Wearable Sensors as a Preoperative Assessment Tool: A Review

Surgery is a common first-line treatment for many types of disease, including cancer. Mortality rates after general elective surgery have seen significant decreases whilst postoperative complications remain a frequent occurrence. Preoperative assessment tools are used to support patient risk stratification but do not always provide a precise and accessible assessment. Wearable sensors (WS) provide an accessible alternative that offers continuous monitoring in a non-clinical setting. They have shown consistent uptake across the perioperative period but there has been no review of WS as a preoperative assessment tool. This paper reviews the developments in WS research that have application to the preoperative period. Accelerometers were consistently employed as sensors in research and were frequently combined with photoplethysmography or electrocardiography sensors. Pre-processing methods were discussed and missing data was a common theme; this was dealt with in several ways, commonly by employing an extraction threshold or using imputation techniques. Research rarely processed raw data; commercial devices that employ internal proprietary algorithms with pre-calculated heart rate and step count were most commonly employed limiting further feature extraction. A range of machine learning models were used to predict outcomes including support vector machines, random forests and regression models. No individual model clearly outperformed others. Deep learning proved successful for predicting exercise testing outcomes but only within large sample-size studies. This review outlines the challenges of WS and provides recommendations for future research to develop WS as a viable preoperative assessment tool

PANC Study (Pancreatitis: A National Cohort Study): national cohort study examining the first 30 days from presentation of acute pancreatitis in the UK

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a common, yet complex, emergency surgical presentation. Multiple guidelines exist and management can vary significantly. The aim of this first UK, multicentre, prospective cohort study was to assess the variation in management of acute pancreatitis to guide resource planning and optimize treatment. Methods: All patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years presenting with acute pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria, from March to April 2021 were eligible for inclusion and followed up for 30 days. Anonymized data were uploaded to a secure electronic database in line with local governance approvals. Results: A total of 113 hospitals contributed data on 2580 patients, with an equal sex distribution and a mean age of 57 years. The aetiology was gallstones in 50.6 per cent, with idiopathic the next most common (22.4 per cent). In addition to the 7.6 per cent with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 20.1 per cent of patients had a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. One in 20 patients were classed as having severe pancreatitis, as per the Atlanta criteria. The overall mortality rate was 2.3 per cent at 30 days, but rose to one in three in the severe group. Predictors of death included male sex, increased age, and frailty; previous acute pancreatitis and gallstones as aetiologies were protective. Smoking status and body mass index did not affect death. Conclusion: Most patients presenting with acute pancreatitis have a mild, self-limiting disease. Rates of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis are high. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis are common, but are likely to have reduced risk of death on subsequent admissions

Simulation in surgery: a review

The ability to acquire surgical skills requires consistent practice, and evidence suggests that many of these technical skills can be learnt away from the operating theatre. The aim of this review article is to discuss the importance of surgical simulation today and its various types, exploring the effectiveness of simulation in the clinical setting and its challenges for the future. Surgical simulation offers the opportunity for trainees to practise their surgical skills prior to entering the operating theatre, allowing detailed feedback and objective assessment of their performance. This enables better patient safety and standards of care. Surgical simulators can be divided into organic or inorganic simulators. Organic simulators, consisting of live animal and fresh human cadaver models, are considered to be of high-fidelity. Inorganic simulators comprise virtual reality simulators and synthetic bench models. Current evidence suggests that skills acquired through training with simulators, positively transfers to the clinical setting and improves operative outcome. The major challenge for the future revolves around understanding the value of this new technology and developing an educational curriculum that can incorporate surgical simulators

Curriculum-based solo virtual reality training for laparoscopic intracorporeal knot tying: objective assessment of the transfer of skill from virtual reality to reality.

BACKGROUND: Very few studies have addressed the transferability of skills from virtual reality (VR) to real life. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of teaching intracorporeal knot tying (ICKT) by VR simulation only. METHODS: Twenty novices underwent structured training of basic skills training on the Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer simulator (Mentice AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) followed by knot tying training on the LapSim simulator (Surgical Science, Gothenburg, Sweden). They were assessed pre- and post-training on a video trainer. Assessment of performance included motion tracking and video-based checklist. Nonparametric statistical analysis was used, and P < .05 was deemed significant. RESULTS: All participants completed a correct knot as compared with only 25% before VR training. Time to completion was 66% faster and knot quality 45% better after VR training. Significant reduction in number of movements (P = .006) and distance traveled (P < .000) by both hands after VR training. CONCLUSIONS: Teaching ICKT by VR simulators only is feasible and effective. Furthermore, this study highlights the complementary use of different VR simulators within a structured curriculum

Safety and Efficacy of Day-case Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Systematic Review from European Society of Uro-technology

Context: Day case or ambulatory percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has risen over the last few years with the aim of discharging patients within 24 h. Objective: We perform a systematic review of literature to evaluate the outcomes of day-case PCNL surgery. Evidence acquisition: A Cochrane style search was performed and the following bibliographic databases were accessed: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. This was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All studies in the English language reporting on PCNL patients discharged within 24 h were included. Evidence synthesis: Based on the literature search of 97 articles, nine (502 patients) met the inclusion criteria (mean age: 47 yr), with a mean stone size of 20.5 mm. The mean operating time was 66 min, and over a mean hospital stay of 17.5 h, the stone-free rate was 95%. The overall complication rate was 13.5%; the vast majority of these complications were Clavien I–II complications, with a readmission rate of 3%. Conclusions: Day-case PCNL is a safe and feasible strategy in carefully selected cases. However, for its success, detailed planning and adherence to surgical protocol are paramount with strict criteria for inpatient admission and a thorough follow-up plan. Patient summary: Day-case percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure seems to be a safe procedure with good outcomes, and low risk of complications and readmissions. Detailed preoperative protocol and planning are paramount, with indications for inpatient admission as well as a thorough follow-up plan. © 2018 European Association of Urology Day-case percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure seems to be a safe procedure with good outcomes, and low risk of complications and readmissions. Detailed preoperative protocol and planning are paramount, with indications for inpatient admission as well as a thorough follow-up plan. © 2018 European Association of Urolog