Routine Use of Structured Reporting in Whole-body Trauma CT Facilitates Quality Improvement.

PURPOSE: Structured reporting (SR) is increasingly used. So far, there is minimal experience with SR in whole-body computed tomography (WBCT). The aim of this study was to investigate the value of routine use of SR in WBCT in trauma with a focus on reporting time, reporting errors, and referrer satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reporting time and reporting errors of CT reports were prospectively quantified for residents and board-certified radiologists 3 months before and for 6 months after implementation of a structured report in the clinical routine. Referrer satisfaction was prospectively quantified by means of a survey before and after the implementation period of SR using a 5-point Likert scale. Before and after results were compared to determine the effect of structured reporting on WBCT in trauma at our institution. RESULTS: The mean reporting time was lower when using SR (65 ±â€Š52 min. vs. 87 ±â€Š124 min., p = .25). After 4 months, the median reporting time was significantly lower with SR (p = .02). Consequently, the rate of reports that were finished within one hour rose from 55.1 % to 68.3 %. Likewise, reporting errors decreased (12.6 % vs. 8.4 %, p = .48). Residents and board-certified radiologists reported fewer errors when using SR with 16.4 % vs. 12.6 % and 8.8 % vs. 2.7 %, respectively. General referrer satisfaction improved (1.7 ±â€Š0.8 vs. 1.5 ±â€Š1.1, p = .58). Referrers graded improvements for standardization of reports (2.2 ±â€Š1.1 vs. 1.3 ±â€Š1.1, p = .03), consistency of report structure (2.1 ±â€Š1.1 vs. 1.4 ±â€Š1.1, p = .09), and retrievability of relevant pathologies (2.1 ±â€Š1.2 vs. 1.6 ±â€Š1.1, p = .32). CONCLUSION: SR has the potential to facilitate process improvement for WBCT in trauma in the daily routine with a reduction of reporting time and reporting mistakes while increasing referrer satisfaction. KEY POINTS: · SR for WBCT in trauma is feasable in clinical routine.. · Reporting time in WBCT in trauma decreases by SR.. · SR for WBCT in trauma has the potential to decrease reporting mistakes.. · SR for WBCT in trauma might increase referrer satisfaction.. CITATION FORMAT: · Blum SF, Hertzschuch D, Langer E et al. Routine Use of Structured Reporting in Whole-body Trauma CT Facilitates Quality Improvement. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 521 - 528.

The Hunger Games: Laparoscopic Performance in Novice Surgeons is Not Altered by Food Deprivation but Influenced by the Degree of Appetite - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Food deprivation is a common condition for visceral surgeons and especially laparoscopic approaches require high levels of concentration. The current literature does not provide adequate answers whether intraoperative breaks, especially food intake, might influence the quality of the surgical skills. Thus, the primary aim of this trial was to analyze the influence of food deprivation on the laparoscopic performance. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 37 laparoscopic novices participated from 10/2017 to 04/2018 in this single center, prospective-randomized trial and were trained during laparoscopic training sessions until they reached a predefined level of proficiency. Subsequently, participants were randomized into 3 different groups: food deprivation of 8 hours, 4 hours, or carbohydrate loading directly prior to the laparoscopic exam. The exam comprised PEG-transfer, precise cutting, gallbladder resection and surgical knot. MAIN FINDINGS: Completion time for PEG-transfer, precise cutting, gallbladder resection and surgical knot was 63s, 139s, 192s and 272s respectively. Participants starving for 8 hours performed 3 of 4 tasks more slowly whilst participants starving for 4 hours performed 3 of 4 tasks faster than the average. Analyzing self-reported level of appetite revealed: Students with an intermediate level were significantly faster (p <0.05) during complex procedures compared to participants that reported hunger prior to performing these tasks (192s vs. 307s). Additionally, hungry students had been more inaccurate during the surgical knot (p <0.05) whilst students with intermediate appetite level tend to be most accurate (p - value 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The subjective level of appetite rather than the absolute number of fasting hours influences the laparoscopic performance most. Thus, any extreme level of appetite may be avoided and surgeons may achieve the best performance when they have an intermediate level of appetite. In consequence, heavy meals may be omitted immediately prior to demanding laparoscopic procedures and surgeons may have access to mini-breaks and refreshers during major procedures.

[Establishment of Multidimensional Structured Training Curriculum in Surgery]. / Etablierung eines multidimensionalen, strukturierten Weiterbildungscurriculums in der Chirurgie.

In Germany, medical education is defined and controlled by the medical association; however hospitals are responsible for its implementation. Surgical trainees do not only need to acquire theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills. For years, young surgeons were trained primarily in the operating theatre. Nowadays, ethical concerns as well as time and budget limitations and legislated restrictions on surgeons' working hours argue for modern training concepts. Therefore, we have developed a training curriculum to ensure a structured surgical education. A standardised surgical education leading to well-trained surgeons can improve the satisfaction of young surgical trainees, increase the safety of patients and optimise clinical efficacy. The acceptance of standardised surgical education and its implementation within the surgeons' working hours is an important task for the future.

[Surgical Training in the Final Year of Medical Studies in Germany - Status Quo 2017]. / Das chirurgische Tertial im praktischen Jahr ­ Status quo 2017.

In Germany, medical students in their final year will work in hospitals or medical offices to gain clinical experience. The final year is designed to prepare medical students for their work as junior doctors. It is divided into three parts and includes internal medicine and general surgery as mandatory parts. Many students develop enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm while working in specific disciplines and often apply for jobs based on their experience in their final year. Despite the importance of this educational phase, the 36 medical faculties have implemented several different curricula and there is significant heterogeneity. There is no consistent nation-wide structure of the final year in Germany. General Surgery with its many subdiscplines is a central subject of the final year. We conducted a national survey to assess the educational structure of the final year in Germany. The survey demonstrated the significant heterogeneity of medical education provided by different medical schools. Acquisition of surgical knowledge is not guaranteed with the current structure and the anticipated knowledge gap of future doctors is worrying. We therefore recommend nation-wide consistent education for medical students in their final year, in order to ensure a solid and broad knowledge of general surgery.