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Accurate and objective performance assessment is essential for both trainees and certified surgeons. However, existing methods can be time consuming, labor intensive, and subject to bias. Machine learning (ML) has the potential to provide rapid, automated, and reproducible feedback without the need for expert reviewers. We aimed to systematically review the literature and determine the ML techniques used for technical surgical skill assessment and identify challenges and barriers in the field. A systematic literature search, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, was performed to identify studies detailing the use of ML for technical skill assessment in surgery. Of the 1896 studies that were retrieved, 66 studies were included. The most common ML methods used were Hidden Markov Models (HMM, 14/66), Support Vector Machines (SVM, 17/66), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN, 17/66). 40/66 studies used kinematic data, 19/66 used video or image data, and 7/66 used both. Studies assessed the performance of benchtop tasks (48/66), simulator tasks (10/66), and real-life surgery (8/66). Accuracy rates of over 80% were achieved, although tasks and participants varied between studies. Barriers to progress in the field included a focus on basic tasks, lack of standardization between studies, and lack of datasets. ML has the potential to produce accurate and objective surgical skill assessment through the use of methods including HMM, SVM, and ANN. Future ML-based assessment tools should move beyond the assessment of basic tasks and towards real-life surgery and provide interpretable feedback with clinical value for the surgeon. PROSPERO: CRD42020226071 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interventional endoluminal therapy is rapidly advancing as a minimally invasive surgical technique. The expanding remit of endoscopic therapy necessitates precision control. Eye tracking is an emerging technology which allows intuitive control of devices. This was a feasibility study to establish if a novel eye gaze-controlled endoscopic system could be used to intuitively control an endoscope. Methods: An eye gaze-control system consisting of eye tracking glasses, specialist cameras and a joystick was used to control a robotically driven endoscope allowing steering, advancement, withdrawal and retroflexion. Eight experienced and eight non-endoscopists used both the eye gaze system and a conventional endoscope to identify ten targets in two simulated environments: a sphere and an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) model. Completion of tasks was timed. Subjective feedback was collected from each participant on task load (NASA Task Load Index) and acceptance of technology (Van der Laan scale). Results: When using gaze-control endoscopy, non-endoscopists were significantly quicker when using gaze-control rather than conventional endoscopy (sphere task 3:54 ± 1:17 vs. 9:05 ± 5:40 min, p = 0.012, and UGI model task 1:59 ± 0:24 vs 3:45 ± 0:53 min, p <.001). Non-endoscopists reported significantly higher NASA-TLX workload total scores using conventional endoscopy versus gaze-control (80.6 ± 11.3 vs 22.5 ± 13.8, p <.001). Endoscopists reported significantly higher total NASA-TLX workload scores using gaze control versus conventional endoscopy (54.2 ± 16 vs 26.9 ± 15.3, p = 0.012). All subjects reported that the gaze-control had positive 'usefulness' and 'satisfaction' score of 0.56 ± 0.83 and 1.43 ± 0.51 respectively. Conclusions: The novel eye gaze-control system was significantly quicker to use and subjectively lower in workload when used by non-endoscopists. Further work is needed to see if this would translate into a shallower learning curve to proficiency versus conventional endoscopy. The eye gaze-control system appears feasible as an intuitive endoscope control system. Hybrid gaze and hand control may prove a beneficial technology to evolving endoscopic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing surgical innovation frameworks suffer from a unifying limitation, their qualitative nature. A rigorous approach to measuring surgical innovation is needed that extends beyond detecting simply publication, citation, and patent counts and instead uncovers an implementation-based value from the structure of the entire adoption cascades produced over time by diffusion processes. Based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and existing surgical regulatory frameworks, the surgical innovation funnel is described. This illustrates the different stages through which innovation in surgery typically progresses. The aim is to propose a novel and quantitative network-based framework that will permit modeling and visualizing innovation diffusion cascades in surgery and measuring virality and value of innovations. Materials and methods: Network analysis of constructed citation networks of all articles concerned with robotic surgery (n = 13,240, Scopus®) was performed (1974–2014). The virality of each cascade was measured as was innovation value (measured by the innovation index) derived from the evidence-based stage occupied by the corresponding seed article in the surgical innovation funnel. The network-based surgical innovation metrics were also validated against real world big data (National Inpatient Sample–NIS®). Results: Rankings of surgical innovation across specialties by cascade size and structural virality (structural depth and width) were found to correlate closely with the ranking by innovation value (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.758 (p = 0.01), 0.782 (p = 0.008), 0.624 (p = 0.05), respectively) which in turn matches the ranking based on real world big data from the NIS® (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.673;p = 0.033). Conclusion: Network analysis offers unique new opportunities for understanding, modeling and measuring surgical innovation, and ultimately for assessing and comparing generative value between different specialties. The novel surgical innovation metrics developed may prove valuable especially in guiding policy makers, funding bodies, surgeons, and healthcare providers in the current climate of competing national priorities for investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery from surgery has traditionally been measured using specific outcome measures, such as length of hospital stay. However, advances in technology have enabled the measurement of continuous, objective physical activity data in the perioperative period. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between length of hospital stay and physical activity data for patients undergoing surgery.Methods: A systematic search of EMBASE, Medline and the Cochrane Library, from inception until January 2017, was performed to identify all study designs that evaluated physical activity after surgery. Studies were included if a wearable sensor measured patient activity as an in-patient and the length of hospital stay was reported. Only English articles were included.Results: Six studies with a total of 343 participants were included in this review. All the studies were prospective observational studies. Each study used a different sensor, with the commonest being a tri-axial accelerometer, and multiple different physical activity outcome measures were used, thereby prohibiting meta-analysis. Four of the studies demonstrated a relationship between physical activity levels and length of hospital stay, while two studies did not show any significant relationship.Conclusion: The amount of physical activity performed post-operatively negatively correlates with the length of hospital stay. This suggests that objective physical activity data collected by body worn sensors may be capable of predicting functional recovery post-operatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion of minimally invasive surgery has thrived in recent years, providing substantial benefits over traditional techniques for a number of surgical interventions. This rapid growth has been possible due to significant advancements in medical technology, which partly solved some of the technical and clinical challenges associated with minimally invasive techniques. The issues that still limit its widespread adoption for some applications include the limited field of view; reduced manoeuvrability of the tools; lack of haptic feedback; loss of depth perception; extended learning curve; prolonged operative times and higher financial costs. The present review discusses some of the main recent technological advancements that fuelled the uptake of minimally invasive surgery, focussing especially on the areas of imaging, instrumentation, cameras and robotics. The current limitations of state-of-the-art technology are identified and addressed, proposing future research directions necessary to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdominal adhesions are associated with increased postoperative complications, cost and workload. We performed a systematic review with statistical pooling to estimate the formation rate, distribution and severity of postoperative adhesions in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. A literature search was carried out for all articles reporting on the incidence, distribution and severity of adhesions between January 1990 and July 2011. Twenty-five articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The weighted mean formation rate of adhesions after abdominal surgery was 54 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 40-68 %), and was 66 % (95 % CI 38-94 %) after gastrointestinal surgery, 51 % (95 % CI 40-63 %) after obstetric and gynaecological surgery and 22 % (95 % CI 7-38 %) after urological surgery. The mean overall severity score was 1.11 ± 0.98 according to the Operative Laparoscopy Study Group classification. Laparoscopic surgery reduced the adhesion formation rate by 25 % and decreased the adhesion severity score (laparoscopic; 0.36 ± 0.69 vs. open; 2.14 ± 0.84) for gastrointestinal surgery. Our results demonstrate that the incidence and severity of abdominal adhesions varies between surgical specialties and procedures. An increased awareness of adhesions can help in identifying the underlying mechanisms of adhesion formation and novel therapeutic approaches, while also improving the surgical consent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management of primary rectal cancer beyond total mesorectal excision planes (PRC‐bTME) and recurrent rectal cancer (RRC) is challenging. There is global variation in standards and no guidelines exist. To achieve cure most patients require extended, multivisceral, exenterative surgery, beyond conventional total mesorectal excision planes. The aim of the Beyond TME Group was to achieve consensus on the definitions and principles of management, and to identify areas of research priority. Methods: Delphi methodology was used to achieve consensus. The Group consisted of invited experts from surgery, radiology, oncology and pathology. The process included two international dedicated discussion conferences, formal feedback, three rounds of editing and two rounds of anonymized web‐based voting. Consensus was achieved with more than 80 per cent agreement; less than 80 per cent agreement indicated low consensus. During conferences held in September 2011 and March 2012, open discussion took place on areas in which there is a low level of consensus. Results: The final consensus document included 51 voted statements, making recommendations on ten key areas of PRC‐bTME and RRC. Consensus agreement was achieved on the recommendations of 49 statements, with 34 achieving consensus in over 95 per cent. The lowest level of consensus obtained was 76 per cent. There was clear identification of the need for referral to a specialist multidisciplinary team for diagnosis, assessment and further management. Conclusion: The consensus process has provided guidance for the management of patients with PRC‐bTME or RRC, taking into account global variations in surgical techniques and technology. It has further identified areas of research priority. To assist decision‐making [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is currently no objective quantification of the temporal changes in performance associated with a novice surgeon learning single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) operative tasks. Analysing learning curves allows us to objectively quantify performance. The aim was to evaluate if the rate of learning and ultimate proficiency level reached in SILS when using straight or articulating instruments is different to conventional laparoscopy and if training in laparoscopy influences learning or proficiency for SILS. Design and Setting: Thirty-six surgically naive medical students were randomised to complete the validated peg transfer task over 50 repetitions using a conventional laparoscopic set-up, SILS set-up with straight instruments or articulated instruments or SILS set-up after having reached proficiency using a conventional laparoscopy. Results: There was a significant increased overall proficiency between the group trained in conventional laparoscopy and all other groups ( p < 0.01), with no difference between the other groups. There was no difference in the rate of learning between the groups. There was no difference in the ultimate proficiency level ( p = 0.671) or rate of learning ( p = 0.63) when using straight or articulating instruments. There was no difference in ultimate proficiency level ( p = 0.59) or learning rate ( p = 0.219) seen in the SILS group that had prior training on the task with a conventional laparoscopic set-up. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the proficiency reached using a conventional laparoscopic set-up cannot be matched using a SILS configuration for the novice surgeon and that the choice of straight or articulated instruments as well as previous laparoscopic training does not confer an advantage in this basic task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The drive to perform procedures with the least impact on the patient has meant that interest in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) continues to proliferate. However, endoscope control within the extralumenal environment remains a significant challenge. This study aims to define a method to quantitatively assess endoscopic torque control as an indication of performance. Material and methods: Fourteen endoscopists performed a ten-target navigational task within a simulated NOTES environment whilst wrist movements were tracked with an optical motion tracker. Patterns of wrist movements were translated to a binary form enabling differentiation of the specified movement from no movement. Three patterns were discernable suggesting the discrimination of purposeful over random manipulations. Three independent assessors scored 140 patterns on a scale of 1 to 3 determined by which pattern was the most appropriate fit. Results: Mean score for novices was 16 (± 3) and for clinicians 22 (± 7). Inter-rater reliability (kappa statistic function) between the assessors ranged from 0.637 to 0.751 p < 0.001 referred to as a substantial assessment tool. The internal consistency between all variables using Chronbach's alpha function was 0.948 ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pattern of movements extrapolated from the wrist can be used as a method of measuring endoscope torque control during a translumenal navigation task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eye-tracking technology has been shown to improve trainee performance in the aircraft industry, radiology, and surgery. The ability to track the point-of-regard of a supervisor and reflect this onto a subjects' laparoscopic screen to aid instruction of a simulated task is attractive, in particular when considering the multilingual make up of modern surgical teams and the development of collaborative surgical techniques. We tried to develop a bespoke interface to project a supervisors' point-of-regard onto a subjects' laparoscopic screen and to investigate whether using the supervisor's eye-gaze could be used as a tool to aid the identification of a target during a surgical-simulated task. Methods: We developed software to project a supervisors' point-of-regard onto a subjects' screen whilst undertaking surgically related laparoscopic tasks. Twenty-eight subjects with varying levels of operative experience and proficiency in English undertook a series of surgically minded laparoscopic tasks. Subjects were instructed with verbal queues (V), a cursor reflecting supervisor's eye-gaze (E), or both (VE). Performance metrics included time to complete tasks, eye-gaze latency, and number of errors. Results: Completion times and number of errors were significantly reduced when eye-gaze instruction was employed (VE, E). In addition, the time taken for the subject to correctly focus on the target (latency) was significantly reduced. Conclusions: We have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel framework to enable a supervisor eye-gaze to be projected onto a trainee's laparoscopic screen. Furthermore, we have shown that utilizing eye-tracking technology to provide visual instruction improves completion times and reduces errors in a simulated environment. Although this technology requires significant development, the potential applications are wide-ranging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single-site laparoscopic surgery (SSLS) has been suggested as a safe and less invasive alternative to standard laparoscopic surgery (LAP). It is not clear whether previous laparoscopic experience influences the ability to perform SSLS. This study aimed to assess the impact of laparoscopic experience on the performance of SSLS. Methods: For this study, 18 surgeons were recruited including 12 novice surgeons, four experienced laparoscopic surgeons (intermediate) and two experienced SSLS surgeons (expert). All these subjects completed four tasks from the validated Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) curriculum. The tasks were performed using both a LAP and an SSLS approach with a randomized crossover design. Assessment of the tasks was performed with standardized FLS metrics and dexterity analysis using the Imperial college surgical assessment device. Results: The novice group performed two tasks (precision cutting and intracorporeal suture) significantly better with a LAP approach than with an SSLS approach in all parameters ( P < 0.05). The two other tasks (peg transfer and endoloop) were performed significantly better with LAP than with SSLS in terms of time and dexterity only ( P < 0.05) but not in terms of error score. The intermediate and expert groups demonstrated no significant difference between their LAP and SSLS performances for any of the tasks in any parameter. Intergroup analysis of performance demonstrated construct validity of the SSLS tasks, with significant differences between novice and intermediate performances for three tasks (peg transfer, endoloop, and intracorporeal suture) ( P < 0.05) and between novice and expert performances for three tasks (peg transfer, precision cutting, and intracorporeal suture) ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that previous laparoscopic experience improves ability to perform SSLS tasks. Some SSLS tasks do not show construct validity due to the complexity of the SSLS technique. It also is implied that current LAP technical skills training curricula are insufficient for teaching SSLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative efficacy of off-pump and on-pump coronary revascularization is uncertain. A complication of off-pump surgery which is rarely considered is intraoperative conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. Consequently, meta-analysis was performed of studies comparing morbidity after converted and nonconverted off-pump coronary revascularization. There were significant increases in the likelihood of stroke, myocardial injury, bleeding, renal failure, wound infection, intraaortic balloon pump requirement, transfusion, and respiratory and gastrointestinal complications after conversion. The underlying mechanisms need to be urgently elucidated. Prevention and treatment protocols for conversion warrant serious consideration and the risk of conversion may need to be discussed when obtaining informed patient consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We analyzed studies validating the effectiveness and deficiencies of simulation for training and assessment in urology. We documented simulation types (synthetic, virtual reality and animal models), participant experience level and tasks performed. The feasibility, validity, cost-effectiveness, reliability and educational impact of the simulators were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: The MEDLINE®, EMBASE™ and PsycINFO® databases were systematically searched until September 2010. References from retrieved articles were reviewed to broaden the search. Results: The study included case reports, case series and empirical studies of training and assessment in urology using procedural simulation. The model name, training tasks, participant level, training duration and evaluation scoring were extracted from each study. We also extracted data on face, content and construct validity. Most studies suitably addressed content, construct and face validation as well as the feasibility, educational impact and cost-effectiveness of simulation models. Synthetic, animal and virtual reality models were demonstrated to be effective training and assessment tools for junior trainees. Few investigators looked at the transferability of skills from simulation to real patients. Conclusions: Current simulation models are valid and reliable for the initial phase of training and assessment. For advanced and specialist level skill acquisition animal models can be used but availability is limited due to supply shortages and ethical restrictions. More research is needed to validate simulated environments for senior trainees and specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The effect of the choice of access upon endoscope control during a navigational task is explored within a simulator model. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted within the endoscopic-laparoscopic interdisciplinary training entity (ELITE) model (Minimally Invasive Therapy and Intervention Research Group [MITI], Technische Universität, Germany)-a validated natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) simulator. Seventeen subjects, 15 with no endoscopic experience, navigated the endoscope from predefined trans-sigmoidal and transgastric access points to the appendix and the gallbladder. A previously defined and validated quantitative analysis of endoscope control, in addition to time taken to complete the task, was used to evaluate overall performance. The quantitative analysis extrapolated the movements of the subject's wrist in control of the endoscope and rated the movements using a scoring system of 0-3 based upon the smoothness of the movements recorded. Results: Although no significant difference in terms of performance time was demonstrated between the two approaches to the appendix (36.6 ± 14.7 seconds TG and 29.8 ± 16 seconds TS) ( P = .214), when the endoscope control score was compared, a significant difference was confirmed (3 TG and 7 TS) ( P < .001). With regard to the approach to the gallbladder, a significant difference in terms of both the performance time (19.8 seconds TG and 35.6 seconds TS) ( P < .001) and the quality of endoscope control (7 TG and 5 TS) ( P = .001) was demonstrated. Conclusion: The choice of access route impacts directly on the ease with which the endoscopist navigates to the target. Within this study, the trans-sigmoidal appears the most appropriate to access the appendix and the transgastric for the gallbladder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institution of cardiopulmonary bypass after commencement of “off-pump” coronary artery bypass surgery is known as conversion. This may be an emergency or elective process. The phenomenon of conversion, although widely reported, remains under-emphasized. Emergency conversion may lead to poorer patient outcomes and therefore warrants serious consideration. The rate of conversion may influence the results of randomized controlled trials, and be considered a surrogate performance indicator of surgical competence in off-pump coronary artery bypass. Several causes and predictors of conversion are reported in published literature. This article aims to examine the phenomenon of conversion in off-pump coronary artery bypass and proposes a framework for its prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce an inexpensive, realistic, and robust simulator model for training and requirement assessment of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). A laparoscopic box trainer is converted into an effective NOTES environment, in which many of the challenges facing this new approach can be explored firsthand in a laboratory setting. Using this simulator, experiments researching this new surgical field can be refined before moving into in vivo trials, such that the number of animals required for acquiring basic skills and validating new surgical protocols can be reduced. Additionally, the simulator has the potential to be utilized as an effective platform for education and training in NOTES, although formal validation is required before this can truly be appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study used meta-analytical techniques to compare the incidence of recurrence and the indication for reoperation in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) who underwent their first operation, due to perforating disease versus patients who underwent their first operation due to nonperforating disease. METHODS: Comparative studies published between 1988 and 2005 of perforating versus nonperforating CD were included. Using a random effects model, end points evaluated were recurrence of CD given as reoperation, and the indication for reoperation, i.e., perforating or nonperforating. Heterogeneity (HG) was assessed and a sensitivity analysis was performed to account for bias in patient selection. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (12 nonrandomized retrospective, 1 nonrandomized prospective) reported on 3,044 patients, of which 1,337 (43.9%) had perforating indications (P group) and 1,707 (56.1%) had nonperforating indications (NP group) for surgery. The recurrence was found to be significantly higher in the P group compared to the NP group (HR 1.50, P= 0.002), with significant HG among studies ( P < 0.001). The recurrence remained significantly higher in the P group compared with the NP group during sensitivity analysis of high-quality studies (HR 1.47, P= 0.005) and more recent studies (HR 1.51, P= 0.05), but still demonstrating significant HG ( P= 0.08 and P < 0.001, respectively). At reoperation, concordance was found in the disease type of those patients re-presenting with perforating disease (OR 5.93, P < 0.001, without significant HG among studies P= 0.15) and those with nonperforating disease (OR 5.73, P < 0.001, with significant HG among studies P < 0.001). Concordance in disease type remained when considering only high-quality studies (P: OR 7.48, P < 0.001; NP: OR 7.48, P < 0.001) and more recent studies (P: OR 5.95, P < 0.001; NP: OR 5.95, P < 0.001), both not associated with HG among studies ( P= 0.47 and P= 0.60, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The indication for reoperation in CD tends to be the same as the primary operation, i.e., perforating disease tends to re-present as perforating disease, and nonperforating as nonperforating. Also, perforating CD appears to be associated with a higher recurrence rate compared with nonperforating CD. However, because of significant HG among studies, further studies should be undertaken to confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-reliability organizations have stressed the importance of nontechnical skills for safety and of regularly providing such training to their teams. Recently safety skills training has been applied in the practice of medicine. In this study, we developed and piloted a module using multidisciplinary crisis scenarios in a simulated operating theatre to train entire surgical teams. Twenty teams participated ( n = 80); each consisted of a trainee surgeon, anesthetist, operating department practitioner (ODP), and scrub nurse. Crisis scenarios such as difficult intubation, hemorrhage, or cardiac arrest were simulated. Technical and nontechnical skills (leadership, communication, team skills, decision making, and vigilance), were assessed by clinical experts and by two psychologists using relevant technical and human factors rating scales. Participants received technical and nontechnical feedback, and the whole team received feedback on teamwork. Trainees assessed the training favorably. For technical skills there were no differences between surgical trainees’ assessment scores and the assessment scores of the trainers. However, nurses overrated their technical skill. Regarding nontechnical skills, leadership and decision making were scored lower than the other three nontechnical skills (communication, team skills, and vigilance). Surgeons scored lower than nurses on communication and teamwork skills. Surgeons and anesthetists scored lower than nurses on leadership. Multidisciplinary simulation-based team training is feasible and well received by surgical teams. Nontechnical skills can be assessed alongside technical skills, and differences in performance indicate where there is a need for further training. Future work should focus on developing team performance measures for training and on the development and evaluation of systematic training for technical and nontechnical skills to enhance team performance and safety in surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Using meta-analytical techniques, this study was designed to compare open and laparoscopic abdominal procedures used to treat full-thickness rectal prolapse in adults. METHODS: Comparative studies published between 1995 and 2003, cited in the literature of open abdominal rectopexy vs. laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy, were used. The primary end points were recurrence and morbidity, and the secondary end points assessed were operative time and length of hospital stay. A random effect model was used to aggregate the studies reporting these outcomes, and heterogeneity was assessed. RESULTS: Six studies, consisting of a total of 195 patients (98 open and 97 laparoscopic) were included. Analysis of the data suggested that there is no significant difference in recurrence and morbidity between laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy and open abdominal rectopexy. Length of stay was significantly reduced in the laparoscopic group by 3.5 days (95 percent confidence interval, 3.1–4; P « 0.01), whereas the operative time was significantly longer in this group, by approximately 60 minutes (60.38 minutes; 95 percent confidence interval, 49–71.8). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic abdominal rectopexy is a safe and feasible procedure, which may compare equally with the open technique with regards to recurrence and morbidity and favorably with length of stay. However large-scale randomized trials, with comparative, sound methodology are still needed to ascertain detailed outcome measures accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothesis Objective assessment of surgical skill has recently been shown to be possible through the use of dexterity-based and video analysis systems. The aim of this study was to synchronize these 2 modalities to produce a comprehensive surgical assessment tool. Design The Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device is a dexterity-based motion analysis device that has been developed in the Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology by the Surgical Computing and Imaging Research Group. Further advances to this system have been made to enable synchronized acquisition of hand kinematics and video from real procedures, and their concurrent analysis. To test the feasibility of the system, 10 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by 5 different surgeons on consenting patients were recorded. Analysis focused on the entire procedure and also on specific parts of the operation such as the clipping and cutting of the cystic duct and artery. Results Dexterity analysis was performed using the objective measures of time, path length, number of movements, velocities, and trajectories. Comparative analysis of a surgeon’s dexterity was carried out on the whole procedure and by using the synchronized zoom facility in the software. Kinematic signals revealed rapid changes in velocity caused by alternating between different instruments or occurring after complications such as bleeding. Conclusion This new motion analysis system has been shown to be an effective tool for the comprehensive assessment of operative procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the results of an assessment of technical skills in surgery made during training. Methodology; Current methods of assessment in surgery and their limitations; Objective methods of assessing technical skills; Discussion; Conclusion that considerable progress has been made in the past decade in the objective assessment of technical skills, but that there are still some issues that need to be addressed.

The possibility of using quantitative motion analysis for objective assessment of simple surgical dexterity is investigated using the Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device (ICSAD) with qualitative analysis undertaken by inspection. Bench-top knot tying and suturing skills were performed and examined for the ability to discriminate between surgeons of varying experience. These exercises were found to discriminate significantly between junior and senior surgeons in terms of both time taken and the number of movements required. The relation between time and motion was found to be variable depending on what skill was being undertaken: simple suturing, suturing at depth, or knot tying (1.71 vs. 1.86 vs. 2.36; p = 0.002 for 1 vs. 2; p < 0.001 for others). When the number of movements in a minute (standardized movements per minute) were considered, both groups were found to work at a similar rate, depending on the task, implying that the more experienced surgeon is more economical, performing the same exercise with fewer moves rather than with higher speed. Motion analysis exhibits face and construct validity and is a reliable assessment of simple surgical dexterity. Its use for objective assessment of dexterity and competence should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hospital patient pathway for having treatment procedures can be daunting for younger patients and their family members, especially when they are about to undergo a complex intervention. Opportunities to mentally prepare young patients for their hospital treatments, e.g. for surgical procedures, include tools such as therapeutic clowns, medical dolls, or books and board games. However, while promising in reducing pre-operative anxiety and negative behaviours, they may be resource intensive, costly, and not always readily available. In this study, we co-designed a digital hospital information system with children, parents and clinicians, in order to prepare children undergoing medical treatment.Method: The study took place in the UK and consisted of two parts: In part 1, we purposively sampled 37 participants (n=22 parents, and n=15 clinicians) to understand perceptions and concerns of an hospital information platform specifically design for and addressed to children. In part 2, 14 children and 11 parents attended an audio and video recorded co-design workshop alongside a graphic designer and the research team to have their ideas explored and reflected on for the design of such information technology. Consequently, we used collected data to conduct thematic analysis and narrative synthesis.Results: Findings from the survey were categorised into four themes: (1) the prospect of a hospital information system (parents' inputs); (2) content-specific information needed for the information system (parents' and clinicians' inputs); (3) using the virtual information system to connect young patients and parents (parents' inputs); and (4) how to use the virtual hospital information system from a clinician's perspective (clinicians' inputs). In contrast, the workshop highlighted points in times children were most distressed/relaxed, and derived the ideal hospital visit in both their and their parents' perspectives.Conclusions: The findings support the use of virtual information systems for children, in particular to explore and learn about the hospital, its facilities, and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals. Our findings call for further investigations and experiments in developing safer and more adequate delivery of care for specific age groups of healthcare users. Practical and theoretical implications for improving the quality and safety in healthcare delivery are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Robotic Surgery: Revisiting no Innovation Without Evaluation" by S Paul, P McCulloch and A Sedrakyan in the March 11, 2013 issue.

The article presents two case reports from Saint Mary's Hospital in Great Britain using the Da Vinci Surgical System and cites its effectivity in surgical operation. The first case was about an ex-smoker with a 9-month history of angina and whose age was 45. The second case was about a 41-year-old male with hypercholesterolaemia and has 2-year of angina. Surgical procedures applied to the patients, as well as the advantages of the new system are offered.

Editorial. Assesses the operative performance and skills of surgeons. Factors that influence surgical outcome; Objective criteria for judging good surgical techniques; Measurement of surgical precision.

An abstract of the article "Variation in reoperation after colorectal surgery in England as an indicator of surgical performance: retrospective analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics," by Elaine M. Burns, Alex Bottle, Paul Aylin, Ara Darzi, R. John Nicholls, and Omar Faiz is presented.

Background: Safe surgical practice requires a combination of technical and nontechnical abilities. Both sets of skills can be impaired by intra-operative stress, compromising performance and patient safety. This systematic review aims to assess the effects of intra-operative stress on surgical performance. Methods: A systematic search strategy was implemented to obtain relevant articles. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched, and 3,547 abstracts were identified. After application of limits, 660 abstracts were retrieved for subsequent evaluation. Studies were included on the basis of predetermined inclusion criteria and independent assessment by 2 reviewers. Results: In all, 22 articles formed the evidence base for this review. Key stressors included laparoscopic surgery (7 studies), bleeding (4 studies), distractions (4 studies), time pressure (3 studies), procedural complexity (3 studies), and equipment problems (2 studies). The methods for assessing stress and performance varied greatly across studies, rendering cross-study comparisons difficult. With only 7 studies assessing stress and surgical performance concurrently, establishing a direct link was challenging. Despite this shortfall, the direction of the evidence suggested that excessive stress impairs performance. Specifically, laparoscopic procedures trigger greater stress levels and poorer technical performance (3 studies), and expert surgeons experience less stress and less impaired performance compared with juniors (2 studies). Finally, 3 studies suggest that stressful crises impair surgeons'' nontechnical skills (eg, communication and decision making). Conclusion: Surgeons are subject to many intra-operative stressors that can impair their performance. Current evidence is characterized by marked heterogeneity of research designs and variable study quality. Further research on stress and performance is required so that surgical training and clinical excellence can flourish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Electromagnetic motion analysis is a promising method of assessing surgical skill in a skills-laboratory setting. There is a very strong correlation between movement and time data, and this study was conducted to determine whether this relationship is fixed, or whether it can vary. Methods : After a pilot study, four subjects were recruited. Each performed 30 trials of a simple standardized suturing task, alternating between ‘normal’, ‘precise’, and ‘fast’ strategies. The number of movements, and time to complete each task were recorded. Results: Comparing the ‘fast’ to ‘normal’ strategies, there was a significant decrease in total number of movements per trial (P < 0.001), and time taken ( P < 0.001). Regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the time taken and the number of movements, and revealed significant differences between both the fast ( P = 0.006), and precise ( P = 0.002) strategies, when compared to the normal strategy. Discussion: This study confirms that the relationship between time and movements is not fixed, but varies with the operative strategy adopted for this simple suturing task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The use of aptitude tests in the selection of surgeons has gained recent attention. Few have described its relevance in predicting the acquisition of surgical techniques. We aim to show whether assessing manual dexterity can predict the quality of the final product after a period of training. Methods: Thirty-six medical students had their manual dexterity assessed completed bench model small bowel anastomosis in 8 consecutive sessions. The fine details (accuracy (number of sutures that traversed full thickness) and number of sutures placed) and gross details (bowel apposition) of quality of final product was objectively assessed. Results: Manual dexterity correlated with grade only in the initial sessions (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = −.578, P < .01). There was no significant correlation with the fine details with any session. Conclusions: There was a correlation with manual dexterity and outcome measures in the initial sessions of training with grade only. This relationship was eliminated by the end of training sessions. This suggests that the outcome of procedures after a period of training cannot be predicted by measuring manual dexterity skills. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Public reporting of outcome data is increasingly being used at the institutional and clinician levels and has become mandatory in some parts of the United States and the United Kingdom. The intended benefits are to drive quality improvement, demonstrate transparency, facilitate patient choice, and allow identification of poor performance. Public reporting of surgeon-specific mortality data, however, may have unintended consequences that include causing surgeons to become risk-averse, discouraging innovation, having an impact on training, and prompting "gaming" in health care. Given the small number of some surgical operations performed by individual surgeons, such data are unlikely to identify outliers or poor performers in a valid way. If metrics are deemed necessary and required to be reported publicly, they should be procedure specific; account for sample size; and focus not solely on mortality but also on other outcomes such as quality of life, patient satisfaction, and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To improve surgical training standards, it is necessary to first define the elements of high-quality training and methods for measuring them. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with attending (n 5 10) and resident (n 5 10) general surgeons. An interview topic guide was used to elicit end users' opinions on indicators of training quality and methods to measure them. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using a framework to identify emergent themes. Sampling ceased once thematic saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Key surgical training quality indicators include continuity (80% of participants) and relationship (95%) between trainee and trainer, level of supervision (85%), and an optimal volume (95%) and mix (90%) of operative cases. All surgeons felt that trainee logbook analysis and feedback was essential. The majority (85%) felt that training analysis should be freely available to create accountability for hospitals and attending surgeons (70%) and encourage competition (70%) to drive up standards. Only 30% felt that all attending surgeons should offer training. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical training quality needs to be robustly assessed. Transparency in training outcomes will create competition and raise standards of surgical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Assessment by direct observation of procedural skills is an important source of constructive feedback. The aim of this study was to identify observational tools for technical skill assessment, to assess characteristics of these tools, and to assess their usefulness for assessment. Methods: Included studies reported tools for observational assessment of technical skills. A total of 106 articles were included. Results: Three main categories included global assessment scales evaluating generic skills (n = 29), task-specific methods assessing procedure-specific skills (n = 30), and combinations of tools evaluating both generic and task-specific skills (n = 47). In most studies, content validity was not evaluated using an accepted scientific method. All tools were assessed for inter-rater reliability and construct validity. Data on feasibility, acceptability, and educational impact were sparse. Conclusions: There is evidence of validity and reliability for observational assessment tools at the trainee level. In most studies a comprehensive analysis of the tools was not achieved. Evaluation of technical skill using current observational assessment tools is not reliable and valid at the specialist level. Future research needs to focus on further systematic tool development and analysis, especially at the specialist level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The surgical master class is a traditional method for a surgeon to learn new operations. However, there is limited evidence to support that it can help a surgeon adopt a new technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the adoption of surgical techniques after attendance at a surgical master class. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to surgeons attending surgical master classes in laparoscopic bariatric and colorectal surgery. The questionnaire examined operative experience before attending the master class and the consequent adoption of techniques. Results: There was a significant adoption of colorectal procedures, from 33% to 79% (P = .00011), and bariatric procedures, from 27% to 66% (P = .014), after attendance at the surgical master classes. Conclusions: This study shows a significant increase in surgeons'' performing advanced surgical procedures after attendance at a surgical master class. This is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the master class in terms of surgeons'' adopting new techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Failures in nontechnical and teamwork skills frequently lie at the heart of harm and near-misses in the operating room (OR). The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the impact of nontechnical skills on technical performance in surgery. Study Design: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO databases were searched, and 2,041 articles were identified. After limits were applied, 341 articles were retrieved for evaluation. Of these, 28 articles were accepted for this review. Data were extracted from the articles regarding sample population, study design and setting, measures of nontechnical skills and technical performance, study findings, and limitations. Results: Of the 28 articles that met inclusion criteria, 21 articles assessed the impact of surgeons'' nontechnical skills on their technical performance. The evidence suggests that receiving feedback and effectively coping with stressful events in the OR has a beneficial impact on certain aspects of technical performance. Conversely, increased levels of fatigue are associated with detriments to surgical skill. One article assessed the impact of anesthesiologists'' nontechnical skills on anesthetic technical performance, finding a strong positive correlation between the 2 skill sets. Finally, 6 articles assessed the impact of multiple nontechnical skills of the entire OR team on surgical performance. A strong relationship between teamwork failure and technical error was empirically demonstrated in these studies. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that certain nontechnical aspects of performance can enhance or, if lacking, contribute to deterioration of surgeons'' technical performance. The precise extent of this effect remains to be elucidated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Nonelective colorectal surgery is associated with substantial patient morbidity and mortality. This study sought to describe the practice of emergency colorectal surgery in the United Kingdom during an 11-year period using the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database. Study Design: All nonelective admissions in patients undergoing 1 of 8 colorectal resectional procedures between 1996 and 2007 were included. Time trends, univariate, and multivariate mortality and length of stay outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 102,236 major urgent/emergency procedures were performed in English National Health Service Trusts between April 1996 and March 2007. Thirty-day in-hospital postoperative mortality rates in patients with colorectal cancer and diverticular disease were 13.3% and 15.4%, respectively. The corresponding 1-year postoperative mortality was 34.7% and 22.6%. On multivariate analysis, benign diagnosis, advanced age, high comorbidity score, social deprivation, and specific procedure types were independent predictors of early and 1-year postoperative mortality (p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for extended hospital stay were advanced age, social deprivation, distal (compared with proximal) bowel resection, and a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (p < 0.001). Conclusions: HES data suggest that in everyday practice, postoperative mortality among patients undergoing nonelective admission followed by colorectal resection is high. Additional investigation is required to assess the reliability of HES data for monitoring institutional variation in this context. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Contemporary thoracic and cardiovascular surgery uses extensive equipment and devices to enable its performance. As the specialties develop and new frontiers are crossed, the technology needs to advance in a parallel fashion. Strokes of genius or problem-solving brain-storming may generate great ideas, but the metamorphosis of an idea into a physical functioning tool requires a lot more than just a thinking process. A modern surgical device is the end-point of a sophisticated, complicated and potentially treacherous route, which incorporates new skills and knowledge acquisition. Processes including technology transfer, commercialisation, corporate and product development, intellectual property and regulatory routes all play pivotal roles in this voyage. Many good ideas may fall by the wayside for a multitude of reasons as they may not be marketable or may be badly marketed. In this article, we attempt to illuminate the components required in the process of surgical innovation, which we believe must remain in the remit of the modern-day thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Stressful events occur in the operating room (OR) with potentially severe consequences for patient safety. We recorded the incidence of these events in the OR, assessed the levels of stress that they caused, and investigated their detectability. Methods: Stressful incidents in the OR were recorded and rated in real time by an observer in 55 general and orthopedic procedures. Operating surgeons also rated incident stressfulness and their stress (validated State Trait Anxiety Inventory). Results: The total count of stressors/case ranged from 1 to 23.5 (mean, 5.87). Technical, patient, and equipment problems occurred frequently and were most stressful. Frequent but least severe stressors were distractions/interruptions, whereas least frequent/most severe stressors were teamwork problems. These events were associated with an increase in surgeons'' self-reported stress. The observer was able to capture surgeons'' stress accurately. Conclusions: Systematically occurring stressors in the OR affect surgeons and can be assessed accurately. Further research should investigate the impact of stress on surgical performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Surgical judgment and decision making require valid methods of assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of judgment analysis as a technique for quantitative evaluation of surgeons’ risk estimates. Methods: Thirty trainee surgeons’ estimates of conversion risk in laparoscopic cholecystectomy were investigated using judgment analysis. Hypothetical cases were created, differing in relevant risk factors. Twenty repeat cases were incorporated to test for reliability. Surgeons’ estimates were compared with an outcome-derived gold standard from the published literature. Results: The mean reliability was .77 (range, .47–.98), and regression models indicating the weighting of variables had a mean adjusted R2 value of .53 (range, .12–.76). Variables were subject to wide variation in weighting. The mean correlation to the gold standard model was .48 (range, .08–.72). Conclusions: Judgment analysis allows detailed quantitative evaluation of the consistency of surgeons’ risk estimates and the influence of different variables on them. Comparison with a gold standard model enables accuracy to be measured. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Standardized short courses in laparoscopic cholecystectomy aim to teach laparoscopic skills to surgical trainees, although end-of-course assessments of performance remain subjective. The current study aims to objectively assess psychomotor skills acquisition of trainees attending laparoscopic cholecystectomy courses. Methods: Thirty-seven junior surgical trainees had their laparoscopic skills assessed before and after attending 1 of 3 separate 2-day courses (A, B, and C), all with identical format. Assessments were comprised of a standardized simulated laparoscopic task, with performance measured using a valid electromagnetic hand-motion tracking device. Results: Overall, trainees made significant improvements in path length (P=.006), number of movements (P<.001), and time taken (P<.001). Analyzing the 3 courses separately, only trainees attending courses A and C made significant improvements. Discussion: Objective validated methods can be used to assess learning of psychomotor skills on courses. In addition to providing participants with an insight into their skills, these data can be used to demonstrate course efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a need for reliable and valid objective methods of technical skills in surgery. Six-bench surgical top stations have been combined to assess basic surgical trainees (BSTs) objectively. The current study examines its reliability and validity across repeat sittings. Methods: Eleven surgical trainees (6 senior BSTs and 5 higher surgical trainees [HSTs]) undertook 5 sittings of the 6-station assessment designed to be completed within 90 minutes. The 6 stations consisted of knot tying, suturing, closure of enterotomy, excision of sebaceous cyst, laparoscopic task, and instrument examination. Methods of analysis employed were motion analysis, observation with criteria, and inbuilt simulation metrics. Results: On analysis 3 knot tying and suturing stations exhibited significant differences in either time or movement; any difference was over by the second run. The intertest reliabilities were .66, .74, .55, .51, and .65 for the 5 runs. The intratest reliability across repeated sittings varied from .56 to .96. The inter-rater reliability for video assessment varied from .77 to .94. Conclusion: The assessment is reliable and valid across repeated sittings. Its use in assessment of basic technical skills needs to be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent attempts to gain a more objective measure of surgical technical skill include the use of structured checklists and motion analysis of surgeons’ hand movements. We aim to show whether a correlation exists between these two methods of assessment.Methods: Fifty subjects were recruited from four experience groups in general surgery, ranging from basic surgical trainees to consultants and were assessed performing a standardized laboratory-based task. Motion analysis using the Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device (ICSAD), which measures hand movements and time taken, and the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) technique were used to measure skill.Results: Number of movements made, time taken, and global rating score discriminated between performance and experience group (Kruskal-Wallis, P <0.001, P <0.01, P <0.001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between movements made and global rating score (Spearman coefficient 0.53, P <0.01). Checklist scoring was not an accurate predictor of experience.Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between hand motion analysis using ICSAD and OSATS global rating assessments in this model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]