Situación del ejercicio profesional del licenciado en instrumentación y área quirúrgica en Paraguay

Introducción: en Paraguay en 1996 se crea la Escuela de Instrumentación y Área Quirúrgica, vinculada a una universidad pública, a partir del 2008 se crean otras ofertas en el sector privado. El instrumentador quirúrgico puede desempeñarse como instrumentador, circulante, coordinador general de quirófanos y coordinador de la central de esterilización. Objetivo: conocer la situación del ejercicio profesional del licenciado instrumentador quirúrgico en Paraguay. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo y trasversal. La muestra es de 167 licenciados, egresados de instituciones pública y privadas. Muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, el instrumento de recolección de datos es un cuestionario electrónico. Resultados: el 74 % son mujeres, el 50 % presenta un rango de edad de 21 a 30 años, 79,6 % egresados de una institución pública, 40 % dice tener dificultad moderada para el primer empleo. El acceso al empleo, 71 % fue por contactos personales, el 72 % se dedica a instrumentar, el 60 % tiene una antigüedad laboral de 1 a 5 años. Entre los posgrados, el 30 % posee didáctica universitaria. Discusión: instrumentador quirúrgico, reúne las exigencias para ocupar otras funciones además de instrumentar y circular en el quirófano. Igualmente, en otros estudios se evidencia menor participación en el área administrativa, docencia, mercadeo y ventas. Han trascurrido 20 años del egreso de las primeras promociones, siendo una profesión novel, poco visualizado. Es de subrayar que el estado puede ahorrar recursos económicos al contratar a instrumentadores, puesto que son expertos en los cuidados asépticos y competentes en optimizar los tiempos quirúrgicos al que se expone el paciente.

Introduction: In Paraguay the school of Instrumentation and Surgical Area was created in 1996 linked to the National University, and in 2008 onwards other offers were created in the private sector. The Surgical Instrument Technician can work as instrumentalist, circulating nurse, general coordinator of operating rooms, and coordinator of the central sterilization unit. Objective: to know the work environment of the professional and licensed Surgical Instrument Technician in Paraguay. Methodology: descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional study. The sample is 167 graduates, graduates of public and private institutions. Non-probability sampling for convenience, the data collection instrument is an electronic questionnaire. Results: 74% are women, 50% have an age range between 21 and 30 years old, 79.6% graduated from a public institution, 40% say they have moderate difficulty finding their first job in the field. Access to employment, 71% was through personal contacts, 72% is dedicated to work as Instrument Technicians, 60% have a job seniority of 1 to 5 years. Among the postgraduates, 30% are university didactics certified. Discussion: Surgical Instrument Technicians meet the requirements to perform other functions in addition to instrumentation and circulating nurses in the operating room. Similarly, other studies show less participation in the administrative area, teaching, marketing and sales. 20 years have elapsed since the first Technicians graduated, being a new profession, not given the importance it deserves. It is noteworthy that the state can save economic resources by hiring Surgical Instrument Technicians, since they are experts in aseptic care and competent in minimizing the amount of time the patient spends in surgery.

A Face-to-Face Surgical Instrumentation Course During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives Surgical instrumentation teaching is included as an essential part of surgical training in the core surgical training syllabus. Access to formal teaching is variable, and opportunities for informal teaching have been further reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to design a course to fulfil these local trainees' needs. A move away from face-to-face teaching has occurred successfully during the pandemic, but little literature exists on how face-to-face courses can be best designed during this time. We aimed to describe the practicalities of running a face-to-face course with COVID restrictions. Methods Junior doctors and nurses rotated around five stations led by theatre nurses and senior doctors, each with common instruments from different surgical subspecialties. Social distancing was observed, and level 2 personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn throughout the course. Matched pre- and post-course tests allowed evaluation of learning. Results The course had 20 attendees, and the test scores improved following the course by an average of 9% (p = 0.009). All attendees (100%) found the course improved their knowledge and confidence. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the significant improvement in the multiple-choice question (MCQ) scores demonstrates that this was an effective method of delivering teaching despite the COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing. Conclusion This course shows that instrumentation training is valuable to trainees and provides a good example to other educators, showing the workings of how a practical course may be run face-to-face during the pandemic.

Impact of surgical instrumentation on hospital length of stay and cost of total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyze the impact of two different types of surgical instrumentation (conventional manual instrumentation (CI) and patient-specific instrumentation (PSI)) on length of stay (LOS) and objectify differences in cost. We hypothesized that there are no differences in the LOS and cost due to the instrumentation system used. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: LOS was registered using inpatient admission data provided by the Institutional Management Control Department. We recorded the costs associated with each procedure that could be influenced by the use of one system or another during the in-hospital stay. We conducted a prospectively single-center cohort study of 305 TKAs. Surgery was performed with conventional CI in 122 cases and with PSI in 183 cases. RESULTS: The mean LOS for the CI group was 4.29 days (SD 1.65) and 4.22 days (SD 1.26), for the PSI group. No significant difference among both instrumentation systems was obtained. When comparing global costs, the mean cost was slightly higher (without a significant difference) for the PSI cases (€3110.24 vs. €2852.7 for the CI cases). CONCLUSIONS: LOS and overall cost, in hospitals with a low annual TKA surgery volume, are unrelated to conventional or patient-specific instrumentation.

Estilos de aprendizaje en la práctica de estudiantes de instrumentación quirúrgica / Learning styles in the practice of surgical instrumentation students

Introducción: La instrumentación quirúrgica o enfermería de quirófano está regida por la ley 784 de 2002, de ahí que en su formación el estudiante deba adquirir habilidades y conocimientos mediados por los estilos de aprendizaje para responder al contexto hospitalario. Objetivo: Desarrollar una postura con respecto a los estilos de aprendizaje en la práctica clínica de los estudiantes de instrumentación quirúrgica de una universidad de ciencias de la salud de Bogotá. Desarrollo: El instrumentador quirúrgico se centra en el paciente, por lo tanto, su proceso formativo resulta demandante para el instructor y el estudiante; de ahí que sea necesaria una modificación de la dinámica educativa, puesto que las universidades deben identificar las debilidades en el aprendizaje y fortalecer en el estudiante los estilos de aprendizaje. De esta manera, se asume la postura de que el docente de instrumentación quirúrgica en la práctica tiene la responsabilidad de asumir el rol de su cargo y de docente, para aportar herramientas educativas que identifiquen y promuevan los estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes de ciencias de la salud. Conclusiones: Los estilos de aprendizaje se convierten en un elemento indispensable dentro del proceso formativo, no solo para los instrumentadores quirúrgicos, sino para cualquier otro profesional del área de la salud(AU)

Introduction: Surgical instrumentation or operating room nursing is governed by the law 784 of 2002; therefore, the training for this activity establishes that the student must acquire skills and knowledge mediated by learning styles, in order to respond to the hospital context. Objective: To develop a scientific position regarding the learning styles in clinical practice of the students of Operating Room Nursing from a health sciences university in Bogotá. Development: The surgical instrument nurse focuses on the patient; therefore, the training process of this person is demanding for both the instructor and the student; hence, a modification of the educational dynamics is necessary, since universities must identify weaknesses in learning and strengthen student learning styles. In this way, the position is assumed that the teacher of operating room nurses in practice has the responsibility of assuming the role of his/her position and as a teacher, to provide educational tools that identify and promote the learning styles of health science students. Conclusions: Learning styles become an indispensable element in the training process, not only for surgical room nurses, but for any other health professional(AU)

Instrumentación quirúrgica: de la formación de grado a las competencias requeridas en puestos jerárquicos en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Surgical instrumentation: from undergraduate education to required competences in hierarchical positions in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

La Licenciatura en Instrumentación Quirúrgica se ha propuesto desarrollar las competencias propias del profesional que actúa en un ámbito de gestión, sin descuidar las que sostiene el instrumentador en su práctica asistencial. El objetivo de esta investigación es articular los contenidos que se brindan en instituciones educativas de formación de grado para instrumentadores quirúrgicos, con las competencias que se requieren para desempeñarse en diferentes puestos jerárquicos. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, de corte transversal, en el cual se procedió a entrevistar a siete profesionales de la salud que ocupan un cargo jerárquico, utilizando una guía de preguntas abiertas cuyos resultados se trabajaron mediante el análisis de contenido. También se compararon los listados de las asignaturas que se brindan en la Licenciatura para Instrumentadores Quirúrgicos en distintas universidades, cotejando los resultados con los de las entrevistas. Estas evidenciaron que los licenciados ocupan cargos jerárquicos de importancia en las instituciones para las que se desempeñan, donde necesitan poner en juego competencias como la comunicación, la gestión y el liderazgo, entre otras. En las licenciaturas ofrecidas a instrumentadores quirúrgicos se dictan asignaturas que brindan a los profesionales conocimientos generales acerca de gestión, administración, investigación y educación, concluyendo que la formación de grado sirve como base a la hora de adentrarse en el mundo laboral; no obstante, el contenido de las asignaturas varía según cada institución; por lo tanto, el nivel de formación de los licenciados resulta dispar y muchos deben realizar otros cursos o capacitaciones para complementarla. (AU)

The incorporation of a bachelor's degree for surgical-instrumentation practitioners, the academic field aims to develop the competencies required by professionals in management positions while improving the ones of surgical-instrumentation practitioners in an operating room. The following research articulated the academic training provided by different higher education institutions with the competences required to perform in several hierarchical positions. We conducted a qualitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study: we carried out interviews with seven health-professionals who work in different hierarchical roles, using open-ended questions, whose answers were studied through content analysis; and we analyzed the study-plans for Surgical Instrumentation degrees offered by a select group of universities. We also compared the lists of the subjects of the different universities that are offered in the degree for surgical instrumenters, collating the results with the interviews. The interviews revealed that graduates often get middle-level management roles that require not only the competences directly related to their surgical-assistance practice, but also a set of skills regarding human-management, such as administration, communication and leadership among others. Generally, in the analyzed bachelor's degrees curricula, the contents are properly organized and provide students with abilities in management, administration, investigation and education, concluding undergraduate academic education is an added value in graduates' resume for labor insertion. However, it exits a variation in the subject's content between higher education institutions, which creates a disparity in the academic level between graduates from different universities and force some of them to take further courses and trainings to complement their academic background. (AU)

Development of a New Coupled Cobb-Suction Instrument for Posterior Spinal Approaches: Technical Note.

BACKGROUND: During dissection of paraspinal muscles in posterior surgical approaches, the spine surgeon usually holds a subperiosteal (Cobb) elevator in 1 hand and a monopolar cautery in the other hand. In such a scenario, both the surgical smoke generated by the monopolar and eventual bleeding constitute a significant hindrance to simultaneous bilateral dissection of the paraspinal muscles by 2 surgeons. METHODS: To address the identified shortcomings in the currently available instrumentation, we initially analyzed the most common surgical techniques employed by residents and fellows at our institution for paraspinal muscle dissection during posterior spinal approaches. Additionally, we collected trainees' feedback regarding the efficacy of available strategies for dealing with surgical smoke. RESULTS: A new coupled Cobb elevator-suction instrument was designed, manufactured, and tested by residents, fellows, and experienced spine surgeons, and small additional design modifications were performed. CONCLUSIONS: We present what we believe is the first description of a new coupled Cobb-suction instrument that has been developed to enable simultaneous retraction and suction with 1 hand, while allowing the spine surgeon to use the monopolar cautery with the other hand. In our preliminary institutional experience, this new tool has been proven to be especially useful in long posterior spinal approaches in the thoracolumbar region.

Improving Operating Room Efficiency via Reduction and Standardization of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Instrumentation.

Being the economic powerhouses of most large medical centers, operating rooms (ORs) require the highest levels of teamwork, communication, and efficiency in order to optimize patient safety and reduce hospital waste. A major component of OR waste comes from unused surgical instrumentation; instruments that are frequently prepared for procedures but are never touched by the surgical team still require a full reprocessing cycle at the conclusion of the case. Based on our own previous successes in the perioperative domain, in this work we detail an initiative that reduces surgical instrumentation waste of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures by placing thoracotomy conversion instrumentation in a standby location and designing a specific instrument kit to be used solely for VATS cases. Our estimates suggest that this initiative will reduce at least 91,800 pounds of unnecessary surgical instrumentation from cycling through our ORs and reprocessing department annually, resulting in increased OR team communication without sacrificing the highest standard of patient safety.

Smart bioimpedance-controlled craniotomy: Concept and first experiments.

Craniotomy is part of many neurosurgical interventions to create surgical access to intracranial structures. The procedure conventionally bears a high risk of unintended dural tears or damage of the soft tissue underneath the bone. A new synergistically controlled instrument has recently been introduced to address this problem by combining a soft tissue preserving saw with an automatic cutting depth control. Many approaches are known to obtain the information required on the local bone thickness. However, they suffer from unsatisfactory robustness against disturbances occurring during surgery and many approaches require additional intra- or preoperative steps in the workflow. This article presents first concepts for real-time cutting depth control based on in-process bioimpedance measurements. Furthermore, sensor integration into a synergistic surgical device incorporating a bidirectional oscillating saw is demonstrated and evaluated in first feasibility tests on a fresh bovine bone specimen. Results of bipolar measurements show that the transition of different layers of bicortical bone and bone breakthrough lead to characteristic impedance patterns that can be used for process control.

Ruptura atraumática del bazo: a propósito de un caso / Atraumatic splenic rupture: report of a case

Se presenta el caso de un masculino de 33 años de edad, portador de cuatro hernias discales, que fue sometido a una instrumentación, donde perdió tres litros de sangre y recibió múltiples transfusiones, al día después inició con dolor y alteración de la sensibilidad en la pierna izquierda, por lo que lo vuelven a intervenir ya que un tornillo estaba mal posicionado. Fue dado de alta. A los dos días presentó hematemesis, epistaxis e ictericia, fue llevado al hospital donde falleció por un shock hipovolémico, debido a una ruptura del bazo. La ruptura atraumática del bazo, es conocida por ser una entidad infrecuente, que puede ocurrir en ausencia de factores de riesgo como el trauma o alguna patología de fondo.

Case of a 33 years old male bearing four discs hernias who went through surgical instrumentation, where he lost 3 liters of blood and received multiple transfusions. Next day reported pain and sensitivity alteration on the left leg; returns to surgery because one bold was not well positioned. Released from the hospital, and two days later returned with hematemesis, epistaxis, and jaundice, went back to the hospital where he died from a hypovolemic shock due to a spleen rupture. The non-traumatic spleen rupture is very infrequent in absence of risk factors, such as trauma or a base pathology.

Hemangioblastoma cereberoloso en el síndrome de von Hippel-Lindau, como causa de muerte: reporte de un caso / Case report: cereberoloso in Von Hippel-Lindau disease, hemangioblastoma cause of death

El síndrome de von Hippel-Lindau es una enfermedad caracterizada por el desarrollo de tumores como hemangioblastomas del sistema nervioso central y de la retina, quistes renales, hepáticos y pancreáticos; carcinoma renal de células claras, feocromocitoma, así como adenomas en el oído interno, la nariz y la laringe. En la mayoría de los casos hay un antecedente familiar positivo del síndrome 8. A continuación se presenta el caso de una femenina de 35 años de edad, sin antecedentes personales patológicos conocidos, con antecedente familiar positivo por la enfermedad de von Hippel-Lindau. Según la historia de sus familiares, la mujer presentaba “ataques de rigidez” de dos semanas de evolución, posterior a uno de estos ataques fue atendida por paramédicos quienes la declararon fallecida. Según la autopsia médico legal se diagnosticó una hidrocefalia obstructiva secundaria a hemangioma cerebeloso y hallazgos compatibles con el Síndrome de von Hippel-Lindau. El objetivo de este artículo es resaltar los hallazgos postmortem de esta entidad y su relación con la causa de la muerte.

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is characterized by tumors as central nervous system and retinal hemangioblastomas; renal, liver and pancreas cysts; clear cells renal carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and adenomas of the ear, nose and larynx. In most cases there is a positive family history of the syndrome 8. The follow case is about a female how was 35 years old without known medical history. She had a positive family history of von Hippel-Lindau, and her family told us about she had “stiffness attacks” and two weeks later had another stiffness attack so it was treated by paramedics who declared her dead. In agreement with the forensic autopsy findings the diagnosis was hydrocephalus induced by brain stem hemangioma and the findings were compatible with von Hippel-Lindau. The aim of this article is to highlight the most important postmortem findings of this syndrome and its relation to the cause of death.

Structure modeling of the glenoid: Relevance to shoulder arthroplasty.

We applied shape modeling and principal component analysis (PCA) to discover glenoid bone structural relationships relevant to improving glenoid prosthesis features, fixation, and instrumentation. Knowledge of external bone morphology guides prosthesis shape and positioning, while internal bone morphology and bone density influence fixation. CT-based modeling defined nonarthritic glenoid subchondral bone surface and internal structure. First and second principal shape components were related to size and density. Reproducible structural parameters and glenoid feature relationships were discovered. Subchondral bone surface was approximated by a circle inferiorly and a triangle superiorly with the circle's center at a reproducible point along a superior-inferior line. Glenoid vault's maximum depth was at the circle's center, and the highest bone density was in posterior glenoid. Glenoid subchondral bone surface version varied from superior to inferior, but not by sex or side. Male subchondral bone surfaces were larger and more retroverted. Even if subchondral bone surfaces are deformed by arthritis, glenoid morphology can be identified by extra-articular landmarks, permitting location of the glenoid center and scapular orientation (glenoid version). Knowledge obtained from this study directs design of novel prosthesis features and instrumentation for use without pre-op CT or computer aided surgery.

Magnetic gastrointestinal anastomosis in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To describe 17 patients who underwent magnetic, non-surgical gastrointestinal (GI) anastomoses. METHODS: Patients with GI obstruction, stenosis, or atresia were treated with image-guided and/or endoscopically placed discoid magnet pairs or catheter-based bullet-shaped magnet pairs. RESULTS: Anastomosis was achieved in 7 days in an 11-year-old with gastric outlet obstruction due to metastatic colon cancer. Anastomosis was achieved in 8 and 10 days in 2 patients (age 2.0 years and 3.4 years) who had rectocolonic stenosis. Re-anastomosis was achieved in an average of 6 days (range 3 to 7 days) in 5 patients (age 6 months to 5.9 years) with severe recurrent postsurgical esophageal stenosis refractory to dilatation. Primary esophageal anastomosis was achieved in an average of 4.2 days (range 3 to 6 days) in 9 patients with esophageal atresia (Type A or Type C surgically converted to Type A) with a gap length of 4 cm or less. The average age of these esophageal atresia patients was 3 months (range 23 days to 5 months). CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive magnet placement was feasible and achieved anastomosis in all patients.

Class and research progress of energy-based surgical instrumentations / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Energy-based surgical instrumentation (ESI) are surgical devices ablating or cutting tissues via the application of electrical,luminous,acoustic or other energy.High frequency electrotomes are widely used due to the low price,but they produce smoke in the process of surgery and incisions heal slowly.Ultrasonically activated scalpels' cutting performance is satisfying with easily healing incisions while its coagulating capability is poor.Laser scalpels are qualified for both cutting and coagulating in spite of the need of novel technology to overcome the characteristic that tissues absorb laser wavelength selectively.

A technical note on improved instrumentation for Blount staple insertion.

PURPOSE: Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis has gained increasing popularity after the introduction of the eight-Plate Guided Growth System. Since its introduction, the eight-Plate has largely supplanted the traditional Blount staple. The eight-Plate offers better purchase in the bone and a more precise insertion technique. However, the Blount staple is less expensive than the various guided growth plates. Further, some surgeons feel that the Blount staple may work faster, making it more appropriate for children who are approaching skeletal maturity. Unfortunately, the original instrumentation and technique for inserting the Blount staple is over 50 years old and has not been updated. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to develop new instrumentation to make Blount staple insertion as accurate and minimally invasive as eight-Plate insertion. We developed wire/drill guides to accommodate all three sizes of the Blount staple. Two wires are inserted through the wire guide under image intensifier control. After confirming the accurate position of the guidewires, a 3.2-mm cannulated step drill is used to drill over the wires to a depth of 5 mm. This creates two pilot holes for the two tines of the Blount staple. The final insertion is guided under an anteroposterior image intensifier view. We also developed a small staple holder that permits insertion through a small incision. RESULTS: We developed a working prototype of the new instrumentation and used it in three clinical cases. CONCLUSIONS: With the new staple inserter and instrumentation, Blount staples can now be inserted through a smaller incision with similar accuracy as eight-Plate insertion.

New technique of occlusal splint fabrication using dental modeling compound

INTRODUCTION: The restoration of function after surgery with mandibular reconstruction is of utmost importance. Mastication and deglutition are compromised if pre-operative dental occlusion is not reestablished. For this purpose, occlusal splints are fabricated pre-operatively. Various methods of occlusal splint fabrication are at hand. DESIGN: Surgical Instrumentation SETTING: Tertiary Academic Hospital OBJECTIVE: This paper presents a simple, quick and inexpensive way of fabricating an occlusal splint with the use of dental modeling compound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dental modeling compound is used pre-operatively to make an occlusal appliance. Occlusal splint fabricated with this method was used in 6 patients who underwent segmental mandibular resection with reconstruction for various pathologies. Post-operatively, patients were assessed in terms of occlusion, type of diet and pain on mastication. RESULTS: Out of the 6 patients, only 5 patients were available for evaluation. One patient suffered a myocardial infarction 3 days post-operation and subsequently died. The five patients had good mandibular-maxillary relation post-surgery. They were able to tolerate regular diet with no pain on mastication. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we have discussed a simple, quick and cost-effective way of fabricating an occlusal splint for use in mandibular reconstruction. (Author)

Clinical Analyzed of Thoracic Level Spinal Cord Injured Patients

We analyzed 10 cases who had received surgery for acute injuries of the thoracic spine complicated by paralysis. Of those 10 cases, 4 patients had a complete and remaining 6 had an incomplete lesion of the spinal cord. Of the 4 patients who had a complete lesion of the spinal cord, significant neurologic function did not recover in 3, regardless of the type and timing of the surgery. In one of 4 patients who had a complete lesion, there was some improvement of sensation. Of the 6 patients who had an incomplete lesion of the spinal cord, 4 received a surgery within 24 hours of injury, and remaining 2 had surgery on posttrauma 30th and 35th days respectively. Average neurologic improvement was 1.75 Frankel grades per patient in the early surgery group and was 1 Frankel grade in the delayed surgery group. Of 6 patients with incomplete lesion, 4 were treated with laminectomy and fusion with instrumentation, and they improved by average 1.75 Frankel grades. And remaining 2 were treated by laminectomy or anterior transthoracic decompression and fusion respectively and they improved by 1 Frankel grade respectively. Based on the results of this study and other references, we suggest that early surgical intervention improves neurologic recovery in comparison to late surgical intervention and that posterior surgical instrumentation is indicated in acute unstable bursting fracture and flexion-dislocation injury. Also we suggest that anterior transthoracic decompression and fusion is indicated in cases of neural compression by bone or disc fragments.