Coaching to enhance qualified surgeons' non-technical skills: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The lack of an effective continuing professional development programme for qualified surgeons, specifically one that enhances non-technical skills (NTS), is an issue receiving increased attention. Peer-based coaching, used in multiple professions, is a proposed method to deliver this. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review of the literature to summarize the quantity and quality of studies involving surgical coaching of NTS in qualified surgeons. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was performed through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration and PsychINFO. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data for the included studies was independently extracted by two reviewers and the quality of the studies evaluated using the Medical Education and Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI). RESULTS: Some 4319 articles were screened from which 19 met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies involved coaching of individual surgeons and nine looked at group coaching of surgeons as part of a team. Group coaching studies used non-surgeons as coaches, included objective assessment of NTS, and were of a higher quality (average MERSQI 13.58). Individual coaching studies focused on learner perception, used experienced surgeons as coaches and were of a lower quality (average MERSQI 11.58). Individual coaching did not show an objective improvement in NTS for qualified surgeons in any study. CONCLUSION: Surgical coaching of qualified surgeons' NTS in a group setting was found to be effective. Coaching of individual surgeons revealed an overall positive learner perception but did not show an objective improvement in NTS for qualified surgeons.

Evidence, not eminence, for surgical management during COVID-19: a multifaceted systematic review and a model for rapid clinical change.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus (COVID-19) forced surgical evolution worldwide. The extent to which national evidence-based recommendations, produced by the current authors early in 2020, remain valid, is unclear. To inform global surgical management and a model for rapid clinical change, this study aimed to characterize surgical evolution following COVID-19 through a multifaceted systematic review. METHODS: Rapid reviews were conducted targeting intraoperative safety, personal protective equipment and triage, alongside a conventional systematic review identifying evidence-based guidance for surgical management. Targeted searches of PubMed and Embase from 31 December 2019 were repeated weekly until 7 August 2020, and systematic searches repeated monthly until 30 June 2020. Literature was stratified using Evans' hierarchy of evidence. Narrative data were analysed for consistency with earlier recommendations. The systematic review rated quality using the AGREE II and AMSTAR tools, was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020205845. Meta-analysis was not conducted. RESULTS: From 174 targeted searches and six systematic searches, 1256 studies were identified for the rapid reviews and 21 for the conventional systematic review. Of studies within the rapid reviews, 903 (71.9 per cent) had lower-quality design, with 402 (32.0 per cent) being opinion-based. Quality of studies in the systematic review ranged from low to moderate. Consistency with recommendations made previously by the present authors was observed despite 1017 relevant subsequent publications. CONCLUSION: The evidence-based recommendations produced early in 2020 remained valid despite many subsequent publications. Weaker studies predominated and few guidelines were evidence-based. Extracted clinical solutions were globally implementable. An evidence-based model for rapid clinical change is provided that may benefit surgical management during this pandemic and future times of urgency.

Deaths in Incorrectly Identified Low-Surgical-Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical classification system was developed for assessing anaesthetic risk, but is often also used to estimate surgical death risk. Patients with low ASA grades (ASA 1 or 2) are expected to have better surgical outcomes than patients with higher ASA grades (ASA ≥ 4). This study examined the course to death in patients classified as ASA 1 or 2 was examined, to investigate possible factors in unexpected deaths, in addition to evaluating the use of ASA grades by clinicians. METHODS: Patient data from the national surgical mortality audit of Australian hospitals were examined. The patient group was listed as ASA grade 1 or 2 by surgeons. Patients over 60 or under 20 were excluded in the final analysis, as were cases from New South Wales due to data not being available. A total of 357 cases were examined. Assessor summaries of the cases were examined, and ASA score reassessed to determine accuracy. RESULTS: More than 95% (n = 339) of cases listed as ASA 1 or 2 were found to have an incorrectly low grade, with 17.6% (n = 63) of cases listed as "expected" deaths. CONCLUSION: ASA grades appear to be misunderstood in the reporting of patient surgical risk. Many patient summaries list patients with severe systemic disease or expected deaths as ASA 1 or 2, contrary to the intended use of this classification system. Improved education on the use of the ASA grading system would be beneficial to clinicians.

Processes of care in surgical patients who died with hospital-acquired infections in Australian hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Infection may complicate surgical patients' hospital admission. The effect of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) on processes of care among surgical patients who died is unknown. AIM: To investigate the effect of HAIs on processes of care in surgical patients who died in hospital. METHODS: Surgeon-recorded infection data extracted from a national Australian surgical mortality audit (2012-2016) were grouped into HAIs and no infection. The audit included all-age surgical patients, who died in hospital. Not all patients had surgery. Excluded from analysis were patients with community-acquired infection and those with missing timing of infection. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted effects of HAIs on the processes of care in these patients. Costs associated with HAIs were estimated. FINDINGS: One-fifth of surgical patients who died did so with an HAI (2242 out of 11,681; 19.2%). HAI patients had increased processes of care compared to those who died without infection: postoperative complications [51.0% vs 30.3%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.98-2.45; P < 0.001]; unplanned reoperations (22.6% vs 10.9%; aOR: 2.38; 95% CI: 2.09-2.71; P < 0.001) and unplanned intensive care unit admission (29.3% vs 14.8%; aOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.94-2.45; P < 0.001). HAI patients had longer hospital admissions and greater hospital costs than those without infection. CONCLUSION: HAIs were associated with increased processes of care and costs in surgical patients who died; these outcomes need to be investigated in surgical patients who survive.

Laparoscopic extraperitoneal repair versus open inguinal hernia repair: 20-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study compared the long-term recurrence rates of laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) and open inguinal hernia repair in patients from a randomised trial completed in 1994. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery, especially TEP repair, has gained widespread acceptance in recent years. There is still paucity of data on long-term follow-up comparing recurrence rates for open and laparoscopic techniques. This is the first study providing direct long-term comparative data about these techniques. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted between 1992 and 1994 on patients undergoing a laparoscopic TEP or an open inguinal hernia (Shouldice) repair at our institution. Of the original 104 participants, contemporary follow-up data could be obtained for 98 patients with regards to long-term recurrence. These data were collected with the help of questionnaires, telephone calls and retrieval of case records. Medical records were reviewed for all patients. Data were analysed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: There were 7/72 (9.7%) recurrences in the open group and 9/35 (25.7%) recurrences in the laparoscopic group. This difference in recurrence rates was statistically significant (HR = 2.94; 95% CI 1.05-8.25; p = 0.041.) CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair performed in 1992-1994 had a higher recurrence rate than open Shouldice inguinal hernia repair during the same period. The original study was undertaken in the inceptive days of laparoscopic surgery and results need to be interpreted considering the technology and expertise available at that time.

Surgeons' and trainees' perceived self-efficacy in operating theatre non-technical skills.

BACKGROUND: An important factor that may influence an individual's performance is self-efficacy, a personal judgement of capability to perform a particular task successfully. This prospective study explored newly qualified surgeons' and surgical trainees' self-efficacy in non-technical skills compared with their non-technical skills performance in simulated scenarios. METHODS: Participants undertook surgical scenarios challenging non-technical skills in two simulation sessions 6 weeks apart. Some participants attended a non-technical skills workshop between sessions. Participants completed pretraining and post-training surveys about their perceived self-efficacy in non-technical skills, which were analysed and compared with their performance in surgical scenarios in two simulation sessions. Change in performance between sessions was compared with any change in participants' perceived self-efficacy. RESULTS: There were 40 participants in all, 17 of whom attended the non-technical skills workshop. There was no significant difference in participants' self-efficacy regarding non-technical skills from the pretraining to the post-training survey. However, there was a tendency for participants with the highest reported self-efficacy to adjust their score downwards after training and for participants with the lowest self-efficacy to adjust their score upwards. Although there was significant improvement in non-technical skills performance from the first to second simulation sessions, a correlation between participants' self-efficacy and performance in scenarios in any of the comparisons was not found. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that new surgeons and surgical trainees have poor insight into their non-technical skills. Although it was not possible to correlate participants' self-belief in their abilities directly with their performance in a simulation, in general they became more critical in appraisal of their abilities as a result of the intervention.

The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality-birth, deaths, and carriage.

OBJECTIVE: This article outlines the formation of the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM) and describes its objectives, governance, functioning and challenges. BACKGROUND: A nationwide audit of surgical mortality provides an overview of the leading causes of death in patients who require surgical care. It identifies system or process errors, trends in deficiency of care and helps develop strategies to reduce deaths in the surgical arena. METHODS: A standardized tool is used to systematically collect data after every surgical death. Patient details are reviewed by a peer surgeon (and in certain cases a second) to identify issues with patient management and hospital processes. The treating surgeon is then offered confidential feedback and alternate views on patient management. RESULTS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 19,096 deaths were reported to the ANZASM. Eighty-six percent of the audited deaths occurred in patients requiring an emergency admission. Significant criticism of patient care was reported in 13% of cases with 16% of clinical issues perceived to be preventable. Western Australia, which first began the audit process, has shown a 30% reduction in surgical deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Nationwide mortality audits are a useful and worthwhile exercise. Recommendations identified in the audit reports direct educational workshops and seminars to address these issues. They allow Departments of Health to make informed decisions in their hospitals. Through this model, and the lessons learnt, we would encourage other countries planning to set up their own audits to follow a similar concept.

Systematic review of congenital and acquired portal-systemic shunts in otherwise normal livers.

BACKGROUND: Portal-systemic shunts (PSSs) are rarely seen in healthy individuals or patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease. They may play an important role in hepatic metabolism as well as in the spread of gastrointestinal metastatic tumours to specific organs. Small spontaneous PSSs may be more common than generally thought. However, epidemiological data are scarce and inconclusive. This systematic review examined the prevalence of reported PSSs and the associated detection methods. METHODS: Literature up to 2011 was reviewed for adult patients with proven congenital or acquired PSSs. Only PSSs in normal livers were analysed for the methods of diagnosis. Eligible studies were identified by searching relevant databases, including PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library. The selection of eligible articles was carried out using predefined inclusion criteria (adult, non-surgical PSS) and a set of search terms that were established before the articles were identified. RESULTS: Eighty studies were included describing 112 patients with congenital or acquired PSSs. The majority were diagnosed incidentally using Doppler ultrasound imaging and CT. CONCLUSION: Congenital and acquired PSSs are rare. They are usually clinically asymptomatic and discovered incidentally by radiological techniques. They may be clinically relevant owing to drug, tumour cell, metabolic and pathogen shunting.

Systematic review of skills transfer after surgical simulation-based training.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training assumes that skills are directly transferable to the patient-based setting, but few studies have correlated simulated performance with surgical performance. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was undertaken to find studies published since the last systematic review, published in 2007. Inclusion of articles was determined using a predetermined protocol, independent assessment by two reviewers and a final consensus decision. Studies that reported on the use of surgical simulation-based training and assessed the transferability of the acquired skills to a patient-based setting were included. RESULTS: Twenty-seven randomized clinical trials and seven non-randomized comparative studies were included. Fourteen studies investigated laparoscopic procedures, 13 endoscopic procedures and seven other procedures. These studies provided strong evidence that participants who reached proficiency in simulation-based training performed better in the patient-based setting than their counterparts who did not have simulation-based training. Simulation-based training was equally as effective as patient-based training for colonoscopy, laparoscopic camera navigation and endoscopic sinus surgery in the patient-based setting. CONCLUSION: These studies strengthen the evidence that simulation-based training, as part of a structured programme and incorporating predetermined proficiency levels, results in skills transfer to the operative setting.

Isolated non-hepatic metastasis from upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma: A case for surgical resection.

INTRODUCTION: Upper Gastrointestinal Tract (UGIT) malignancy is an increasing problem in western society and its prognosis is generally poor. The prognosis dims even further with the presence of loco regional recurrences or distant metastasis. This article looks at the feasibility and potential benefit from resection of non-hepatic, non-nodal metastases and recurrences. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Case 1. A 72-year-old male who underwent total gastrectomy for a gastric adenocarcinoma presented with a splenic mass 40 months later and underwent a splenectomy. He is disease free at 30 months post-metastectomy. Case 2. A 54-year-old male with oesophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma, underwent an Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy. He developed a distal pancreatic mass at 24 months follow-up and underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. He is disease free at 12 months post-metastectomy. Case 3. A 75-year-old male underwent subtotal gastrectomy for lesser curvature adenocarcinoma. At 42 months follow-up, he developed solitary abdominal wall recurrence. This was locally resected with clear margins. After 12 months, he developed another full thickness abdominal wall recurrence with involvement of the hepatic flexure. Enbloc resection including right hemicolectomy was performed and he is disease free at 3 months. DISCUSSION: There is very scarce literature on resection of non-hepatic, non-nodal recurrences/distant metastasis in oesophagogastric cancers. Based on these cases, a surgical resection in selected cases may provide prolonged survival with good quality of life. CONCLUSION: Resection for isolated recurrences and metachronous metastasis from UGIT cancers may be worthwhile, especially if patients have minimal co-morbidities.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy: outcomes in a low-volume, specialised Hepato Pancreato Biliary unit.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at a low-volume specialised Hepato Pancreato Biliary (HPB) unit. Volume outcome analyses show significantly better results for patients undergoing PD at high-volume centres (Begg et al. JAMA 280:1747-1751, 1998; Finlayson et al. Arch Surg 138:721-725, 2003; Birkmeyer et al. N Engl J Med 346:1128-1137, 2002; Gouma et al. Ann Surg 232:786-795, 2000). Centralisation of PD seems to be the logical conclusion to be drawn from these results. In countries like Australia with a small and widely dispersed population, centralisation may not be always feasible. Alternative strategy would be to have similar systems in place to those in high-volume centres to achieve similar results at low-volume centres. Many Australian tertiary care centres perform low to medium volumes of PD (Chen et al. HPB 12:101-108, 2010; Kwok et al. ANZ J Surg 80:605-608, 2010; Barnett and Collier ANZ J Surg 76:563-568, 2006; Samra et al. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 10:415-421, 2011). Most of these have a specialised HPB unit, accredited by the Australia and New Zealand Hepatic pancreatic and biliary association (ANZHPBA), as training units for post fellowship training in HPB surgery. It is imperative to perform outcome-based analyses in these units to ensure safety and high quality of care. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of database for periampullary carcinoma (1998 till date) was performed in an ANZHPBA accredited HPB unit based at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Australia. Because age older than 74 years is shown to be a predictive marker of increased morbidity and mortality after a PD, we analysed the outcomes in this subset of patients separately. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients underwent PD in 14 years. Overall mortality was 3.8 %. The last in hospital mortality was in 1999. The morbidity rates and the oncologic outcomes were similar to those in high-volume units. CONCLUSIONS: PD can be safely performed in a low-volume specialised unit at centres where the amenities and processes at high-volume centres can be replicated.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and disease recurrence after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Despite being one of the commonest causes of cancer-related death around the world, only 20 per cent of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are amenable to curative treatment (surgical resection or liver transplantation). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a popular therapy for unresectable HCC. There is evidence that the disparity in survival after curative RFA and surgery for HCC, especially tumours smaller than 3 cm in diameter, is narrowing. This review examined the survival and disease recurrence rates after RFA for HCC over the past decade. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects from January 2000 until November 2010. Papers reporting on patients with HCC who were treated with RFA, either in comparison or in combination with other interventions, such as surgery or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), were eligible for inclusion. Outcome data collected were overall survival, disease-free survival and disease recurrence rates. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and non-randomized comparative studies with more than 12 months' follow-up were included. RESULTS: Forty-three articles, including 12 RCTs, were included in the review. The majority of the articles reported the use of RFA for unresectable HCC, often in combination with other treatments such as PEI, transarterial chemoembolization and/or surgery. Overall and disease-free survival rates continue to improve, despite an increase in the size and numbers of tumours treated. More recently some clinicians have used RFA to treat selected patients with resectable HCC, with good outcomes. CONCLUSION: RFA provides a valuable treatment option for patients with unresectable HCC. It improves survival in those previously considered to have advanced disease. As progress continues to be made, RFA is gradually being used to treat resectable HCC.

Experimental application of electrolysis in the treatment of liver and pancreatic tumours: principles, preclinical and clinical observations and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Electrolytic ablation (EA) is a treatment that destroys tissues through electrochemical changes in the local microenvironment. This review examined studies using EA for the treatment of liver and pancreatic tumours, in order to define the characteristics that could endow the technique with specific advantages compared with other ablative modalities. METHODS: Literature search of all studies focusing on liver and pancreas EA. RESULTS: A specific advantage of EA is its safety even when conducted close to major vessels, while a disadvantage is the longer ablation times compared to more frequently employed techniques. Bimodal electric tissue ablation modality combines radiofrequency with EA and produced significant larger ablation zones compared to EA or radiofrequency alone, reducing the time required for ablation. Pancreatic EA has been investigated in experimental studies that confirmed similar advantages to those found with liver ablation, but has never been evaluated on patients. Furthermore, few clinical studies examined the results of liver EA in the short-term but there is no appropriate follow-up to confirm any survival advantage. CONCLUSIONS: EA is a safe technique with the potential to treat lesions close to major vessels. Specific clinical studies are required to confirm the technique's safety and eventually demonstrate a survival advantage.

Effect of hospital and surgeon volume on patient outcomes following treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review assessed the efficacy of centralisation for the treatment of unruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. Patient outcomes achieved by low and high volume hospitals/surgeons, including morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay, were used as proxy measures of efficacy. DESIGN: Systematic review was designed to identify, assess and report on peer-reviewed articles reporting outcomes from unruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. No language restriction was placed on the databases searched. MATERIALS: Only peer-reviewed journals articles were included. METHODS: To ensure the contemporary nature of this review, only studies published between January 1997 and June 2007 were sought. Studies were included if they reported on at least one volume type and patient outcome. RESULTS: Twenty two studies were included in this review. In the majority of group assessments, the number of studies reporting statistical significance was similar to the number of studies reporting no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The paucity of studies reporting statistically significant results demonstrates that although this evidence exists, its potential to be overstated must also be taken into account when drawing conclusions as to its efficacy for twenty first century healthcare systems.

Predicting liver failure following major hepatectomy.

Pre-operative determination of the risk of liver dysfunction has come under criticism with regards to its usefulness in clinical practice. Opinion is split between centres which use such tests uniformly on all patients and those where clinical judgment alone is used. Published data would not suggest any difference in mortality, morbidity or liver failure rates between these groups. This review outlines and presents the evidence for pre-operative quantification of functional liver remnant volume.

Systematic review of endovenous laser therapy versus surgery for the treatment of saphenous varicose veins.

This systematic review compares the safety and efficacy of endovenous laser therapy (ELT) and surgery involving saphenous ligation and stripping as treatments for varicose veins. Systematic searches of medical bibliographic databases, the Internet and lists of references were conducted in August 2007 and April 2008 to identify relevant primary studies. Inclusion of papers was resolved through application of a predetermined protocol. Information on the safety and effectiveness of ELT and surgery was analyzed. Fifty-nine studies were included, with seven studies directly comparing ELT with surgery. Serious adverse events after ELT or surgery were rare. While occurrence rates of some minor adverse events appeared higher after ELT in collated data, comparative studies commonly favored ELT over surgery. Few differences were apparent between treatments with respect to clinical effectiveness outcomes, although long-term follow-up was lacking. Nonclinical effectiveness outcomes generally favored ELT over surgery in the first 2 months after treatment. ELT appears to be at least as safe as surgery. While ELT offers short-term benefits and appears to be as clinically effective as surgery up to 12 months after treatment, clinical trials with a minimum of 3 years of follow-up are required to establish the enduring effectiveness of ELT.

Systematic review of endoscopic treatments for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this review was to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic procedures for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: Literature databases including Medline, Embase and PubMed were searched up to May 2006 without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized comparative studies with at least ten patients in each study arm, and case series studies of at least ten patients, were included. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies examining seven endoscopic procedures (Stretta procedure, Bard EndoCinch, Wilson-Cook Endoscopic Suturing Device, NDO Plicator, Enteryx, Gatekeeper Reflux Repair System and Plexiglas) were included in the review. Of the three procedures that were tested against sham controls (Stretta procedure, Bard EndoCinch and Enteryx), patient outcomes in the treatment group were either as good as, or significantly better than, those of control patients in terms of heartburn symptoms, quality of life and medication usage. However, for the two procedures that were tested against laparoscopic fundoplication (Stretta) procedure and Bard EndoCinch), outcomes for patients in the endoscopic group were either as good as, or inferior to, those for the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSION: At present there is insufficient evidence to determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic procedures for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, particularly in the long term.