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Which one is at risk in intraoperative fluoroscopy? Assistant surgeon or orthopaedic surgeon?

BACKGROUND: Orthopaedic surgeons use intraoperative portable fluoroscopy and roentgenography. The present study was an attempt to find out if there is a difference between the occupational radiation exposure to the orthopaedic surgeon and assistant surgeon in the operating room while using intraoperative fluoroscopy or radiographic control and to measure it. METHODS: During a 3-month period, 107 consecutive operations were monitored for radiation exposure. At monthly intervals, the radiation doses were measured in millirem and recorded. The distance of the orthopaedic surgeon and the assistant surgeon from the X-ray source were noted in every fluoroscopic check. The orthopaedic surgeon was always at a safe distance (more than 90 cm), but the assistant surgeon always stood nearby (10 cm) the X-ray source for positioning of the patient. RESULTS: The radiation exposure according to the badge on the shoulder was consecutively 3, 4, 3 mrem for the orthopaedic surgeon and 20, 19, 22 mrem for the assistant surgeon. The radiation exposure according to the badges on the anaesthetic machine, in the room and under the apron of the orthopaedic surgeon were all zero, whereas the readings of the badge under the apron of the assistant surgeon were 7, 6, 5 mrem consecutively. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that although the radiation exposure during orthopaedic operations is below the recommendations of the European Committee on Radiation Protection, there is a higher risk of exposure for the assistant surgeon. It has to be kept in mind that there could be morphological and functional damage in cells exposed to radiation. Therefore, we should continue to use appropriate shielding precautions in view of the unknown long-term risks.

Film Dosimetry↗

Hospital profitability for a surgeon's common procedures predicts the surgeon's overall profitability for the hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a hospital's profitability for a surgeon's common procedures predicts the surgeon's overall profitability for the hospital. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Community and university-affiliated tertiary hospital with 21,903 surgical procedures performed per year. PATIENTS: 7,520 patients having surgery performed by one of 46 surgeons. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Financial data were obtained for all patients cared for by all the surgeons who performed at least ten cases of one of the hospital's six most common procedures. A surgeon's overall profitability for the hospital was measured using his or her contribution margin ratio (i.e., total revenue for all of the surgeon's patients divided by total variable cost for the patients). Contribution margin was calculated twice: once with all of a surgeon's patients, and second, limiting consideration to those patients who underwent one of the six common procedures. The common procedures accounted for 22 +/- 15% of the 46 surgeons' overall caseload, 29 +/- 10% of their patients' hospital costs, and 30 +/- 12% of the hospital revenue generated by the surgeons. Hospital contribution margin ratios ranged from 1.4 to 4.2. Contribution margin ratios for common procedures and contribution margin ratios for all patients were correlated (tau = 0.58, n = 46, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Even though most surgical cases were for uncommon procedures, a surgeon's hospital profitability on common procedures predicted the surgeon's overall financial performance. Perioperative incentive programs based on common surgical procedures (clinical pathways) are likely to accurately reflect a surgeon's financial performance on their other surgeries.

Benchmarking↗

Use of the hepatitis-B vaccine and infection with hepatitis B and C among orthopaedic surgeons. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Serosurvey Study Committee.

We used a questionnaire, with a guarantee of anonymity to the respondents, and conducted serological testing of 3411 attendees at the 1991 Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to evaluate the prevalences of infection with the hepatitis-B and C viruses and the use of the hepatitis-B vaccine among orthopaedic surgeons. There was evidence of infection with hepatitis B in 410 (13 per cent) of 3239 participants who had reported having no non-occupational risk factors; 2103 (65 per cent) reported that they had been immunized with the hepatitis-B vaccine. Of 3262 participants who reported having no non-occupational risk factors and who were evaluated for infection with hepatitis C, twenty-seven (less than 1 per cent) tested positive for the antibody to the hepatitis-C virus. The prevalence of previous infection with hepatitis B increased with increasing age; four (3 per cent) of 136 surgeons who were twenty to twenty-nine years old had evidence of infection, whereas ninety-six (27 per cent) of 360 surgeons who were sixty years old or more had evidence of infection. The prevalence of infection with hepatitis C also increased with increasing age; none of 135 surgeons who were twenty to twenty-nine years old had evidence of infection, and five (1 per cent) of 360 surgeons who were sixty years old or more had evidence of the virus. The prevalence of vaccination decreased steadily with age: 123 (90 per cent) of 136 surgeons who were twenty to twenty-nine years old reported that they had received the hepatitis-B vaccine, whereas 127 (35 per cent) of 360 surgeons who were sixty years old or more reported that they had received the vaccine. The prevalence of infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C was not associated with the measured indices of exposure to the blood of patients (the number of cutaneous or mucosal contacts with blood that had occurred within the previous month or the number of percutaneous injuries that had occurred within the previous month or year, as recalled by the participants). In conclusion, the prevalence of immunization with the hepatitis-B vaccine was high among the orthopaedic surgeons studied. Although the prevalence of infection with the hepatitis-C virus was several times greater in the current investigation than has been reported in studies of blood donors in the United States, infection with this virus was not associated with the indices of occupational exposure to blood measured in this study.

Adult↗

A survey of occupational blood contact and HIV infection among orthopedic surgeons. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Serosurvey Study Committee.

OBJECTIVE: To study the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among orthopedic surgeons, and correlate the results with occupational and nonoccupational risk factors. Orthopedic surgeons are one of several groups of health care workers at risk for occupationally acquired HIV infection; however, few HIV seroprevalence studies in health care workers, and none in surgeons, have been performed to assist in estimating the extent of occupational risk. DESIGN: A voluntary, anonymous HIV serosurvey at an annual meeting. To assess the representativeness of participants, a mail survey of orthopedic surgeons was conducted 5 months prior to the annual meeting. SETTING: The 1991 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons held in Anaheim, Calif. PARTICIPANTS: United States or Canadian orthopedic surgeons in training, in practice, or retired from practice who attended the annual meeting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants' HIV serostatus and reporting of occupational and nonoccupational risk factors for HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 7147 eligible orthopedists at the annual meeting, 3420 (47.9%) participated. Compared with the 10,411 orthopedic surgeons responding to the mail survey, serosurvey participants had at least as many opportunities for occupational contact with blood and with HIV-infected patients. Among participants, 87.4% reported a blood-skin contact and 39.2% reported a percutaneous blood contact in the previous month. Among 3267 participants without reported nonoccupational risk factors for HIV infection, none was positive for HIV antibody (0%; upper limit of the 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09%); among 108 participants with reported nonoccupational HIV risk factors, two were positive for HIV antibody (1.9%; upper limit of the 95% CI = 5.7%). CONCLUSION: Although these findings may not be generalizable to all orthopedic surgeons, we found no evidence of HIV infection among serosurvey participants without nonoccupational risk factors. The high rates of self-reported blood contact underscore the importance of compliance with infection control precautions and of development of new techniques and equipment to minimize the risk of exposures to blood during surgical procedures.

Adult↗

Surgeon-controlled ultrasound-guided core biopsies in the breast--a prospective study and a new use for surgeons in the clinic.

AIMS: This study was to assess the accuracy of a surgeon performing ultrasound-guided core biopsies of the breast. METHODS: A prospective audit was carried out of 555 patients who underwent an ultrasound-guided core biopsy for a discrete solid mass [under 30 mm maximum diameter] by a single surgeon. The surgeon controlled the core biopsy needle and an ultrasonographer or radiologist provided the imaging with ultrasound. RESULTS: The accuracy of the surgeon in sampling the lesions [n = 555 core biopsies] was independent of the size of the lesion. This saved 272 patients having unnecessary surgery for a benign lesion. CONCLUSION: The practical involvement by the surgeon in breast ultrasound and performing core biopsies has reduced pressure on the breast radiologists, reduced the number of diagnostic surgical open biopsies and made the clinic more interesting for the surgeon. With increased surgical confidence in breast ultrasound, most small and impalpable cancers have pre-operative skin marking rather than X-ray wire localization prior to undergoing wide local excision. Trainee breast surgeons should be encouraged to learn breast ultrasound and core biopsies.

Adult↗

What American surgeons read: a survey of a thousand Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.

PURPOSE: The modern American surgeon is immersed in an ever-deepening sea of printed and electronic information. Although publishers know how many books and journals they sell, and journals can quote their calculated impact factor, no information exists whatsoever about what surgeons read. Which surgical journals are "popular," and how does it compare with their impact factor (IF)? Our objective was to assess the sources of information and reading habits of American surgeons and to compare the "popularity" of journals with their IFs.A questionnaire was mailed to 1000 American surgeons, randomly selected from a list provided by the American College of Surgeons.A total of 418 surgeons responded, and 371 responses could be analyzed (37%). The leading sources of medical information were medical literature (93%), professional meetings (88%), and CME courses (69%). The average time per surgeon/month dedicated to medical literature was 14 hours (range, 1 to 120). Peer-reviewed journals were read by 95%, textbooks by 68%, and update series by 60% of the respondents. The three most popular surgical journals were Annals of Surgery (IF, 5.40), selected by 60%; Journal of the American College of Surgery (IF, 1.87), selected by 48%; and Archives of Surgery (IF, 2.53), selected by 36%. The most popular subspecialty journals were Cancer (IF, 3.66), selected by 31%; Critical Care Medicine (IF, 3.74), selected by 17%; and Gastroenterology (IF, 10.33), selected by 12%. The New England Journal of Medicine (IF, 28.66), selected by 67%, and the Journal of the American Medical Association (IF, 9.55), selected by 66%, were the most popular general medical journals, followed by Mayo Clinic Proceedings (IF, 1.98), selected by 16%. Among the "leaders" on the IF list for international, British medical and surgical journals were Lancet (IF, 11.79), selected by 5%, and British Journal of Surgery (IF, 2.38), selected by 0.5% of the respondents.Those American surgeons responding consider published literature as their chief source of information, especially peer-reviewed journals. Overall, they ignore non-United States publications and select the journals they read without considering its IF.

Journal Article↗

[Lack of communication between anesthesiologists and surgeons: comparison of questionnaire survey among anesthesiologists with that among surgeons concerning pre-anesthetic evaluation of surgical patients].

We conducted a survey to examine surgeons' opinions and criticisms of patient evaluations done by anesthesiologists prior to surgery. We sent questionnaires to 117 departments of general surgery in Japanese university hospitals. We received answers from 77% of the departments. We analyzed their answers, and compared the answers with those from a similar survey done in 1995 by Japan Society of Anesthesiology, one in which anesthesiologists were asked to evaluate themselves. Our most significant findings were as follows. (1) Although most of surgeons were satisfied with their own preanesthetic evaluation of their patients, 30% of the departments reported postponement of surgery due to the need of further examination during recent 2 months and the occurrence of peri-operative myocardial infarction during recent 2 years, (2) The 1995 survey indicated that 46 percent of anesthesiology departments had explained the major perioperative risk, but a half of the 46% had done so without discussing the risk with responsible surgeons. Furthermore, the present survey showed that only 17% of the surgery departments had been aware of such explanation done by anesthesiologists. (3) One-third of the anesthesiology departments did not document the text of the preanesthetic explanation to patients. In our opinion, the final responsibility for the patient's peri-operative care is primarily the surgeon's at present in Japan, although each specialist including the anesthesiologist and the cardiologist should share the responsibility. If the anesthesiologist explain the major peri-operative risk to the patient without first obtaining the surgeon's permission to do so, the patient may become confused about who is responsible for his or her care. It should be made clear to the patient what responsibility each doctor has. It is also important that all explanations given to a patient and the consent to anesthesia given by a patient be properly documented. Japanese anesthesiologists and surgeons need to work far more closely together with regard to pre-anesthetic evaluation and explaining patients about their peri-operative risk.

Anesthesiology↗

Symposium on surgical manpower in the smaller community. The Canadian Association of General Surgeons and the community surgeon.

The relationship between the Canadian Association of General Surgeons and the community surgeon is a symbiotic one. Despite the controversy about medical costs and the oversupply of physicians, there is and will continue to be an increased need for general surgeons in Canada. Highly trained general surgeons are needed in medium-sized and smaller communities where the bulk of general surgery is done. The Canadian Association of General Surgeons sponsors research in education that will affect surgical knowledge and the training and future of community surgeons.

Canada↗

Can total thyroidectomy be performed as safely by general surgeons in provincial centers as by surgeons in specialized endocrine surgical units? Making the case for surgical training.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether surgeons who had received appropriate training in the technique of total thyroidectomy could continue to perform the procedure with minimal morbidity after moving to a provincial surgical practice. DESIGN: Comparison of the complication rates from total thyroidectomy between a specialized endocrine surgical unit and provincial centers. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Six hundred fifty patients undergoing total thyroidectomy by two surgeons over a 5-year period in the endocrine surgical unit at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia, were compared with 120 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy by seven provincial surgeons who were former trainees in the unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Indications for surgery and specific complications of thyroidectomy including recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, permanent hypoparathyroidism, and postoperative bleeding. RESULTS: Each of the seven surgeons in provincial practice performed only between two and 16 thyroidectomies annually. The percentage of total thyroidectomies for benign and malignant disease was identical for both the endocrine surgical unit and provincial center groups (44%). There was no difference in the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, permanent hypoparathyroidism, or postoperative bleeding between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is an operation that always engenders controversy relating to the morbidity of recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid injury. Surgeons who have completed a well-designed training program and who have become proficient at total thyroidectomy as trainees will remain proficient at the procedure despite practicing in a provincial center. Achieving a low morbidity rate demands meticulous attention to operative technique and anatomical detail.

Clinical Competence↗

Does Switzerland train tomorrow's surgeons today? Today's reflections on tomorrow's surgeons.

Various factors are influencing the Swiss health care system, and therefore, surgeons' actual and future profession. Initiated by the current president of the Swiss Society of Surgery, a group of eight young Swiss surgeons constituted the ad hoc committee "Chirurgie 2020". The goal was to develop several scenarios of the surgeon's professional situation in 20 years. The future direction of surgery will be markedly influenced by medical innovation, political and economic relationships between Switzerland and Europe. However, the development of health care costs represents the most powerful factor predicting all further changes. The current situation of today's surgeons is best characterised as "hamsters in the treadmill" who try to fulfill a multitude of diverging tasks causing major demotivation. In order to retain a leading role in the health care system, surgeons must take part in social and political activities. To provide an excellent curriculum, university and county hospitals must join together to form clinical and educational networks. A clearly defined and structured curriculum must be introduced by the Swiss Society of Surgery. From our current point of view, only everyone's strong personal commitment will help to find solutions and to improve the current and future situation. In particular, today's surgical residents must actively take part in the development of tomorrow's surgery.

Curriculum↗

Internal derangements of the knee: rates of occurrence at MR imaging in patients referred by orthopedic surgeons compared with rates in patients referred by physicians who are not orthopedic surgeons.

PURPOSE: To compare the occurrence at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of clinically important knee abnormalities in patients referred by orthopedic surgeons with that in patients referred by other physicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Knee MR images in all patients referred for evaluation of internal derangement for 12 months were retrospectively reviewed. Meniscus, ligament, and articular cartilage abnormalities were tabulated. The numbers of abnormalities detected in the patients referred by orthopedic surgeons were compared with those in the patients referred by all other physicians by using chi(2) analysis. Significance was defined at P less than .05. RESULTS: Knee MR images in 439 patients were reviewed; 328 patients were referred by orthopedic surgeons, and 111 were referred by other physicians. There was no significant difference in the rates of occurrence of meniscus tear (149 [45%; orthopedic surgeon referrals] vs 50 [45%; other physician referrals], P = .96); ligament tear (82 [25%] vs 21 [19%], P = .25); isolated hyaline cartilage defect (77 [23%] vs 20 [18%], P = .29); meniscus or ligament tear (167 [51%] vs 55 [50%], P = .86); or meniscus, ligament, or articular cartilage tear (242 [74%] vs 72 [65%], P = .34). The proportion of patients who subsequently underwent surgery of the knee was also similar (39% [118 of 300] vs 28% [23 of 82], P = .14). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the occurrences of clinically important knee internal derangement at MR imaging between patients referred by orthopedic surgeons and those referred by other physicians.

Adolescent↗

General Surgeons and trauma. A questionnaire survey of General Surgeons training in ATLS and involvement in the trauma team.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of training of General Surgeons in the UK in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course and their involvement with hospital trauma teams. METHODS: Postal questionnaire sent to General Surgical Consultants and Higher Surgical Trainees (HSTs). RESULTS: 58% of General Surgeons who responded had attended ATLS, but only 30% of those who had been Consultants for more than 10 years. Eighty-seven percent considered the course 'essential' or 'some value'. Sixty-one percent of hospitals represented had a trauma team. A Consultant General Surgeon was a member of the team in 50% and the General Surgical HST in 82%. CONCLUSION: ATLS has been widely accepted by General Surgical Trainees and recently appointed Consultants. The trauma team approach to resuscitation has yet to become fully established in the UK and there is limited input from Consultant General Surgeons.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Dr John Thomson (1847-1909). Pioneer surgeon, military surgeon and a founder of St John Ambulance in Australia.

Surgeon John Thomson (1847-1909), a Scot who made his life's work in Queensland, was a pioneer surgeon, radiologist and bacteriologist, and one of the founders of the St John Ambulance movement in Australia and the Railway Ambulance Corps. He was variously President of the British Medical Association (Queensland Branch), the Medical Board of Queensland, the Medico-Ethical Association, and the Intercolonial Medical Congress, which was held in Brisbane in 1899. A pioneer military surgeon in this country, he was the foundation Principal Medical Officer (as Surgeon-Major) of the Queensland Ambulance Corps within the Queensland Defence Force. His advocacy for a university north of Sydney was one of the factors which led to the foundation of the University of Queensland, a body which honoured him by the establishment of the John Thomson Lectureship, which for half a century was its most prestigious public oration. The life and times of this singular doctor exemplify one small class of pre-Federation medical pioneers whose professional outreach established a number of voluntary organisations which have blossomed in Australian society to the present day.

Ambulances↗