Utilising an accelerated Delphi process to develop consensus on the requirement and components of a pre-procedural core robotic surgery curriculum.

Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) continues to grow globally. Despite this, in the UK and Ireland, it is estimated that over 70% of surgical trainees across all specialities have no access to robot-assisted surgical training (RAST). This study aimed to provide educational stakeholders guidance on a pre-procedural core robotic surgery curriculum (PPCRC) from the perspective of the end user; the surgical trainee. The study was conducted in four Phases: P1: a steering group was formed to review current literature and summarise the evidence, P2: Pan-Specialty Trainee Panel Virtual Classroom Discussion, P3: Accelerated Delphi Process and P4: Formulation of Recommendations. Forty-three surgeons in training representing all surgical specialties and training levels contributed to the three round Delphi process. Additions to the second- and third-round surveys were formulated based on the answers and comments from previous rounds. Consensus opinion was defined as ≥ 80% agreement. There was 100% response from all three rounds. The resulting formulated guidance showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of > 0.8. There was 97.7% agreement that a standardised PPCRC would be advantageous to training and that, independent of speciality, there should be a common approach (95.5% agreement). Consensus was reached in multiple areas: 1. Experience and Exposure, 2. Access and context, 3. Curriculum Components, 4 Target Groups and Delivery, 5. Objective Metrics, Benchmarking and Assessment. Using the Delphi methodology, we achieved multispecialty consensus among trainees to develop and reach content validation for the requirements and components of a PPCRC. This guidance will benefit from further validation following implementation.

Day 2 neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios for prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence has suggested that an admission neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of ≥ 5.9 predicts delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The primary aims of this study were to assess reproducibility and to ascertain the predictive ability of NLR on subsequent days postictus. Secondary aims included identification of additional inflammatory markers. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study of all patients aged ≥ 18 years with aSAH between May 2014 and July 2018 was performed. Patient characteristics, DCI incidence, operative features, and outcomes (on discharge and at 3 months postictus) were recorded. C-reactive protein (CRP) and full blood count differentials were recorded on admission and through day 8 postictus or at discharge. In total, 403 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (23.8%) developed DCI with a median time from ictus of 6 days (IQR 3.25-8 days). A platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) cutoff ≥ 157 and CRP cutoff ≥ 27 was used in our cohort. In a multiple binary logistic regression model, after controlling for known DCI predictors, day 2 NLR ≥ 5.9 (OR 2.194, 95% CI 1.099-4.372; p = 0.026), day 1 PLR ≥ 157 (OR 2.398, 95% CI 1.1072-5.361; p = 0.033), day 2 PLR ≥ 157 (OR 2.676, 95% CI 1.344-5.329; p = 0.005), and CRP ≥ 27 on days 3, 4, and 5 were predictive of DCI. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have confirmed the association between NLR and DCI and have demonstrated the predictive potential of PLR and CRP, suggesting that NLR and PLR at day 2, and CRP from day 3 onward, may be better predictors of DCI than those measurements at the time of ictus.

Barriers to accessing and providing rehabilitation after a lower limb amputation in Sierra Leone - a multidisciplinary patient and service provider perspective.

PURPOSE: The primary aim was to explore the perceived barriers that lower limb amputees and service providers face when accessing or providing rehabilitation services. The secondary aim was to describe the lower limb amputations performed in public hospitals in the Western Area of Sierra Leone in 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mixed methodology was employed, involving the collection of amputation data from surgical logbooks and interviews with amputees (n = 10) and group discussion and interviews with service providers (n = 11). RESULTS: Of the 37 primary lower limb amputations (49% men, 51% women; median age 56 years; 62% transtibial and 35% transfemoral amputations) 86% were for diabetic and vascular causes. Barriers to accessing services included poor transportation access, high service fees, rural living, gender and a lack of government support. Insufficient funding and supplies, skilled staff shortages and a lack of local training programmes were frequently reported barriers to providing rehabilitation services. CONCLUSIONS: A low prioritisation means rehabilitation services are underfunded, resulting in numerous barriers to both accessing and providing amputee rehabilitation services. Subsidised services and an outreach programme may improve access for patients. Increased funding and local training programmes are needed to improve service delivery.Implications for RehabilitationComprehensive and accessible amputee rehabilitation services can enable people with amputations to regain their independence and aid their participation in their community and workplace.There are numerous barriers to both accessing and providing amputee rehabilitation services in the Western Area, Sierra Leone, chiefly financial. We recommend a revised effort by the Sierra Leonean government to implement the progressive policies on disability they have already adopted into law, which will aid the improvement of amputee rehabilitation services. New education and training programmes for all levels of prosthetic and orthotic professions are needed to secure the future of prosthetics and orthotics in Sierra Leone.

The Incidence of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome as Assessed in an International Randomized Controlled Trial (MRC/NIHR ROLARR).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of LARS in patients undergoing elective anterior resection within the MRC/NIHR ROLARR trial and to explore perioperative variables that might be associated with major LARS. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery is frequently accompanied by defaecatory dysfunction known as Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). This is distressing for patients and is an unmet clinical challenge. METHODS: An international, retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing anterior resection within the ROLARR trial was undertaken. Trial participants with restoration of gastrointestinal continuity and free from disease recurrence completed the validated LARS questionnaire between August 2015 and April 2017. The primary outcome was the incidence of LARS and secondary outcome was severity (minor versus major). RESULTS: LARS questionnaires were received from 132/155 (85%) eligible patients. The median time from surgery to LARS assessment was 1065 days (range 174-1655 d). The incidence of LARS was 82.6% (n = 109/132), which was minor in 26/132 (19.7%) and major in 83/132 (62.9%). The most common symptoms were incontinence to flatus (n = 86/132; 65.2%) and defaecatory clustering (88/132; 66.7%). In a multivariate model, predictors of major LARS were: 1 cm decrease in tumor height above the anal verge (OR = 1.290, 95% CI: 1.101,1.511); and an ASA grade greater than 1 (OR = 2.920, 95% CI: 1.239, 6.883). Treatment allocation (laparoscopic vs robotic) did not predict major LARS. CONCLUSIONS: LARS is a common after rectal cancer surgery and patients should be appropriately counselled preoperatively, particularly before surgery for low tumors or in comorbid populations.

Global academic response to COVID-19: Cross-sectional study.

This study explores the response to COVID-19 from investigators, editors, and publishers and seeks to define challenges during the early stages of the pandemic. A cross-sectional bibliometric review of COVID-19 literature was undertaken between 1 November 2019 and 24 March 2020, along with a comparative review of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) literature. Investigator responsiveness was assessed by measuring the volume and type of research published. Editorial responsiveness was assessed by measuring the submission-to-acceptance time and availability of original data. Publisher-responsiveness was assessed by measuring the acceptance-to-publication time and the provision of open access. Three hundred and ninety-eight of 2,835 COVID-19 and 55 of 1,513 MERS search results were eligible. Most COVID-19 studies were clinical reports (n = 242; 60.8%). The submission-to-acceptance [median: 5 days (IQR: 3-11) versus 71.5 days (38-106); P < .001] and acceptance-to-publication [median: 5 days (IQR: 2-8) versus 22.5 days (4-48·5-; P < .001] times were strikingly shorter for COVID-19. Almost all COVID-19 (n = 396; 99.5%) and MERS (n = 55; 100%) studies were open-access. Data sharing was infrequent, with original data available for 104 (26.1%) COVID-19 and 10 (18.2%) MERS studies (P = .203). The early academic response was characterized by investigators aiming to define the disease. Studies were made rapidly and openly available. Only one-in-four were published alongside original data, which is a key target for improvement. Key points: COVID-19 publications show rapid response from investigators, specifically aiming to define the disease.Median time between submission and acceptance of COVID-19 articles is 5 days demonstrating rapid decision-making compared with the median of 71.5 days for MERS articles.Median time from acceptance to publication of COVID-19 articles is 5 days, confirming the ability to introduce rapid increases at times of crisis, such as during the SARS outbreak.The majority of both COVID-19 and MERS articles are available open-access.

A Cross-Sectional Review of Reporting Variation in Postoperative Bowel Dysfunction After Rectal Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative bowel dysfunction affects quality of life after sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery, but the extent of the problem is not clearly defined because of inconsistent outcome measures used to characterize the condition. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess variation in the reporting of postoperative bowel dysfunction and to make recommendations for standardization in future studies. If possible, a quantitative synthesis of bowel dysfunction symptoms was planned. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, as well as the Cochrane Library, were queried systematically between 2004 and 2015. STUDY SELECTION: The studies selected reported at least 1 component of bowel dysfunction after resection of rectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were reporting, measurement, and definition of postoperative bowel dysfunction. RESULTS: Of 5428 studies identified, 234 met inclusion criteria. Widely reported components of bowel dysfunction were incontinence to stool (227/234 (97.0%)), frequency (168/234 (71.8%)), and incontinence to flatus (158/234 (67.5%)). Urgency and stool clustering were reported less commonly, with rates of 106 (45.3%) of 234 and 61 (26.1%) of 234. Bowel dysfunction measured as a primary outcome was associated with better reporting (OR = 3.49 (95% CI, 1.99-6.23); p < 0.001). Less than half of the outcomes were assessed using a dedicated research tool (337/720 (46.8%)), and the remaining descriptive measures were infrequently defined (56/383 (14.6%)). LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity in the reporting, measurement, and definition of postoperative bowel dysfunction precluded pooling of results and limited interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable variation exists in the reporting, measurement, and definition of postoperative bowel dysfunction. These inconsistencies preclude reliable estimates of incidence and meta-analysis. A broadly accepted outcome measure may address this deficit in future studies.