Comparison of Intraoperative Outcomes between Single-incision Robotic Cholecystectomy and Multi-incision Robotic Cholecystectomy.

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the key surgical factors for single-incision robotic cholecystectomy (SIRC) and multi-incision robotic cholecystectomy (MIRC). Methods A retrospective data review from August 2013 to April 2018 consisting of 104 SIRC and 105 MIRC cases was done considering factors including patient gender, age, operating time (skin incision to skin closure), robotic console time (docking to undocking), the preoperative diagnosis for surgery, any complications in surgery, length of stay (LOS), and estimated blood loss (EBL). Procedures with conversion away from original robotic cholecystectomy approach were excluded. Chi-square analysis (p-value: 0.05) was run between the two data sets. Results A total of 209 robotic cholecystectomy cases were reviewed since 2013. We found significantly less time with single-incision compared to multi-incision (single incision = 94.0 minutes, multi-incision = 99.9 minutes, p = 0.016) and EBL (single-incision = 11.52 mL, multi-incision = 17.17 mL, p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in age or robotic console time. The most common indication was symptomatic cholelithiasis overall, with equal cases of dyskinesia in single-incision approach, although there was no significant difference in indication between the two approaches. Intraoperatively, there was marginally significant use of irrigation in multi-incision (multi-incision 45 [42.9%], single-incision 31 [29.8%], p = 0.0499) and no difference in Firefly, perforation, or intraoperative cholangiogram use. LOS results showed significant decreased stay in SIRC cases (single-incision 84 outpatients [80.8%], multi-incision 75 [71.4%]; p = 0.0379). Conclusions SIRC and MIRC are both safe and feasible ways to remove the inflamed/dysfunctional gallbladder. SIRC is associated with less operative time, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stay.

Axial-spin technique of endoscopic intracorporeal knot tying: comparison with the conventional technique and objective assessment of knot security, learning curves, and performance efficiency across training levels.

INTRODUCTION: A major limitation of conventional laparoscopic surgery is the placement of an intracorporeal (IC) knot, which requires a significant amount of training and practice. An easier technique of IC knot tying using 90-degree grasper is compared with the conventional technique (CLT). The new axial-spin technique (AST) uses the spin of the instrument shaft to tie IC knots. METHODS: Fourteen participants stratified into 3 training levels were instructed to tie 50 reef IC knots using each technique on trainers in 3 sessions. The final 5 knots tied using each technique were deemed to be representative of maximal performance efficiency (PE) and randomly subject to tensile strength measurements using a tensiometer at 50 mm/s distraction. Mean knot execution time (mKET) measured in seconds (s), normalized KE time (nET=group mean/mKET), knot holding capacity, relative knot security (RKS), and PE (PE=RKS/nET) of the knots tied were computed and analyzed using paired t and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Variables included knot-tying session, technique and the training level. On completion of the study, junior residents (JR) averaged 51.72 seconds more, senior residents (SR) averaged 26.22 seconds more and attendings (ATT) averaged 19.17 seconds less to tie using CLT compared with the AST (F=40.52, P=0.0001). Across all levels, the CLT technique was taking 83.26 seconds on average to execute an IC knot compared with 59.08 seconds with AST method (t=2.784, P=0.015). Learning curves revealed that JR significantly improved mean KE times with the AST technique (first session vs. final session: 473.8 s vs. 55.9 s) compared with CLT (672.5 s vs. 107.6 s) across the sessions as compared with those in advanced levels of training. The RKS of knots executed by AST was significantly stronger (AST: 13.1 vs. 5.44 N, t=4.9, P=0.0001). The PE of knots executed using the CLT increased geometrically across training levels (JR: 1.35% SR: 5.58% ATT: 11.22%) whereas those of AST showed a linear trend (17.09%; 17.11%, and 13.95%). CONCLUSION: The AST follows a linear pattern of learning across training levels compared with the steep exponential learning of the CLT. Inexperienced JRs were surprisingly 1.5 times more efficient with AST and 8 times less efficient with CLT compared with ATT using the CLT to execute the same knot. The AST is significantly easier to learn for JRs and could serve as a platform before acquiring more advanced knot-tying skills. Overall, with the AST, execution times are significantly shorter whereas the RKS and PE are significantly higher. JRs achieve a level of proficiency comparable with the senior level residents and ATT after participating in a reasonable training session consisting of at least 25 knots.

Differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions by mechanical imaging.

Mechanical imaging yields tissue elasticity map and provides quantitative characterization of a detected pathology. The changes in the surface stress patterns as a function of applied load provide information about the elastic composition and geometry of the underlying tissue structures. The objective of this study is the clinical evaluation of breast mechanical imager for breast lesion characterization and differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. The breast mechanical imager includes a probe with pressure sensor array, an electronic unit providing data acquisition from the pressure sensors and communication with a touch-screen laptop computer. We have developed an examination procedure and algorithms to provide assessment of breast lesion features such as hardness related parameters, mobility, and shape. A statistical Bayesian classifier was constructed to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions by utilizing all the listed features as the input. Clinical results for 179 cases, collected at four different clinical sites, have demonstrated that the breast mechanical imager provides a reliable image formation of breast tissue abnormalities and calculation of lesion features. Malignant breast lesions (histologically confirmed) demonstrated increased hardness and strain hardening as well as decreased mobility and longer boundary length in comparison with benign lesions. Statistical analysis of differentiation capability for 147 benign and 32 malignant lesions revealed an average sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 86.8% with a standard deviation of +/-6.1%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve characterizing benign and malignant lesion discrimination is 86.1% with the confidence interval ranging from 80.3 to 90.9%, with a significance level of P = 0.0001 (area = 50%). The multisite clinical study demonstrated the capability of mechanical imaging for characterization and differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions. We hypothesize that the breast mechanical imager has the potential to be used as a cost effective device for cancer diagnostics that could reduce the benign biopsy rate, serve as an adjunct to mammography and to be utilized as a screening device for breast cancer detection.

Outpatient surgery centers draw cases away from hospitals, impact resident training volume.

PURPOSE: Across the United States, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasing in both number and surgical volume. This trend has been the focus of debate regarding reimbursement and patient safety, as well as surgical productivity and efficiency. However, the impact on surgical resident training caused by this shift toward outpatient surgery in nonhospital settings has not been studied. We reviewed data reported by our hospital and by local surgery centers as well as the case logs of the surgical residents at our institution to determine whether a negative effect on resident case volume has occurred. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of our PGY-1 through PGY-3 level surgical residents' case logs for 3 consecutive academic years, from July 2004 through June 2007. We evaluated a group of common outpatient procedures that are now also being performed in stand-alone surgical centers in our area, such as breast biopsies, incision and drainage, hernia repair, colonoscopy, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The data were tallied by academic year and compared over time. In addition, we analyzed data reported to state agencies by our hospital and local surgery centers over the last 6 calendar years for any trends in case volume. By evaluating 2 different independent data sets for the same endpoint, we could evaluate our hypothesis twice. RESULTS: When evaluating state-reported data for the defined cases, a significant decrease was observed in the total number of cases performed at Easton Hospital, Easton, Pennsylvania, each year between 2003 and 2006 (p < 0.0001). When reported cases by procedure category for 2003 versus 2005 only (because of incomplete data from ASCs in 2004 and 2006), a significant decrease was observed as well for certain specific procedures as follows: colonoscopy (p < 0.0001), inguinal/femoral hernia (p = 0.04), excision of skin lesion (p = 0.0022), and incision/drainage (p < 0.0001). When comparing resident reported data, significant decreases were observed in the number of hemorrhoidectomies, breast biopsies, skin grafts, carpal tunnel releases, and excision of skin lesions performed by residents during each academic year from July 2004 to June 2007. CONCLUSIONS: Our residents historically have gained all of their outpatient surgery experience from procedures performed at our home institution. With the recent surge of stand-alone surgical centers, many outpatient procedures are being performed outside of the hospital in centers where our residents do not rotate. Although current residents in our program are performing enough cases to fulfill the ACGME required minimums, the number of cases is significantly decreased because of cases performed by stand-alone surgical centers.

The axial-spin technique of intracorporeal knot tying: a novel and simplified approach for junior residents.

Since its introduction, laparoscopic surgery has been limited by various factors including 2-dimensional vision and limited spatial mobility of instruments. A major limitation of conventional laparoscopic surgery is the placement of an intracorporeal knot, which requires a significant amount of training and practice. We describe a novel, easier technique of intracorporeal knot tying using a right-angled 10 mm grasper/mixter. After passing the suture through the tissue, the right-angled grasper is used to create a V-shaped configuration of the armed end of the suture while it is being stabilized distally by the needle driver in the opposite hand. The jaws of the right-angled grasper are then twisted axially using the thumb-dial, thereby converting the V-shaped configuration to that of an alpha, with the jaws of the instrument through the loop. After stabilizing the loop, the jaws of the right-angled grasper are then opened and the free end of the suture is grasped and pulled through in the appropriate direction. By rotating the thumb-dial in the opposite direction, the configuration of the knots can be varied to create slip knots or square knots. The technique involves the use of an extra component, namely the thumb-dial of the instrument. Much simpler than techniques currently in use, especially when training new surgeons, it avoids the cumbersome 3-dimensional spatial movements needed to perform conventional intracorporeal knots.

Training surgeons to do evidence-based surgery: a collaborative approach.

BACKGROUND: Three of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general competencies contain specific wording indicating that trainees must learn how to locate, appraise, and integrate the best information from the literature into their patient care practices. What is less clear is how to best translate evidence-based concepts into the workday of the resident, fellow, or attending surgeon. In this article we describe our use of the assignment-based training program we developed to ensure that our trainees can actually do what is required to practice evidence-based operations. STUDY DESIGN: Our collaborative program draws on the expertise of an attending surgeon, a medical librarian, and a research coordinator. The curriculum is designed so that all residents in our program develop and refine their evidence-based surgery skills in a context relating to their clinical practice. They are given a practice-related clinical question and are asked to demonstrate their competence in finding the best available evidence to answer it. This involves restating the question as a well-formulated clinical question, doing a focused literature search, critically appraising the results to find the best evidence, and integrating the information into practice, if appropriate. Search assignments are evaluated using a structured form and additional training is designed based on the results. Another question is then assigned to assess improvement. RESULTS: Residents' performance on a first assignment showed specific weaknesses in use of textwords and limiters. Performance was strongly related to a resident's ability to obtain the best evidence in answer to a clinical question (p = 0.011). Substantial improvement was shown on a second assignment after additional training. CONCLUSIONS: Our hands-on, performance-based program allows us to document trainees' progress in developing skills that will allow them to efficiently locate the best evidence available to inform their patient care decisions.