Surgical specialties

The Canberra Hospital provides opportunities to experience different surgical sub-specialties.

The Canberra Hospital provides opportunities to experience different surgical sub-specialties.

Each rotation unit is run by surgeons with clinical expertise and an interest in medical education. Most of them also hold academic positions with the Australian National University.

The hospital is also a tertiary referral centre and major trauma centre that allows you to experience trauma management.

Each speciality unit provides access to grand rounds, theatre lists, daily operating theatres, education sessions, regular audits, outpatient sessions and extensive research opportunities.

Please see the information below for specific features of each speciality.

Acute Surgical Unit
  • assessment and management of patients in the ACT and surrounding NSW regions with acute surgical conditions
  • daily consultant ward rounds to ensure all patients have been appropriately assessed
  • handover 3 times a day to ensure optimal patient care
  • participation in multidisciplinary assessment of patients
  • early management of severe trauma course (EMST)
Anaesthetic and Pain Management
  • unit provides anaesthesia and pain management services in and out of operating theatres
  • exposure to pre-anaesthetic assessment of patients on emergency and elective surgical lists
  • participation in resuscitation team in hospital wide emergencies
  • exposure to airway management
Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • emergency cardiothoracic cover for ACT and regional NSW
  • regular outpatient sessions, including preadmission clinics
  • exposure to procedures such as tube thoracostomy, central venous catheterisation, management of intercostal catheters and management of perioperative cardiothoracic patient
Colorectal, Head and Neck and Breast Surgery
  • unit provides general surgical services to ACT and surrounding areas in NSW
  • exposure to principles of wound management, management of drains and suturing
  • daily operating theatres
  • management of chest drains
  • exposure to abdominal paracentesis and pleurocentesis
  • early management of severe trauma course (EMST)
  • wound management skills workshop
ENT, Dental and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
  • unit provides oral and maxillofacial inpatient care, outpatient clinics and consultation services for both paediatric and adult patients
  • extensive involvement in the management of head and neck tumours and liaison with radiation oncology and medical oncology units
  • exposure to rhinology, otology and laryngology
  • exposure to basic ENT skills, including use of ENT examination equipment and nasal packing
Neurosurgery
  • unit provides exposure to the management of various neurosurgical conditions
  • access to the neurosurgical high dependency unit that provides high dependency care for patient in the perioperative period
  • exposure to clinical neurophysiology
  • exposure to shunt function studies at the radiology department
Ophthalmology
  • available to PGY2+ graduates
  • unit provides extensive outpatient clinics both at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital
  • sub-speciality ophthalmological services include retinal and corneal surgery
  • emergency ophthalmological care
  • exposure to basic ophthalmological techniques, including slit lamp examination and ophthalmoscope use
  • exposure to simple procedures such as removal of corneal foreign bodies and surgery of chalazion
  • observation of more advanced techniques such as intravitreal injection and retinal angiography
Orthopaedic Surgery
  • inpatient units at Canberra Hospital
  • daily orthogeriatric consultant cover for elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities
  • exposure to the management of fractures, dislocations, soft tissue injuries, compartment syndromes and septic joints
  • exposure to elective procedures
  • procedural exposure to application of casts, tying surgical knots and suturing
  • daily fracture clinics
Plastic Surgery
  • exposure to hand microsurgery
  • exposure to complex maxillofacial surgery and acute soft tissue reconstruction
  • exposure the microsurgical reconstruction
  • extensive head and neck cancer services with involvement from the radiation oncology department
  • initial assessment and management of burns
Trauma and General Surgery
  • exposure to general surgery, multiple trauma management and complex wound management
  • exposure to primary, secondary and tertiary injury services
  • nutritional management
  • management of intercostal catheters
  • management of tracheostomy
  • development of counselling skills
  • wound debridement and closure techniques
  • insertion of central lines, tube thoracostomy, lumbar puncture and abdominal paracentesis
  • early management and severe trauma course (EMST)
Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
  • unit provides general surgery services to ACT and surrounding areas of NSW
  • exposure to principles of wound management, management of drains and suturing
  • management of chest drains
  • exposure to abdominal paracentesis and pleurocentesis
  • wound management skills workshop
  • early management of severe trauma course (EMST)
Urology
  • unit provides urological services for the ACT and regional NSW
  • exposure to procedures such as urethral catheterisation and management of irrigation catheters
Vascular Surgery
  • unit provides emergency and elective vascular surgical care for patients in the ACT and regional NSW
  • extensive exposure to angiograms and balloon angioplasties
  • exposure to carotid endarterectomies
  • access to a “wet lab” that can be used as a resource tool for surgical training
Page last updated on: 30 Sep 2018