Who's who?

Jacqui Elsden introduces the leadership of the British Association of Dental Nurses

Contemporary standards in UK nephrectomy practice: Analysis of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Complex Operations Reports, 2016–2018

Objective: To analyse the 2016–2018 British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Complex Operations Reports nephrectomy database, providing a comprehensive description of modern nephrectomy practice. Patients and Methods: Analysis of 2016–2018 data held on the BAUS Complex Operations Reports nephrectomy database was performed for 21,366 patients in England. Data are reported on patient, disease, operation and outcome variables. Results: Using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) as a comparator, the database captured an estimated 88% of nephrectomies. Benign nephrectomies (BNs) accounted for 11%, 51% were radical nephrectomies (RNs), 14% were nephroureterectomies (NUs) and 22% were partial nephrectomies (PNs). Of the 2399 BNs, 10% were performed for stone disease, 9% for allograft donation and 9% for infective pathology. Aetiology was not specified further than non-functioning kidney in 51% of cases; 80% of cases adopted minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Histology was benign in 96% of cases. Of 10,843 RNs performed, 77% were performed using MIS. Final histology was renal cell carcinoma in 87% of cases and benign histology confirmed in 9% of cases. Of 3038 NUs performed, 88% were performed using MIS. Histology confirmed malignancy in 94% of cases with transitional cell carcinoma accounting for 82% of cases overall. Of 4708 PNs performed, 74% were performed using MIS; 85% of cases were performed for T1 disease; 16% of cases overall returned benign histology. Across the cohort, 30-day mortality was 0.36%. Transfusion rates were 3.3%, 6.1%, 3.3% and 2.0% for BNs, RNs, NUs and PNs, respectively. In malignant disease, positive surgical margins were present in 0.7% of RNs, 1.2% of NUs and 7.3% of PNs. Conclusions: The BAUS nephrectomy dataset provides a real-world description of nephrectomy practice across England, enabling surgeons to compare their practice against a national average. This dataset allows surgeons to share data with patients enhancing informed consent and facilitating shared-decision making. Overall, MIS is widespread, and early mortality after nephrectomy is low. Level of evidence: 2B

Science and Spiritualism in an Irish Context

William Fletcher Barrett (1844–1925) has long been recognised for his key role in the foundation of the Society for Psychical Research in 1882, but this came after years of working as a physicist and psychical researcher between Ireland and Britain, conducting mesmeric experiments, maintaining correspondence, and sharing research ideas at forums like the British Association for the Advancement of Science. This article re-evaluates Barrett’s career by focusing on his networks, projects, and organisations in Ireland. These acted as bridges connecting his work as a teacher of physics with his work as a psychical researcher and investigator of spiritualism. In doing so, this article also contributes to the history of spiritualism in Ireland by demonstrating the rich connections which existed between scientists, intellectuals, and amateur investigators in the area of spiritualism and psychical research.