Visual cues of soft-tissue behaviour in minimal-invasive and robotic surgery.

Minimal-invasive surgery (MIS) and robotic surgery (RS) offer multiple advantages over open surgery (Vajsbaher et al. in Cogn Syst Res 64:08, 2020). However, the lack of haptic feedback is still a limitation.

Soft hybrid intrinsically motile robot for wireless small bowel enteroscopy.

Background: Difficulties in establishing diagnosis of small bowel (SB) disorders, prevented their effective treatment. This problem was largely resolved by wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE), which has since become the first line investigation for suspected SB disorders. Several types of WCE pills are now used in clinical practice, despite their limitations and complications.

Acute surgical admissions at the end of life-an analysis of non-operative hospital deaths.

Background: Patients with advanced illnesses are often admitted with acute surgical emergencies. There is currently no evidence characterising such admissions. We aimed to evaluate emergency patients, managed non-operatively, who died during the same admission.

Management of appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic; short-term outcomes.

Background And Aim: COVID-19 pandemic has predisposed patients undergoing surgery to post-operative infection and resultant complications. Appendicitis is frequently managed by appendicectomy. After the onset of the pandemic, selected cases of appendicitis were managed with antibiotics which is a recognised treatment option.

Evidence to support the early introduction of laparoscopic suturing skills into the surgical training curriculum.

Background: The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the acquisition of laparoscopic suturing skills and other operative laparoscopic skills and to provide evidence to determine ideal time and duration to introduce laparoscopic suturing training.

Methods: The first part of the study explored the relationship between the acquisition of laparoscopic suturing skills and proficiency of other operative laparoscopic skills. The second part of the study consisted of an opinion survey from senior and junior trainees on aspects of training in laparoscopic suturing.

A study of the visual symptoms in two-dimensional versus three-dimensional laparoscopy.

Aim: There are reports of visual strains and associated symptoms when operating in a 3D laparoscopic environment. We aimed to study the extent of visual symptoms seen in 3D versus conventional 2D imaging in volunteers performing laparoscopic tasks and study the effect of eye exercises on 3D laparoscopy.

Methods: Twenty four consented laparoscopic novices were required to undergo a visual acuity test (Snellen chart) and eye deviation test (Maddox Wing).

The Application of a Performance-Based Self-Administered Intra-procedural Checklist on Surgical Trainees During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Surgical checklists are in use to reduce errors for safer surgery. We aimed to study the effect of a previously designed performance-based self-administered intra-procedural checklist on the performance of trainees during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Twenty-four laparoscopic cholecystectomies were enrolled into the study.

A training tool to assess laparoscopic image navigation task performance in novice camera assistants.

Background: A number of tools for assessing task performance of the laparoscopic camera assistant have been described, but few focus on the acquisition and assessment of the attainment of proficiency in novice laparoscopic camera assistants. Our aim was to develop a simulated objective assessment tool for a novice camera assistant.

Materials And Methods: A 10-cycle image navigation task tool was developed.

A Comparative Study of Generic Visual Components of Two-Dimensional Versus Three-Dimensional Laparoscopic Images.

Aims: There is a strong evidence to suggest that 3D imaging improves the laparoscopic task performance when compared against 2D. However, to date, no study has explained why that might be. We identified six generic visual components during laparoscopic imaging and aimed to study each component in both 2D and 3D environments for comparison.

The effect of a simple intraprocedural checklist on the task performance of laparoscopic novices.

Background: Surgical checklists are used for error reduction. Checklists are infrequently applied during procedures and have been limited to lists of procedural steps as aid memoires. We aimed to study the effect of a self-administered checklist on the laparoscopic task performance of novices during a standardized task.

The effect of a performance-based intra-procedural checklist on a simulated emergency laparoscopic task in novice surgeons.

Surgical checklists are in use as means to reduce errors. Checklists are infrequently applied during emergency situations in surgery. We aimed to study the effect of a simple self-administered performance-based checklist on the laparoscopic task when applied during an emergency-simulated scenario.

Feedback in surgical education.

Introduction: The positive effect of feedback has long been recognized in surgical education. Surgical educators convey feedback to improve the performance of the surgical trainees. We aimed to review the scientific classification and application of feedback in surgical education, and to propose possible future directions for research.

Spot urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid is not an ideal diagnostic test for acute appendicitis.

Background And Purpose Of The Study: There is growing evidence to suggest the use of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) test to help with the diagnosis of appendicitis. The aim of our study was to establish whether urinary 5-HIAA could be used as an effective diagnostic test for acute appendicitis.

Design And Methods: A prospective double-blinded study was carried out from December 2014 to October 2015.

Liver retraction system by C3-muco-adhesive polymer films for laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Conventional laparoscopic instruments used for retraction may cause trauma at the retraction site. Alternative retraction/lifting especially of heavy solid organs such as the liver may be obtained by other means. The present study was designed to explore the use of C3-muco-adhesive polymers (C3-MAPs), which exhibit strong binding to the liver shortly after application to the organ and which retain strong adhesion for sufficient time, to enable sustained retraction during laparoscopic operations.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of mental training in the acquisition of technical skills in surgery.

Background: Mental training is rehearsal of mental imagery without physically performing the task. The aim of the study was to perform systematic review and meta-analysis on all the available data to evaluate the role of mental training in the acquisition of surgical technical skills.

Methods: The following search databases were used: EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.

Safety and feasibility of retrieval of intragastric balloon followed by antiobesity surgery on the same day.

Intragastric balloon insertion can achieve reasonable weight loss before antiobesity surgery. Removal needs to be followed by surgery to prevent subsequent weight gain. This study aims to establish the feasibility and safety of retrieval of the intragastric balloon and sleeve gastrectomy in the same sitting.

The effect of divided attention on novices and experts in laparoscopic task performance.

Background: Attention is important for the skilful execution of surgery. The surgeon's attention during surgery is divided between surgery and outside distractions. The effect of this divided attention has not been well studied previously.

Clinical outcomes of a percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis: a multicentre analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to review a series of consecutive percutaneous cholecystostomies (PC) to analyse the clinical outcomes.

Methods: All patients who underwent a PC between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed retrospectively for indications, complications, and short- and long-term outcomes.

Results: Fifty-three patients underwent a PC with a median age was 74 years (range 14-93).

Quality review of an adverse incident reporting system and root cause analysis of serious adverse surgical incidents in a teaching hospital of Scotland.

Background: A significant proportion of surgical patients are unintentionally harmed during their hospital stay. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) aims to determine the aetiology of adverse incidents that lead to patient harm and produce a series of recommendations, which would minimise the risk of recurrence of similar events, if appropriately applied to clinical practice. A review of the quality of the adverse incident reporting system and the RCA of serious adverse incidents at the Department of Surgery of Ninewells hospital, in Dundee, United Kingdom was performed.

Meta-analysis of Prolene Hernia System mesh versus Lichtenstein mesh in open inguinal hernia repair.

Background: This study was designed to systematically analyse all published randomized clinical trials comparing the Prolene Hernia System (PHS) mesh and Lichtenstein mesh for open inguinal hernia repair.

Method: A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and Science Citation Index Expanded. Randomized trials comparing the Lichtenstein Mesh repair (LMR) with the Prolene Hernia System were included.

Evidence-based choice of esophageal stent for the palliative management of malignant dysphagia.

Background: The type of stent used for the management of patients with malignant dysphagia is chosen according to subjective physician's preference. There is no recent study available to provide updated evidence on early outcomes related to the use of different types of stents.

Methods: A literature search was performed using Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases for comparative studies assessing different types of stents.

Elasticity of the living abdominal wall in laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery requires inflation of the abdominal cavity and this offers a unique opportunity to measure the mechanical properties of the living abdominal wall. We used a motion analysis system to study the abdominal wall motion of 18 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, and found that the mean Young's modulus was 27.7+/-4.

Abdominal wall lift versus positive-pressure capnoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare intraoperative cardiac function, postoperative cognitive recovery, and surgical performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy with abdominal wall lift (AWL) versus positive-pressure capnoperitoneum (PPCpn).

Summary Background Data: AWL has been proposed as an alternative approach to PPCpn to avoid adverse cardio-respiratory changes. However, the workspace obtained with the AWL is less optimal than PPCpn and previous studies documenting delayed postoperative recovery of consciousness following PPCpn have not assessed mental alertness despite its importance.