Survey of Canadian vascular surgeons and trainees finds work-related musculoskeletal pain and discomfort is common.

BACKGROUND: Occupational injuries and disability are a source of surgeon morbidity. The purpose of this study was to assess the physical toll of working in operating rooms by Canadian vascular surgeons. OBJECTIVE: To assess workplace musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints and challenges faced by Canadian vascular surgeons and trainees and their implications on surgical practice and occupational longevity. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to resident and surgeon members of the Canadian Society of Vascular Surgery. The survey collected data on demographics, operative volume, and work-related MSK symptoms. RESULTS: The survey was distributed to 188 surgeons and trainees. After three e-mailings, 109 surveys were returned (58% response rate). Of the responders, 87% were male, 51% were 45 years or older, and 56% had been in practice for 10 or more years. Workplace MSK symptoms were reported by 83% of the responders. The most common locations were the low back (78%), neck (74%), and shoulder (30%). Most responders (83%) believed that these symptoms were related to their operative environment. Almost half (48%) sought medical care. As a result of these MSK symptoms, 25% experience chronic pain with 8% reporting time off work as a consequence. Another 11% reported an impact on their operative performance with 14% considering early retirement. A lack of operating room system changes to prevent workplace injury and disability was noted by 85% of the responders although only 3% reported their disability to their department. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational MSK symptoms and disability are common among Canadian vascular surgeons. Further research is needed to create programs to improve surgeon morbidity.

The arteriovenous fistula and the history of a forgotten pioneer.

Objective: The radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF), first introduced by Dr Kenneth Charles Appell, allowed for the provision of hemodialysis for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and remains a reliable method for vascular access today. The purpose of this study is to review the contributions that led to the development of the AVF. We describe the work of Dr Appell, whose procedure bypassed the need for repeated cannulation in achieving vascular access, transforming the management of patients with dialysis-dependent CKD. Methods: A literature search was conducted by searching "arteriovenous fistula," "history of surgery," "hemodialysis," "vascular access," "chronic kidney disease," "repeated cannulation," and "Kenneth Charles Appell" on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Only articles written in English were considered. Results: Before the arteriovenous fistula, glass cannulae were used for vascular access, beginning with Abel's "vividiffusion" apparatus in animals and Haas's experimental dialysis on humans. The use of glass cannulae was continued by Kolff, who transitioned from venipuncture needles to glass cannulae. However, these attempts were complicated by thrombosis, excessive bleeding related to heparin use, and damage to vascular access sites from repeated cannulation. Arteriovenous shunts, using polytetrafluoroethylene tubing, were an improvement from previous attempts at vascular access, but were prone to local bleeding, shunt occlusion, phlebitis, cellulitis, and rarely lasted more than a few months. To address these challenges, Dr Appell created an upper extremity AVF, allowing for the provision of maintenance dialysis without externalized devices, repeated cannulation, and extensive anticoagulant administration. Despite Dr Appell's vision and pioneering contributions to vascular surgery, he has received little credit for his work. Conclusions: The enormous contribution by Dr Appell in the development of the AVF that transformed the modern management of patients with CKD is recognized in this review of the history of vascular access surgery for hemodialysis.