Yusuke Watanabe1,2, Yo Kurashima3, Amin Madani4, Liane S Feldman4, Minoru Ishida5, Akihiko Oshita6,7, Takeshi Naitoh8, Kazuhiro Noma9, Keigo Yasumasa10, Hiroshi Nagata11, Fumitaka Nakamura12, Koichi Ono13, Yoshinori Suzuki14, Nobuhisa Matsuhashi15, Toshiaki Shichinohe3, Satoshi Hirano3. 1. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Sapporo, Japan. ywatanabe328@gmail.com. 2. Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. ywatanabe328@gmail.com. 3. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Sapporo, Japan. 4. Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. 5. Department of Clinical Engineering, KKR Tonan Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. 6. Department of Surgery, JA Hiroshima General Hospital, Hatsukaichi, Japan. 7. Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. 8. Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. 9. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan. 10. Department of Surgery, JCHO Osaka Hospital, Osaka, Japan. 11. Department of General Surgery, Kameta Memorial Center, Kamogawa, Japan. 12. Department of Surgery, Teine Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. 13. Department of Surgery, Obihiro Kosei General Hospital, Obihiro, Japan. 14. Department of Surgery, KKR Tonan Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. 15. Department of Surgical Oncology, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of surgical energy devices and the potential for rare but serious complications, pilot data from North America suggest that surgeons and surgical trainees have knowledge gaps in their safe use. The purpose of this study was to determine baseline knowledge of general surgeons and surgical trainees regarding the safe use of electrosurgery (ES) across varying levels of experience in Japan. METHODS: Participants completed a 35-item multiple-choice question examination, testing critical knowledge of ES. The examination was developed according to the objectives and blueprints of SAGES' Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy™ curriculum. Sections of the examination included: "principles of ES," "ES-related adverse events," "monopolar and bipolar devices," and "pediatric considerations and interference with implantable devices." Scores were compared between PGY > 5 and PGY 1-5 participants. RESULTS: A total of 145 general surgeons and surgical trainees of all years after medical school (PGY 1-5: 57, PGY > 5: 88) from ten academic and five community hospitals completed the assessment (mean age 35; 91% male). The mean score in the entire cohort was 58 ± 12% (range 23-83%), with significantly higher scores in the PGY > 5 group compared to the PGY 1-5 group (60 ± 11 vs. 53 ± 12%, p < 0.01). Among all participants, 92% were not familiar with best practices when using ES on patients with a pacemaker; 44% believe that ES uses thermal energy from cautery; 19% did not know how to manage an operating room fire; 16% thought that a dispersive electrode should be cut to fit a child; and 27% believe that insulation failure in minimally invasive surgical instruments is mostly visible under careful inspection. CONCLUSIONS: General surgeons and trainees at all levels have knowledge gaps in the safe and effective use of energy devices, regardless of years of experience. There is a need for educational curricula to help address these gaps and contribute to safer surgery.
BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of surgical energy devices and the potential for rare but serious complications, pilot data from North America suggest that surgeons and surgical trainees have knowledge gaps in their safe use. The purpose of this study was to determine baseline knowledge of general surgeons and surgical trainees regarding the safe use of electrosurgery (ES) across varying levels of experience in Japan. METHODS:Participants completed a 35-item multiple-choice question examination, testing critical knowledge of ES. The examination was developed according to the objectives and blueprints of SAGES' Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy™ curriculum. Sections of the examination included: "principles of ES," "ES-related adverse events," "monopolar and bipolar devices," and "pediatric considerations and interference with implantable devices." Scores were compared between PGY > 5 and PGY 1-5 participants. RESULTS: A total of 145 general surgeons and surgical trainees of all years after medical school (PGY 1-5: 57, PGY > 5: 88) from ten academic and five community hospitals completed the assessment (mean age 35; 91% male). The mean score in the entire cohort was 58 ± 12% (range 23-83%), with significantly higher scores in the PGY > 5 group compared to the PGY 1-5 group (60 ± 11 vs. 53 ± 12%, p < 0.01). Among all participants, 92% were not familiar with best practices when using ES on patients with a pacemaker; 44% believe that ES uses thermal energy from cautery; 19% did not know how to manage an operating room fire; 16% thought that a dispersive electrode should be cut to fit a child; and 27% believe that insulation failure in minimally invasive surgical instruments is mostly visible under careful inspection. CONCLUSIONS: General surgeons and trainees at all levels have knowledge gaps in the safe and effective use of energy devices, regardless of years of experience. There is a need for educational curricula to help address these gaps and contribute to safer surgery.
Authors: Henry R Govekar; Thomas N Robinson; Paul D Varosy; Guillaume Girard; Paul N Montero; Christina L Dunn; Edward L Jones; Greg V Stiegmann Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2012-04-27 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Zorana Mayooran; Scott Pearce; Jim Tsaltas; Luk Rombauts; T Ian H Brown; Anthony S Lawrence; Kym Fraser; David L Healy Journal: BJOG Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 6.531
Authors: Liane S Feldman; Pascal Fuchshuber; Daniel B Jones; Jessica Mischna; Steven D Schwaitzberg Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2012-04-27 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Thomas N Robinson; Paul D Varosy; Girard Guillaume; James E Dunning; Nicole T Townsend; Edward L Jones; Alessandro Paniccia; Greg V Stiegmann; Christopher Weyer; Marc A Rozner Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2014-05-28 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Amin Madani; Yusuke Watanabe; Melina C Vassiliou; Pascal Fuchshuber; Daniel B Jones; Steven D Schwaitzberg; Gerald M Fried; Liane S Feldman Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2014-05-02 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Liane S Feldman; L Michael Brunt; Pascal Fuchshuber; Daniel B Jones; Stephanie B Jones; Jessica Mischna; Malcolm G Munro; Marc A Rozner; Steven D Schwaitzberg Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2013-07-17 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Ganesh Sankaranarayanan; Rajeswara R Resapu; Daniel B Jones; Steven Schwaitzberg; Suvranu De Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2013-04-23 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Alexander Hendricks; Frank Schwandner; Franz Brinkmann; Ronny Hüttner; Philipp J Mehner; Konrad Henkel; Georgi Paschew; Moritz Herzog; Nora Martens; Andreas Richter; Sebastian Hinz; Justus Groß; Clemens Schafmayer; Jochen Hampe Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2021-10-27 Impact factor: 3.453