A Simulation-based, cognitive assessment of resident decision making during complex urinary catheterization scenarios.

BACKGROUND: This study explores general surgery residents' decision making skills in uncommon, complex urinary catheter scenarios. METHODS: 40 residents were presented with two scenarios. Scenario A was a male with traumatic urethral injury and scenario B was a male with complete urinary blockage. Residents verbalized whether they would catheterize the patient and described the workup and management of suspected pathologies. Residents' decision paths were documented and analyzed. RESULTS: In scenario A, 45% of participants chose to immediately consult Urology. 47.5% named five diagnostic tests to decide if catheterization was safe. In scenario B, 27% chose to catheterize with a 16 French Coude. When faced with catheterization failure, participants randomly upsized or downsized catheters. Chi-square analysis revealed no measurable consensus amongst participants. CONCLUSIONS: Residents need more training in complex decision making for urinary catheterization. The decision trees generated in this study provide a useful blueprint of residents' learning needs. SUMMARY: Exploration of general surgery residents' decision making skills in uncommon, complex urinary catheter scenarios revealed major deficiencies. The resulting decision trees reveal residents' learning needs.

Faculty evaluation of simulation-based modules for assessment of intraoperative decision making.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies using simulation-based curricula have focused largely on technical skills. We developed a set of simulation-based modules that focus on intraoperative decision making. The objective of this study was to conduct a faculty evaluation of: (1) the usefulness of 4 newly developed, simulation-based modules; (2) the curricular need to train and assess intraoperative decision making skills of the residents; and (3) potential for resident benefit. METHODS: Simulation-based modules were developed using a cognitive task analysis (CTA) framework. The CTA framework involved faculty interviews focusing on 4 operative tasks that span a range of complexity: (1) creation of small and large bowel stoma, (2) laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, (3) pancreaticojejunostomy, and (4) lymph node biopsy during a mediastinoscopy. An experienced psychologist conducted task-specific, one-on-one interviews with fellowship-trained specialists who perform these operations in their practice. Two faculty were interviewed for each procedure. The interviews lasted a minimum of 1 hour and focused on critical decisions, error prevention, error recognition, and error rescue strategies. The coded interview summaries were used as development guides for the simulation-based learning modules. Each module included locally developed physical models for the simulated operative tasks combined with oral and paper-based questions. The physical models were fabricated in such a way that simulated operative tasks could be performed using standard surgical instruments. To assess the newly developed simulation-based modules, 8 volunteer faculty (50% overlap with the interview pool) participated in a simulation-based exercise during a one-on-one session and then completed an 8-item survey cast on a 5-point Likert agreement scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). One of the items was worded negatively to ensure internal consistency. An independent observer recorded faculty session times and assessed faculty engagement in the task (1 = not engaged, 5 = extremely engaged). RESULTS: On average, faculty spent 60 minutes completing each simulation-based exercise. Over 80% of this time was spent performing the operative tasks as they would during a real-life procedure. Mean engagement rating was 4.9 (maximum 5.0, SD = 0.3). Survey results show strong agreement on the importance of training and assessing intraoperative decision making, and that residents would likely benefit from the simulation-based modules. CONCLUSION: We developed 4 high-fidelity simulation-based modules to assess intraoperative decision making. Faculty agree strongly on the importance and need for additional modules.

Perception and Action in Teleoperated Needle Insertion.

We studied the effect of delay on perception and action in contact with a force field that emulates elastic soft tissue with a rigid nonlinear boundary. Such a field is similar to forces exerted on a needle during teleoperated needle insertion. We found that delay causes motor underestimation of the stiffness of this nonlinear soft tissue, without perceptual change. These experimental results are supported by simulation of a simplified mechanical model of the arm and neural controller, and a model for perception of stiffness, which is based on regression in the force-position space. In addition, we show that changing the gain of the teleoperation channel cancels the motor effect of delay without adding perceptual distortion. We conclude that it is possible to achieve perceptual and motor transparency in virtual one-dimensional remote needle insertion task.

Bowel complications after prolene hernia system (PHS) repair: a case report and review of the literature.

The advent of mesh devices allowed for tension-free inguinal hernia repairs and a subsequent reduction in the rate of recurrences. In 1993, Rutkow and Robbins introduced the plug-and-patch repair method whereby the hernia defect is filled with a mesh plug. This new procedure led to new technique-specific complications. Here, we report the case of a man who presented with obstructive symptoms and pain at the site of his inguinal hernia repair performed with the Prolene Hernia System((R)) 18 months prior. At laparotomy, he was found to have a small bowel obstruction and perforation due to mesh contact with the small bowel and colon. The literature is reviewed for cases of bowel complications due to mesh plugs. Based on reported complications, three recommendations can be made to avoid or reduce the risk of this complication. First, the pre-peritoneal dissection should be performed carefully with particular attention to identify and repair any tears of the peritoneum. Secondly, the mesh plug should not be placed too deep within the defect. Finally, the plug should be secured to reduce the possibility of mesh migration.

Evaluation of intraoperative anticoagulants in microvascular free-flap surgery.

This retrospective study evaluated anticoagulants used during surgery to determine efficacy and associated complications. The patient population was comprised of 15 patients who underwent microvascular free-flap surgery for wound coverage of the lower one third of the leg. Results indicated that the use of heparin in conjunction with other anticoagulants was associated with the development of more hematomas compared with the use of aspirin and dextran, both separately and together.

Mondor's disease.

Mondor's disease, better known as superficial thrombophlebitis of the breast, is an uncommon disorder. Trauma and surgical biopsies head the top of the list of known causes. Over the past 25 to 30 years, various authors have proposed some new etiologies; however, the clinical course of the disease remains unchanged. This article describes three patients who presented for office visits and were diagnosed as having Mondor's disease. Although Mondor's disease is not a precancerous lesion, patients with atypical clinical courses should undergo close follow-up.