Barriers to the implementation of new guidelines among pediatric surgeons: online survey.

PURPOSE: To identify barriers that prevent pediatric surgeons from implementing updated practice guidelines. METHODS: An online survey targeting pediatric surgeons was conducted on the StayCurrent MD Application (SCMA) and Pediatric Surgery Education Facebook page (PSE FBP). The survey results for pediatric surgeons of underdeveloped countries (PSUC) and pediatric surgeons of developed countries (PSDC) was compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Based on the number of active members on PSE FBP and SCA, the response rate was 32.3% (174/539), 66.3% of responses were from PSUC. The majority of PSUC (73%) wanted to have convincing guidelines and the plurality of PSDC (46%) wanted to see approval by the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) for implementation of new guidelines. Lack of resources was the number one response (78%) for PSUC not implementing the most up to date guidelines and about 40% of the PSDC responded "concerned about malpractice liability." CONCLUSIONS: PSUC and PSDC identified very different barriers to implementation of new guidelines. It is reassuring that accessibility to treatment is not the primary issue, though resistance to implementation is a resounding concern. Identifying the barriers will highlight areas that need to be addressed, and awareness may help resolve some of the barriers.

Educational implications for surgical telementoring: a current review with recommendations for future practice, policy, and research.

BACKGROUND: Surgical telementoring (ST) was introduced in the sixties, promoting videoconferencing to enhance surgical education across large distances. Widespread use of ST in the surgical community is lacking. Despite numerous surveys assessing ST, there remains a lack of high-level scientific evidence demonstrating its impact on mentorship and surgical education. Despite this, there is an ongoing paradigm shift involving remote presence technologies and their application to skill development and technique dissemination in the international surgical community. Factors facilitating this include improved access to ST technology, including ease of use and data transmission, and affordability. Several international research initiatives have commenced to strengthen the scientific foundation documenting the impact of ST in surgical education and performance. METHODS: International experts on ST were invited to the SAGES Project Six Summit in August 2015. Two experts in surgical education prepared relevant questions for discussion and organized the meeting (JP and HH). The questions were open-ended, and the discussion continued until no new item appeared. The transcripts of interviews were recorded by a secretary from SAGES. RESULTS: In this paper, we present a summary of the work performed by the SAGES Project 6 Education Working Group. We summarize the existing evidence regarding education in ST, identify and detail conceptual educational frameworks that may be used during ST, and present a structured framework for an educational curriculum in ST. CONCLUSIONS: The educational impact and optimal curricular organization of ST programs are largely unexplored. We outline the critical components of a structured ST curriculum, including prerequisites, teaching modalities, and key curricular components. We also detail research strategies critical to its continued evolution as an educational tool, including randomized controlled trials, establishment of a quality registry, qualitative research, learning analytics, and development of a standardized taxonomy.

Benefits of immediate dermoglandular preserving reconstruction following giant fibroadenoma excision in two patients.

Giant fibroadenoma is a rare, benign stromal tumor that typically occurs in adolescent women. This rapidly-growing tumor can result in a significant aesthetic and psychosocial morbidity due to gross asymmetry changes in the overlying skin envelope and concerns about malignancy. On initial work-up this lesion must be differentiated from other rare primary breast tumors, including phyllodes tumor, or metastatic disease. Appropriate treatment of giant fibroadenoma requires surgical excision; however, many surgeons are reluctant to perform a concomitant mastopexy or reconstruction at the time of tumor extirpation. This conservative approach results in a loose, ptotic, aesthetically displeasing breast postoperatively. While some degree of skin retraction is expected, patients may have to wait for up to a year to see final results, and further surgical correction may still be required. It is unknown whether these surgeons are not familiar with these techniques or hesitate to increase the amount of scarring on the breast mound of a young female. Using an immediate dermoglandular preserving mastopexy after giant fibroadenoma excision, we have decreased postoperative breast ptosis, removed much of the lax, poor-quality skin and achieved stable, long-term results in two patients. This technique improves the immediate aesthetic outcome, reduces the psychosocial comorbidity associated with waiting for skin retraction and decreases the likelihood of a second surgery.

Congenital ependymoblastoma arising in the sacrococcygeal soft tissue: a case study.

Ependymoblastomas are distinct embryonal tumors of the central nervous system reported only rarely in the literature. Most examples arise in young children under the age of 2 years, in the supratentorial compartment, and may or may not be related to the ventricular system. We report the case of a one-day-old infant who presented with a 6.4 x 5.6 x 3.5 cm ruptured buttock mass. Ultrasound demonstrated a solid mass at the base of the spine that displaced the bladder anteriorly with resultant hydronephrosis. Magnetic resonance images confirmed the presence of a solid mass surrounding the lower sacrum with an internal component partially encircling and deviating the rectum. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of ependymoblastoma. Of note, immunohistochemical analysis revealed diffuse staining with vimentin and patchy expression of synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament proteins, neuron-specific enolase, CD99 and nestin. On the 42nd day of life, chemotherapy was initiated with a modified Children's Oncology Group (COG) AGCT-01P1 (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, 70% etoposide, no bleomycin) regimen. The authors describe their experience and review the literature, emphasizing that ependymoblastomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sacral masses in the newborn.

Parastomal herniation of the gallbladder.

Parastomal hernias can occur in up to 31% of patients following an enterostomy (Cheung in Aust N Z J Surg 65:808-811, 1995). This type of hernia develops through an intentional fascial defect. Commonly, most parastomal hernias involve a reducible segment of omentum, small bowel, or colon. Typically, these hernias are asymptomatic and associated rarely with strangulation or obstruction. Patient preference and clinical scenario may dictate management of these hernias. Non-operative management of parastomal hernias includes abdominal binders and enterostomy belts. Operative management includes a host of options including mesh repair, a new stoma site, or revision. This paper documents the first reported case of a parastomal hernia involving the gallbladder. Optimal technique and site placement of a stoma are also discussed.

A new Dual-hemostat technique to facilitate the closure of small laparoscopic trocar incisions.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of any surgical procedure brings with it new technical challenges. The use of laparoscopy offers patients a reduction in pain and better cosmesis. However, over time, new technical challenges associated with laparoscopic surgery are becoming more evident. In particular, the closure of the small trocar site fascial incisions is often awkward and time consuming. The aim of this article is to introduce a closing procedure that facilitates the safe approximation of the abdominal fascia in these wounds. METHOD: One hemostat is used to visualize the fascia of one side of the wound and separate the fascia from the underlying abdominal viscera. Another hemostat retracts the opposite side of the wound. The suture needle is passed through the fascia and between the open tips of the hemostat. The tips of the second hemostat grasp the driven needle and carry it out of the wound. CONCLUSION: The use of two hemostats to close these wounds not only facilitates the closure but is also probably safer than the standard technique.

Comparison of bile duct pressures following sphincterotomy and endobiliary stenting in a canine model.

BACKGROUND: Cystic duct (CD) leaks following laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be diagnosed and managed with ERCP. Treatment options include endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and/or endobiliary stenting (Stent). This study was undertaken to determine if ES or Stent is more effective in lowering bile duct pressures by disrupting the pressure gradient created by the sphincter of Oddi and therefore more beneficial in the management of CD. METHODS: Mongrel dogs underwent midline laparotomy and antegrade cannulation of the common bile duct (CBD) with an umbilical artery catheter. Baseline CBD pressures were measured following duodenotomy; 5 Fr and 7 Fr stents measuring 2.5 cm, 4.5 cm, and 7 cm were inserted retrograde into the CBD. CBD pressure was measured after each stent insertion. A 1-cm sphincterotomy was the performed using a double channel papillotome. RESULTS: Insertion of both 5 Fr and 7 Fr stents significantly lowered CBD pressure as compared to sphincterotomy alone, p < 0.05. There was no significant difference in the reduction in CBD pressure following the insertion of either the 5 Fr or 7 Fr stents of varying lengths. Sphincterotomy alone did not significantly decrease CBD pressure as compared to baseline pressure. The insertion of a stent following sphincterotomy also caused a significant decrease in CBD pressure as compared to sphincterotomy alone, p = 0.034. CONCLUSION: Stent placement or ES with Stent placement significantly reduced CBD pressure as compared to ES alone. Stent diameter and length were not significant variables in this study. These results support the use of Stent or ES with Stent rather than ES alone in the management of CD leaks.