Safe surgery: analysis of physicians adherence to protocols, and its potential impact on patient safety / Cirurgia segura: análise da adesão do protocolo por médicos e possível impacto na segurança do paciente

ABSTRACT Objectives : to identify surgeons' knowledge and compliance rate to the Safe Surgery Protocol, as well as to assess the incidence of surgery-related adverse events, including patients' knowledge about the protocol. Methods: this is a cross-sectional and prospective study. An instrument was developed to collect the socio-graphic characteristics of sixty-eight surgeons and residents, their knowledge and adherence to the safe surgery protocol. Eighty-two patients were assessed regarding their awareness about the surgical procedure. The operating environment was also evaluated. Descriptive statistics and the odds ratio are presented. Results: the surgeons, despite their previous contact with the protocol throughout the graduation period, were poorly compliant with it. Adverse events such as the use of uncalibrated equipments or the presence of foreign bodies in several equipments such as drills and cautery pens were identified. In addition, some of the adverse events were identified and fixed, after patients had already been anesthesized, but before the beginning of the surgical procedure. Patients demonstrated knowledge about the operation they would undergo, but they did not know about its duration, and they were not introduced to the surgical team. Conclusion: there were failures in the dynamics and compliance regarding some phases of the protocol, which may impact the laterality errors and patient safety.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o conhecimento e a taxa de adesão ao Protocolo de Cirurgia Segura pelos cirurgiões, assim como a incidência de eventos adversos relacionados à operação, além do conhecimento dos pacientes sobre o protocolo. Métodos: estudo transversal, prospectivo com caráter quantitativo. Para a coleta de dados, foi elaborado, pelos autores, um instrumento que coletou o perfil sócio gráfico de sessenta e oito cirurgiões e residentes, o conhecimento e a adesão destes ao protocolo de cirurgia segura. Oitenta e dois pacientes foram entrevistados, e o ambiente de cirurgia avaliado. Os dados foram analisados de maneira descritiva e teste Razão das Chances com Índice de Confiança (IC) de 95%. Resultados: parte dos cirurgiões demonstraram que apesar do contato com o protocolo durante o período de formação, houve deficiência à adesão, ocasionando eventos adversos como o uso de equipamentos não calibrados ou presença de corpos estranhos nos equipamentos, como brocas e canetas. Além disso, foi constatado que em pacientes já anestesiados, as falhas foram percebidas e reparadas antes do começo do procedimento. No caso dos pacientes, estes demonstraram conhecimento quanto à cirurgia que iriam realizar, porém não sabiam a duração da mesma ou tinham sido introduzidos à equipe cirúrgica. Conclusão: houve falhas na dinâmica e na adesão de algumas etapas do protocolo, prejudicando a lateralidade no processo e a segurança do paciente.

Recomendações do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões para cirurgia videolaparoscópica durante a pandemia por COVID-19 / Recommendations of the Brazilian College of Surgeons for laparoscopic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

RESUMO Diante do quadro de pandemia da COVID-19, a comunidade cirúrgica enfrenta o possível risco de contágio de profissionais envolvidos no ato operatório; gerando preocupações e dúvidas referentes a escolha da via de acesso mais adequada nesse momento. Com objetivo de orientar os cirurgiões, baseado em diversos protocolos publicados até o momento, o Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões traz recomendações acerca deste assunto. O objetivo desta nota técnica é, através de uma compilação de publicações e recomendações de Sociedades Científicas de Cirurgia de todo mundo, trazer orientações relativas ao acesso laparoscópico durante a pandemia por COVID-19.

ABSTRACT During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the surgical community faces the possible risk of infection of health care professionals involved in the surgical procedure. This leaves to concerns and questions referred to the most adequate surgical approach at this moment. With the objective of guiding surgeons, and based in many different protocols published until now, the Brazilian College of surgeons brings recommendations about this subject. The aim of this technical note is, trough a compilaton of publications and recommendations from Scientific Societies of Surgery worldwide, to provide guidelines regarding laparoscopic access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alternativas para o estabelecimento de via aérea cirúrgica durante a pandemia de COVID-19 / Alternatives for establishing a surgical airway during the COVID-19 pandemic

RESUMO Atualmente médicos e profissionais da saúde encontram-se frente a uma pandemia desafiadora causada por uma nova cepa denominada 2019 Novel Coronavírus (COVID-19). A infecção humana pelo COVID-19 ainda não tem o espectro clínico completamente descrito, bem como não se sabe com precisão o padrão de letalidade, mortalidade, infectividade e transmissibilidade. Não há vacina ou medicamento específico disponível. O tratamento é de suporte e inespecífico. No Brasil, assim como no restante do mundo o número de casos de COVID-19 tem crescido de maneira alarmante levando a um aumento do número de internações assim como da mortalidade pela doença. Atualmente os estados com maior número de casos são, respectivamente, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal e Ceará. O objetivo deste trabalho é oferecer alternativas a fim de orientar cirurgiões quanto ao manejo cirúrgico das vias aéreas em pacientes com suspeita e/ou confirmação para infecção pelo COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Currently doctors and health professionals are facing a challenging pandemic caused by a new strain called 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Human infection with COVID-19 does not yet have the clinical spectrum fully described, and the pattern of lethality, mortality, infectivity and transmissibility is not known with precision. There is no specific vaccine or medication available. Treatment is supportive and nonspecific. In Brazil, as in the rest of the world, the number of COVID-19 cases has grown alarmingly, leading to an increase in the number of hospitalizations as well as in mortality from the disease. Currently, the states with the highest number of cases are, respectively, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal and Ceará. The objective of this work is to offer alternatives in order to guide surgeons regarding the surgical management of the airways in patients with suspicion and / or confirmation for COVID-19 infection.

Condutas em lipoaspiraçã o entre cirurgiões brasileiros / Liposuction Practices among Brazilian Surgeons

Introdução: Desde a década de 1980, com Illouz, a lipoaspiração ganhou popularidade e representa hoje um dos procedimentos mais realizados no mundo. Algumas de suas complicações são graves e potencialmente letais. Não existe, contudo, uma uniformidade em sua prática ou no seu ensino. A avaliação das técnicas empregadas por cirurgiões plásticos pode ser o início de uma padronização. Métodos: Foi aplicado um questionário sobre lipoaspiração no 52º Congresso Brasileiro de Cirurgia Plástica para cirurgiões plásticos de diferentes faixas etárias e regiões do Brasil, presentes no evento. Resultados: Foram contabilizados 243 questionários preenchidos (n = 243). O número médio de incisões foi de 9 (2 - 16). Duzentos e quarenta e um cirurgiões (99%) realizam incisões na linha mediana/ paramediana anteriormente e 236 (97%) incisam na linha mediana/paramediana na região posterior. Aproximadamente metade dos questionados utilizam a anestesia geral. Duzentos e nove cirurgiões (86%) posicionam o paciente em decúbito ventral durante o procedimento. A lipoaspiração superficial é realizada por 146 (60%) entrevistados, sendo que 22 (9%) fazem a aspiração apenas desta camada adiposa. Oitenta e cinco (35%) participantes relatam controlar a pressão do aparelho durante o procedimento. Conclusão: A lipoaspiração realizada no Brasil apresenta grande variação técnica. Essa constatação nos faz refletir sobre a necessidade de uma uniformização de sua prática e ensino a fim de aumentar o controle e a segurança do procedimento.

Introduction: Since the 1980s, with Illouz, liposuction has gained popularity and represents one of the most commonly performed procedures in the world today. Some of the complications are serious and potentially lethal. Nevertheless, uniformity in its practice or the manner in which it is taught does not exist. Evaluating techniques employed by plastic surgeons may be the start toward standardization. Methods: A questionnaire on liposuction was given to plastic surgeons of different age groups and from regions of Brazil who were present at the 52nd Brazilian Conference for Plastic Surgery. Results: Two hundred forty-three questionnaires were filled out (n = 243). The average number of incisions was 9 (2­16). Two hundred fortyone surgeons (99%) made incisions along the anterior median/ paramedian line, and 236 (97%) made incisions on the posterior median/paramedian line. Approximately half of those surveyed utilized general anesthesia. Two hundred nine surgeons (86%) placed the patient in the prone position during the procedure. One hundred forty-six (60%) interviewees performed superficial liposuction, with 22 (9%) performing liposuction only on this adipose layer. Eighty-five (35%) participants reported controlling the apparatus's pressure during the procedure. Conclusion: Liposuction procedures performed in Brazil have significant technical variations. This finding encourages us to reflect on the need to standardize liposuction practice and the manner in which it is taught so as to increase control over the procedure and its safety.

Impact of surgeon experience during carotid endarterectomy operation and effects on perioperative outcomes

Abstract Objective: We evaluated the effect of surgeon experience on complication and mortality rates of carotid endarterectomy operation. Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy between January 2013 and February 2016 were divided into two groups. Patients who had been operated by surgeons performing carotid endarterectomy for more than 10 years were allocated to group 1 (experienced surgeons; n=34). Group 2 (younger surgeons; n=25) consisted of patients operated by surgeons independently performing carotid endarterectomy for less than 2 years. Both groups were compared in respect of operative results and postoperative complications. Results: No intergroup difference was found for laterality of the lesion or concomitant coronary artery disease. In group 1, signs of local nerve damage (n=2; 5.9%) were detected, whereas in group 2 no evidence of local nerve damage was observed. Surgeons in group 1 used local and general anesthesia in 3 (8.8%) and 31 (91.2%) patients, respectively, while surgeons in group 2 preferred to use local and general anesthesia in 1 (4%) and 24 (96%) patients, respectively. Postoperative stroke was observed in group 1 (n=2; 5.9%) and group 2 (n=2; 5.8%). Conclusion: Younger surgeons perform carotid endarterectomy with similar techniques and have similar results compared to experienced surgeons. Younger surgeons rarely prefer using shunt during carotid endarterectomy. The experience and the skills gained by these surgeons during their training, under the supervision of experienced surgeons, will enable them to perform successful carotid endarterectomy operations independently after completion of their training period.

Objective evaluation of surgical competency for minimally invasive surgery with a collection of simple tests / Evaluación objetiva de competencias quirúrgicas en cirugía mínimamente invasiva con una colección de pruebas simples

Objective: This study aims at determining if a collection of 16 motor tests on a physical simulator can objectively discriminate and evaluate practitioners' competency level, i.e. novice, resident, and expert. Methods: An experimental design with three study groups (novice, resident, and expert) was developed to test the evaluation power of each of the 16 simple tests. An ANOVA and a Student Newman-Keuls (SNK) test were used to analyze results of each test to determine which of them can discriminate participants' competency level. Results: Four of the 16 tests used discriminated all of the three competency levels and 15 discriminated at least two of the three groups (α= 0.05). Moreover, other two tests differentiate beginners' level from intermediate, and other seven tests differentiate intermediate level from expert. Conclusion: The competency level of a practitioner of minimally invasive surgery can be evaluated by a specific collection of basic tests in a physical surgical simulator. Reduction of the number of tests needed to discriminate the competency level of surgeons can be the aim of future research.

Objetivo: Este estudio pretende determinar si una colección de 16 pruebas en un simulador físico puede discriminar y evaluar objetivamente el nivel de competencia de practicantes de cirugía laparoscópica (novato, resistente y experto). Métodos: Se realizó un diseño de experimentos con tres grupos de estudio (novatos, residentes y expertos) para probar el poder de discriminación de 16 pruebas simples. Un ANOVA y un test de Student Newman-Keuls (SNK) fueron empleados para analizar los resultados de cada prueba con el fin de determinar cuáles de ellas podían discriminar los niveles de competencia de los participantes. Resultados: Cuatro de las 16 pruebas evaluadas lograron discriminar los tres niveles de competencia, y 15 pruebas lograron discriminar al menos dos de los tres grupos (α= 0.05). Adicionalmente, otras dos pruebas diferenciaron los novatos de los residentes, y otras siete pruebas diferenciaron los residentes de los expertos. Conclusión: El nivel de competencia de un practicante de cirugía mínimamente invasiva puede ser determinado mediante una colección de pruebas básicas en un simulador quirúrgico físico. El diseño de pruebas que discriminen los tres niveles de competencia y reduzcan el número de pruebas de la colección son posibles temas para nuevos trabajos.