Surgical experience and identification of errors in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical errors are acts or omissions resulting in negative consequences and/or increased operating time. This study describes surgeon-reported errors in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Intraoperative videos were uploaded and annotated on Touch SurgeryTM Enterprise. Participants evaluated videos for severity using a 10-point intraoperative cholecystitis grading score, and errors using Observational Clinical Human Reliability Assessment, which includes skill, consequence, and mechanism classifications. RESULTS: Nine videos were assessed by 8 participants (3 junior (specialist trainee (ST) 3-5), 2 senior trainees (ST6-8), and 3 consultants). Participants identified 550 errors. Positive relationships were seen between total operating time and error count (r2 = 0.284, P < 0.001), intraoperative grade score and error count (r2 = 0.578, P = 0.001), and intraoperative grade score and total operating time (r2 = 0.157, P < 0.001). Error counts differed significantly across intraoperative phases (H(6) = 47.06, P < 0.001), most frequently at dissection of the hepatocystic triangle (total 282; median 33.5 (i.q.r. 23.5-47.8, range 15-63)), ligation/division of cystic structures (total 124; median 13.5 (i.q.r. 12-19.3, range 10-26)), and gallbladder dissection (total 117; median 14.5 (i.q.r. 10.3-18.8, range 6-26)). There were no significant differences in error counts between juniors, seniors, and consultants (H(2) = 0.03, P = 0.987). Errors were classified differently. For dissection of the hepatocystic triangle, thermal injuries (50 in total) were frequently classified as executional, consequential errors; trainees classified thermal injuries as step done with excessive force, speed, depth, distance, time or rotation (29 out of 50), whereas consultants classified them as incorrect orientation (6 out of 50). For ligation/division of cystic structures, inappropriate clipping (60 errors in total), procedural errors were reported by junior trainees (6 out of 60), but not consultants. For gallbladder dissection, inappropriate dissection (20 errors in total) was reported in incorrect planes by consultants and seniors (6 out of 20), but not by juniors. Poor economy of movement (11 errors in total) was reported more by consultants (8 out of 11) than trainees (3 out of 11). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that surgical experience influences error interpretation, but the benefits for surgical training are currently unclear.

The use of high definition colonoscopy versus standard definition: does it affect polyp detection rate?

BACKGROUND: Polyp detection rate (PDR) during lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (LGIE) is of clinical importance. Detecting adenomatous polyps early in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence can halt disease progression, enabling treatment at a favourable stage. High definition colonoscopy (HDC) has been used in our hospital alongside standard definition equipment since 2011. We aim to determine what affect the use of HDC has on PDR. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of a prospectively maintained database on all patients undergoing LGIE was performed (01/01/2012-31/12/2015), n = 15,448. Analysis tested the primary outcome of HD's effect on PDR across LGIE and secondary outcome stratified this by endoscopist group (Physician (PE), Surgeon (SE) and Nurse Endoscopist (NE)). RESULTS: Of 15,448 patients, 1353 underwent HDC. Unmatched analysis showed PDR increased by 5.3% in this group (p < 0.001). Matched analysis considered 2288 patients from the total cohort (1144 HDC) and showed an increase of 1% in PDR with HDC (p = 0.578). Further unmatched analysis stratified by endoscopist groups showed a PDR increase of 1.8% (p = 0.375), 5.4% (p = 0.008) and 4.6% (p = 0.021) by PE, SE and NE respectively. Matched analysis demonstrated an increase of 1% (p = 0.734) and 1.5% (p = 0.701) amongst PE and NE, with a decrease of 0.6% (p = 0.883) by SE. CONCLUSION: The introduction of HDC increased PDR across all LGIE in our hospital, though this was not clinically significant. This marginal benefit was present across all endoscopist groups with no group benefiting over another in matched analysis.

What's new for trauma haemorrhage management?

Uncontrolled haemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death from injury and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. The majority of deaths resulting from bleeding occur within the first 3 hours of hospital admission, and the window for meaningful intervention is therefore extremely small. Resuscitative efforts during active bleeding should focus on maintaining haemostatic function with blood product transfusion and early administration of tranexamic acid. Achieving control of haemorrhage is the overarching treatment priority and may require temporising measures before definitive surgical or radiological intervention. This review summarizes the contemporary approaches to resuscitation of bleeding trauma patients, options for achieving haemorrhage control, and current areas of active research including organ protective resuscitation and suspended animation.

Does thoracoscopy have advantages over open surgery for asymptomatic congenital lung malformations? An analysis of 1626 resections.

AIM: The apparent incidence of antenatally diagnosed congenital lung malformations (CLM) is rising (1 in 3000), and the majority undergo elective resection even if asymptomatic. Thoracoscopy has been popularized, but early series report high conversion rates and significant complications. We aimed to perform systematic review/meta-analysis of outcomes of thoracoscopic vs open excision of asymptomatic CLMs. METHODS: A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was performed. Data were extracted for all relevant studies (2004-2015) and Rangel quality scores calculated. Analysis was on 'intention to treat' basis for thoracoscopy and asymptomatic lung lesions. Meta-analysis was performed using the addon package METAN of the statistical package STATA14™; p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 36 studies were eligible, describing 1626 CLM resections (904 thoracoscopic, 722 open). There were no randomized controlled trials. Median quality score was 14/45 (IQR 6.5) 'poor'. 92/904 (10%) thoracoscopic procedures were converted to open. No deaths were reported. Meta-analysis showed that regarding thoracoscopic procedures, the total number of complications was significantly less (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43, 0.92; p<0.02, 12 eligible series, 912 patients, 404 thoracoscopic). Length of stay was 1.4days shorter (95%CI 2.40, 0.37;p<0.01). Length of operation was 37 min longer (95% CI 18.96, 54.99; p<0.01). Age, weight, and number of chest tube days were similar. There was heterogeneity (I2 30%, p=0.15) and no publication bias seen. CONCLUSIONS: A reduced total complication rate favors thoracoscopic excision over thoracotomy for asymptomatic antenatally diagnosed CLMs. Although operative time was longer, and open conversion may be anticipated in 1/10, the overall length of hospital stay was reduced by more than 1day. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 (based on lowest level of article analyzed in meta-analysis/systematic review).

Therapeutic management of primary immunodeficiency in older patients.

Primary immunodeficiency disease (PID) has traditionally been viewed as a group of illnesses seen in the paediatric age group. New advances in diagnosis and treatment have led to an increase in the number of elderly PID patients. However, there is lack of research evidence on which to base clinical management in this group of patients. Management decisions often have to be based therefore on extrapolations from other patient cohorts or from younger patients. Data from the European Society for Immunodeficiencies demonstrates that the vast majority of elderly patients suffer from predominantly antibody deficiency syndromes. We review the management of PID disease in the elderly, with a focus on antibody deficiency disease.