Trauma resident exposure in Canada and operative numbers (TraumaRECON): a national multicentre retrospective review of operative and nonoperative trauma teaching.

BACKGROUND: General surgeons play an important role in the provision of trauma care in Canada and the current extent of their trauma experience during training is unknown. We sought to quantify the operative and nonoperative educational experiences among Canadian general surgery trainees. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective study of major operative exposures experienced by general surgery residents, as identified using institutional trauma registries and subsequent chart-level review, for 2008-2018. We also conducted a site survey on trauma education and structure. RESULTS: We collected data on operative exposure for general surgery residents from 7 programs and survey data from 10 programs. Operations predominantly occurred after hours (73% after 1700 or on weekends) and general surgery residents were absent from a substantial proportion (25%) of relevant trauma operations. The structure of trauma education was heterogeneous among programs, with considerable site-specific variability in the involvement of surgical specialties in trauma care. During their training, graduating general surgery residents each experienced around 4 index trauma laparotomies, 1 splenectomy, 1 thoracotomy, and 0 neck explorations for trauma. CONCLUSION: General surgery residents who train in Canada receive variable and limited exposure to operative and nonoperative trauma care. These data can be used as a baseline to inform the application of competency-based medical education in trauma care for general surgery training in Canada.

Impact of the acute care surgery model on resident operative experience in emergency general surgery.

Background: The acute care surgery (ACS) model has been shown to improve patient, hospital and surgeon-specific outcomes. To date, however, little has been published on its impact on residency training. Our study compared the emergency general surgery (EGS) operative experiences of residents assigned to ACS versus elective surgical rotations. Methods: Resident-reported EGS case logs were prospectively collected over a 9-month period across 3 teaching hospitals. Descriptive statistics were tabulated and group comparisons were made using χ2 statistics for categorical data and t tests for continuous data. Results: Overall, 1061 cases were reported. Resident participation exceeded 90%). Appendiceal and biliary disease accounted for 49.7% of EGS cases. Residents on ACS rotations reported participating in twice as many EGS cases per block as residents on elective rotations (12.64 v. 6.30 cases, p < 0.01). Most cases occurred after hours while residents were on call rather than during daytime ACS hours (78.8% v. 21.1%, p < 0.01). Senior residents were more likely than junior residents to report having a primary operator role (71.3% v. 32.0%, p < 0.01). Although the timing of cases made no difference in the operative role of senior residents, junior residents assumed the primary operator role more often during the daytime than after hours (50.0% v. 33.1%, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Despite implementation of the ACS model, residents in our program obtained most of their EGS operative experience after hours while on call. Although further research is needed, our study suggests that improved daytime access to the operating room may represent an opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of the EGS operative experience at our academic network.

Contexte: Il a été prouvé que le modèle de chirurgie en soins actifs (CSA) améliore les résultats pour le patient, l'hôpital et le chirurgien. Pour le moment, peu de publications s'intéressent aux effets de ce modèle sur les résidents. Notre étude compare l'expérience des chirurgies générales d'urgence (CGU) chez les résidents effectuant un stage en CSA et chez les résidents effectuant un stage optionnel en chirurgie. Méthodes: Les cas de CGU rapportés par les résidents ont été recueillis de manière prospective pendant 9 mois dans 3 hôpitaux universitaires. Les statistiques descriptives ont été compilées, et les 2 groupes ont été comparés à l'aide du test du χ2 pour les variables catégorielles et du test t pour les variables continues. Résultats: En tout, 1061 cas ont été rapportés (la participation des résidents était de plus de 90 %). Les atteintes de l'appendice et de la vésicule biliaire représentaient 49,7 % des CGU. Les résidents en CSA ont indiqué participer à 2 fois plus de CGU que les résidents en stage optionnel (12,64 c. 6,30 cas, p < 0,01). La plupart des CGU se sont produites en dehors des heures normales, alors que les résidents étaient de garde, plutôt que pendant les heures de CSA (78,8 % c. 21,1 %, p < 0,01). Les médecins résidents finissants étaient plus susceptibles d'indiquer avoir tenu le rôle de chirurgien principal que les résidents en début de parcours (71,3 % c. 32,0 %, p < 0,01). Le moment des chirurgies ne faisait aucune différence pour ce qui est du rôle des résidents finissants, mais les résidents en début de parcours ont davantage assumé le rôle de chirurgien principal pendant les heures de CSA que pendant les périodes de garde (50,0 % c. 33,1 %, p < 0,01). Conclusion: Malgré l'adoption du modèle de CSA, les résidents de notre programme ont acquis la majorité de leur expérience en CGU en dehors des heures normales, alors qu'ils étaient de garde. Bien que d'autres études soient nécessaires, notre étude laisse croire qu'un meilleur accès aux salles d'opération pendant le jour pourrait augmenter la quantité et la qualité de l'expérience en CGU dans le réseau universitaire.

Operative timing is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing emergency general surgery: a multisite study of emergency general services in a single academic network.

Background: Despite the widespread implementation of the acute care surgery (ACS) model, limited access to operating room time represents a barrier to the optimal delivery of emergency general surgery (EGS) care. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of operative timing on outcomes in EGS in a network of teaching hospitals. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of EGS operations performed at 3 teaching hospitals in a single academic network. Time of operation was categorized as daytime (8 am to 5 pm), after hours (5 pm to 11 pm) or overnight (11 pm to 8 am). Time to operation was calculated as the interval from admission to operative start time and categorized as less than 24 hours, 24-72 hours and greater than 72 hours. Results: After we excluded nonindex cases, trauma cases and cases occurring more than 5 days after admission, 1505 EGS cases were included. We found that 39.0% of operations were performed in the daytime, 46.3% after hours and 14.8% overnight. In terms of time to operation, 52.3% of operations were performed within 24 hours of admission, 33.4% in 24-72 hours and 14.3% in more than 72 hours. The overall complication rate was 20.6% (310 patients) and the overall mortality rate was 3.8% (57 patients). After multivariable analysis, time to operation more than 72 hours after admission was independently associated with increased odds of morbidity (odds ratio [OR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.47), while overnight operating was associated with increased odds of death (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.29-7.70). Conclusion: Increasing time from admission to operation and overnight operating were associated with greater morbidity and mortality, respectively, for EGS patients. Strategies to provide timely access to the operating room should be considered to optimize care in an ACS model.

Contexte: Même si le modèle de chirurgie en soins actifs (CSA) est largement répandu, l'accès limité aux blocs opératoires représente un obstacle à la chirurgie générale chez les patients des services d'urgence (CGSU). L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire l'effet du moment de l'intervention sur l'issue des CGSU dans un réseau d'hôpitaux universitaires. Méthodes: Nous avons procédé à une revue des CGSU effectuées dans 3 hôpitaux d'enseignement d'un réseau universitaire. Le moment opératoire était catégorisé selon que les interventions étaient effectuées le jour (8 h 00 à 17 h 00), le soir (17 h 00 à 23 h 00) ou la nuit (23 h 00 à 8 h 00). Le délai opératoire représentait l'intervalle entre l'admission et le début de l'intervention et était réparti selon les catégories suivantes : moins de 24 heures, de 24 à 72 heures et plus de 72 heures. Résultats: Après exclusion des cas non index, des cas de traumatologie et des cas survenus plus de 5 jours après l'admission, 1505 CGSU ont été incluses. Nous avons constaté que 39,0 % des interventions avaient été effectuées le jour, 46,3 % le soir et 14,8 % la nuit. Pour ce qui est du délai opératoire, 52,3 % des interventions ont été effectuées dans les 24 heures suivant l'admission, 33,4 % dans les 24 à 72 heures et 14,3 % plus de 72 heures après l'admission. Le taux global de complications a été de 20,6 % (310 patients) et le taux de mortalité global a été de 3,8 % (57 patients). Après analyse multivariée, le délai opératoire de plus de 72 heures suivant l'admission a été associé de manière indépendante à un risque accru de morbidité (rapport ces cotes [RC] 1,64, intervalle de confiance [IC]) de 95 % 1,09 à 2,47), tandis que les interventions effectuées la nuit ont été associées à un risque de décès plus élevé (RC 3,15, IC de 95 % 1,29 à 7,70). Conclusion: L'augmentation du délai entre l'admission et l'intervention et les interventions de nuit ont été associées à une morbidité et une mortalité plus élevées, respectivement, chez les patients soumis à des CGSU. Des stratégies visant à offrir un accès rapide aux blocs opératoires sont à envisager pour optimiser le modèle de CSA.

Delayed laparoscopic peritoneal washout in non-operative management of blunt abdominal trauma: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Non-operative management (NOM) of blunt abdominal trauma has become increasingly common in hemodynamically stable patients. There are known complications of NOM from undrained intra-abdominal fluid accumulations including hemorrhage and peritonitis that require delayed operation. Thus, delayed operation can be considered as part of the overall management plan, instead of failure, of NOM. The aim of this scoping review is to establish key concepts regarding delayed laparoscopic peritoneal washout (DLPW) following NOM of blunt abdominal trauma patients. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and gray literature were systematically searched. Studies were included if they investigated or reported on the use of delayed laparoscopy involving peritoneal washout following NOM of blunt abdominal trauma patients. Bibliographies of included studies were manually reviewed to identify additional articles for inclusion. RESULTS: From 910 citations, 28 studies met inclusion criteria. This included seven case reports, eleven case series or observational cohort studies, six review articles, two management guidelines, one textbook chapter, and one randomized clinical trial. For those reported, medium grade liver injuries proved most common (95.2%). Indications for DLPW were primarily clinical features and changes in imaging findings, highlighting the importance of close observation. Authors reported clinical improvement after DLPW regarding symptomatology, vital signs, and biochemistry. A relatively high transfusion demand was reported with a mean of four units of packed red blood cells pre-operatively. Length of stay and post-operative complications were consistent with previously reported experiences with blunt abdominal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: DLPW is beneficial in blunt abdominal trauma patients following NOM with improvement in symptoms, SIRS features, and a possible reduction in hospital length of stay. This study is limited by low-quality evidence and skewing of data toward isolated hepatic injuries. Future prospective cohort study comparing NOM with and without DLPW is required.

Trauma Resident Exposure in Canada and Operative Numbers (TraumaRECON): a study protocol for a national multicentre study of operative, nonoperative and structured educational exposures in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Canada's shift toward nonoperative trauma management, coupled with the implementation of competency-based medical education, has highlighted the lack of quantitative knowledge about the volume and quality of exposure to operative trauma training experiences among Canadian general surgery residents. We aim to quantify the exposure to specific operative trauma domains during residency over time and across participating Canadian training programs and to perform an environmental scan of the nonoperative clinical exposure and other formal and informal trauma education provided to general surgery residents across Canadian training programs. METHODS: Trauma Resident Exposure in Canada and Operative Numbers (TraumaRECON) is a retrospective, multicentre study of operative trauma procedures involving the participation of general surgery residents in Canada. Participating sites will populate a data abstraction form outlining operative trauma data points as abstracted from eligible trauma operative charts via each site's trauma registry. They will also complete a survey of the nonoperative clinical and other educational opportunities in trauma care to which general surgery residents are exposed in participating general surgery training programs. The primary outcome of this study will be the volume of operative trauma cases that general surgery residents are exposed to during their residency in Canada. Secondary outcomes will include the association between time of occurrence during the day for trauma operations and resident participation, operative volume stratified by postgraduate year of training, volume of missed operative trauma opportunities, volume of operative trauma cases by type, and the operative role of residents involved in trauma operations. INTERPRETATION: The need for competency in operative trauma management will always exist; however, with potentially limited operative trauma volume, this standard may prove difficult to achieve for the next generation of general surgery residents in Canada. Results of TraumaRECON will provide a quantitative commentary on the operative trauma volume experienced by general surgery residents in Canada to inform future teaching practices in the context of competency-based medical education.

Cause for concern: Resident experience in operative trauma during general surgery residency at a Canadian centre.

BACKGROUND: The ability to provide competent operative trauma care is a core objective of general surgery training but recent publications question the ability of graduates to meet this standard. To assess the adequacy of operative trauma exposure during residency, we constructed and analyzed a retrospective trauma operative case log for general surgery residents at a Canadian trauma centre. METHODS: The Hamilton General Hospital Trauma Registry was used to identify all patients from July 2008 to June 2018 who underwent a trauma operation on the neck, chest, or abdomen. Medical records were reviewed to determine procedure type and resident presence. RESULTS: In our study, 417 patients underwent 570 operations (422 abdominal, 103 thoracic, and 45 neck). For the 35 residents that completed their general surgery residency during the study, the median number of trauma laparotomies was 5, with only 14/35 (40%) present for ≥10 trauma operations. Only 10 residents (29%) were exposed to a neck exploration and 18 (51%) exposed to a thoracic operation for trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Operative trauma exposure amongst general surgery residents at an academic Canadian trauma centre was limited. Cumulative operative trauma surgery exposure of a typical graduating resident was inadequate when compared to Canadian and American accrediting-body standards.

CONTEXTE: La capacité d'offrir des soins de qualité en traumatisme opératoire est un objectif principal de la formation en chirurgie générale, mais des publications récentes contestent la capacité des diplômés à satisfaire cette norme. Pour évaluer le caractère adéquat de l'exposition à des traumatismes opératoires pendant la résidence, nous avons construit et analysé un registre rétrospectif des cas opératoires traumatologiques des résidents en chirurgie générale à un centre canadien de traumatologie. MÉTHODES: Le registre des traumatismes du Hamilton General Hospital a été utilisé pour identifier tous les patients de juillet 2008 à juin 2018 qui ont subi une chirurgie traumatologique au cou, au thorax ou à l'abdomen. Les dossiers médicaux ont été examinés pour établir le type de procédure et la présence de résidents. RÉSULTATS: Dans notre étude, 417 patients ont subi 570 opérations (422 à l'abdomen, 103 au thorax et 45 au cou). Pour les 35 résidents qui ont terminé leur résidence en chirurgie générale au cours de l'étude, le nombre médian de laparotomies traumatologiques a été de cinq, avec seulement 14/35 (40 %) présents pour dix opérations traumatologiques ou plus. Seulement 10 résidents (9 %) ont assisté à une exploration du cou et 18 (51 %) ont assisté à une chirurgie thoracique pour un trauma. CONCLUSIONS: L'exposition aux traumatismes opératoires chez les résidents en chirurgie générale à un centre universitaire canadien de traumatologie a été limitée. L'exposition cumulative à des chirurgies traumatologiques opératoires d'un résident diplômé type était inadéquate comparativement aux normes d'agrément des organismes canadiens et américains.

A recombinant vaccine expressed in the milk of transgenic mice protects Aotus monkeys from a lethal challenge with Plasmodium falciparum.

Two strains of transgenic mice have been generated that secrete into their milk a malaria vaccine candidate, the 42-kDa C-terminal portion of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(42)). One strain secretes an MSP1(42) with an amino acid sequence homologous to that of the FVO parasite line, the other an MSP1(42) where two putative N-linked glycosylation sites in the FVO sequence have been removed. Both forms of MSP1(42) were purified from whole milk to greater than 91% homogeneity at high yields. Both proteins are recognized by a panel of monoclonal antibodies and have identical N termini, but are clearly distinguishable by some biochemical properties. These two antigens were each emulsified with Freund's adjuvant and used to vaccinate Aotus nancymai monkeys, before challenge with the homologous P. falciparum FVO parasite line. Vaccination with a positive control molecule, a glycosylated form of MSP1(42) produced in the baculovirus expression system, successfully protected five of six monkeys. By contrast, vaccination with the glycosylated version of milk-derived MSP1(42) conferred no protection compared with an adjuvant control. Vaccination with the nonglycosylated, milk-derived MSP1(42) successfully protected the monkeys, with 4/5 animals able to control an otherwise lethal infection with P. falciparum compared with 1/7 control animals. Analysis of the different vaccines used suggested that the differing nature of the glycosylation patterns may have played a critical role in determining efficacy. This study demonstrates the potential for producing efficacious malarial vaccines in transgenic animals.