Surgeon Comfort Research Articles

Management of Complications After Bariatric Surgery: a Survey of Comfort and Educational Needs of General Surgeons in Ontario, Canada.

PurposeApproximately 10% of patients develop complications after bariatric surgery. These patients often present to their local general surgeon rather than the hospital where the primary bariatric operation was performed. The objective of this study was to conduct a survey of general surgeons in Ontario, Canada, to explore their confidence and educational needs regarding management of surgical complications post-bariatric surgery.Materials and MethodsA 40-item survey was created and piloted with community and academic general surgeons. It was disseminated by mail in August 2020 to general surgeons in Ontario who take acute care surgery call. Bariatric surgeons and surgeons who do not take acute care surgery call were excluded.ResultsA total of 138/715 (19.3%) eligible surgeons completed the survey. Of the respondents, 63/112 (54.3%) had no exposure to bariatric surgery during residency or fellowship. A total of 72/108 (66.7%) respondents agreed that management of complications after bariatric surgery should be within the skillset of a general surgeon; however, 28/108 (25.9%) were not confident managing these complications. Seventy-one of 108 (65.7%) respondents were interested in additional continuing professional development (CPD) resources regarding management of these complications. Hands-on workshops, online resources, and live webinars were the most preferred educational formats for such CPD resources, with 67.1% of participants willing to commit 1–3 h and 42.9% willing to pay >$100 for such CPD resources.ConclusionsOne-quarter of general surgeons in Ontario, Canada, were not comfortable managing complications after bariatric surgery; however, the majority of surgeons were interested in additional CPD resources on this topic.Graphical abstract Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11695-022-06095-9.

Lateral lumbar corpectomy: Indications and surgical technique with review of the literature

Lumbar corpectomy is an effective surgical option for various pathologies of the lumbar spine including trauma with neurologic deficit, infection, tumor, and deformity correction. Lumbar corpectomy can be accomplished through various surgical approaches including anterior, posterior, and more recently lateral. Each approach comes with its own risks and benefits and is often dictated based on the pathology that needs to be addressed, as well as surgeon comfort and training. The present paper focuses on indications and surgical technique of lateral lumbar corpectomy, with a review of the current literature.

The surgical management of complicated peptic ulcer disease: An EAST video presentation.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), once primary a surgical problem, is now medically managed in the majority of patients. The surgical treatment of PUD is now strictly reserved for life-threatening complications. Free perforation, refractory bleeding and gastric outlet obstruction, although rare in the age of medical management of PUD, are several of the indications for surgical intervention. The acute care surgeon caring for patients with PUD should be facile in techniques required for bleeding control, bypass of peptic strictures, and vagotomy with resection and reconstruction. This video procedures and techniques article demonstrates these infrequently encountered, but critical operations. A combination of anatomic representations and videos of step-by-step instructions on perfused cadavers will demonstrate the key steps in the following critical operations. Graham patch repair of perforated peptic ulcer is demonstrated in both open and laparoscopic fashion. The choice to perform open versus laparoscopic repair is based on individual surgeon comfort. Oversewing of a bleeding duodenal ulcer via duodenotomy and ligation of the gastroduodenal artery is infrequent in the age of advanced endoscopy and interventional radiology techniques, yet this once familiar procedure can be lifesaving. Repair of giant duodenal or gastric ulcers can present a challenging operative dilemma on how to best repair or exclude the defect. Vagotomy and antrectomy, perhaps the least common of all the aforementioned surgical interventions, may require more complex reconstruction than other techniques making it challenging for inexperienced surgeons. A brief demonstration on reconstruction options will be shown, and it includes Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. Surgical management of PUD is reserved today for life-threatening complications for which the acute care surgeon must be prepared. This presentation provides demonstration of key surgical principles in management of bleeding and free perforation, as well as gastric resection, vagotomy and reconstruction. Video procedure and technique, not applicable.

Facilitating Role of the 3D Viewing System in Tilted Microscope Positions for Cataract Surgery in Patients Unable to Lie Flat.

Purpose: To assess the utility of the 3D viewing system in tilted microscope positions for the performance of cataract surgery in challenging positions, for patients with difficulty remaining supine. Methods: Prospective, single-center, single-surgeon, consecutive case series of patients undergoing surgery in an inclined position. Results: 21 eyes of 15 patients who had undergone surgery at inclined positions at angles of 20° to 80°, with a mean angle of 47.62°. Surgeon comfort was considered to be globally good. The surgeon rated red reflex perception and the impression of depth as good and stable in all cases. The operating time was slightly longer for patients inclined at angles of more than 50°. On the first day after surgery, BSCVA was 20/25 or better in all cases. No ocular complications occurred in any of the interventions. Conclusions: Due to the ocular-free design of the 3D system, the surgical procedure and the positioning of the surgeon remained almost identical to that for patients undergoing surgery in a supine position, maintaining the safety of the standard surgical approach.

Patient age at time of reverse shoulder arthroplasty remains stable over time: a 7.5-year trend evaluation.

There is a common belief among some shoulder surgeons that the increased utilization of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is driven by the operation being performed in younger patients. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in patient age at the time of primary RSA in the USA. All patients undergoing primary RSA (January 2011-June 2018) were identified in the Mariner database. The mean age at the time of primary RSA was evaluated for each patient and assessed in 6-month intervals. A longitudinal comparison over time was performed for all patients. A total of 56,141 primary RSA were evaluated, with the mean age increasing from 69 in the 2011 to 71 in 2018 (p < 0.001). The largest increase in RSA utilization occurred in patients > 70 (1092 in 2011 to 3499 in 2018), with patients < 50years demonstrating the slowest growth (13 in 2011 to 65 in 2018). However, when evaluated by percentage increase from 2011 to 2018, RSA volumes for patients < 60 have increased 390% compared to 220% for those > 70years (p < 0.001). RSA continues to be performed at a similar mean age despite expanded indications and surgeon comfort. However, patients < 60years have had a greater increase in utilization compared to patients > 70years. The volumetric growth of RSA has largely been driven by the older population, but younger patients have shown a higher percentage of growth, which may explain the generalized observation that RSA is performed in younger patients. Level III; Retrospective comparative study; Treatment study.

Comparison of two phacoemulsification system handpieces: prospective randomized comparative study.

To compare the safety and efficacy of Active Sentry handpiece with Ozil handpiece for Centurion phacoemulsification system. Tertiary eye center, South India. Prospective observational study. 204 eyes of 204 patients with uncomplicated cataract who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery with Centurion Vision System were randomized into 2 groups: Ozil handpiece (n = 101) and Active Sentry handpiece (n = 103). Intraoperative factors such as patient pain perception, surgeon comfort level, amount of phacoemulsification energy and aspiration fluid used, and frequency of activation of active surge mitigation (ASM) were analyzed, and postoperatively, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and corneal edema on day 1 were compared. A total of 204 eyes of 204 patients were included among which 101 underwent surgery with ozil hand piece and 103 with Active Sentry handpiece. Patient pain perception was comparable between the groups with no statistically significant differences in patients who had pain-free surgery (66% vs 61.3%) and those who experienced moderate pain (24.3% vs 28.7%). Surgeons were more comfortable using Ozil handpiece during entry into anterior chamber and emulsification of hard nuclei (48.5% vs 28.6%). The mean cumulative dissipated energy for soft and hard cataracts was 5.6 and 4.8 and 9.3 and 9.4 for Ozil and Active Sentry groups, respectively. ASM was activated for 53 eyes (51.5%), of which 42 eyes (79.2%) had soft cataract and 11 eyes (20.7%) hard cataract. Postoperative CDVA and incidence of corneal edema were comparable between the groups. For Centurion Vision System, Active Sentry handpiece was as safe and efficacious as the Ozil handpiece with added benefit of operating at lower intraocular pressure levels.

Laparoscopy versus laparotomy for pediatric ovarian dermoids

Background: With increased surgeon comfort using laparoscopy, we hypothesized resection of pediatric ovarian dermoids using laparoscopy would yield a shorter length of stay and no increase in morbidity or recurrence compared to laparotomy.Methods: A retrospective review was performed amongst eleven pediatric hospitals. Patients aged 2 to 21 who underwent resection of an ovarian dermoid from 2010 to 2020 were included. Patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes by approach were evaluated using Chi-squared and Wilcoxon-Mann tests.Results: 466 patients were included, with a median age of 14.4 and median follow-up of 4.0 months. 279 patients underwent laparoscopy (60%), 139 laparotomy (30%), and 48 laparoscopy converted to laparotomy (10%). There were no differences in rates of tumor spillage by approach (p = 0.15). 65% underwent ovarian-sparing surgery and 35% underwent oophorectomy. Length of stay was significantly shorter amongst patients who underwent laparoscopy (1 day versus 2 days for laparotomy and converted, p<0.0001). There were no differences in rates of suspected recurrence or reoperation (p = 0.19 and p = 0.57, respectively).Conclusion: Patients who underwent laparoscopy experienced no differences in the rates of tumor spillage, recurrence, or reoperation and had a shorter length of stay compared to laparotomy. Laparoscopy is an acceptable approach for resection of pediatric ovarian dermoids.

Effect of a Cadaveric Simulation–Based Teaching Model on Surgeon Comfort with Ureteral Reimplantation Procedures

Effect of a Cadaveric Simulation–Based Teaching Model on Surgeon Comfort with Ureteral Reimplantation Procedures

Microsurgical training with chicken wings: Could it be an option to increase experience for vascularized bone flaps?

ObjectiveTo our knowledge, a vascularized bone flap training model has not been described in the literature. In this study, we hypothesized that chicken wing radius bone can be used as a cheap, realistic and easily accessible vascularized pedicled bone flap training model. MethodsA final total of 10 specimens were included in the study. All procedures were planned and conducted by the same surgeon. In all 10 specimens, the length of the radius bone and the length of the vascularized bone flap were measured with a standard ruler. The external diameters of the ulnar artery and the radial artery forming the flap pedicle were measured. ResultsFlap harvesting time (40.4 ± 7.98′) was measured as the time between proper positioning of the chicken wing and the complete separation of the flap from the wing. Mean radius bone length was 6.09 ± 0.72 cm, bone flap length (3.92 ± 0.36 cm) was measured as the distance between two osteotomies in the maximum length of bone (proximal and distal) according to the preparation of the radial artery pedicle. Mean radial artery pedicle external diameter was 0.51 ± 0.05 mm, while mean ulnar artery pedicle external diameter was 0.6 ± 0.04 mm. On average, 4.3 ± 0.82 perforators of the radial artery (to the other regions of the flap) were ligated. ConclusionWe think that this model can be a pioneer in defining the bone flap model in living animals in future studies. Since this inanimate animal model is a cost-effective and easily accessible technique, it offers the opportunity to be applied easily and repeatedly, even in the comfort of surgeons’ homes.

Surgical Treatment for Septic Ankle Arthritis: A Comparison of Arthrotomy and Arthroscopy

Category:Ankle; ArthroscopyIntroduction/Purpose:Ankle joint septic arthritis can result in substantial morbidity involving cartilage destruction, bone erosion, osteomyelitis and loss of function. Operative intervention is the preferred method of irrigation and debridement, and options include both open arthrotomy and arthroscopic debridement. Prior studies have established both ankle arthroscopy and arthrotomy as effective management strategies for the treatment of ankle septic arthritis. However, no prior research has compared open arthrotomy verses arthroscopy to treat septic arthritis of the ankle, and it is unclear if one approach is superior to the other. The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of reoperation and 90-day perioperative complications between arthroscopy and open arthrotomy for the treatment of septic ankle arthritis using a national all-payer claims database.Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with septic arthritis in a native ankle and underwent irrigation and debridement through arthroscopy or arthrotomy were identified in the 2010-2019 PearlDiver database using International classification of diseases (ICD) and current procedural (CPT) codes. Demographic characteristics including age, gender and Elixhauser comorbidities were obtained for each cohort. The rate of reoperation, defined as a proxy for failure of initial intervention, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes including readmission, surgical site infection (SSI) and other 90-day complications were compared between the two cohorts. Univariate analysis using chi-square tests and student T-tests were performed to analyze any differences in patient demographics, comorbidities and complications. Multivariate analysis through logistic regression was subsequently conducted to account for any confounding variables and covariates.Results:In total, 331 patients undergoing arthroscopy and 886 patients undergoing arthrotomy for septic ankle arthritis were identified. On univariate analysis, the incidence of reoperation was higher in the open arthrotomy cohort (12.30%) compared to the arthroscopy cohort (9.37%), however this result was not statistically significant (p=.153). There was also no statistically significant difference between the two cohorts in superficial SSI incidence (3.95% vs. 2.42%, p=.197), readmission rates (36.79% vs. 34.14%, p=.0.391). However, the incidence of renal failure was higher in the open arthrotomy cohort (17.83%) compared with the arthroscopy cohort (12.39%) (p=.022). On multivariate analysis, the incidence of reoperation was higher for those undergoing ankle arthrotomy (OR 1.421; 95% CI 0.937-2.255; p=.108) relative to arthroscopy, however this result was not statistically significant (Table 1). The incidence of renal failure was higher in the open arthrotomy cohort after multivariate analysis (OR 1.615; 95% CI 1.113-2.393; p=0.014).Conclusion:This study demonstrated similar 90-day rates of reoperation, postoperative complications and readmissions, suggesting that arthrotomy and arthroscopy have similar efficacy in treating septic ankle arthritis. Although renal failure was more prevalent in the cohort undergoing open arthrotomy, differences in the primary endpoint of reoperation/repeat washout rates were non-significant. Based on these findings, deciding between these two operative approaches may be determined by patient specific risk factors and factors not elicited by this study including surgeon comfort with the technique, rather than the treatment modality itself.

Surgeon's comfort: The ergonomics of a robotic exoscope using a head-mounted display

IntroductionConventional microscopes have certain limitations in terms of posture and ergonomics. Monitor-based exoscopes could solve this problem and thereby lead to less work-related sick leave for surgeons. Research questionThe aim of this study was to assess the ergonomics, usability, and neurosurgeon's comfort of a novel three-dimensional head-mounted display-based exoscope in a standardized setting. Material & Methods34 neurosurgeons participated in a workshop on the exoscope, which features a head-mounted display and a head gesture-triggered control panel. After completion of a custom-made 10-step microsurgical exercise, image quality and comfort were assessed using a questionnaire. The participants' posture during the exercise was analyzed using a video motion analysis software. Results34 participants (median neurosurgical experience: 6 years) were included. The median time to complete the exercise was 12 ​min [IqR 9.4, 15.0]. Younger participants (p ​= ​0.005) and those with video game experience (p ​= ​0.03) had a significantly steeper learning curve. The median overall satisfaction was at 80% in general and 82% for image quality. The median upper body as well as the median head coronal displacement from the neutral axis were 0°. Participants with less microsurgical experience showed less head/body displacement during the exercise (p ​= ​0.01). Discussion and conclusionUsing the microsurgical training tool, we were able to depict a steep learning curve with a sufficient learnability of the most relevant commands. The exoscope excelled in usability, image quality as well as in ergonomic and favorable posture and could thus become an alternative to conventional microscopes due to the potentially elevated surgeons' comfort.

Laparoscopy in Gynecologic and Abdominal Surgery in Regional (Spinal, Peridural) Anesthesia, the Utility of the Technique during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: laparoscopic surgery is mainly performed in general anesthesia. Symptomatic patients infected with COVID-19 needing surgery are however at higher risk for COVID-19 complications in general anesthesia than in regional anesthesia. Even so, Covid transfection is a hazard to medical personnel during the intubation procedure and treatment drugs may be in shortage during a pandemic. Recovery and hospital stay are also shorter after laparoscopy. Laparoscopy performed in regional anesthesia may have several advantages in limiting Covid. Methods: international literature on the risk of COVID-19 complications development was searched. 3 topics concerning laparoscopic surgery were reviewed: (1) Achievements in laparoscopy; (2) Advantages of regional anesthesia compared to general anesthesia; (3) Feasibility to perform laparoscopy in regional anesthesia in COVID-19 pandemic. The authors reviewed abstracts and full-text articles concerning laparoscopic surgery, gynecology, anesthesia and COVID-19. Studies published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and found in Google Scholar before 1st FEB, 2021 were retrieved and analyzed. Results: a total of 83 studies were found, all of them written in English. 17 studies could be found in gynecology and in general surgery about laparoscopy with regional anesthesia. In Covid time only one study compared laparoscopic surgery in general anesthesia to laparotomy and another study laparotomy in general anesthesia to regional anesthesia. Laparoscopy showed no disadvantage compared to laparotomy in Covid pandemic and in another study laparotomy in general anesthesia was associated with higher mortality and more pulmonary complications. Trendelenburg position can be a threat if used by inexperienced personnel and can induce unintended anesthesia of breathing organs. On the other hand Trendelenburg position has advantages for cardiovascular and pulmonary functions. Pneumoperitoneum of low CO2 pressure is well tolerated by patients. Conclusions: elective surgery should be postponed in symptomatic Covid patients. In inevitable emergency surgery intubation anesthesia in COVID-19 pandemic is as far as possible to be avoided. In COVID-19 pandemic, regional anesthesia is the preferred choice. The optimum may be the combination of laparoscopic surgery with regional anesthesia. Reducing the pneumoperitoneum is a good compromise for the comfort of patients and surgeons. A special case is gynecology, which needs to be performed in Trendelenburg position to free pelvic organs.

Anterior Subconjunctival Anesthesia for Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose:To compare the effectiveness of anterior subconjunctival anesthesia (ASCA) with sub-tenon's anesthesia (STA) for manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS), regarding pain, akinesia, surgeon comfort, and complications.Methods:This trial randomized 164 patients into two groups. Group 1 received ASCA, and Group 2 received STA. MSICS was performed on all patients. Any complications of anesthesia were noted before starting surgery. Patient ocular motility during surgery was scored between 0 and 4 based on the number of directions of gaze in which movement persisted. Following surgery, patients scored pain felt during surgery on a visual pain-score analog, and the surgeon graded for “discomfort” felt during surgery from 0 (Nil) to 4 (additional anesthesia needed).Results:Chemosis due to anesthesia and persistence of ocular motility in all four gaze directions were seen in all 82 patients of Group 1, but these did not prevent the surgeon from performing MSICS. Seventy-seven patients (94%) in Group 1 and 79 (96.4%) in Group 2 had no or mild pain during surgery. The surgeon had moderate-to-severe discomfort in 14 (17.2%) Group 1 patients and 3 (3.6%) Group 2 patients, most of whom had deep-set eyes or exhibited excessive eye movements. Two patients in Group 1 and one patient in Group 2 were converted to peribulbar block.Conclusion:ASCA is a safe and effective alternative for performing MSICS. It does not induce akinesia but provides adequate anesthesia for the surgery in most patients, except those with deep-set eyes, especially if displaying increased anxiety.

Role and Importance of Ergonomics in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: Outcomes of a Narrative Review.

Background: With recent technological advancement, new and improved endoscopic instruments and laser devices have catapulted flexible ureteroscopy to the forefront, hence making retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) a popular choice for the management of renal stones. However, RIRS has also resulted in an increasing number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which can have a detrimental impact on surgeons' physical health and operative lifespan. The aim of our review is to examine the impact and feasibility of ergonomic adjustments and outline future directions and recommendations to improve the awareness of and reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among urologists. Methods: This study was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A thorough literature review was conducted of several databases using the following keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms to generate a search strategy: nephrolithiasis, kidney calculus, renal calculus, staghorn calculus, ergonomics, position, fatigue, comfort, tire, physical strain, visual strain, muscle, ureteroscopy, RIRS, laser, and lithotripsy. Studies were chosen for inclusion by reviewers independently, and the data were consolidated for analysis. Results: A total of 1446 articles were identified on initial literature search; 23 were included in the final analysis. The impact of various ergonomic modifications on operative outcomes, surgeons, surgical equipment, and patients, was analyzed. In addition, we summarized all the improvements that resulted in better ergonomics in RIRS. Conclusion: Ergonomics in RIRS is poorly understood and there are currently no formal guidelines for this aspect. While modern endourology armamentarium seems to help with procedural ergonomics, more needs to be done to enhance surgeon comfort, protect surgeon longevity, and prioritize the health and safety of endourologists.

Resection of a pineal region papillary tumor using robotic exoscope: improved visualization and ergonomics for deep seeded tumor.

Surgery for pineal region tumors is technically challenging due to their deep location and close proximity to critical deep venous structures, midbrain, and thalamus. A high-definition video exoscope was recently proposed as an alternative to the operating microscope. The authors illustrate a case of the midline supracerebellar infratentorial approach to resect a pineal region tumor using the Modus V exoscope and demonstrate the improved visualization of critical structures in this deep location. Additionally, the marked improvement in surgeon comfort suggests that this system may have significant advantages over traditional microscope-based surgery for tumors of the pineal region.The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.4.FOCVID2127.

The Role of 3D Exoscope Systems in Neurosurgery: An Optical Innovation.

The development of the three-dimensional (3D) exoscope is a marvel of technological innovation in modern surgical practice. While its predecessor, the operating microscope (OM), has long been the gold-standard surgical visualization modality, its particular limitations in terms of accessibility and ergonomic demand have led to the development of a more sophisticated, 3D model. Specifically, the 3D exoscope allows for an enhanced image quality of the surgical field, while also being more ergonomically favorable. Moreover, this device’s ability to handle delicate microsensitve procedures, along with its alleviation of surgeon fatigue, indicates great potential for neurosurgical application. For this narrative review, the authors queried PubMed database using the keyword “exoscope” to identify relevant studies involving the specialty of neurosurgery that were published in English language full text. The search yielded full-text English language-related articles regarding neurosurgical exoscope, its applications and limitations. The 3D exoscope uniquely allows for enhanced surgeon comfort and superior imaging of the patient’s real-time anatomy. However, the OM was described to having a slight image favorability with fusion and decompression surgery. Cost analysis is highlighted for its potential disparity. 3D exoscopes will potentially be incorporated with intelligent carriers and robotic surgical systems. Ultimately, with further studies highlighting its use, the 3D exoscope is expected to continue to imprint its status as one of the most efficient technological visualization tools in the future of neurosurgical practice.

Patient and surgeon comfort in vitreoretinal surgery performed with Sub-Tenon's Anaesthesia.

Background.Since Stevens first introduced Sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia into cataract surgery it has shown itself to be a safe, simple, and efficient technique. The advantages of this type of block are comparable to those of sharp needle anaesthesia and complications are minimal. Several studies have found that the anaesthesia provided by Sub-Tenon’s capsule injection is as good as or better for cataract surgery than that achieved by retrobulbar injection, but the efficacy of Sub-Tenon’s block in vitreoretinal surgery is less well established.Methods.We performed 50 vitreoretinal procedures; 50 eyes received a Sub-Tenon’s injection of a 5 ml mixture (50:50) of lidocaine and ropivacaine, plus 15 IU mL-1 of Hyaluronidase.Results.In 45 cases, only one injection was needed to achieve sufficient anaesthesia and akinesia; in 5 cases a second injection was performed five minutes after the first. Mean surgical time was 45.7 minutes. After surgery, each patient was asked to indicate his value on the VAS pain scale. Mean VAS degree was 2.4. In 7 cases, VAS was > 3 and the pain was successfully managed with the administration of paracetamol in the postoperative period. No light perception was detected at the end of surgery in 33 patients. All cases with 2 injections had no light perception at the end of surgery. Anaesthesia lasted throughout the surgery in all cases. The surgeon performed all surgery comfortably and with no difficulty.Conclusions.According to our experience and to a growing body of evidence, Sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia appears to be a safe, simple, versatile, and effective technique and should be considered as a real alternative method of anaesthesia in vitreoretinal surgery.

Matched Cohort Analysis of the Effect of the Facial Recess Approach on Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak After Translabyrinthine Surgery for Schwannoma.

The facial recess approach during translabyrinthine surgery has been used to expose the eustachian tube (ET) for packing. We sought to determine the effect of this technique on the development of postoperative nasopharyngeal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Cohorts of patients with cerebellopontine angle schwannomas who underwent a facial recess approach or no facial recess approach were matched based on tumor size. Translabyrinthine surgery for tumor resection. Postoperative CSF leaks were recorded and nasopharyngeal CSF leaks were utilized as the primary outcome measure. Using an exact matching protocol based on tumor size, 102 patients were included in each group (204 total, 111 female, 93 male). Overall, 9 patients (4.4%) demonstrated a postoperative nasopharyngeal CSF leak. Postoperative CSF rhinorrhea was noted in 3.9% of the group who underwent a facial recess approach for packing of the ET and 4.9% of the group who did not undergo a facial recess approach. This rate was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.99, Odds ratio: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.15-3.8). Secondary variables including age, tumor size, a diagnosis of NF2, and the packing material used were not significant predictors of nasopharyngeal CSF leaks. CSF rhinorrhea is infrequent after translabyrinthine surgery. The incidence of this complication is not affected by whether or not a facial recess approach is performed during surgery to pack the ET. Based on these data, use of this technique should be based on surgeon comfort and preference.

Lithotomy versus prone position for perianal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PurposeStudies objectively comparing lithotomy and prone positions regarding surgeon comfort, ergonomics, patient comfort, and position related complications are scarce.MethodsThe patients posted for surgery of either fistula in ano, hemorrhoids, or were included in this study. Subjective Mental Effort Questionnaire (SMEQ) and Local Experienced Discomfort (LED) scale were used to score the level of mental and physical stress among the operating surgeon, assistants, and the scrub nurse. Other parameters studied were the exposure of the operative site, patient comfort level, and position-related complications.ResultsThirty patients were operated in each position. Mean ± standard deviation of jackknife prone vs. lithotomy surgeon SMEQ score (15.6 ± 10.4 vs. 107.0 ± 11.5, P < 0.05) and LED score (1.8 ± 1.5 vs. 6.7 ± 0.5, P < 0.05) were found to be statistically significant. Prone vs. lithotomy assistant SMEQ score (29.1 ± 13.1 vs. 100.6 ± 8.7, P < 0.05) and LED score (4.6 ± 1.1 vs. 7.4 ± 0.8, P < 0.05) were also found to be statistically significant. SMEQ (10.0 ± 0.0 vs. 20.6 ± 2.5, P < 0.05) and LED scores (1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 3.3 ± 0.5, P < 0.05) of scrub nurses and LED scores (2.5 ± 0.5 vs. 6.3 ± 0.7, P < 0.05) of patients were also statistically significant. Exposure of the operative site was significantly better in the prone position (5.0 vs. 2.1, P < 0.05).ConclusionSignificantly better SMEQ, LED, and exposure score suggests the superiority of jackknife prone position over the lithotomy in terms of significantly less mental and physical stress to the operating surgeon, assistant, and scrub nurse; better ergonomics, and excellent exposure.

Ergonomics and Surgeon Comfort During Flexible Ureteroscopy.

The technological advancements of flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) and its accessories have resulted in broadening its indications to include the management of complex renal stones, with long operative time. The surgeon’s understanding about the ergonomics of the ureteroscopes and their cognizance of the operation theatre layout helps to improve their performance, including the surgical outcomes. This paper will describe the ergonomics that are involved in conducting FURS which in turn will aid in developing a more conducive surgical environment for the surgeon during the procedure, based on scientific literature review and expert opinions in high-volume centres. Proper surgeon position, well-arranged operation theatre layout, monitor and pedal position, anaesthesia type, and surgical team are important factors to decrease musculoskeletal strains for surgeons and increase work efficiency. Different types of flexible ureteroscope have different characters and knowing these special characters leads to better ergonomics during surgery. Robotic-assisted FURS have shown good safety and ergonomics in clinical application.