Fifty Years of Thoracic Surgical Research in South Africa.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the scope and trends in clinical research in South African thoracic surgery between 1955 and 2006 and to measure its impact on clinical practice. The vulnerability of a small speciality in a developing country is illustrated by the clear trends that emerged. It provides important indicators for future research, highlights the need for a national database of clinical experience and emphasises the importance of rekindling interest and a culture of research in thoracic surgery.