The British journal of surgery
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Review
Systematic review of measurement tools to assess surgeons' intraoperative cognitive workload.
Surgeons in the operating theatre deal constantly with high-demand tasks that require simultaneous processing of a large amount of information. In certain situations, high cognitive load occurs, which may impact negatively on a surgeon's performance. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the different methods used to assess surgeons' cognitive load, and a critique of the reliability and validity of current assessment metrics. ⋯ Self-report instruments are valuable when the aim is to assess the overall cognitive load in different surgical procedures and assess learning curves within competence-based surgical education. When the aim is to assess cognitive load related to specific operative stages, real-time tools should be used, as they allow capture of cognitive load fluctuation. A combination of both subjective and objective methods might provide optimal measurement of surgeons' cognition.
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The aim of this study was to monitor the effect of humidified-warm carbon dioxide (HWCO2 ) delivered into the open abdomen of mice, simulating laparotomy. ⋯ HWCO2 diffusion into the abdomen in the context of open surgery afforded tissue protection and accelerated tissue repair in mice, while preserving normothermia. Surgical relevance Damage to the peritoneum always occurs during open abdominal surgery, by exposure to desiccating air and by mechanical trauma/damage owing to the surgical intervention. Previous experimental studies showed that humidified-warm carbon dioxide (HWCO2 ) reduced peritoneal damage during laparoscopic insufflation. Additionally, this intervention decreased experimental peritoneal carcinomatosis compared with the use of conventional dry-cold carbon dioxide. In the present experimental study, the simple delivery of HWCO2 into the open abdomen reduced the amount of cellular damage and inflammation, and accelerated tissue repair. Sites of surgical intervention serve as ideal locations for cancer cell adhesion and subsequent tumour formation, but this was not changed measurably by the delivery of HWCO2 .
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparative analysis of the outcomes of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in England and Sweden.
There is substantial international variation in mortality after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair; many non-operative factors influence risk-adjusted outcomes. This study compared 90-day and 5-year mortality for patients undergoing elective AAA repair in England and Sweden. ⋯ Mortality for elective AAA repair was initially poorer in England than Sweden, but improved over time alongside greater uptake of EVAR, and now there is no difference. Centres performing a greater proportion of EVAR procedures achieved better results in England.
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Centralizing specialist cancer surgery services aims to reduce variations in quality of care and improve patient outcomes, but increases travel demands on patients and families. This study aimed to evaluate preferences of patients, health professionals and members of the public for the characteristics associated with centralization. ⋯ Respondents' preferences in this selected sample were consistent with centralization.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of neoadjuvant therapy and its impact in facilitating breast conservation in operable breast cancer.
Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for operable breast cancer may facilitate more breast-conserving surgery (BCS). It seems, however, that this benefit is not being realized fully. ⋯ Breast surgery performed after NAT does not reflect tumour response, resulting in potentially unnecessary radical surgery, especially mastectomy. The barriers to maximizing the surgical benefits of NAT need to be better understood and explored.