American journal of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Verbal feedback from an expert is more effective than self-accessed feedback about motion efficiency in learning new surgical skills.
Teaching of technical surgical skills to undergraduate medical students in a laboratory setting away from the patient is not common practice. Because of the large volume of students and shortage of available teaching faculty new methods of teaching must be developed for this group of trainees. In this study we examined the effectiveness of computer-based video training, different types of computer-based motion efficiency feedback (with and without expert criteria), and expert feedback on learning of a basic technical skill in medical students. ⋯ Verbal feedback from an expert instructor led to lasting improvements in technical skills performance. Providing information about motion efficiency did not lead to similar improvements.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Talactoferrin alfa, a recombinant human lactoferrin promotes healing of diabetic neuropathic ulcers: a phase 1/2 clinical study.
Talactoferrin alfa, a recombinant form of human lactoferrin, is a novel immunomodulatory protein with demonstrated ulcer healing properties in animal models. ⋯ Topical talactoferrin appears to be safe and well tolerated and improves healing of diabetic neuropathic ulcers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The use of cognitive task analysis to improve the learning of percutaneous tracheostomy placement.
The purpose of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of using cognitive task analysis (CTA) to develop a curriculum to teach the behavioral skills and the cognitive strategies of a percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) placement. ⋯ The use of CTA was effective in improving the cognitive processes and technical skills of performing a PT for surgical residents.
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Case Reports
Hypersensitivity reaction against patent blue during sentinel lymph node removal in three melanoma patients.
In order to identify the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in melanoma patients intradermal injection of a radiocolloid tracer and a blue dye are commonly used. Life-threatening side effects such as allergic reactions to the injected dye have been described. We report 3 cases with systemic allergic reactions. ⋯ Although allergic reactions to blue dye during SLN biopsy are rare, they may be life threatening. It is important that the attending anesthetist is aware of this.
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Medical students' decreasing interest in surgery may be caused by the inadequate availability of role models. We believe that surgical residents show the qualities of outstanding surgical mentors and are in a key position to influence students' career choices. ⋯ Role models are crucial in bolstering medical students' interest in surgical careers. Residents are identified as having qualities that are essential to being an outstanding mentor and residents may play a role in influencing students' career choices.