Implementation and Evaluation of Quality Improvement Training in Surgery: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review and appraise how quality improvement (QI) skills are taught to surgeons and surgical residents. BACKGROUND: There is a global drive to deliver capacity in undertaking QI within surgical services. However, there are currently no specifications regarding optimal QI content or delivery. METHODS: We reviewed QI educational intervention studies targeting surgeons or surgical trainees/residents published until 2017. Primary outcomes included teaching methods and training materials. Secondary outcomes were implementation frameworks and strategies used to deliver QI training successfully. RESULTS: There were 20,590 hits across 10 databases, of which 11,563 were screened following de-duplication. Seventeen studies were included in the final synthesis. Variable QI techniques (eg, combined QI models, process mapping, and "lean" principles) and assessment methods were found. Delivery was more consistent, typically combining didactic teaching blended with QI project delivery. Implementation of QI training was poorly reported and appears supported by collaborative approaches (including building learning collaboratives, and coalitions). Study designs were typically pre-/post-training without controls. Studies generally lacked clarity on the underpinning framework (59%), setting description (59%), content (47%), and conclusions (47%), whereas 88% scored low on psychometrics reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that surgical QI training can focus on any well-established QI technique, provided it is done through a combination of didactic teaching and practical application. True effectiveness and extent of impact of QI training remain unclear, due to methodological weaknesses and inconsistent reporting. Conduct of larger-scale educational QI studies across multiple institutions can advance the field.

Testicular Pain Pathway in Children: Investigating Where Missed Torsion Occurs Most Often.

OBJECTIVES: Acute scrotal pain in children is a common presenting complaint in hospital, and it is imperative that cases of testicular torsion are identified and managed promptly. We aim to identify the most influential points in the pathway in determining whether patients are managed in the appropriate time frame, so these areas can be targeted to improve salvage rates. METHODS: Using quality improvement principles, the pediatric scrotal pain pathway was mapped out, commencing with initial symptom onset and ending with definitive surgical management. We retrospectively reviewed data on all patients between 0 and 18 years of age attending the emergency department at Whipps Cross University Hospital with acute scrotal pain between October 2010 and October 2013. RESULTS: Over the 3-year period, 238 patients 18 years or younger presented to casualty with scrotal pain. Of the patients assessed initially by an emergency department physician, 52.8% (n = 67) were discharged without referral. To our knowledge, none of these patients presented later with a missed torsion. Torsion was diagnosed in 23.2% of the patients operated on (n = 22), of which 5 required orchidectomy, comprising 2.1% of all patients presenting with scrotal pain. In this group, 4 were due to late presentation by the patient. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the value of different stages of the pathway, as more than half of patients seen in A&E were correctly discharged without referral. In the context of our study, late presentation to hospital appears to be the most significant factor leading to orchidectomy. To target this issue, awareness among both children and parents must be improved.

Harnessing the immunomodulatory effect of thermal and non-thermal ablative therapies for cancer treatment.

Minimally invasive interventional therapies are evolving rapidly and their use for the treatment of solid tumours is becoming more extensive. The in situ destruction of solid tumours by such therapies is thought to release antigens that can prime an antitumour immune response. In this review, we offer an overview of the current evidence for immune response activation associated with the utilisation of the main thermal and non-thermal ablation therapies currently in use today. This is followed by an assessment of the hypothesised mechanisms behind this immune response priming and by a discussion of potential methods of harnessing this specific response, which may subsequently be applicable in the treatment of cancer patients. References were identified through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane databases to identify peer-reviewed original articles, meta-analyses and reviews. Papers were searched from 1850 until October 2014. Articles were also identified through searches of the authors' files. Only papers published in English were reviewed. Thermal and non-thermal therapies have the potential to stimulate antitumour immunity although the current body of evidence is based mostly on murine trials or small-scale phase 1 human trials. The evidence for this immune-modulatory response is currently the strongest in relation to cryotherapy and radiotherapy, although data is accumulating for related ablative treatments such as high-intensity focused ultrasound, radiofrequency ablation and irreversible electroporation. This effect may be greatly enhanced by combining these therapies with other immunostimulatory interventions. Evidence is emerging into the immunomodulatory effect associated with thermal and non-thermal ablative therapies used in cancer treatment in addition to the mechanism behind this effect and how it may be harnessed for therapeutic use. A potential exists for treatment approaches that combine ablation of the primary tumour with control and possible eradication of persistent, locally recurrent and metastatic disease. However, more work is needed into each of these modalities, initially in further animal studies and then subsequently in large-scale prospective human studies.

The management of testicular torsion in the UK: How can we do better? A national quantitative and qualitative analysis of the factors affecting successful testicular salvage.

BACKGROUND: Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency, requiring time-critical surgery to avoid potential organ loss. This study collates national data on paediatric testicular torsion, offering a comprehensive insight into the current standard of care in England for paediatric patients with suspected testicular torsion. METHODS: National data collection using Freedom of Information requests. Of 134 acute secondary care NHS trusts in England that treat paediatric patients, responses were received from 121 trusts - representing 140 hospitals - providing a picture of the current standard of care in England. FINDINGS: Less than two thirds of hospitals have a paediatric A&E department. One third of hospitals use inter-hospital transfer for paediatric patients with suspected torsion, with variable age restrictions. Mean transfer distance was 19·4 miles (range 2·2 to 61·6 miles). No statistically significant relationship between transfer arrangements and the number of non-viable testicle incidents was found (P = 0·15, ns). There was no correlation demonstrated nationally between size of population served and number of scrotal explorations completed (Pearson's r = 0·20 (CI -0·0·8-0·46), p = 0·16, ns). Qualitative thematic content analysis of serious incident reports identified common themes leading to missed diagnosis and delayed time to theatre: Education and Training, Communication, Transfer Complications, On-site Resources and Cross-site Working. INTERPRETATION: We found variability in resource provision across England, as well as the number of explorations, and the number of unviable testicles found at exploration nationally. We received variable and incomplete data on emergency scrotal explorations and subsequent orchidectomies, very low levels of local audit and limited disclosure of incident reports. A mandatory national audit would allow more comprehensive data collection to accurately identify trends and make informed recommendations. To improve outcomes, we recommend continued education of ED and surgical teams, with mandatory testicular examination for young males presenting with abdominal pain. Whilst streamlining inpatient services is important, the time lost between symptom onset and seeking medical attention is crucial, and raising awareness in the community for young boys and parents may be imperative to improve rates of testicular salvage.

Cystitis cystica and glandularis producing large bladder masses in a 16-year-old boy.

The macroscopic appearances of florid cystitis cystica et glandularis can be mistaken for malignancy, and it is therefore important to perform a prompt resection to confirm the histological diagnosis and exclude sinister pathology.

Accidental, Non-masturbatory, Non-intercourse Related, Self-Inflicted Penile Fracture: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Penile fracture is a relatively rare condition arising from a rupture of the corpus cavernosum. In the western world, it is most commonly associated with sexual intercourse. We hereby, report a rare case of accidental, non-masturbatory, self-inflicted penile fracture. It was diagnosed promptly based on clinical assessment, confirmed radiologically and managed surgically, resulting in a good long-term clinical outcome. Our case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion to diagnose this rare condition, even in the absence of a typical mechanism of injury, in order to ensure that such an injury is not missed.

Spontaneous discharge of 'spilled gallstone' with complete resolution of retroperitoneal abscess in a patient treated for putative tuberculosis.

A 76-year-old man presented 5 months following an open cholecystectomy with a complicated retroperitoneal abscess secondary to a retained gallstone, which was misdiagnosed as a tuberculous abscess. Subsequently, the stone was eventually spontaneously discharged with complete resolution of the associated collection.

Notch3 and HEY-1 as prognostic biomarkers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

In order to achieve a better outcome for pancreatic cancer patients, reliable biomarkers are required which allow for improved diagnosis. These may emanate from a more detailed molecular understanding of the aggressive nature of this disease. Having previously reported that Notch3 activation appeared to be associated with more aggressive disease, we have now examined components of this pathway (Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, HES-1, HEY-1) in more detail in resectable (n = 42) and non-resectable (n = 50) tumours compared to uninvolved pancreas. All three Notch family members were significantly elevated in tumour tissue, compared to uninvolved pancreas, with expression maintained within matched lymph node metastases. Furthermore, significantly higher nuclear expression of Notch1, -3 and -4, HES-1, and HEY-1 (all p ≤ 0.001) was noted in locally advanced and metastatic tumours compared to resectable cancers. In survival analyses, nuclear Notch3 and HEY-1 expression were significantly associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival following tumour resection with curative intent, with nuclear HEY-1 maintaining independent prognostic significance for both outcomes on multivariate analysis. These data further support a central role for Notch signalling in pancreatic cancer and suggest that nuclear expression of Notch3 and its target gene, HEY-1, merit validation in biomarker panels for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment efficacy. A peptide fragment of Notch3 was detected in plasma from patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, but due to wide inter-individual variation, mean levels were not significantly different compared to age-matched controls.