Effect of video-based self-reflection on intraoperative skills: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The value of video-based self-assessment in enhancing surgical skills is uncertain. This study investigates the feasibility and estimates sample size for a full-scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of video-based self-assessment to improve surgical performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in trainees. METHODS: This parallel pilot randomized controlled trial included general surgery trainees performing supervised laparoscopic cholecystectomy randomized 1:1 to control (traditional intraoperative teaching) or intervention group (traditional teaching plus video-based self-assessment). Operative performance was measured by the attending surgeon blinded to group assignment at the time of surgery using standardized assessment tools (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills and Operative Performance Rating System). The intervention group had access to their video recordings on a web-based platform for review and self-assessment using the same instruments. The primary outcome for the estimation of sample size was the difference in faculty-assessed final operative performance (third submitted case). Feasibility criteria included >85% participation, >85% adherence to case submission and >85% completion of self-assessment. RESULTS: Of 37 eligible trainees approached, 32 consented and were randomized (86%). There were 16 in the intervention group, 15 in the control group (55% male, 55% junior trainees), and 1 was excluded for protocol violation. Twenty-four (75%) of participants submitted 3 cases. Thirteen trainees (81%) accessed the platform and completed 26 (63.2%) case self-assessments. Fifty-five trainees per arm will be needed to power a full-scale laparoscopic cholecystectomy with Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills and 130 trainees per arm with Operative Performance Rating System as the assessment tool. CONCLUSION: This pilot study contributes important data to inform the design of an adequately powered randomized controlled trial of video-based self-assessment to improve trainee performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although a priori trial feasibility criteria were not achieved, automated video capture and storage could significantly improve adherence in future trials.

Development and validation of the modified index of fragility in head and neck cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to develop and validate, a clinically useful modified index of fragility (mIFG) to identify patients at risk of fragility and to predict postoperative adverse events. METHOD: An observational study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, from 2006 to 2018. All patients undergoing nonemergency head and neck cancer surgery were included. A seven-item index (mIFG) was developed using variables associated with frailty, cachexia, and sarcopenia, drawn from the literature (weight loss, low body mass index, dyspnea, diabetes, serum albumin, hematocrit, and creatinine). Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the association between mIFG, postoperative adverse events and death. A validation cohort was then used to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of the mIFG. RESULTS: A total of 23,438 cases were included (16,407 in the derivation group and 7031 in the validation group). There was a total of 4273 postoperative major adverse events (AE) and deaths, 1023 postoperative pulmonary complications and 1721 wound complications. Using the derivation cohort, the 7-item mIFG was independently associated with death, major AEs, pulmonary and wound complications, when controlling for significant covariates. The mIFG predicted death and major adverse events using the validation cohort with an accuracy of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.63-0.76) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.63-0.66), respectively. The mIFG outperformed the modified Frailty index. CONCLUSION: The modified index of fragility is a reliable and easily accessible tool to predict risk of postoperative adverse events and death in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery.

Validity of video-based general and procedure-specific self-assessment tools for surgical trainees in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Self-review of recorded surgical procedures offers new opportunities for trainees to extend technical learning outside the operating-room. Valid tools for self-assessment are required prior to evaluating the effectiveness of video-review in enhancing technical learning. Therefore, we aimed to contribute evidence regarding the validity of intraoperative performance assessment tools for video-based self-assessment by general surgery trainees when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Using a web-based platform, general surgery trainees in a university-based residency program submitted recorded laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures where they acted as the supervised primary surgeon. Attending surgeons measured operative performance at the time of surgery using general and procedure-specific assessment tools [Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) and Operative Performance Rating System (OPRS), respectively] and entrustability level (O-SCORE). Trainees self-evaluated their performance from video-review using the same instruments. The validity of GOALS and OPRS for trainee self-assessment was investigated by testing the hypotheses that self-assessment scores correlate with (H1) expert assessment scores, (H2) O-SCORE, and (H3) procedure time and that (H4) self-assessment based on these instruments differentiates junior [postgraduate year (PGY) 1-3] and senior trainees (PGY 4-5), as well as (H5)simple [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ≤ 4] versus complex cases (VAS > 4). All hypotheses were based on previous literature, defined a priori, and were tested according to the COSMIN consensus on measurement properties. RESULTS: A total of 35 videos were submitted (45% female and 45% senior trainees) and self-assessed. Our data supported 2 out of 5 hypotheses (H1 and H4) for GOALS and 3 out of 5 hypotheses (H1, H4 and H5) for OPRS, for trainee self-assessment. CONCLUSIONS: OPRS, a procedure-specific assessment tool, was better able to differentiate between groups expected to have different levels of intraoperative performance, compared to GOALS, a general assessment tool. Given the interest in video-based learning, there is a need to further develop valid procedure-specific tools to support video-based self-assessment by trainees in a range of procedures.

Mutational status may supersede tumor size in predicting the presence of aggressive pathologic features in well differentiated thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, thyroid tumor size plays a critical role in the staging of thyroid malignancies and in the selection of nodules that should undergo ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Thyroid tumor size is influenced by the elapsed time since the beginning of oncogenesis and by the presence of somatic mutations driving growth, such as BRAFV600E mutations, associated with aggressive phenotypes, and RAS-like mutations, associated with more indolent behavior. Although large nodules are often considered to be more alarming, the true impact of tumor size on prognosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between mutational status, tumor size and aggressiveness, with emphasis on BRAFV600E and RAS-like mutations. METHOD: We conducted a multicentric retrospective chart review in Montréal, Canada, of all patients who underwent thyroid surgery between January 2016 and December 2020, with well-differentiated thyroid cancer on final pathology, and who had undergone molecular testing revealing the presence of BRAFV600E mutations or RAS-like mutations (NRAS, HRAS or KRAS). RESULTS: We included 214 cases. There were 117 (54.7%) cases of BRAFV600E and 97 (45.3%) cases of RAS-like mutations. The BRAFV600E group was statistically associated with a smaller mean tumor size when compared with the RAS group of 1.55 cm and 2.04 cm, respectively. In a multivariate model, tumors with BRAFV600E mutations were also more likely to display aggressive pathological features, including extra-thyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, columnar cell features, tall cell histology, or hobnail histology (OR 26.69; 95% CI 11.15-70.81). In contrast, tumor size was not associated with pathologic aggressive features on multivariate analysis (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.54-1.22). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that thyroid tumors expressing BRAFV600E mutations correlate with aggressive pathologic features more than tumors expressing RAS-like mutations. When comparing tumors with BRAFV600E and RAS-like mutations, the former were found to be smaller. As a result of this finding, this study suggests that molecular alterations may better predict aggressive pathologic features than the size of the tumor.

The systemized exploitation of temporary migrant agricultural workers in Canada: Exacerbation of health vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for the future.

In 2018, 55,734 jobs in Canadian agriculture were filled by temporary migrant workers, accounting for nearly 20 percent of total employment in this sector. Though referred to as temporary, those migrant workers often fill long-term positions and provide crucial support to the Canadian agricultural industry, which has seen an increasing disengagement from the domestic workforce in the last fifteen years. Health vulnerabilities faced by temporary migrant workers are already well documented. In addition, there are multiple systemic factors inherent within the structure and implementation of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that contribute to the perpetuation of health inequities within this population. The COVID-19 pandemic has both exacerbated many of these disparities and further increased the risk of labour rights violations and vulnerability to exploitation for these workers. As Canada's 2020 growing season comes to an end, thousands of temporary migrant agricultural workers are returning to their native countries. With planning for next year's growing season already commencing, this timely analysis aims to examine health vulnerabilities faced by TMAWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five key areas are examined: occupational injuries, substandard living conditions, psychological difficulties, lack of access to healthcare and barriers in exercising labour rights. Building on this analysis, recommendations for policy and practice aimed at improving migrant workers' health are discussed.

Early Mobilization in Older Adults with Acute Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Early mobilization (EM) is beneficial in critical care units and in older hospitalized patients, but little is known about EM in older adults with acute cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Consecutive admissions of adults ≥80 years old to a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) prior to and following implementation of a nurse-driven EM program were reviewed. Mobility was measured using the Level of Function (LOF) Mobility Scale, which ranges from 0 (bed immobile) to 5 (able to walk >20 meters). The primary outcome was discharge home. RESULTS: There were 412 patients included (N = 234, intervention; N = 178, preintervention). There was no difference in age between groups (overall 86.3 ± 4.8 years old) or sex (overall female N = 215, 52.2%). In the intervention group, functional impairment was present in 89 patients (38.0%) prehospitalization and in 209 patients (89.3%) on admission. Nearly half of patients (N = 107; 45.7%) improved their LOF by ≥1 during admission. Mobilization occurred during nearly all opportunities (838/850; 98.6%), and most mobility activities were completed (2,207/2,553; 86.4%). Adverse events were rare (5/2,207 activities [0.2% adverse event rate]) and transient. Patients in the intervention group were more likely than patients in the preintervention group to be discharged home (74.4 vs. 65.7%, P = 0.047, respectively) and had a lower rate of in-hospital death (6.4 vs. 14.6%, P = 0.006, respectively). There was no difference in mean length of hospital stay, 30-day emergency department visit or hospital re-admission. CONCLUSION: EM is safe in older adults in the CICU and is associated with reduced discharge to healthcare facility and in-hospital mortality.

Early Mobilization in People With Acute Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Early mobilization (EM) is recommended in critical care units. However, there is little known about EM in people with acute cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Consecutive admissions to a tertiary-care cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU) before and after implementation of an EM program were reviewed. The Level of Function (LOF) Mobility Scale, which ranges from 0 (bed immobile) to 5 (able to walk >20 m), was used to measure and guide mobility. The primary outcome was discharge home. RESULTS: There were 1489 patients included in the analysis (preintervention, N = 637; intervention, N = 852). There were no differences in age, sex, or admission for ischemic heart disease (age 68.1 ± 16.1 years; 39.3% female). In the intervention cohort, one-quarter (N = 222; 26.1%) had at least mildly impaired prehospital functional status. The LOF was 4.6 ± 0.7 prehospital, 3.2 ± 1.4 on admission, and 4.2 ± 0.9 on CICU discharge. Half of patients (51.6%) increased their LOF by ≥1 during CICU admission. Nearly all mobility opportunities had a mobility activity (97.0%). The adverse event rate was 0.3% with no life-threatening events, falls, line dislodgements, or health care personnel injuries. The intervention group, compared with the preintervention group, was more likely to be discharged home (83.9% vs 78.3%, P < 0.007) and had a lower rate of in-hospital death (4.2% vs 6.8%; P = 0.04). When adjusted for age, sex, and comorbid illness, admission LOF was a predictor of discharge to health care facility (odds ratio = 0.72; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EM is safe and feasible in the CICU and effective at increasing discharge home.