Rare events – unavoidable challenges and lessons to be learned

Treating rare diseases raise the challenge of minimal previous exposure to similar operations. Defining a learning curve is therefore controversial as many such 'events' seem to occur in clusters. Similarly, rare complications might occur in 'clusters' hence the response to rare/never events should be interpreted with caution.

Mr Mihai is a Consultant Endocrine Surgeon and Dr Hambly is a Consultant Anaesthetist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Mr Mihai is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford.