The Journal of surgical research
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Camera handling and navigation are essential skills in laparoscopic surgery. Surgeons rely on camera operators, usually the least experienced members of the team, for visualization of the operative field. Essential skills for camera operators include maintaining orientation, an effective horizon, appropriate zoom control, and a clean lens. Virtual reality (VR) simulation may be a useful adjunct to developing camera skills in a novice population. No standardized VR-based camera navigation curriculum is currently available. We developed and implemented a novel curriculum on the LapSim VR simulator platform for our residents and students. We hypothesize that our curriculum will demonstrate construct and face validity in our trainee population, distinguishing levels of laparoscopic experience as part of a realistic training curriculum. ⋯ The VR-based camera navigation curriculum demonstrates construct and face validity for our training population. Camera navigation simulation may be a valuable tool that can be integrated into training protocols for residents and medical students during their surgery rotations.
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of resuscitative endovascular aortic balloon occlusion (REBOA) of the distal aorta in a porcine model of pelvic hemorrhage. ⋯ Balloon occlusion of the aorta is an effective method to control pelvic arterial hemorrhage. This technique should be further developed as an adjunct to manage noncompressible pelvic hemorrhage.
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Approximately 12% of operations for traumatic neuropathy are for patients with segmental nerve loss, and less than 50% of these injuries obtain meaningful functional recovery. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) therapy has been shown to improve functional outcomes after nerve severance, and we hypothesized this therapy could also benefit nerve autografting. ⋯ Polyethylene glycol therapy improves early physiologic function, behavioral outcomes, and distal axonal density after nerve autografting.