Reflection on near-peer shadowing program: impact on operating room student's perception of their future profession.

BACKGROUND: Reflection is a key element in learning from observation and experience of future profession's roles and responsibilities in clinical encounters. Moreover, reflection helps students cope with the challenges, complexities, and uncertainties of professional development. Students' written reflections on clinical exposure offer valuable information, and their analysis provides instructors with invaluable insight into students' experiences. This study evaluated Operating Room students' written reflections on their first clinical exposure experiences towards their future profession through the shadowing program. METHODS: This study was a qualitative analysis on Operating Room freshmen's reflections in the undergraduate program of Zahedan and Zabol University of Medical Sciences in Iran. After the shadowing program, all participants were asked to write an unstructured written reflection, and these fifty written reflections were de-identified and independently analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis extracted 10 subthemes and four main themes including (i) Moving towards the guiding realities of future profession, (ii) Discovering milestones of realizing professional identity, (iii) Managing the emotions affecting the perception of future profession's desirability, and (iv) Excellence in professional growth and development. CONCLUSION: Reflecting on the experience of the shadowing program, the participants described being in the OR environment as a stimulating and valuable learning opportunity. Moreover, this experience helped improve their perception of future profession's realities, as well as initiate realization of professional identity and planning for professional developments.

A review of the effects of the anesthetic gas nitrous oxide on the immune system; a starting point for future experiences.

Nitrous oxide is a common gas used as an anesthetic agent and analgesic medication in operating rooms. The gas inhibits vitamin B12 dependent-methionine synthase, which converts L-homocysteine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate to L-methionine and tetrahydrofolate, respectively, via a methylation process. The immune system has been frequently reported to be suppressed in anesthetized subjects during the postoperative period. Although previous reviews have focused on the pathophysiologic role of nitrous oxide, none of them has considered the harmful effects of nitrous oxide on the Defense system of the host. In this article, the authors review current studies on the effects of nitrous oxide on the immune system of both patients undergoing surgery and occupational exposure, as well as preclinical studies. Moreover, this paper opens a new horizon for future studies in the context of underlying mechanisms of nitrous oxide actions on the immune system.

Lessons Learned from the Student's Surgery Academic League: Is It Worth It? / Lições Aprendidas com a Liga Estudantil de Cirurgia: Vale a Pena?

Abstract: Introduction: One of the great challenges of a medical school curriculum is to offer training in basic surgical techniques, which allows graduates to develop competences to take care of simple cases presented in the primary care level of SUS. In order to approach the problem of the technical-surgical qualification of medical students and taking advantage of the interest raised by students' leagues, a surgical care project directed at patients with inguinal hernia was proposed and carried out, based on the students' academic leagues. The aim of this study is to disclose and discuss the results and the academic experience learned from a students' league in surgical learning. Methods: This report encompasses the three-year experience of an academic league aiming to approach the problem of the technical-surgical qualification of medical students and which takes advantage of the academic leagues among undergraduate medical students. The participants comprised one general surgery professor, one anesthesiologist, and undergraduate medical students interested in the surgical clinic, from the School of Medicine, University of Pernambuco, Recife (PE), Brazil. Results: Twenty-four students were included. Ninety-six patients were submitted to surgery. Two seminars with nine lectures and one workshop on surgical skills were held. One paper entitled "League of Inguinal Hernia Surgery" was presented. We did not observe hernia recurrences; the surgical complications were minimum and small in number. The students showed fast development of surgical, interpersonal, and communication skills. However, this education model included a small number of students and offered heavy competition to the general surgery residents in their first year at the University Hospital. Conclusion: The academic league in surgery allows a rich pedagogical experience, offering the opportunity for human and technical qualification. However, the proposed model has limitations. In our opinion, it does not represent a solution for the flaws and omissions observed in the school's curricular grid.

Resumo: Introdução: Um dos grandes desafios dos currículos de escolas médicas é oferecer treinamento em técnicas cirúrgicas básicas que permitam ao egresso de Medicina desenvolver competências para atender a casos simples que se apresentam à assistência primária do SUS. A fim de abordar o problema da qualificação técnico-cirúrgica dos estudantes de Medicina e aproveitar o apelo das ligas, foi proposto e realizado um projeto de assistência cirúrgica a pacientes portadores de hérnia inguinal, baseado em ligas acadêmicas. O objetivo do estudo é expor e discutir os resultados e a experiência acadêmica aprendida com a Liga de Cirurgia de Hérnia Inguinal. Métodos: Este é o relato da experiência de três anos com um grupo de liga acadêmica para abordar o problema da qualificação técnico-cirúrgica de estudantes de Medicina e que se aproveita do apelo das ligas acadêmicas entre estudantes de Medicina. Os participantes foram um professor de cirurgia geral, um anestesista e estudantes de graduação em Medicina interessados na clínica cirúrgica, da Faculdade de Medicina da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil. Resultados: Vinte e quatro estudantes foram atendidos. Operaram-se 86 pacientes. Realizaram-se dois seminários com nove aulas e uma oficina de técnicas cirúrgicas. Um trabalho intitulado "Liga de cirurgia de hérnia inguinal" foi apresentado. Não se observou recorrência de hérnia; as complicações cirúrgicas foram mínimas e em pequeno número. Os estudantes mostraram rápido desenvolvimento de habilidades cirúrgicas, interpessoais e de comunicação. Entretanto, esse modelo de ensino suporta um pequeno número de estudantes e gera grande competição para os residentes de cirurgia geral em seu primeiro ano no Hospital Universitário. Conclusão: A liga de cirurgia proporciona aos estudantes uma rica experiência pedagógica, oferecendo a oportunidade de qualificação técnica e humana. No entanto, o modelo proposto apresenta limitações. De acordo com o nosso julgamento, não representa a solução para as falhas e omissões no currículo da grade universitária.

Análisis de las posturas adoptadas por instrumentadores quirúrgicos durante cirugía / Analysis of the postures adopted by operating roomtechnicians during surgery

RESUMEN Objetivo Durante cirugía, los instrumentadores quirúrgicos adoptan posturas de trabajo que pueden resultar perjudiciales para su sistema músculo-esquelético. La literatura ha identificado que el daño al sistema músculo-esquelético de los instrumentadores depende de si las posturas son estáticas o dinámicas, la especialidad quirúrgica en donde se adoptan, el tipo de cirugía, la ubicación de las mesas de instrumental y la altura de la mesa operatoria. Sin embargo, este estudio identificó las posturas adoptadas por los instrumentadores de una institución de IV nivel de Bogotá durante cirugía, teniendo en cuenta algunas de sus características personales, laborales y también algunas condiciones técnicas de los procedimientos asistidos por los mismos, para determinar los efectos de estas posturas sobre su sistema músculo-esquelético y sugerir modificaciones de ser necesario. Métodos En este estudio descriptivo, la unidad de observación fueron los instrumentadores y la unidad de análisis fueron las posturas adoptadas por los mismos. Se utilizó el método de evaluación postural Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) para identificar dichas posturas y categorizarlas según sus efectos sobre el sistema músculo-esquelético. Resultados Se observaron 491 posturas, de las cuales, el 42,6 % fueron de categoría de acción 2 del método OWAS. Conclusiones La adopción de posturas de categoría de acción 2 se relacionó principalmente con la especialidad quirúrgica, el uso de la mesa de instrumental de Mayo, la región anatómica operada en el paciente, el tipo de cirugía, el turno de trabajo, el número de cirugías instrumentadas dentro del turno de trabajo y la ayudantía quirúrgica.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective During surgery, surgical technicians adopt work positions that can be harmful to their musculoskeletal system. The literature has identified that damage to the musculoskeletal system in this group depends on whether the postures are static or dynamic, the surgical specialty, the type of surgery, the location of the instrument tables and the height of the operating table. However, this study identified the postures adopted by surgical technicians of a IV level institution of Bogotá during surgery, taking into account some of their personal and work characteristics, as well as some technical conditions of the procedures assisted by them, to determine the effects of these factors on their musculoskeletal system and to suggest modifications if necessary. Methodology In this descriptive study, the observation units were the surgical technicians and the units of analysis were the postures adopted by them. The Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) was used to identify and to categorize them according to their effects on the musculoskeletal system. Results 491 postures were observed, of which 42.6% were in category 2 as per the OWAS method. Conclusions The adoption of category 2 postures was mainly related to the surgical specialty, the use of the Mayo instrument table, the anatomic region of the patient, the type of surgery, the shift, the number of procedures assisted within the shift and the surgical assistantship.(AU)

Performance and learning curve of a surgical care practitioner in completing hip aspirations.

INTRODUCTION The roles of non-medically trained practitioners within the NHS are expanding; they are now being employed by many specialties, including surgery, to relieve pressures on healthcare teams. AIMS To investigate the learning curve and competence of an orthopaedic surgical care practitioner (SCP) in performing hip aspirations. METHODS Data were retrospectively collected on 510 orthopaedic hip aspirations, of which 360 were completed by a single SCP and 150 were completed by surgeons before the SCP took over routine aspiration. The 360 aspirations completed by an SCP were separated into groups of 30 by date, so any trend in failure rate could be analysed. Ordinal χ2 analysis was used to analyse this trend and Pearson χ2 analysis was used to analyse differences in failure rates between professionals. RESULTS The hip aspiration failure rate for the SCP was significantly lower than for the surgeons; 8.6% vs 20.7% (P<0.001). With the experience gained in completing the first 210 procedures, the failure rate of the SCP dropped to 3.3% for the remaining 150 procedures. This downward trend in hip aspiration failure rate, with advancing experience of the SCP, was shown to be statistically significant (P=0.006). DISCUSSION SCPs who complete hip aspirations on a regular basis have significantly lower failure rates than surgeons, probably as a result of the learning curve, which this study demonstrated. Other trusts should consider delegating routine hip aspiration work to a designated SCP to lower failure rates.

The non-technical skills used by anaesthetic technicians in critical incidents reported to the Australian Incident Monitoring System between 2002 and 2008.

The outcome of critical incidents in the operating theatre has been shown to be influenced by the behaviour of anaesthetic technicians (ATs) assisting anaesthetists, but the specific non-technical skills involved have not been described. We performed a review of critical incidents (n=1433) reported to the Australian Incident Monitoring System between 2002 and 2008 to identify which non-technical skills were used by ATs. The reports were assessed if they mentioned anaesthetic assistance or had the boxes ticked to identify "inadequate assistance" or "absent supervision or assistance". A total of 90 critical incidents involving ATs were retrieved, 69 of which described their use of non-technical skills. In 20 reports, the ATs ameliorated the critical incident, whilst in 46 they exacerbated the critical incident, and three cases had both positive and negative non-technical skills described. Situation awareness was identified in 39 reports, task management in 23, teamwork in 21 and decision-making in two, but there were no descriptions of issues related to leadership, stress or fatigue management. Situation awareness, task management and teamwork appear to be important non-technical skills for ATs in the development or management of critical incidents in the operating theatre. This analysis has been used to support the development of a non-technical skills taxonomy for anaesthetic assistants.