Teaching in Paediatrics for UK Foundation Doctors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Most doctors will care for children regularly during their careers in settings such as the emergency department, general practice, surgery, or, for a minority, during paediatric specialist training. As such, exposure to topics related to child health ought to be part of the broad curriculum of learning offered to UK Foundation Programme doctors. Objective This study aimed to quantify teaching in paediatrics that is accessed by Foundation doctors. Methods A cross-sectional electronic survey of foundation year one or two (F1/F2) doctors at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. Ethical approval was granted by the Imperial College London (ICL) Education Ethics Review Process (EERP 2021-082). Results Two-hundred and five Foundation doctors completed the survey, from 16 of the 18 Foundation schools. Respondents attended a median of two hours (interquartile range (IQR) 0-10) of paediatric teaching during the past 12 months, including a median of one hour (IQR 0-2) of core teaching and a median of one hour (IQR 0-9) of non-core teaching. Those who had worked in a paediatric post in the past 12 months, or who were interested in Paediatrics as a career, attended more median hours of teaching. Conclusions Although many doctors will care for children routinely during their later careers, the number of teaching hours in paediatrics experienced by Foundation doctors is low. The UK Foundation Programme should incorporate more teaching in paediatrics to increase exposure to child health amongst newly graduated and as-yet unspecialised doctors.

Accuracy of Self-Estimated BMI in the Context of Telephone Assessment Before Elective General Surgery.

Background This study aimed to determine if self-estimated body mass index (BMI) from telephone consultation was accurate and useful for surgical planning prior to elective general surgery. Methods A prospective cohort study was performed under a single surgeon at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom. Estimated BMI was collected from consecutive patients attending a pre-operative telephone consultation. Actual BMI was measured on the day of surgery and compared. Patient age and gender were also collected. Results Data were collected from 124 participants (median age 59 years, 49.2% male). A total of 33 participants under-estimated, 53 over-estimated, and 38 accurately estimated their BMIs. The median change in BMI was 0.0 (IQR -0.1, 0.3, p = 0.003). The median change in males was 0.0 (-0.1, 0.2, p = 0.479) compared to 0.1 (0.0, 0.7, p = 0.002) in females. Those with an actual BMI > 29.9 had a significantly higher median change (0.2 {0.0, 1.1}) compared to those with BMI ≤ 29.9 (0.0 {-0.2, 0.1}; p <0.001). Only two patients could have required a change in surgeon on the day of the procedure and this was not statistically significant (p = 0.500). Conclusions Self-estimated BMI, collected via telephone consultation, is a suitable method for assessing patients for surgical planning ahead of elective general surgery procedures, particularly for males. However, it is important to be aware that those with higher BMIs, particularly females, may underestimate their BMIs.

Is dementia more likely following traumatic brain injury? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia is controversial, and of growing importance considering the ageing demography of TBI. OBJECTIVE: To review the scope and quality of the existing literature investigating the relationship between TBI and dementia. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. Studies that compared TBI exposure and dementia risk were included. Studies were formally assessed for quality with a validated quality-assessment tool. RESULTS: 44 studies were included in the final analysis. 75% (n = 33) were cohort studies and data collection was predominantly retrospective (n = 30, 66.7%). 25 studies (56.8%) found a positive relationship between TBI and dementia. Clearly defined and valid measures of assessing TBI history were lacking (case-control studies-88.9%, cohort studies-52.9%). Most studies failed to justify a sample size (case-control studies-77.8%, cohort studies-91.2%), blind assessors to exposure (case-control-66.7%) or blind assessors to exposure status (cohort-3.00%). Studies that identified a relationship between TBI and dementia had a longer median follow-up time (120 months vs 48 months, p = 0.022) and were more likely to use validated TBI definitions (p = 0.01). Studies which clearly defined TBI exposure (p = 0.013) and accounted for TBI severity (p = 0.036) were also more likely to identify an association between TBI and dementia. There was no consensus method by which studies diagnosed dementia and neuropathological confirmation was only available in 15.5% of studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our review suggests a relationship between TBI and dementia, but we are unable to predict the risk of dementia for an individual following TBI. Our conclusions are limited by heterogeneity in both exposure and outcome reporting and by poor study quality. Future studies should; (a) use validated methods to define TBI, accounting for TBI severity; (b) follow consensus agreement on criteria for dementia diagnosis; and (c) undertake follow-up that is both longitudinal, to determine if there is a progressive neurodegenerative change or static post-traumatic deficit, and of sufficient duration.

Patient satisfaction with general surgery telephone consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single surgeon experience.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development and use of telemedicine in surgical practice. Here we set out to understand patient satisfaction with the use of telephone consultation in the general surgical clinic and preference over face-to-face consultation. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out for consecutive patients seen in a general surgery telephone clinic by a single surgeon in a district general hospital in the UK from 1st September 2021 to 10th March 2022. Demographic data was collected from electronic patient records. At the end of the consultation patients were asked to: 1) score their satisfaction with the telephone consultation on a 5-point Likert Scale; and 2) whether they preferred telephone consultations to face-to-face appointments. It was noted if a patient required a further face-to-face consultation in addition to the telephone consultation. RESULTS: The study included 245 patients who were reviewed by telephone consultation. Most patients (59.6%; N.=146) gave the telephone consultation the highest satisfaction score with a further 31% (N.=76) scoring it as a 4 out of 5. Only 2.8% of patients said they would have preferred a face-to-face consultation and gave a median satisfaction score of 2 (IQR 2-3) compared to 5 (IQR 4-5) in those who preferred telephone consultations (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction regardless of patient age or gender. Lower rates of satisfaction are associated with the need for further face-to-face follow-up. If telemedicine is to remain a permanent part of surgical practice, disease specific protocols for its use are required.

Bucket-Handle Mesenteric Tears: A Comprehensive Review of Their Presentation and Management.

Bucket-handle mesenteric tears remain a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We aim to review the literature, including a single-surgeon series, to better understand their presentation and management. Three electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Embase, and PubMed) were searched for original research articles, describing relevant cases, from database inception to October 2021 using the following Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: mesenteric avulsion, mesenteric tear, and blunt abdominal trauma. A retrospective review of cases managed under a single surgeon at our unit was also performed. Data extracted included demographics, mechanism of injury, presenting features, diagnostic imaging, surgical management, and patient outcome. In total, 19 studies were identified, including 22 patients (median age 34.5 years). The most common cause of injury was seat-belted road traffic accidents (77.3%), and patients commonly presented with abdominal pain (72.7%), tenderness (50%), positive seat-belt sign (54.5%), and haemodynamic compromise (45.5%). Computerised tomography scanning was the main imaging modality (68%), and the most common findings reported were abdominal free fluid (36.4%) and abdominal wall hernia (27.3%). The majority of patients were operated on within 24 hours of injury (68%), had a median length of stay of 14.5 days, and experienced an uncomplicated recovery (68%). There was no association between the development of complications and delayed surgical intervention >24 hours (p = 0.145). Our institution's experience was similar, with 50% of patients undergoing surgical intervention within 24 hours. The median age was 32.5 years (50% female), and the median length of stay was 11 days. A high index of suspicion, serial monitoring, including blood tests, and imaging, with a low threshold for early repeat imaging, can provide a useful guide for identifying patients with bucket-handle tears.

Presentations of the Acute Scrotum During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of a Non-urological Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular torsion is a time-sensitive surgical emergency. Assessment of the acute scrotum warrants rapid surgical review and low threshold for surgical intervention.  Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken for a three-month period during the first wave of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding period in 2019. Data were collected for all scrotal explorations undertaken at our non-urological centre during this time. RESULTS: Sixteen scrotal explorations were performed from April to June 2019, one had testicular torsion (6.25%). Forty-one explorations were performed from April to June 2020, nine had testicular torsion (21.95%). The most common diagnosis was epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis in 2019 and 2020 (27% and 37.5%, respectively). Sixty-two percent of patients presented within 12 hours in 2019 compared to only 37% during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. CONCLUSION: This study found an increase in the number of patients presenting with acute scrotal pain triggering surgical intervention and the number of patients with testicular torsion. This is likely to reflect a decrease in patients able to access primary care assessment but may also be related to COVID-19. There was a marked delay in the presentation which has significant implications for testicular viability.

Social and Educational Outcomes in Patients With Biliary Atresia: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the social outcomes of patients with biliary atresia (BA), including educational, employment and family outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of Medline, EMBASE, Global Health, Maternity and Infant Care Database, supplemented by reference searching. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute scoring was conducted for quality assessment. The PROSPERO registration ID was CRD42020178846. RESULTS: Fifty-one studies were included (41 cohort, 10 cross-sectional), including 4631 participants across 16 countries. Cohorts were BA post-liver transplant (LT) (18 studies), native liver survivors (NLS) (16 studies), mixed (13 studies) and four other cohorts. Outcomes covered; education (n = 35), employment (n = 16), family outcomes (n = 22), and social functioning (n = 22). BA patients had lower school functioning scores than controls, with no difference between NLS versus post-LT. Between 2% and 48% of children required additional educational support. Between 60% and 100% of adult patients with BA were employed. Pregnancies were described in 17 studies, with small samples, and some noted complications. Social functioning scores were similar to healthy controls in 8 of 11 comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Despite BA being the primary indication for liver transplantation in childhood, social outcomes for children and adolescents are predominantly reported in non-controlled, single-centre survey-based studies. School functioning is lower compared to peer groups, with no evidence of a difference for those having a liver transplant. We recommend routine psychosocial assessment of these patients during follow-up, alongside multi-centre collaborations, to maximise the quality of evidence for future patients.

Factors Influencing Driving following DBS Surgery in Parkinson's Disease: A Single UK Centre Experience and Review of the Literature.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder, leading to impairment of various neurological faculties, including motor, planning, cognitivity, and executive functions. Motor- and non-motor symptoms of the disease may intensify a patient's restrictions to performing usual tasks of daily living, including driving. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) associated with optimized clinical treatment has been shown to improve quality of life, motor, and non-motor symptoms in PD. In most countries, there are no specific guidelines concerning minimum safety requirements and the timing of return to driving following DBS, leaving to the medical staff of individual DBS centres the responsibility to draw recommendations individually regarding patients' ability to drive after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that might influence the ability to drive following DBS in the management of PD. A total of 125 patients were included. Clinical, epidemiological, neuropsychological, and surgical factors were evaluated. The mean follow-up time was 129.9 months. DBS improved motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. However, in general, patients were 2.8-fold less likely to drive in the postoperative period than prior to surgery. Among the PD characteristics, patients with the akinetic subtype presented a higher risk to lose their driving licence postoperatively. Furthermore, the presence of an abnormal postoperative neuropsychological evaluation was also associated with driving restriction following surgery. Our data indicate that restriction to drive following surgery seems to be multifactorial rather than a direct consequence of DBS itself. Our study sheds light on the urgent need for a standardised multidisciplinary postoperative evaluation to assess patients' ability to drive following DBS.

Adult Liver Disease Prognostic Modelling for Long-term Outcomes in Biliary Atresia: An Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the utility of prognostic scoring systems for adolescents with biliary atresia (BA) surviving with native liver, for predicting the subsequent requirement for liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Single-centre retrospective analysis of 397 BA patients who received Kasai Portoenterostomy (KP) 1980-1996 and survived with the native liver at 16 years. Laboratory and clinical variables at 16 years (timepoint 16 years) were used to calculate (i) LT allocation scores; Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD/MELD-sodium (Na)], and UK End-Stage Liver Disease (UKELD); (ii) Mayo Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis risk score (MayoPSC) and (iii) a modified Paediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score. Scores were compared between patients requiring LT after 16 years of age (LT > 16 years), and those who survived with native liver, at the latest follow-up. Additional subgroup analysis for patients with data available at 12 years (timepoint 12 years). RESULTS: MELD (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] 0.847) and UKELD (AUROC: 0.815) at 16 years of age predict the need for LT > 16 years. No advantage for MELD-Na over MELD was demonstrated. MELD >8.5 and UKELD >47 predicted LT > 16 years with 84% and 79% sensitivity and 73% and 73% specificity. PELD had a similar performance to MELD, but superiority to UKELD. MayoPSC revealed predictive accuracy for LT >16 years (AUROC 0.859), with a score of >0.87 predicting LT > 16 years with 85% sensitivity and 82% specificity. At timepoint 12 years, MELD and MayoPSC predicted LT >16 years. Change in MELD, PELD and MayoPSC between 12 and 16 years of age, was associated with LT >16 years. CONCLUSIONS: Adult LT allocation scores may help monitor progress in adolescent BA, but the omission of relevant risk factors limits their utility for listing in this cohort. A BA-specific prognostic score would improve the management of adolescent BA.

Gut Microbiome: A Potential Modifiable Risk Factor in Biliary Atresia.

ABSTRACT: Biliary atresia (BA) is a fibro-obliterative condition of the biliary tree, presenting in infancy. The bilioenteric conduit formed at Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), achieves restoration of bile flow in approximately 60% of infants. Even if the operation is successful, cirrhosis and its associated complications are, however, common. BA remains the leading cause for liver transplantation (LT) in children. Antibiotic, choleretic, and steroid therapy post-KPE have not convincingly reduced LT rates. Advances in molecular technology have enabled characterisation of the encoded genes of the gut microbiota (gut microbiome). The gut microbiome plays an important role in host metabolism, nutrition, and immune function, with alterations in its diversity and/or composition, known as dysbiosis, being described in disease states, including liver disease. Liver-gut microbiome exploration in adulthood largely focuses on nonalcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis (mainly alcohol- or viral-based aetiology) and cholestatic liver diseases (eg, primary sclerosing cholangitis), with microbial signatures correlating to disease severity. Investigation of the gut microbiota in BA had been limited to culture-based methodology, but molecular studies are emerging, and although in their infancy, highlight a potential pathogenic role for Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus, and a potential beneficial role for Bifidobacteria. Bacterial translocation, and the production of gut microbiome-derived metabolites, are key host-microbiome-mechanistic pathways in liver disease pathogenesis. Microbiome-targeted therapeutics for liver disease are in development, with faecal microbiota transplantation showing promise in cirrhosis. Could the gut microbiome be a novel modifiable risk factor in BA, reducing the need for LT?

Early Responses of Neurosurgical Practice to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Rapid Review.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus and subsequent pandemic have drastically transfigured health care delivery. Surgical specialties have seen severe alterations or reductions to practice, with neurosurgery being one example in which staff and resource reallocation has occurred to meet wider public health needs. This review summarizes the published evidence detailing early experiences and changes to neurosurgical practice in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted up until April 21, 2020 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, by searching Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science Core Collection databases. Individual studies were qualitatively assessed to outline core themes detailing changes to practice. Iterative analysis allowed themes to be developed and applied to all studies included in the review. RESULTS: In total, 13 themes from 18 studies were identified, grouped into 3 overriding themes: logistics, human resources, and clinical delivery. Studies originated from 3 of the most affected countries (United States, China, and Italy), comprising expert opinions, letters to the editor, editorials, case reports, or perspective pieces. The commonest themes discussed include cancellation of elective operations, reduction in outpatient services, and pandemic rotas. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes the early responses of the neurosurgical community to the COVID-19 pandemic and presents a menu of interventions to be considered in future pandemic response, or in recurrent outbreaks of COVID-19. Whilst our review is limited by the low quality of evidence and rapid rate of change in our understanding of COVID-19, it provides a valuable summary of initial responses by the neurosurgical community to a global pandemic.

Patient-Reported Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Function After Cauda Equina Syndrome Secondary to a Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc.

BACKGROUND: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is rare neurosurgical emergency requiring emergent surgical decompression to prevent bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction that can have significant impact on quality of life. There is a paucity of data relating to the prevalence of these long-term complications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the long-term prevalence of CES-related bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction and impact on quality of life to inform service provision. METHODS: Participants were selected through coding of operative records of patients who underwent lumbar decompression for CES secondary to a herniated intervertebral disc at two large UK neurosurgical departments between 2011 and 2015 inclusive. A telephone-based survey including both validated and modified tools was used to collect data pertaining to bladder, bowel, and sexual function and impact on quality of life both before development of CES and at the time of the survey, at least 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Of 135 patients contacted, 71 (42 male, 29 female) responded. Post-CES compared to pre-CES, there was higher prevalence and significant intrarespondent deterioration of bowel dysfunction, bladder dysfunction, perception of bladder function, sexual function, effect of back pain on sex life, and activities of daily living/quality of life (p < .0001 for all). Significant differences in individual questions pre-CES versus post-CES were also found. CONCLUSION: We show high prevalence of long-term bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction post-CES, with functional and psychosocial consequences. Our results demonstrate the need for preoperative information and subsequent screening and long-term multidisciplinary support for these complications.

Obstetric management of a woman with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2i and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy describes a clinical phenotype with progressive weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the shoulders and hips. One of the more common types, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2i, is associated with impaired cardiac function and restrictive lung disease, typically disproportionate to muscular disease. This condition presents a number of complex challenges in pregnancy and there are few case reports of its successful management. Here we discuss the course of the first pregnancy of a 20-year-old woman with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2i.

How does clinical space utilisation impact patient flow?

BACKGROUND: Long waiting times in accident and emergency (A&E) departments remain one of the largest barriers to the timely assessment of critically unwell patients. In order to reduce the burden on A&Es, some trusts have introduced ambulatory care areas (ACAs) which provide acute assessment for general practitioner referrals. However, ACAs are often based on already busy acute medical wards and the availability of clinical space for clerking patients means that these patients often face long waiting times too. A cheap and sustainable method to reducing waiting times is to evaluate current space utilisation with the view to making use of underutilised workspace. The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve accessibility to pre-existing clinical spaces, and in doing so, reduce waiting times in acute admissions. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from electronic systems and used to establish a baseline wait time from arrival to having blood taken (primary outcome). Quality improvement methods were used to identify potential implementations to reduce waiting time, by increasing access to clinical space, with serial measurements of the primary outcome being used to monitor change. RESULTS: Data were collected over 54 consecutive days. The median wait time increased by 55 min during the project period. However, this difference in waiting time was not deemed significant between the three PDSA cycles (p=0.419, p=0.270 and p=0.350, Mann-Whitney U). Run chart analysis confirmed no significant changes occurred. CONCLUSION: In acute services, one limiting factor to seeing patients quickly is room availability. Quality improvement projects, such as this, should consider facilitating better use of available space and creating new clinical workspaces. This offers the possibility of reducing waiting times for both staff and patients alike. We recommend future projects focus efforts on integration of their interventions to generate significant improvements.

Clinical specialty training in UK undergraduate medical schools: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if increased exposure to clinical specialties at medical school is associated with increased interest in pursuing that specialty as a career after foundation training. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. SETTING: 31 UK medical schools were asked how much time students spend in each of the clinical specialties. We excluded two schools that were solely Graduate Entry, and two schools were excluded for insufficient information. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time spent on clinical placement from UK undergraduate medical schools, and the training destinations of graduates from each school. A general linear model was used to analyse the relationship between the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school and the percentage of graduates from that medical school entering each of the Core Training (CT1)/Specialty Training (ST1) specialties directly after Foundation Year 2 (FY2). RESULTS: Students spend a median of 85 weeks in clinical training. This includes a median of 28 weeks on medical firms, 15 weeks in surgical firms, and 8 weeks in general practice (GP). In general, the number of training posts available in a specialty was proportionate to the number of weeks spent in medical school, with some notable exceptions including GP. Importantly, we found that the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school did not predict the percentage of graduates of that school training in that specialty at CT1/ST1 level (ß coefficient=0.061, p=0.228). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there was no correlation between the percentage of FY2 doctors appointed directly to a CT1/ST1 specialty and the length of time that they would have spent in those specialties at medical school. This suggests that curriculum adjustments focusing solely on length of time spent in a specialty in medical school would be unlikely to solve recruitment gaps in individual specialties.

Prognostic markers at adolescence in patients requiring liver transplantation for biliary atresia in adulthood.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In patients with biliary atresia (BA), the rate of native liver survival (NLS) to adulthood has been reported as 14-44% worldwide. Complications related to portal hypertension (PHT) and cholangitis are common in adulthood. For those requiring liver transplantation (LT), the timing can be challenging. The aim of this study was to identify variables that could predict whether young people with BA would require LT when they are >16 years of age. METHODS: This study was a single-centre retrospective analysis of 397 patients who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) between 1980-96 in the UK. After KP, 111/397 (28%) demonstrated NLS until 16 years of age. At final follow-up, 67 showed NLS when >16 years old (Group 1) and 22 required LT when >16 years old (Group 2). Laboratory, clinical and radiological parameters were collected for both groups at a median age of 16.06 years (13.6-17.4 years). RESULTS: The need for LT when >16 years old was associated with higher total bilirubin (hazard ratio 1.03, p = 0.019) and lower creatinine (hazard ratio 0.95, p = 0.040), at 16 years, on multivariate analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a total bilirubin level of ≥21 µmol/L at 16 years old (AUROC = 0.848) predicted the need for LT when >16 years old, with 85% sensitivity and 74% specificity. Cholangitis episode(s) during adolescence were associated with a 5-fold increased risk of needing LT when >16 years old. The presence of PHT or gastro-oesophageal varices in patients <16 years old was associated with a 7-fold and 8.6-fold increase in the risk of needing LT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BA in adulthood requires specialised management. Adult liver disease scoring models are not appropriate for this cohort. Bilirubin ≥21 µmol/L, PHT or gastro-oesophageal varices at 16 years, and cholangitis in adolescence, can predict the need for future LT in young people with BA. Low creatinine at 16 years also has potential prognostic value. LAY SUMMARY: Patients with biliary atresia commonly require liver transplantation before reaching adulthood. Those who reach adulthood with their own liver are still at risk of needing a transplant. This study aimed to identify tests that could help clinicians predict which patients with biliary atresia who reach the age of 16 without a transplant will require one in later life. The study found that the presence of bilirubin ≥21 µmol/L, lower creatinine levels, and a history of portal hypertension or gastro-oesophageal varices at 16 years, as well as cholangitis in adolescence, could predict the future likelihood of needing a liver transplant for young people with biliary atresia.

Undergraduate neurosurgical conferences - what role do they play?

INTRODUCTION: Undergraduate student conferences provide networking opportunities for students interested in exploring a speciality. The ability to meet with like-minded students, engage with senior clinicians and experience the practical side of a speciality are valuable in shaping the career trajectory of undergraduates. We report our experience of developing a national undergraduate neurosurgery conference - a combined project between the medical students of King's College London School of Medicine and the neurosurgery department at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. DESIGN: Evaluation of conference design and student feedback. METHODS: The conference was organised by medical students with support from a neurosurgical unit. Senior clinicians and trainees helped design practical workshops and a focused programme. Questionnaires were distributed before and after the conference to assess the quality of content and impact of the conference on students. RESULTS: Prior to the conference, 80.7% of respondents stated they were interested in a career in neurosurgery. After the conference the figure rose to 88.9%. The percentage of students who felt they understood what a career in neurosurgery involves increased from 38.6% to 92.1% of respondents. 39.0% of participants had no neurosurgery exposure prior to the conference. 91.9% of participants agreed or strongly agreed they would be more confident engaging with a neurosurgical department following the conference. All participants agreed (29.0%) or strongly agreed (71.0%) that they would recommend this conference to a colleague. CONCLUSIONS: Student conferences are a valuable method of increasing exposure to a career in neurosurgery. They serve a great purpose in demystifying the specialty and guiding those with an interest through the steps required to enter and progress.