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Abstract Objectives Post-pneumonectomy syndrome (PPS) is rare and predominantly characterised by dynamic airway obstruction due to mediastinal rotation at any time point following pneumonectomy. The objective of this systematic review was to identify the optimal treatment strategy for PPS based on subjective symptomatic relief, objective radiological imaging, and treatment durability. Methods A systematic review was performed up to and including February 2022 based on the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” guidelines. All studies that presented the management of symptomatic patients > 16 years of age with radiologically confirmed PPS were included. The primary outcome was the identification of the optimal treatment strategy and the secondary outcome was durability of the treatment. The Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine level was assigned to each study. Results A total of 330 papers were identified and reviewed; 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data including patient demographics, indication for initial pneumonectomy, presenting symptoms, management approach, outcomes, and follow-up were assessed and analysed. Management approaches were divided into three categories: (a) mediastinal repositioning using implant prostheses; (b) endobronchial stenting; (c) other corrective procedures. One hundred and four patients were identified in total and of those, 87 underwent mediastinal repositioning with insertion of a prosthetic implant. Complications included over- or under-filling of the prosthesis (8.5%) and implant leakage (8.9%). Conclusion Management of PPS using a prosthetic implant to reposition the mediastinum is the treatment of choice. Key adjuncts to optimise surgical approach and minimise complications include pre-operative CT volumetric analysis to guide implant size and intra-operative transoesophageal echocardiography to guide mediastinal repositioning.

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated amputation and mortality rates to be 14.3% – 30% and 11.4% – 28.9%, respectively, for all patients presenting with acute limb ischaemia (ALI). Rates of ALI are higher in patients with malignancy than in those without. Despite this, there remains uncertainty with regards to the most appropriate management for patients with cancer presenting with ALI. This is because of previously published high rates of associated morbidity and mortality in this population. The aim of this review was to summarise the available evidence reporting on outcomes of ALI in patients with underlying malignancy. Method: A systematic review was performed in August 2020 in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched with the following search string ((acute limb ischaemia) OR (acute limb ischemia)) AND ((cancer) OR (malignancy)). A total of 849 papers were identified and reviewed; six studies were included. Studies were assessed for bias using the National Institute of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool. Data including demographics, Rutherford classification, baseline performance scores, method of revascularisation, and peri-procedural outcomes were extracted and analysed. Data were pooled based on outcomes of interest and pooled prevalence was reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Six studies with 284 patients with cancer were included for analysis. The pooled overall risk of amputation was 15% (95% CI 5.9 – 26.9). The pooled 30 day mortality rate was 24% (95% CI 14.7 – 34.6). Conclusion: Despite limitations of interstudy selection bias and some clinical heterogeneity, the included studies demonstrated acceptable short and medium term outcomes for patients with cancer undergoing revascularisation for acute limb ischaemia. This is in line with current recommendations that patients with underlying malignancy should be considered strongly for revascularisation.

Category: Ankle; Hindfoot; Sports; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: While surgery is often indicated in the treatment of chronic ankle instability (CAI), there lacks consensus on which procedure is preferable in light of the multiple different procedures available. In this systematic review, we evaluate the recent literature on the anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ligaments in the treatment of CAI in an effort to identify differences in clinical and radiological outcomes between allograft and autograft reconstruction techniques. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in October 2019 resulting in 13 studies ranging from the years 1991 to 2017. The studies included were carefully evaluated with regards to the level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence (QOE), clinical and radiological outcomes, complications, revision rates and return to sport. Results: Thirteen studies including a total of 296 ankles were included; Within the autograft group, the weighted mean AOFAS improved from 66.9 to 95.9 at a weighted mean follow-up of 29.6 months, KPSSAF scores improved from 48 to 92.2 at a weighted mean follow-up of 37 months, VAS scores improved from 6.8 to 0.2 at a weighted mean follow up of 33.5 months, and the complication rate was 7.7% at a follow up of 31.2 months. Within the allograft group the AOFAS improved from 53.7 to 89.3 at a follow-up of 35.5 months, KPSSAF scores improved from 42.8 to 90.4 at a follow up of 34 months, VAS scores improved from 7.3 to 1.9 at a follow up of 38 months, and the complication rate was 7% at a follow up of 34.9 months. Conclusion: The current systematic review demonstrated that anatomical reconstruction of CAI resulted in favorable clinical and radiological outcomes, low complication and revision rates and excellent return to sport rates in the short-term follow-up. Comparison of autograft and allograft reconstruction techniques for chronic lateral ankle instability showed minor differences both clinically and radiologically but none which would suggest superiority of one technique over another.

Objective: To develop appropriate content for high-stakes simulationbased assessments of operative competence in general surgery training through consensus. Background: Valid methods of summative operative competence assessment are required by competency-based training programs in surgery. Method: An online Delphi consensus study was conducted. Procedures were derived from the competency expectations outlined by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training Curriculum 2021, and subsequent brainstorming. Procedures were rated according to their perceived importance, perceived procedural risk, how frequently they are performed, and simualtion feasibility by a purposive sample of 30 surgical trainers and a 5-person steering group. A modified Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation Needs Assessment Formula was applied to the generated data to produce ranked procedural lists, which were returned to participants for re-prioritization. Results: Prioritized lists were generated for simulation-based operative competence assessments at 2 key stages of training; the end of ‘phase 2’ prior to the development of a sub-specialty interest, and the end of ‘phase 3’,that is, end-of-training certification. A total of 21 and 16 procedures were deemed suitable for assessments at each of these stages, respectively. Conclusions: This study describes a national needs assessment approach to content generation for simulation-based assessments of operative competence in general surgery using Delphi consensus methodology. The prioritized procedural lists generated by this study can be used to further develop operative skill assessments for use in high-stakes scenarios, such as trainee progression, entrustment, and end-of-training certification, before subsequent validity testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study sought to investigate the association between validated psychomotor ability tests and future in-theater and simulated operative performance. Background: Assessments of visuospatial ability, perceptual ability, and manual dexterity correlate with simulated operative performance. Data showing the predictive value of such assessments in relation to future performance in the workplace is lacking. Methods: Core surgical residents in Ireland recruited from 2016 to 2019 participated in assessments of baseline perceptual, visuospatial, and psychomotor ability; Pictorial Surface Orientation (PicSOr) testing, digital visuospatial ability testing, and manual dexterity testing. Operative performance was prospectively assessed using the in-theater Supervised Structured Assessment of Operative Performance (SSAOP) tool, and simulation-based Operative Surgical Skill (OSS) assessments performed over a 2-year core training period. SSAOP assessments were scored using a 15-point checklist and a global 5-point operative performance score. OSS assessments were scored using procedure-specific checklists. Univariate correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between fundamental ability measures and operative performance. Results: A total of 242 residents completed baseline psychomotor ability assessments. Aggregated fundamental ability scores were associated with performance in submitted workplace-based SSAOP assessments using the Total Checklist score (P =0.002) and Overall Performance scores (P =0.002), independent of operative experience, and undergraduate centile scores. Aggregated ability scores were also positively associated with simulation-based OSS assessment scores on multivariable analysis (P =0.03). Conclusion: This study indicates that visuospatial, psychomotor, and perceptual ability testing scores are associated with the future operative performance of surgical residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surgical learning curve is an observable and measurable phenomenon. Operative experience targets are well established as a proxy measure for operative competence in surgical training across jurisdictions. The aim of this study was to critique the available evidence regarding the relationship between operative experience in surgical training and trainee competence. A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Articles were sought that defined the relationship between procedural volume in surgical training and trainee competence, proficiency, or mastery. The educational impact of included studies was evaluated using a modified Kirkpatrick model. Of 3,672 records identified on database searching, 30 papers were ultimately included. Fourteen studies defined operative experience thresholds using operative time as a surrogate measure of competence, whereas another 8 used trainer assessments of operative performance (Kirkpatrick level 3). A further 5 studies were able to determine the relationship between trainee case volumes and subsequent patient outcomes (Kirkpatrick level 4b). Many studies have recorded competent trainee performance in key index procedures after reaching experience threshold numbers in excess of currently mandated targets across jurisdictions. The evidence relating current operative experience targets to patient outcomes across a range of surgical subspecialties of surgical subspecialties is lacking. This review supports a move toward criterion-based referencing of operative performance targets in surgical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses guidelines on May 20, 2019. The keywords used were: ankle, distal tibia, distal fibula, fracture, arthroscopic, cartilage, and chondral. The objective of this study is to systematically review the characterization of intra-articular chondral injuries of the talus, tibial plafond, medial malleolus, and lateral malleolus in patients who undergo ankle arthroscopy following ankle fracture. Studies evaluating the incidence of chondral lesions at the time of arthroscopy for ankle fractures within any timeframe were included. The incidence of intra-articular chondral lesions was recorded, the location within the ankle, ankle fracture type, time of arthroscopy, characterization of chondral injury, complications, and outcome if available. Fifteen studies with 1355 ankle fractures were included. About 738 demonstrated evidence of chondral or osteochondral lesion (54.5%). Statistical analyses were carried out with statistical software package SPSS 24.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). We compared incidence rates of chondral injury based on Weber classification, malleolar fracture type, and Lauge-Hansen classification, using Pearson chi-square test. For all analyses, p <.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a high incidence of intra-articular chondral lesion in the setting of ankle fractures as demonstrated by arthroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Decisions regarding the operative competence of surgical residents in the United Kingdom and Ireland are informed by operative workplace-based assessments (WBAs) and operative number targets for index procedures. This review seeks to outline the validity evidence of these assessment methods. Methods: A review of the MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was undertaken in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Protocol for Scoping Reviews (2020). Articles were included if they provided evidence of the validity of procedure-based assessments, direct observation of procedural skills, or indicative operative number targets. The educational impact of each article was evaluated using a modified Kirkpatrick model. Results: Twenty-eight articles outlining validity evidence of WBAs and operative number targets were synthesised by narrative review. Five studies documented users' views on current assessment methods (Kirkpatrick level 1). Two articles recorded changes in attitudes towards current operative assessments (level 2a). Ten studies documented the ability of current assessments to record improvements in operative competence (level 2b). Ten studies measured a change in behaviour as a result of the introduction of these assessments (level 3). One article studied the ability of operative assessments to predict clinical outcomes (level 4b). Conclusions: Operative WBAs are reliable. Scores achieved correlate with both time spent in training and recorded operative experience. Trainers and residents have concerns regarding the subjectivity of these assessments and the opportunistic nature in which they are used. Operative number targets are not criterion-referenced, lack validity evidence, and may be set too low to ensure operative competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An international consensus group of experts was convened to collaboratively advance toward consensus opinions based on the best available evidence on key topics within cartilage repair of the ankle. The purpose of this article is to present the consensus statements on osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond (OLTP) and on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions developed at the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. Methods: Forty-three experts in cartilage repair of the ankle were convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Questions and statements were drafted within 4 working groups focusing on specific topics within cartilage repair of the ankle, after which a comprehensive literature review was performed and the available evidence for each statement was graded. Discussion and debate occurred in cases where statements were not agreed on in unanimous fashion within the working groups. A final vote was then held. Results: A total of 11 statements on OLTP reached consensus. Four achieved unanimous support and 7 reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). A total of 8 statements on ankle instability with ankle cartilage lesions reached consensus during the 2019 International Consensus Meeting on Cartilage Repair of the Ankle. One achieved unanimous support, and seven reached strong consensus (greater than 75% agreement). Conclusion: These consensus statements may assist clinicians in the management of these difficult clinical pathologies. Level of Evidence: Level V, mechanism-based reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]