SAGES SAFE CHOLE program changes surgeons practice in France-results of the FCVD implementation of SAFE CHOLE in France.

BACKGROUND: With the Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons supervision, the Safe Cholecystectomy Task Force (SAFE CHOLE) was translated into French by the the Federation of Visceral and Digestive Surgery (FCVD) and adopted to run on its national e-learning platform for surgical continuing medical education (CME). The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the SAFE CHOLE (SF) program on the knowledge and practice of French surgeons performing cholecystectomy and participating in the FCVD lead CME activity. METHODS: To obtain CME certification, each participant must fill out three FCVD validated questionnaires regarding (1) the participants' routine practice for cholecystectomy, (2) the participants' knowledge and practice after successful completion of the program, and (3) the educational value of the SC program. RESULTS: From 2021 to 2022, 481 surgeons completed the program. The overall satisfaction rate for the program was 81%, and 53% of the surgeons were practicing routine cholangiography before the SC program. Eighty percent declared having acquired new knowledge. Fifty-six percent reported a change in their practice of cholecystectomy. Of those, 46% started routinely using the critical view of safety, 12% used a time-out prior transection of vital structures, and 11% adopted routine intraoperative cholangiography. Sixty-seven percent reported performing a sub-total cholecystectomy in case the CVS was unobtainable. If faced with BDI, 45% would transfer to a higher level of care, 33% would seek help from a colleague, and 10% would proceed with a repair. Ninety percent recommended adoption of SC by all general surgeons and 98% reported improvement of patient safety. CONCLUSIONS: Large-scale implementation of the SC program in France is feasible within a broad group of diverse specialty surgeons and appears to have a significant impact on their practice. These data should encourage other surgeons and health systems to engage in this program.

The Cost and the Effectiveness of Cholangiography for the Diagnosis and Treatment of a Bile Duct Injury After Difficult Identification of the Cystic Duct.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the cost and the effectiveness of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) for the diagnosis and treatment of a bile duct injury (BDI) after incorrect or difficult identification of the cystic duct (DICD) during a cholecystectomy. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2015, 810 surgeons reported 1161 treatment-related adverse events related to the DICD during cholecystectomy in the French REX database; 623 patients (54%) underwent IOC, and 30% (n = 348) of DICD had a BDI. The therapeutic procedures and the treatment costs have been compared between the IOC group (CG) and the group without IOC (WCG). RESULTS: The BDI intraoperative diagnosis was significantly higher in the CG: 96% vs. 67% p = 0.001. The number of therapeutic procedure was significantly higher in the WCG OR: 6 (3-10.6). The rate of biliodigestive anastomosis (8.3%) was similar between the both groups. The average cost of cholecystectomy in the at-risk population of DICD was higher in the group that did not undergo IOC (6204 euros vs. 8831 euros). The estimated loss without IOC in the studied population was between 788,170 and 2,039,020 euros. CONCLUSION: The IOC was an assurance of quality and cost reduction in the immediate management of the BDI and should be systematic in front of a DICD during a cholecystectomy.

Results of the FUSE Evaluation Project in France.

BACKGROUND: The Federation of Visceral and Digestive Surgery (FCVD) is in charge in France of the continuing medical education of digestive surgeons. Since 2016 and in collaboration with SAGES, it has offered the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE) program as part of the continuing education for surgeons including eLearning and hands-on workshops. METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the FUSE program on the participants by participating in a knowledge test and completing a survey. RESULTS: 485 participants fully completed the knowledge test of 18 questions. Post-test assessment showed an increase in the mean score with respect to pre-test assessment, and the surgeons who have participated to the hands-on workshops had a better score. 304 participants filled the survey of 6 questions. The majority were satisfied by the FUSE program and felt that the objectives were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The FUSE program developed by SAGES and adopted by the FCVD in France was very much appreciated by the participants and achieved its educational objectives. Our goal is to spread it as widely as possible to all members of the operating room team.

Conservative treatment of intrarectal mesh migration after ventral laparoscopic rectopexy for rectal prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: Ventral rectopexy is a validated treatment for rectal prolapse with a low morbidity rate but a risk of intrarectal mesh migration. The purpose of this study was to report the results of local transanal mesh excision for intrarectal mesh migration after ventral rectopexy. METHODS: Between January 2004 and March 2011, 312 patients underwent laparoscopic ventral rectopexy in two hospitals. Six patients were treated for intrarectal mesh migration. RESULTS: Delay between ventral rectopexy and the onset of symptoms was 53 months (4-124 months). All patients have symptoms. Imaging revealed a pelvic abscess in two cases. Intrarectal mesh migration was confirmed by anorectoscopy or clinical examination. Five patients were only treated by local transanal partial mesh excision, and one required a colostomy. Morbidity and mortality were zero. The median hospitalization time was 5 days (3-8 days). After a median postoperative follow-up period of 9 months (1-40 months), one recurrence was observed 2 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Local transanal mesh excision for intrarectal mesh migration after laparoscopic ventral rectopexy is a feasible conservative treatment. This simple treatment produced a cure of the pelvic inflammation and closure of the fistula without compromising a more aggressive secondary treatment which was not necessary in our series.

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy versus milligan-morgan hemorrhoidectomy: a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial with 2-year postoperative follow up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH group) performed using a circular stapler with that of the Milligan-Morgan technique (MM group). The goals of the study were to evaluate the efficacy and reproducibility of stapled hemorrhoidopexy and define its place among conventional techniques. METHODS: A series of 134 patients were included at 7 hospital centers. They were randomized according to a single-masked design and stratified by center (with balancing every 4 patients). Patients were clinically evaluated preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 1 year, and a minimum of 2 years after treatment. Patients completed a questionnaire before and 1 year after surgery to evaluate symptoms, function, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 2.21 years +/- 0.26 (1.89-3.07). Nine patients (7%) could not be monitored at 1 or 2 years, but 4 of these 9 nevertheless filled in the 1-year questionnaire. The patients in the SH group experienced less postoperative pain/discomfort as scored by pain during bowel movement (P < 0.001), total analgesic requirement over the first 3 days (according to the World Health Organization [WHO] class II analgesics [P = 0.002]; class III [P = 0.066]), and per-patient consumption frequency of class III analgesics (P = 0.089). A clear difference in morphine requirement became evident after 24 hours (P = 0.010). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the SH group (SH 2.2 +/- 1.2 [0; 5.0] versus MM 3.1 +/- 1.7 [1; 8.0] P < 0.001). At 1 year, no differences in the resolution of symptoms were observed between the 2 groups, and over 2 years, the overall incidence of complications was the same, specifically fecaloma (P = 0.003) in the MM group and external hemorrhoidal thrombosis (P = 0.006) in the SH group. Impaired sphincter function was observed at 1 year with no significant difference between the groups for urgency (12%), continence problems (10%), or tenesmus (3%). No patient needed a second procedure for recurrence within 2 years, although partial residual prolapse was detected in 4 SH patients (7.5%) versus 1 MM patient (1.8%) (P = 0.194). CONCLUSION: Stapled hemorrhoidopexy causes significantly less postoperative pain. The technique is reproducible and can achieve comparable outcomes as those of the MM technique as long as the well-described steps of the technique are followed. Like with conventional surgery, anorectal dysfunction can occur after stapled hemorrhoidopexy in some patients. Its effectiveness in relieving symptoms is equivalent to conventional surgery, and the number of hemorrhoidal prolapse recurrences at 2 years is not significantly different. Hemorroidopexy is applicable for treating reducible hemorrhoidal prolapse.