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Declining mortality in international sterilization services.

Between 1973 and 1988, AVSC supported 1,516,478 female sterilizations and 401,856 vasectomies in 50 countries. Overall, 73 deaths were attributable to voluntary sterilization procedures (yielding mortality rates of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 female sterilizations and 0.5 per 100,000 vasectomies). Causes of death, in order of frequency, were anesthesia (22), intestinal injury (20), infection (19), intra-abdominal hemorrhage (6) and other (6). The female sterilization mortality rate declined from 7.1 per 100,000 procedures in 1973-1981 to 3.7 per 100,000 in 1982-1988. Safer anesthesia practices and improved infection control contributed most to this decline. The mortality rate related to surgical errors declined proportionately less than the rates related to anesthesia and infection. Contraceptive sterilization has become a very safe procedure in these 50 countries, where anesthesia (local and general), surgical technique (minilaparotomy and laparoscopy) and timing of the procedure (interval and postpartum) vary substantially. Future deaths will probably be rare. However, expert surgeons should review each case because identifying the most likely cause of death is always complex and these analyses help shape surgical contraception practices.

Cause of Death↗

Evaluation of academic and community surgery clerkships at a Midwestern medical school.

BACKGROUND: The equivalency of surgical clerkship experience between academic and community sites is an issue that is assessed with difficulty. We examined the objective performance of 222 medical students after completion of the 8-week surgical clerkship. Six different consecutive semesters were analyzed. There were two objective examinations reviewed, the National Board of Medical Examiners' subject examination and the surgical subportion of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) given at the end of the third year. METHODS: Medical students were classified into three separate groups based on the site of their surgical clerkship. The medical students were in either academic (100), community (79), or combined (academic and community) (43) locations. Medical student performance on the subject examination and OSCE was examined after completion of the general surgical clerkship. Single-factor analysis of variance testing was done to compare each of the three groups with respect to subject examination test score, or OSCE score. Significance was defined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: The combined group scored highest on the subject examination (73.6%). The community group scored highest on the OSCE (80.7%). However, no statistical significance exists between the three groups with regard to subject examination (P = NS) or OSCE (P= NS). Subject examination scores did not correlate with OSCE scores (r = 0.095). Objective measurements of surgical subject examination and OSCE were not statistically different between academic, community, and academic and community surgical clerkship participants. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences exist between the three groups with regards to OSCE failure rates, but the small amount of failures may have caused Type 2 error. Surgical clinical skills as tested by an OSCE and surgical knowledge as tested by a subject examination are equally attained by an academic or community surgical clerkship.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Chronic sinusitis: a surgical perspective.

Rhinosinusitis is one of the most common chronic diseases with significant symptoms and impact on the quality of life. Surgery is indicated when appropriate medical treatment fails. A review of the clinical presentations of rhinosinusitis is presented, as well as an overview of current medical and surgical treatment options. Although external approaches are still mandated in some selected instances, endoscopic sinus surgery has become the standard for surgical treatment of sinonasal pathologies, by aiming at restoring the physiological functions of the nasal and paranasal cavities. This technique presents numerous advantages with a minimally invasive approach, better visualization of structures, camera magnification of the surgical field, and allows thorough exploration of difficult-to-reach areas. The risks and complications of endoscopic sinus surgery are well identified and may be reduced significantly by the adjunct use of computer-assisted image guidance and intraoperative fluoroscopy. Surgical simulation also is a promising tool to help reduce surgical errors and improve surgeon training in the future.

Chronic Disease↗

Symposium on peptic ulcer disease: 3. Practical management of recurrent peptic ulcer.

Recurrent peptic ulcer usually develops as the result of an ill-advised or poorly executed operation. The commonest surgical error is an incomplete vagotomy. Diagnosis is made best by endoscopy. Mandatory investigation includes determination of serum gastrin and calcium, and measurement of basal and maximal acid output. Management is surgical and depends on the initial ulcer operation. Decision-making is aided by the Hollander insulin test, the secretin infusion test and occasionally by a technetium scan. There is no place for procedures that do not reduce acid output. Emergency treatment of a complication should be followed by full investigation and the appropriate operation. Recurrent gastric ulcer should be treated by gastrectomy and excision of the ulcer.

Drainage↗

A role for error training in surgical technical skill instruction and evaluation.

BACKGROUND: During the evaluation of many instances of the same basic surgical skill, we observed that there were several errors that occurred frequently. Two studies were undertaken to examine the use of these errors for improving the instruction and evaluation of the skill. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For both studies, two types of rater training videotapes were developed. One involved the use of examples of common errors (error) and the other demonstrated the skill being performed correctly (correct). A testing videotape was created consisting of 24 performances of the skill that ranged in quality of the performance. The first study was designed to assess the impact of error instruction on skill acquisition. In this study, a group of 30 senior medical students were randomly assigned to one of four different training groups: none, error only, correct only, and error+correct. Subjects were videotaped performing the skill before and after the training and three experts evaluated these performances independently using a 7-point rating scale. The second study was designed to assess the impact of error training on skill evaluation and was done using both novice and expert raters. The same group of 30 senior medical students used in the first study was used as novice raters. Following training in one of the four training groups, each subject rated the 24 performances on the testing videotape and interrater reliability was assessed for each group. Surgical faculty served as expert raters in this study and were randomly assigned to receive either error training or no training. Each subject viewed the testing videotape, rating the performances and giving "feedback" commentary. Interrater reliability was calculated for the two groups and the precision of the feedback was assessed. RESULTS: Significant improvement in posttest performance scores was seen only in the "error+correct" training group. Interrater reliability was somewhat lower for the "correct only" and "error only" training groups in both the student and faculty studies. Faculty raters receiving error training had a higher proportion of specific comments than the group that received no training although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Instruction about common errors, when combined with instruction about the correct performance enhanced the acquisition of this surgical skill. This suggests a role for the use of errors in surgical technical skill instruction. Our study provides no support for a role for error training in improving skill evaluation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Virtual reality and women's health: a breast biopsy system.

Minimally invasive procedures are becoming much more common in surgical practice because of the many advantages for patient comfort and convenience, and improved surgical access. However some of the major problems leading to occasional surgical errors with this minimal access method are restricted vision, limited sense of touch, difficulties in identification in 3D space of the position of the instrument tips, and their handling during delicate, short-distance movements toward the surgical target area. These factors emphasize the need for computer simulated training in surgical manipulations and procedures in preparation for conducting them in patients. The key new feature of our proof-of-concept training simulator is a preventive mechanism that serves at least two functions. As the surgical target (or a critical structure) is approached, a haptically generated preventive force forewarns the surgeon, making it possible to abort those maneuvers that may lead to adverse results. By announcing a potential collision of a virtual instrument tip with a surgical target, the time used for searching for the target is shortened, and the haptic signal minimizes the potential of tissue damage. This real-time, interactive, virtual reality based, haptic breast biopsy-training simulation is a PC/NT based multitasking, multithreading system. It is based upon an advanced force feedback device. The system monitors and indirectly guides the surgeon's movements, while providing high fidelity visual and force feedback cues as the area of surgical interest is approached. Our first application is with human breast.

Algorithms↗

Late tubal patency following tubal ligation.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG), performed in the first 3 months after tubal ligation, has demonstrated a 1% to 2% incidence of tubal patency when initial operative errors have been excluded. In a group of 54 women, HSG was performed a mean of 4.8 years following sterilization; 9 women (16.7%) demonstrated spillage which was confirmed at laparoscopy in 7 of 8 women operated upon. No cases were due to initial surgical error. Delayed acquisition of tubal patency may explain late failure of tubal ligation, and the abnormal tubal lumen formed may be responsible for the increased percentage of ectopic pregnancies observed among sterilization failures. Ectopic pregnancy must be strongly considered in any failure of tubal ligation. In investigating the proximal tubal segment prior to consideration for tubal reconstruction, the possibility of a pre-existing or an iatrogenically formed fistula must be recalled which may predispose the patient to ectopic pregnancy.

Adult↗

Immediate postembolization excision of glomus jugulare tumors: advantages of new combined techniques.

Preoperative percutaneous transfemoral catheter embolization of feeding vessels in glomus jugulare tumors, followed by immediate application of standard surgical techniques, presents the treatment of choice, allowing meticulous microsurgery with virtually complete hemostasis. Therefore, the surgeon can operate in a bloodless environment throughout the compressed and intricate anatomic field, amidst such important yet vulnerable structures as cranial nerves, inner ear, carotid artery, jugular bulb, venous sinuses, and dura, while reducing surgical error and functional deficit for the patient. Review of the last 11 cases of glomus jugulare tumors at UCLA shows that even extensive Alford grade 2 tumors of the middle ear, jugular bulb, and mastoid had only minor blood losses with this combined technique of embolization-immediate surgery, as compared with earlier surgical methods. Pertinent literature on glomus jugulare and its treatment is reviewed. Combined embolization and immediate surgery offer the best approach for treatment of resectable glomus jugulare tumors.

Adult↗

Analysis of the Müller anterolateral femorotibial ligament reconstruction using a computerized knee model.

Iliotibial tract tenodesis has been described by Müller as part of the surgical treatment for anterolateral rotatory instability in the ACL deficient knee. The aim of this study was to use a previously described and validated computer model of the knee to calculate the effectiveness of Müller's extraarticular anterolateral femorotibial ligament (ALFTL) graft as a substitute for the ACL or as an adjunct to an intraarticular ACL reconstruction in the ACL deficient knee. This effectiveness was tested by simulating the application of a torque sufficient to create 15 degrees of internal rotation or 5 mm of anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees of knee flexion. The effects of moving the graft's proximal fixation point 1 cm superior, inferior, and anterior to the current surgical attachment site were examined to determine the amount of permissible surgical error in graft placement. The model predicts that the ALFTL is a useful restraint to internal rotation when it is performed with or without an intraarticular ACL reconstruction. The ALFTL graft took up greater amounts of tension and became more effective at increasing angles of knee flexion. Placement of the ALFTL graft 1 cm anterior to the current surgical attachment site decreases the vector component that lies perpendicular to the long axis of the tibia and consequently reduces resistance to internal rotation. The ALFTL graft at any attachment site was ineffective in resisting pure anterior displacement between 0 degrees and 30 degrees.

Humans↗

[Stabilization of the lumbosacral segment by distracting posterolateral spondylodesis using the Zielke divided sacral strut. Analysis of 400 cases based on indications, results and cause of errors].

Out of 400 patients who underwent posterolateral or purely dorsal spondylodesis of the lumbosacral joint with a divided sacral strut or sacral knee using distracting Harrington struts, a total of 68.5% were free of complaints--100% in cases of fractures and destruction, spondylarthroses and osteochrondroses, 73% in cases of spondylolyses with and without spondylolistheses, and only 49% among the so-called "failed-back" patients who had already undergone one or more previous operations. Where results were poor, particularly in the group of failed-back patients, when surgical error, pseudarthroses, or inadequacies of instruments were ruled out, it could be assumed in approximately 80% of the cases that these patients simultaneously had a pension claim under review or had attempted to institute proceedings at a social insurance tribunal. In such cases the goal of treatment desired by the surgeon, i.e., pain-free stability, cannot be the aim of the patients. Freedom from pain means ability to work, and loss of the pension or the pension litigation. It is almost endemic among these patients to put the blame on the same exogenous mechanisms, as far as both time and cause are concerned, in order to obtain certification of their inability to work. The suspicion that they use the operation to prove the severity of their disability is in many cases justified. The high incidence of psychosocial problems is at least a partial explanation of why the measures we took in our efforts to improve the results of surgery failed. We changed the position of the patient, extended the duration of hospitalization, revised our implantation method, verified plasters and braces. To no avail. Essentially, the result of surgery was influenced by four factors: the number of previous operations, drug and alcohol abuse, pseudarthrosis, and simultaneous pension claims. In 1983 and 1984 the number of patients without pain soared. Basically, this is probably due to the fact that in the light of the results of this investigation, more stringent criteria were applied with regard to the selection of patients. If the patient has a claim against a social insurance institution, a private insurer, or physicians who have treated him/her previously (!!!) we refuse to operate. It is unlikely that these patients will be pain-free before the proceedings in question are terminated. This much we have learned from this analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Follow-Up Studies↗

Bronchoscopy training: is simulated surgery effective?

Intensive surgical skills courses have become an essential part of surgical skill acquisition for surgeons in training. There is a need to monitor the value of these courses in terms of skill attainment. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of skills-laboratory-based training in rigid bronchoscopy and bronchial foreign body removal. Bronchoscopies were recorded, analysed and categorized by a single observer according to time to completion and four predetermined parameters of surgical error. An overall quality score was obtained by simple summation of the number of errors and determined as acceptable or unacceptable (scoring 0 or 1 respectively). The data was analysed using a t-test for paired groups. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. In total, 20 trainee otolaryngologists performed 80 separate bronchoscopies. The time to complete the task pre versus post training showed significant improvement; P < 0.001. The overall quality score pre training was 66 and post training 17; P < 0.001. We conclude that intensive surgical simulation-based courses appear to be an effective means of training surgical trainees in surgical skill proficiency.

Animals↗

An active constraint environment for minimally invasive heart surgery: early experience of a cutting operation.

Master/slave telemanipulator systems can be applied in minimally invasive heart surgery. However, due to the beating heart and difficulties of finding inner points inside the heart, a surgical task operation such as cutting can be very difficult. In order to avoid surgical error, the "active constraint" concept can be applied. This paper shows an example of an "active constraint" environment used for minimally invasive heart surgery. Experiments have been carried out for a 2-DOF master and the preliminary results validate the present approach.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures↗

[An analysis of the reasons for relaparotomy in the surgical clinic].

The results of surgical treatment of 4,078 patients who underwent operation in 1985-1989 were studied. Due to the occurrence of complications in the early postoperative period, 182 relaparotomies were carried out in 164 patients. The main indications for relaparotomies were advanced underlying disease, surgical errors (tactical, technical), changes of the patients' immune status. Early diagnosis, timely operation with the use of technically correct manipulations, and the application of a full complex of intensive therapy measures in the postoperative period are important in the prevention of complications.

Age Factors↗

A randomised control trial of surgical task performance in rigid bronchoscopy: foreign body extraction with optical versus non-optical forceps.

There are currently two types of forceps used for foreign body removal at rigid bronchoscopy, these can be classified as standard bronchoscopy forceps and optically guided grasping forceps. In order to evaluate them in the removal of foreign bodies from the tracheo-bronchial tree a randomised subject controlled trial was conducted. All 80 bronchoscopies were recorded and analysed by a single observer according to predetermined criteria for surgical error. The data was analysed using a t-test for paired groups. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups. We conclude that no clear advantages were found comparing the optically guided forceps with the standard bronchoscopy forceps and that further clinical evaluation will be difficult to initiate.

Animals↗

Risk stratification for adverse outcome in cardiac surgery.

Risk-adjusted outcome prediction is mainly important in two separate fields. The first is quality monitoring: measuring actual versus predicted mortality in an institution allows assessment of the clinical surgical and anaesthesia performance while adjusting for the risk profile of the patients. Without risk stratification, surgeons and hospitals treating high-risk patients will appear to have worse results than others. This may prejudice referral patterns, affect the allocation of resources and even discourage the treatment of high-risk patients. The second field is that of informed consent and clinical decision-making. Risk-adjusted predicted mortality should form an important part of patient and surgeon decisions on whether or not to proceed with surgery. Clearly, no 'perfect' model can be produced as some aspects of mortality will always be related to risk factors not included in the model (e.g. the quality of the distal coronary artery vessels in coronary artery surgery) or due to chance happenings not related to preoperative patient characteristics (such as surgical error). An individual patient will either survive or die after cardiac surgery. Clearly, no scoring system will predict the specific outcome for every patient. However, risk stratification will inform patients and clinicians of the likely risk of death for a group of patients with a similar risk profile undergoing the proposed operation. This information is useful and should form part of the basis on which the patient and surgeon decide whether to proceed.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Early and midterm patency of the proximal anastomoses of saphenous vein grafts made with a Symmetry Aortic Connector System.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the early and midterm patency rates in saphenous vein grafts that were anastomosed with the Symmetry Aortic Connector System (St Jude Medical, Inc, St Paul, Minn) and (2) risk factors for graft occlusion. METHODS: Thirty-one patients underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for proximal saphenous vein graft anastomoses with the aortic connector system. Intraoperative graft flow was studied with transit time flowmetry, and angiography was performed before discharge in 29 cases. Midterm (at least 1 year after the operation) saphenous vein graft patency was assessed by coronary angiography or 3-dimensional coronary computed tomography in 27 cases. RESULTS: Postoperative angiography demonstrated a 100% patency rate and no significant stenosis at the connector-anastomosed sites. The 1-year patency rate of the saphenous vein grafts with the aortic connector system was 92.6%, with 2 cases of saphenous vein graft occlusion. Both of these cases had low graft flow and poor left ventricular function documented during the operation. CONCLUSION: Once surgical errors had been ruled out, the 1-year patency rate of proximal saphenous vein grafts anastomosed with the aortic connector system was favorable. Poor left ventricular function and low graft flow during the operation were risk factors for midterm graft occlusion. Selection of the target vessel and its runoff may also be an important determinant of long-term patency.

Aged↗

[Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation? A series of 103 patients].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The goal of this work was to evaluate outpatient rehabilitation after anterior curciate ligament reconstruction using the bone-tendon technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective non-randomized study of 103 consecutive patients participating in the same rehabilitation program, excepting for the first month. During the first postoperative month, 55 patients (group A) attended a physical therapy outpatient clinic near their home and 48 patients (group B) followed the same rehabilitation protocol at an inpatient facility of their choice. We recorded preoperative data for age, sex, weight, height and function (sports, occupational activities). Surgery data concerned delay between severe sprain and surgery, and the exact surgical procedure used (meniscal tear, associated procedure). Clinical assessment (mobility, effusion, clinical and radiological laxity) and functional scores (Tegner, Lysholm, Arpege, IKDC) as well as delay to recovery of gait and to renewed physical activity were recorded at 3 and 6 weeks and 4, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Two isokinetic tests were done 4 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference for the pre and peroperative data between the two groups, with the exception of meniscal tears that were more frequent in group A (p<0.05). Postoperative outcome and complications were not significantly different between the 2 groups except for greater flexion at 3 weeks in group B (related to difference in measurement date). Fifteen complications were observed in each group: 4 reflex dystrophies and 2 cyclope syndromes in each group, 5 patellar syndromes in group A and 1 in group B; 3 painful surgical wound sites in group A and 8 in group B (including one requiring revision). In group A there was one early failure due to a surgical error requiring revision. At 1 year, there were 2 cases of persistent femoropatellar syndromes, one of which occurred after reflex dystrophy. A high percentage of the patients were lost to follow-up (45% in group A and 50% in group B) and lack of randomization should also be considered when interpreting the results. DISCUSSION: This is the first report comparing inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation protocols after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The only reports in the literature have compared different ambulatory rehabilitation programs that appear to be internationally accepted as the routine procedure. The current trend towards short hospital stays for surgery is compatible with outpatient rehabilitation programs if dependent patients receive proper support from an ambulatory medical unit, a physical therapist or a home assistant. Our study demonstrated that the bone-tendon technique for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is compatible with an outpatient rehabilitation program if quality medical and surgical follow-up is ensured. This type of rehabilitation program gives results comparable with those obtained after inpatient programs conducted in a rehabilitation facility during the first postoperative month.

Activities of Daily Living↗