Utilizing Simulation to Evaluate Robotic Skill Acquisition and Learning Decay.

BACKGROUND: We aim to evaluate how new robotic skills are acquired and retained by having participants train and retest using exercises on the robotic platform. We hypothesized that participants with a 3-month break from the robotic platform will have less learning decay and increased retention compared with those with a 6-month break. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized trial in which participants voluntarily enrolled and completed an initial training phase to reach proficiency in 9 robot simulator exercises. They were then instructed to refrain from practicing until they retested either 3 or 6 months later. This study was completed at an academic medical center within the general surgery department. Participants were medical students, and junior-level residents with minimal experience in robotic surgery were enrolled. A total of 27 enrolled, and 13 participants completed the study due to attrition. RESULTS: Overall, intragroup analysis revealed that participants performed better in their retest phase compared with their initial training in terms of attempts to reach proficiency, time for completion, penalty score, and overall score. Specifically, during the first attempt in the retesting phase, the 3-month group did not deviate far from their final attempt in the training phase, whereas the 6-month group experienced significantly worse time to complete and overall score in interrupted suturing {[-4 (-18 to 20) seconds vs. 109 (55 to 118) seconds, P =0.02] [-1.3 (-8 to 1.9) vs. -18.9 (-19.5 to (-15.0)], P =0.04} and 3-arm relay {[3 (-4 to 23) seconds vs. 43 (30 to 50) seconds, P =0.02] [0.4 (-4.6 to 3.1) vs. -24.8 (-30.6 to (-20.3)], P =0.01] exercises. In addition, the 6-month group had a significant increase in penalty score in retesting compared with the 3-month group, which performed similarly to their training phase [3.3 (2.7 to 3.3) vs. 0 (-0.8 to 1.7), P =0.03]. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified statistically significant differences in learning decay, skills retention, and proficiency between 3-month and 6-month retesting intervals on a robotic simulation platform.

Laparoscopic gastric fundus tamponade: a novel adaptation of the Toupet fundoplication for large paraesophageal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic repair of large paraesophageal hiatal hernia with defects too large to close primarily or greater than 8 cm is technically challenging. The ideal repair remains unclear and is often debated. Utilizing the gastric fundus as an autologous patch to obliterate and tamponade large hiatal defects may offer a new solution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes following partial posterior fundoplication with gastric fundus tamponade. METHODS: Retrospective chart review and prospective patient follow up was conducted on patients who underwent laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair between 2015 and 2019 by a single surgeon. Basic demographics, pre-operative diagnoses, operative technique, and clinical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent the described technique for repair of large paraesophageal hiatal hernia. All procedures were completed laparoscopically with a short post-operative length of stay (mean of 3 days) and no 30-day readmissions. The majority of patients reported resolution of their pre-operative symptoms. Only one patient required surgery for emergent indications and the same patient was the only mortality in the study, which was secondary to respiratory failure, necrotizing pneumonia, and sepsis as a result of gastric volvulus and obstruction. CONCLUSION: Utilizing the gastric fundus as an autologous patch to repair large hiatal hernia may be a safe and efficacious solution with good short-term outcomes. However, further studies should be conducted to elucidate long-term results.

Modified laparoscopic Janeway gastrostomy: a novel adjunct for the management of choledocholithiasis in Roux-en-Y patients.

A 76-year-old woman with surgical history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass presented with recurrent choledocholithiasis. Double balloon enteroscopy was unsuccessful in cannulating the biliary tree, thus, requiring surgically assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticogram (ERCP) access. Due to her stable clinical status, the non-urgent indication and multiple anticipated ERCPs for definitive biliary clearance, a more durable port of access to the ampulla was desired. A modified laparoscopic Janeway gastrostomy of the gastric remnant was performed and served as access for multiple subsequent endoscopic procedures with successful clearance of the biliary tree.

Port site hernias following robotic colorectal surgery in people with obesity.

Port site hernias are a rare complication following robotic surgery that can result in disastrous outcomes. We describe incarcerated port site hernias in two patients with obesity. Both patients required laparoscopic reduction. Following laparoscopic reduction, one patient's postoperative course was complicated by pneumatosis intestinalis, requiring exploratory laparotomy and subsequent small bowel resection. It is standard practice to not close the fascia of port sites less than 12 mm in robotic surgery. However, this allows for the rare possibility of small bowel herniation through the port site. We suggest that our patients' history of obesity and metabolic dysfunction contributed to difficult port retention during the case, and longer operating times which caused an increased amount of torque at the port site. Additionally, compared with laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery is associated with increased torque at port sites. The combination of these risk factors extended the fascial defect, ultimately leading to the incarceration of small bowel in the port site.

Long-term results for gastric banding as salvage procedure for patients with weight loss failure after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Studies reporting revisionary options for weight loss failure after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) have been underpowered and lacking long-term data. We have previously shown that short-term (12 mo) and midterm (24 mo) weight loss is achievable with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) for failed RYGB. The present study represents the largest published series with longest postoperative follow-up of patients receiving salvage LAGB after RYGB failure. OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term results of salvage gastric banding. SETTING: University Hospital, New York, United States. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected with retrospective review. Baseline characteristics were evaluated and weights at multiple time intervals (before RYGB, before LAGB, each year of follow-up). Additional data included approach (open or laparoscopic), operative time, hospital length of stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients underwent statistical analysis with 86 patients meeting inclusion for RYGB failure. The mean body mass index before RYGB was 48.9 kg/m2. Before LAGB, patients had an average body mass index of 43.7 kg/m2, with 10.4% total weight loss and 21.4% excess weight loss after RYGB. At 5-year follow-up, patients (n = 20) had a mean body mass index of 33.6 kg/m2 with 22.5% total weight loss and 65.9% excess weight loss. The long-term reoperation rate for complications related to LAGB was 24%, and 8% of patients ultimately had their gastric bands removed. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that LAGB had good long-term data as a revisionary procedure for weight loss failure after RYGB.

Ruptured hepatic aneurysm as first presenting symptom of polyarteritis nodosa.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is an inflammatory vasculitis that creates regions of stenosis and aneurysm formation. The authors describe a 66-year-old female with hepatic artery rupture as the first presentation of undiagnosed PAN, presenting with abdominal pain followed by hemorrhagic shock. This aneurysm was suture ligated with a successful outcome. A mesenteric arteriogram demonstrated lesions consistent with PAN including aneurysms of the left gastric branches, right and left hepatic arteries, and beaded appearance of the iliac artery. However, she developed massive pulmonary embolism from which she did not recover after discharge. Postmortem examination confirmed left hepatic artery aneurysm rupture and changes consistent with PAN on gross anatomical examination and histology. This report provides a unique overview of the disease process through imaging, gross anatomic specimen and pathology. Life-threatening hepatic artery aneurysm rupture is an uncommon presentation of PAN which may benefit readers in creating a more robust differential diagnosis.