A structured program for teaching pancreatojejunostomy to surgical residents and fellows outside the operating room: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatojejunostomy (PJ) is one of the most difficult and challenging abdominal surgical procedures. There are no appropriate training systems available outside the operating room (OR). We developed a structured program for teaching PJ outside the OR. We describe its development and results of a pilot study. METHODS: We have created this structured program to help surgical residents and fellows acquire both didactic knowledge and technical skills to perform PJ. A manual was created to provide general knowledge about PJ and the specific PJ procedure used in our institution. Based on questionnaires completed by trainers and trainees, the procedure for PJ was divided into twelve steps and described in detail. After creating the manual, we developed organ models, needles and a frame box for simulation training. Three residents (PGY3-5) and three fellows (PGY6 or above) participated in a pilot study. Objective and subjective evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Trainees learn about PJ by reading the procedure manual, acquiring both general and specific knowledge. We conducted simulation training outside the OR using the training materials created for this system. They simulate the procedure with surgical instruments as both primary and assistant surgeon. In this pilot study, as objective assessments, the fellow-group took less time to complete one anastomosis (36 min vs 48 min) and had higher scores in the objective structured assessment of technical skill (average score: 4.1 vs 2.0) compared to the resident-group. As a subjective assessment, the confidence to perform a PJ anastomosis increased after simulation training (from 1.6 to 2.6). Participants considered that this structured teaching program is useful. CONCLUSION: We developed a structured program for teaching PJ. By implementing this program, learning opportunities for surgical residents and fellows can be increased as a complement to training in the OR.

Simulation training in pancreatico-jejunostomy using an inanimate biotissue model improves the technical skills of hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgical fellows.

BACKGROUND: Technical proficiency of the operating surgeons is one of the most important factors in the safe performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether surgical simulation of pancreatico-jejunostomy (PJ) using an inanimate biotissue model could improve the technical proficiency of hepato-biliary pancreatic (HBP) surgical fellows. METHODS: The biotissue drill consisted of sewing biotissues to simulate PJ. The drill was repeated a total of five times by each of the participant surgical fellows. The improvement of the surgical fellows' technical proficiency was evaluated by the supervisor surgeons using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scale. RESULTS: Eight HBP surgical fellows completed all the 5 drills. Both the OSATS 25 score and OSATS summary score, assessed by the two supervisor surgeons, improved steadily with repeated execution of the PJ drill. The average OSATS score, as assessed by both the supervisor surgeons, improved significantly from the first to the final drill, with a P value of 0.003 and 0.014 for the assessment by the two surgeons, respectively. On the other hand, no chronological alteration was observed in time of procedure (P = 0.788). CONCLUSION: Repeated execution of a biotissue PJ drill improved the HBP surgical fellows' technical proficiency, as evaluated by OSATS. The present study lends support to the evidence that simulation training can contribute to shortening of the time required to negotiate the learning curve for the technique of PJ in the actual operating room.

Three-dimensional printed dry lab training models to simulate robotic-assisted pancreaticojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND: This pioneering study is aimed to design training models for robotic pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) and to assess their usefulness using quality improvement exercise in the dry lab. METHODS: Three dry lab models were developed including the anastomosis model of a transected silicon pancreatic stent (model 1), a rough model (model 2) simulating PJ, and an advanced three-dimensional printed model (model 3) more vividly simulating PJ. Three surgeons (A, B, C) with same specialty and levels of expertise in surgery were enrolled in the training which was divided into three rounds of tasks. In the first round, all three surgeons (A, B, C) participated in the training on basic technical tasks before moved on to the next rounds. While surgeons A, B participated in the second round on model 1, only surgeon A worked on model 2 in the third round. Their proficiency of performance was evaluated on model 3. RESULTS: The results of the first and second rounds between surgeons are similar. Surgeon A practiced with model 2 for 6 h, completing 10 cases. In model 3, the times of attempts before achieving a consecutively three times of satisfactory anastomosis procedures were compared, for surgeon A, six cases, 20 for B and 25 for C. CONCLUSIONS: The specifically designed series of dry lab training models may be a potential training tool for advancing the robotic PJ through quality improvement exercise in dry lab. Further larger and well-designed studies are warranted to validate this issue.

Introduction of a simulation model for choledocho- and pancreaticojejunostomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy includes choledochojejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy, which require hand-sewn anastomoses. Educational simulation models for choledochojejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy have not been designed. We introduce a simulation model for choledochojejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy created with a skin closure pad and a vascular model. A wound closure pad and a vein model (4 mm diameter) were used as a stump model of the pancreas. Pancreaticojejunostomy was simulated with a stump model of the pancreas and a double layer bowel model; these models were stabilized in an end-to-side fashion on a magnetic board using magnetic clips. In addition, vein (6 or 8 mm diameter) and bowel models were used to simulate choledochojejunostomy. Pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgery are relatively rare, particularly in a community hospital although surgical residents wish to practice these procedures. Our simulator enables surgeons and surgical residents to practice choledocho- and pancreaticojejunostomy through open or laparoscopic approaches.

A modern approach to teaching pancreatic surgery: stepwise pancreatoduodenectomy for trainees.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has always been regarded as one of the most technically demanding abdominal procedures, even when carried out in high-volume centers by experienced surgeons. The reduction in higher surgical trainees working hours has led to reduced exposure, and consequently less experience in operative procedures. Furthermore, trainees have also become victims as health care systems striving for operating room efficiency, have attempted to reduce procedure duration by encouraging consultant led procedures at the expense of training. A strategy therefore needs to be developed to match the ability of the trainee with the complexity of the surgical procedure. As a PD can be deconstructed into a number of different steps, it may indeed be an ideal training operation for varying levels of ability. METHODS: We describe our technique for PD and break it down to nine steps of varying technical ability making it suitable for many different stages of surgical training. RESULTS: The complexity and variety of steps required to perform a PD makes it an ideal training operation from the junior surgical trainee to the most senior fellow, allowing the development of a wide range of skill sets. DISCUSSION: Since the introduction of reduced working hours (48 h per week in Europe and 80 h per week in the USA) the "apprenticeship" model of surgical training has shifted towards a time-limited program with greater emphasis on supervision. Due to the complexity of surgery, and the perception of diminished levels of trainees' competency, a PD is often viewed as a consultant level operation. We believe that PD is an excellent model as it provides opportunities for trainees with varying levels of operative experience so that a PD could be considered the ideal "teaching case". Breaking down PD into a number of different steps may help building up surgical expertise more quickly while maintaining patients' safety and allowing the surgery to be expedited in a timely manner.

Patient allocation based on preoperative assessment of pancreatic fibrosis to secure pancreatic anastomosis performed by trainee surgeons: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: A fragile or non-fibrotic pancreas increases the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatic head resection, whereas pancreatic fibrosis decreases the risk. The degree of pancreatic fibrosis can be estimated using the time-signal intensity curve (TIC) of the pancreas, obtained with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have investigated whether trainee surgeons can perform pancreatic anastomosis safely, without the occurrence of POPF, when patients are selected carefully based on a preoperative assessment of pancreatic fibrosis. METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients who underwent pancreatic head resection were enrolled in this prospective trial. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the pancreas was performed preoperatively in all patients who, based on their pancreatic TIC profile, were then allocated to one of two groups: Group A comprised patients with type I pancreatic TIC, signifying a normal pancreas without fibrosis (n = 46); Group B comprised patients with type II or III pancreatic TIC, signifying a fibrotic pancreas (n = 26). An end-to-side duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in all patients, with all patients in Group A operated on by two experienced surgeons, and all patients in Group B operated on by one of eight trainee surgeons at various stages of training. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. POPF developed in 19 patients: 12 patients with grade A POPF and seven with grade B. All except one of the POPF occurred in Group A patients. The POPF in the one patient from Group B was grade A (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A trainee surgeon can perform a secure pancreatic anastomosis without the occurrence of POPF in patients with a pancreas displaying a fibrotic pancreatic TIC on dynamic MRI scans.