Metabolic surgery
Conference information
National Library for Health
Trauma
Wellcome Trust
Annual UK congresses

 

 

Metabolic surgery

Ever consider type 2 diabetes a surgical condition? It is notable that the various bariatric societies are changing their identities to recognise the impact of weight control surgery on other metabolic problems, notably the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The first randomised trial to consider a surgical procedure to control diabetes was published in JAMA in January (Dixon JB et al, JAMA. 2008;299(3):316-323). Astonishing results. Some 73% of diabetics were effectively cured by surgery making use of an operation which involves minimal access techniques and takes around 30-40 minutes to perform! . The best medical management could only achieve an improvement for 13%. Watch this space!

Conference Website

Are you too busy to organise your Continuing Medical Education? If you would like to be sent information regarding Conferences and Courses which are of interest to you there is a completely free website designed especially for your conference and course needs. You set the email criteria and you can even search through hundreds of CME events in all medical specialties using your specialty, conference abbreviations, keywords, dates or location.

 

National Library for Health

From 1st April 2008 all NHS staff will have access to a huge range of e resources via a single interface i.e. the National Library for Health. For more information click here.

It will be fully functional from next month but you can already access big chunks of detail. For example, have a look at the range of image resources. There is also a free link to Gray’s Anatomy online.

Trauma

If you have never visited the home of the trauma moulage you NEED to do this soon. A moulage is a practice scenario, where you have a patient to assess and manage appropriately. It is relatively easy (but thankfully harmless) to kill these patients! The whole process is engaging and entertaining as well as being educational. Visit this excellent site – it is expanding all the time and is worth exploring.

 

Wellcome Trust

Ever visited this site? There is some excellent material here including this year’s Wellcome Image awards – amazing shots including examples of individual cancer cells, diseased vessels, molecular models etc. Find them here

ASGBI / BOA

The ASGBI annual clinical congress takes place in Bournemouth this year from 14th - 16th May. Highlights include Lord Ara Darzi, Minister of State for Health,who will deliver the Opening Address, Professor Karol Sikora (Beaconsfield) delivering the Helen Rollason Memorial Lecture and Sir Graeme Catto, President of the General Medical Council, replying to the question 'The GMC and the Surgeon: friend or foe?'

Professor Sir David Carter (Edinburgh), Professor John Collins (Melbourne) and Dr Timothy Flynn (Gainsville, Florida) provide an international perspective on 'The Making of a Surgeon' in the opening session of the Congress and the 2008 British Journal of Surgery Travelling Fellow, Professor John Daly (Philadelphia) will discuss 'The Making of a Surgical Oncologist'. Euan Dickson will be giving the RCPSG lecture. Programme details here.

The next BOA Annual Congress will take place in the Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool on 16-19 September 2008. Details here.

WSSA

The Spring meeting of the West of Scotland Surgical Association will be held in Oban at the Lors and Islands DGH. The programme starts at 3pm. As is customary the meeting will be followed by dinner. This will be held at Soroba House Hotel; overnight accommodation is available and should be booked directly with the hotel (telephone 01631 562628). For more information by email - click here.

With best wishes

David Galloway