenic injuries in situs inversus and the unique anatomical challenges that surgeons are faced with intraoperatively in a high-pressure environment.

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Background: High grade dysplasia (HGD) of the cystic duct without concurrent gallbladder malignancy is a rare occurrence and can be associated with the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Isolated HGD of the cystic duct poses the diagnostic dilemma to further investigate for associated biliary tree carcinoma, as if left untreated can reach a mortality of 17%. However, due to the rarity of isolated cystic duct dysplasia, there is limited literature with no prospective studies to guide treating teams for the ongoing management and surveillance. This case report discusses the management and 5-year surveillance of a 64-year-old female who was found to have isolated cystic duct HGD after routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis. Methods: Case report and literature review from a metropolitan hospital in Brisbane Australia from 2017. Results: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed with a normal intra-operative cholangiogram. Histopathology showed active chronic cholecystitis, no calculi, and intestinal metaplasia with extensive HGD of the cystic duct resection margin. Completion laparoscopic cystic duct resection revealed further low-grade dysplasia with clear margins and no evidence of malignancy. 5-year imaging and biochemical surveillance showed no evidence of recurrence. Conclusions: In the absence of underlying cancer, the current recommended management of cystic duct HGD is resection of the remnant cystic duct. In higher risk groups, more extensive surgery including regional lymphadenectomy may be suitable. Further literature regarding cystic duct HGD and their management and surveillance outcomes is needed to better understand the malignant potential and determine the appropriate post-operative management of the cystic duct stump and surveillance protocols.

Background. Keratinocyte skin cancers are common in Australia, incurring disproportionately high health expenditure in comparison with mortality. General surgeons often excise these lesions as day-surgery. Balancing individual complexities of these cancers with trainee supervision and health expenditure is key to deliver efficacious care and maintain day-surgery volume for patients during a pandemic. Methods. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed, examining 414 procedures from January 2019 to December 2020. Pathology was reviewed, and benign lesions excluded. Complete excision was based on 5 mm margins for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 0.5 mm microscopic margins for low-risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC) subtypes, and 3 mm for high-risk. Results of trainee-performed local anesthetic (LA) excision and general anesthetic (GA) excision (consultant scrubbed) were compared. Results. 288 excisions were reviewed for completeness, location, and reconstruction modality. 69% were BCC (199), and 31% were SCC (89). These were excised under GA (72.5%) and LA (27.5%). 25.6% of BCC excisions were “close,” and 22.6% were “positive” under GA, whilst 31% were “close” and 15.5% were “positive” under LA. 52.8% of SCC excisions were “close,” and 7.8% were “positive” under GA, compared with 42.8% “close” and 9.5% “positive” under LA. Complex reconstruction (skin graft, flap) was more common under GA (38% SCC and 36.1% BCC), but occurred at a modest rate under LA (22% BCC and 28.5% SCC). Conclusions. The results confirm that comparable margins and reconstruction options are achievable when excising keratinocyte cancers under LA by surgical trainees. This is fundamental in cost and timesaving, as well as reducing risk of aerosolisation of virus during GA, in a pandemic.