ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to survey the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders in the population of gynecologists and general surgeons performing laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 558 general surgeons and gynecologists and 378 were answered (68%). Descriptive data analysis and statistical calculations were performed. RESULTS: One or more disturbing symptoms were common among laparoscopists. More than 70% of the laparoscopists had one or more symptom. Pain was the most common symptom followed by fatigue and stiffness. Lower back, neck, and shoulders were most frequently affected. Headache and visual discomfort were also reported. Longer workload over time and ageing resulted in significantly more disorders (P<0.01). Female physicians had significantly more disorders (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed musculoskeletal disorders in a majority of laparoscopists. The laparoscopic technique often requires static and tiring work positions, sometimes extreme, which can explain musculoskeletal disorders among general surgeons and gynecologist.
Subject(s)
Laparoscopy/statistics & numerical data , Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Pain/etiology , Adult , Back Pain/epidemiology , Back Pain/etiology , Data Collection , Female , General Surgery , Headache/epidemiology , Headache/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology , Neck Pain/epidemiology , Neck Pain/etiology , Occupational Health , Pain/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Shoulder Pain/epidemiology , Shoulder Pain/etiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Sweden/epidemiologyABSTRACT
This paper presents an overview of the organisation and the results of the collaborative exercises (CE) of the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) Group's mitochondrial DNA population database project (EMPOP). The aim of the collaborative exercises was to determine whether uniformity of mtDNA sequencing results could be achieved among different laboratories. These were asked to sequence either the complete mtDNA control region or the two hypervariable regions HVI (16024-16365) and HVII (73-340) from DNA extracts, buccal swabs or bloodstains, proceeding in accordance with the protocol and strategies used in each individual laboratory. The results of the collaborative exercises were employed to identify possible sources of errors that could arise during the analysis and interpretation of mtDNA profiles. These findings were taken as a basis to tentatively make suitable arrangements for the construction of a high quality mtDNA database. One hundred fifty mtDNA profiles were submitted to the evaluating laboratory, and disaccording profiles were classified into four groups corresponding to the source of error: clerical errors, sample mix-ups, contaminations and discrepancies with respect to the mtDNA nomenclature. Overall, 14 disaccording haplotypes (16 individual errors) were observed. The errors included 10 clerical errors, 3 interpretation problems, 2 cases of sample mix-up and 1 case of point heteroplasmic mixture, where the 2 sequencing reactions brought inconsistent base calls. This corresponds to an error rate of 10.7% in a virtual mtDNA database consisting of the collaborative exercise results. However, this estimate is still conservative compared to conclusions drawn by authors of meanwhile numerous publications critically reviewing published mtDNA population databases. Our results and earlier published concerns strongly emphasize the need for appropriate safety regulations when mtDNA profiles are compiled for database purposes in order to accomplish the high standard required for mtDNA databases that are used in the forensic context.
