ObjectivesIncreasing patient demands, costs and emphasis on safety, coupled with reductions in the length of time surgical trainees spend in the operating theatre, necessitate means to improve the efficiency of surgical training. In this respect, feedback based on intraoperative surgical performance may be beneficial. Our aim was to systematically review the impact of intraoperative feedback based on surgical performance.SettingMEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched. Two reviewers independently reviewed citations using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. 32 data-points per study were extracted.ParticipantsThe search strategy yielded 1531 citations. Three studies were eligible, which comprised a total of 280 procedures by 62 surgeons.ResultsOverall, feedback based on intraoperative surgical performance was found to be a powerful method for improving performance. In cholecystectomy, feedback led to a reduction in procedure time (p=0.022) and an improvement in economy of movement (p<0.001). In simulated laparoscopic colectomy, feedback led to improvements in instrument path length (p=0.001) and instrument smoothness (p=0.045). Feedback also reduced error scores in cholecystectomy (p=0.003), simulated laparoscopic colectomy (p<0.001) and simulated renal artery angioplasty (p=0.004). In addition, feedback improved balloon placement accuracy (p=0.041), and resulted in a smoother learning curve and earlier plateau in performance in simulated renal artery angioplasty.ConclusionsIntraoperative feedback appears to be associated with an improvement in performance, however, there is a paucity of research in this area. Further work is needed in order to establish the long-term benefits of feedback and the optimum means and circumstances of feedback delivery.

Objective: To compare peri- and postoperative variables, surgical complications, oncological outcomes and renal outcomes of off-clamp partial nephrectomy (PN) and on-clamp PN. Methods: A systematic search of the electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library, was performed. The pooled estimates of tumour size, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, overall complications, transfusion rates, urinary leaks, positive surgical margins and eGFR were calculated. Results: 14 studies were included. There was no significant difference between off-clamp PN and on-clamp PN in terms of tumour size, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, overall complications, transfusion rates, urinary leaks, and positive surgical margins. However, a non-statistically significant trend towards increased blood loss (p = 0.12) and transfusion rates (p = 0.07) in those undergoing off-clamp PN was noted. Off-clamp PN was associated with a significantly lower reduction in eGFR than on-clamp PN (standardised weighted mean difference 0.27, 95% CI 0.14, 0.40, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Off-clamp PN may be associated with improved long-term renal outcomes when compared to on-clamp PN with no difference in in peri- and postoperative variables, surgical complications and oncological outcomes. However, the meta-analysis was limited by the design of the underlying studies, and hence further work is necessary.

The lack of competition in the surgical robots market may mean that this technology represents a poorer deal than it need do for healthcare buyers—ultimately patients, insurance companies, and taxpayers, write Abhishek Trehan and Tristan J Dunn

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The available literature suggests that feedback can improve surgical performance and outcomes; however, given the heterogeneity and limited number of studies, in addition to their non-randomised nature, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from the literature with regard to the efficacy of feedback and the specific nuances required to optimise the impact of feedback. There is a clear need for more rigorous studies to determine how feedback of outcome data may impact performance, and whether this low-cost intervention has potential to benefit surgical practice.