Activity

To improve patient safety, there is an imperative to develop objective performance metrics for basic surgical skills training in robotic surgery.

To develop and validate (face, content, and construct) the performance metrics for robotic suturing and knot tying, using a chicken anastomotic model.

Study 1 In a procedure characterization, we developed the performance metrics (i.e., procedure steps, errors, and critical errors) for robotic suturing and knot tying, using a chicken anastomotic model. In a modified Delphi panel of 13 experts from four EU countries, we achieved 100% consensus on the five steps, 18 errors and four critical errors (CE) of the task. Study 2 Ten experienced surgeons and nine novice urology surgeons performed the robotic suturing and knot tying chicken anastomotic task. The mean inter-rater reliability for the assessments by two experienced robotic surgeons was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.9-0.95). Novices took 18.5min to complete the task and experts took 8.2min. (p = 0.00001) and made 74% more objectively assessed performance errors than the experts (p = 0.000343).

We demonstrated face, content, and construct validity for a standard and replicable basic anastomotic robotic suturing and knot tying task on a chicken model. Validated, objective, and transparent performance metrics of a robotic surgical suturing and knot tying tasks are imperative for effective and quality assured surgical training.

We demonstrated face, content, and construct validity for a standard and replicable basic anastomotic robotic suturing and knot tying task on a chicken model. Validated, objective, and transparent performance metrics of a robotic surgical suturing and knot tying tasks are imperative for effective and quality assured surgical training.

Internal herniation (IH) is a potentially serious complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence of IH after robot-assisted RYGB (RA-RYGB) performed with the “Double Loop” technique at our Institution.

Prospective cohort study of patients submitted to RA-RYGB with the “Double Loop” technique, with a minimum follow-up of 2years. Patients with complaints of abdominal pain at clinical visits or entering the emergency department were evaluated. Primary outcome was the incidence of IH, defined as the presence of herniated bowel through a mesenteric defect, diagnosed at imaging or at surgical exploration.

A total of 129 patients were included 65 (50.4%) were primary procedures, while 64 (49.6%) were revisional operations after primary restrictive bariatric surgery. Mean age was 47.9 ± 10.2years, mean weight, and body mass index were, respectively, 105.3 ± 22.6kg and 39.7 ± 9.6kg/m

. Postoperative morbidity rate was 7.0%. Mean follow-up was 53.2 ± 22.6 (range 24-94) months. During the follow-up period, a total of 14 (10.8%) patients entered the emergency department 1 patient had melena, 4 renal colic, 1 acute cholecystitis, 2 gynecologic pathologies, 2 anastomotic ulcers, 1 perforated gastric ulcer, 1 diverticulitis and 2 gastroenteritis. There were no diagnoses of IH. During the follow-up period, no patient experienced recurrence of symptoms.

In the present study, the robotic approach confirms the low complication rate and absence of IH after “Double Loop” RA-RYGB in a large case-series at a medium-term follow-up.

In the present study, the robotic approach confirms the low complication rate and absence of IH after “Double Loop” RA-RYGB in a large case-series at a medium-term follow-up.

We sought to evaluate the results of the Masquelet-induced membrane technique (IMT) for long bone defect reconstruction within the limited-resource setting of a French forward surgical unit deployed in Chad.

A prospective and observational study was conducted in all patients with a traumatic segmental bone defect in any anatomical location treated by IMT from November 2015 to December 2019. Although IMT was applied by various orthopedic surgeons with variable expertise, all followed the same surgical protocol. Endpoint assessment was performed 12months after IMT application.

Sixteen patients with a mean age of 32.7years were included in the study. Bone defects were located on the tibia (n = 8), the femur (n = 6) or the radius (n = 2). Thirteen bone defects were infected. After debridement, the mean bone defect length was 4.3cm. External fixation of the tibia and femur was predominant in both stages. Bone union was achieved in only 8 of the 16 cases at a mean time of 7.6months. All failures were related to persistent infection or insufficient fixation stability in the second stage.

This series is the first to report IMT use in a forward surgical unit. Despite frequent complications, local patients can benefit from this procedure, which is the only available method for bone reconstruction in areas with limited medical resources. A rigorous technical completion at both stages is crucial to limit septic or mechanical failures.

This series is the first to report IMT use in a forward surgical unit. Despite frequent complications, local patients can benefit from this procedure, which is the only available method for bone reconstruction in areas with limited medical resources. MLN2238 mw A rigorous technical completion at both stages is crucial to limit septic or mechanical failures.

Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are at an increased risk for postoperative complications after open inguinal hernia repair (OIHR). It is possible that orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients may have better outcomes, given reversal of liver failure pathophysiology. Therefore, we sought to compare mortality risk, complications, length of stay (LOS), and cost associated with OIHR in OLT recipients versus LC.

From the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), using ICD-9 codes, we found 83 OLT recipients and 764 patients with LC who underwent OIHR between 2002 and 2014. We used logistic, negative binomial, and multiple linear regression models to compare peri-operative mortality risk, postoperative complications, and LOS, and cost associated with OIHR in OLT recipients versus LC patients. Models were adjusted for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, and hospital factors.

OLT recipients were younger (58 vs 61, p = 0.02), more likely to be privately insured (42.0% vs 24.6%, p = 0.006), less likely to have ascites at time of surgery (5.