Difficulty Scoring System Research Articles

A preoperatively predictive difficulty scoring system for laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: experience from a large-scale single center.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors that influence the difficulty of performing laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node dissection (SHLND) for gastric cancer and to establish a simple and effective scoring system to predict the surgical difficulty preoperatively. Between January 2011 and December 2013, we prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 317 patients with upper- or middle-third gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic spleen-preserving SHLND. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the independent predictors for surgical difficulty based on the operation time during spleen-preserving SHLND. A logistic regression model was used to identify determinant variables and construct a predictive difficulty scoring system. Multivariate analysis showed that gender, body mass index (BMI), number of splenic lobar arteries (SLAs), and type of SLA were independently predictive factors of operation time. According to these factors, we developed a predictive surgical difficulty scoring system and the difficulty levels are divided into 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 points or more. Based on the relative risk, we stratified the surgical difficulty into the following three divisions: 0 low difficulty, 1-2 intermediate difficulty, and 3 points or more high difficulty. The patients with long operation time accounted for 19.6, 43.6, and 90.9% for the three groups, respectively (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the logistic regression model and the simplified difficulty scoring prediction model was 0.717 and 0.715, respectively. Based on four independent risk factors, including gender, BMI, number of SLAs, and type of SLA, we developed a simple and effective scoring system to predict the difficulty of laparoscopic spleen-preserving SHLND preoperatively. This novel scoring system might aid surgeons with different experience in performing operations at different levels of difficulty.

A novel difficulty scoring system for laparoscopic liver resection.

Early on, laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) was limited to partial resection, but major LLR is no longer rare. A difficulty scoring system is required to guide surgeons in advancing from simple to highly technical laparoscopic resections. Subjects were 90 patients who had undergone pure LLR at three medical institutions (30 patients/institution) from January 2011 to April 2014. Surgical difficulty was assessed by the operator using an index of 1-10 with the following divisions: 1-3 low difficulty, 4-6 intermediate difficulty, and 7-10 high difficulty. Weighted kappa statistic was used to calculate the concordance between the operators' and reviewers' (expert surgeon) difficulty index. Inter-rater agreement (weighted kappa statistic) between the operators' and reviewers' assessments was 0.89 with the three-level difficulty index and 0.80 with the 10-level difficulty index. A 10-level difficulty index by linear modeling based on clinical information revealed a weighted kappa statistic of 0.72 and that scored by the extent of liver resection, tumor location, tumor size, liver function, and tumor proximity to major vessels revealed a weighted kappa statistic of 0.68. We proposed a new scoring system to predict difficulty of various LLRs preoperatively. The calculated score well reflected difficulty.

Role of color Doppler flow imaging in predicting difficulties of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Objective To evaluate the color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) findings in predicting possible difficulties of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods A total of 99 patients with acute cholecystitis received CDFI examination, and were divided into easy LC group (n=67) and difficult LC group (n=32) according to the indexes including the volume of gallbladder, the thickness of gallbladder wall, the condition of arterial flow in the gallbladder wall, the condition of gallbladder cavity and fossa, and of the intra-and extra-hepatic bile duct. After LC, all the patients were redivided into easy LC group and difficult LC group according to a difficulty scoring system of LC. The relationship among imaging results, operation difficulties and operation findings was investigated. Results According to the final score of difficulty scoring system of LC, the number of patients in easy LC group and difficult group was 61 and 38, respectively. Compared with easy LC group, patients in difficult LC group had bigger gallbladder volume [(39.5±13.2)am3 vs(32.6±10.4)cm3], thicker gallbladder wall [(10.1±4.0)mm vs(3.8±0.9)mm], more stone incarceration in the neck of gallbladder, abundant color blood flow signal of the gallbladder wall and more severe adhesion of gallbladder to the adjacent tissues, with statistical difference between the 2 groups (t=-2.820,-12.318,-3.952,x2=33.548,19.461,P<0.05). Using gallbladder volume, the thickness of gallbladder wall, infarction of stones in the neck of gallbladder and adhesion of gallbladder to the adjacent tissues as prediction indexes, the accuracy of CDFI in predicting the possible difficulties of LC was 94% (93/99). Conclusion Preoperative CDFI is helpful in predicting difficulties of LC for acute cholecystitis. Key words: Color Doppler flow imaging; Cholecystitis; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Prediction

The use of a pre-operative scoring system for the prediction of phacoemulsification case difficulty and the selection of appropriate cases to be performed by trainees

BackgroundTo establish whether a previously validated scoring system (Habib) for the prediction of risk or likelihood of posterior capsule rupture during phacoemulsification surgery could be used to: 1. Predict the difficulty of a phacoemulsification case, and 2. Select appropriate phacoemulsification cases for trainees.MethodsThe study sample was consecutive phacoemulsification cases undertaken by senior surgeons at a single ophthalmic unit over a three-week period (170 cases). Each case was scored using a potential difficulty scoring system. Immediately post-operatively, each case was given two scores by the operating surgeon (who was masked with regard to the potential complication score). The first score indicated the perceived difficulty of the case, and the second score, the degree of experience that they thought a trainee would require in order to have performed the same case without complication.ResultsUsing Cuzick's non-parametric test for trend, there was evidence for a trend of increasing perceived difficulty with increasing potential difficulty score (p = 0.05), and of increasing experience required with increasing potential difficulty score (p < 0.001)ConclusionThe authors advocate that Habib's potential difficulty scoring system can be used to inform the surgeon of the likely difficulty of a phacoemulsification case and to aid selection of appropriate cases for trainees prior to surgery.