Ross Moskowitz

Preliminary Study of Virtual Reality and Model Simulation for Learning Laparoscopic Suturing Skills

PURPOSE Repetitive practice of laparoscopic suturing and knot tying can facilitate surgeon proficiency in performing this reconstructive technique. We compared a silicone model and pelvic trainer to a virtual reality simulator in the learning of laparoscopic suturing and knot tying by laparoscopically naïve medical students, and evaluated the subsequent performance of porcine laparoscopic cystorrhaphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 20 medical students underwent a 1-hour didactic session with video demonstration of laparoscopic suturing and knot tying by an expert laparoscopic surgeon. The students were randomized to a pelvic trainer (10) or virtual reality simulator (10) for a minimum of 2 hours of laparoscopic suturing and knot tying training. Within 1 week of the training session the medical students performed laparoscopic closure of a 2 cm cystotomy in a porcine model. Objective structured assessment of technical skills for laparoscopic cystorrhaphy was performed at the procedure by laparoscopic surgeons blinded to the medical student training format. A video of the procedure was evaluated with an objective structured assessment of technical skills by an expert laparoscopic surgeon blinded to medical student identity and training format. The medical students completed an evaluation questionnaire regarding the training format after the laparoscopic cystorrhaphy. RESULTS All students were able to complete the laparoscopic cystorrhaphy. There was no difference between the pelvic trainer and virtual reality groups in mean +/- SD time to perform the porcine cystorrhaphy at 40 +/- 15 vs 41 +/- 10 minutes (p = 0.87) or the objective structured assessment of technical skills score of 8.8 +/- 2.3 vs 8.2 +/- 2.2 (p = 0.24), respectively. Bladder leak occurred in 3 (30%) of the pelvic trainer trained and 6 (60%) of the virtual reality trained medical student laparoscopic cystorrhaphy procedures (Fisher exact test p = 0.37). The only significant difference between the 2 groups was that 4 virtual reality trained medical students considered the training session too short compared to none of those trained on the pelvic trainer (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS There is no significant difference between the pelvic trainer and virtual reality trained medical students in proficiency to perform laparoscopic cystorrhaphy in a pig model, although both groups require considerably more training before performing this procedure clinically. The pelvic trainer training may be more user-friendly for the novice surgeon to begin learning these challenging laparoscopic skills.

Preliminary Evaluation of a Genitourinary Skills Training Curriculum for Medical Students

PURPOSE Basic urology training in medical school is considered important for many medical and surgical disciplines. We developed a 2-day intensive genitourinary skills training curriculum for medical students beginning their clinical clerkship training years and evaluated the initial experience with this program. MATERIALS AND METHODS All 94 third-year medical students at the University of California, Irvine were required to participate in a 5.5-hour genitourinary examination skills training program. The teaching course included 1.5 hours of didactic lecture and video presentation with questions and answers, followed by 5, 45-minute hands-on stations including male Foley catheter placement, female Foley catheter placement, testicular examination and digital rectal examination training with a standardized patient, virtual reality cystourethroscopy and, lastly, a urologist led tutorial of abnormal genitourinary findings. The students completed questionnaires before and after the course concerning their experience. At the end of the course the students rated the usefulness of each part of the curriculum and evaluated the faculty. In addition, they were required to complete a multiple choice examination that included 4 genitourinary specific questions. RESULTS All 94 medical students completed the genitourinary skills training course. Before the course less than 10% of students reported comfort with genitourinary skills, including testicular examination (5%), digital rectal examination (10%), male Foley catheter placement and female Foley catheter placement (2%). Following the course the comfort level improved in all parameters of digital rectal examination (100%) and testicular examination, male Foley catheter placement and female Foley catheter placement (98%). The students rated in the order of most to least useful training 1) standardized patient for testicular examination and digital rectal examination teaching, 2) male Foley catheter placement and female Foley catheter placement training, 3) didactic lecture, 4) tutorial of abnormal genitourinary examination findings and 5) virtual reality cystourethroscopy. On the examination questions following the course 80% to 98% of the class answered each urology content question correctly. CONCLUSIONS An intensive skills training curriculum significantly improved medical student comfort and knowledge with regard to basic genitourinary skills including testicular examination, rectal examination, and Foley catheter placement in the male and female patient. Further followup will be performed to determine the application of these skills during clinical clerkship rotations.

Laboratory Evaluation of Laparoscopic Vascular Clamps Using a Load-Cell Device—Are All Clamps the Same?

PURPOSE The use of effective vascular clamps is key to successful laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Based on our clinical experience the occlusive capabilities of vascular clamps appeared to be quite variable. We compared the occlusive force of currently available laparoscopic vascular clamps. MATERIALS AND METHODS The jaw force of 3 laparoscopic vascular clamps (Aesculap(R), Klein Surgical Systems, San Antonio, Texas and Karl Storztrade mark) were measured by clamping a 2.2 mm compression load cell (Interface Advanced Force Measurement, Scottsdale, Arizona) in pound-force. The variables tested were handheld Satinsky, DeBakey and Storz clamps vs bulldog clamps, proximal, middle and distal application position, new vs used bulldog clamps and new vs used Satinsky handheld clamps. In addition, handheld clamps were tested according to the force generated by the notches in the locking mechanism. Force retention was also determined for all instruments after clamping a 20Fr latex rubber catheter for an hour. Finally, leak pressure studies were performed using a harvested porcine artery to determine the relationship between jaw force and leak pressure in mm Hg of bulldog and Satinsky handheld clamps using a pressure gauge (Cole-Parmer(R)). RESULTS Handheld vascular clamps provided greater force than bulldog clamps. The proximal position closest to the hinge provided the greatest force across all instruments. Compared to new clamps the 2-year-old Klein Surgical Systems bulldog clamps showed a greater than 40% decrease in jaw force at all positions, whereas the 3-year-old Aesculap bulldog clamps decreased in jaw force by less than 9% at all positions. The 2-year-old Satinsky handheld clamps showed a decrease of 20%, 9% and 0% at the distal, middle and proximal jaw positions, respectively. Also, there was a positive correlation between force and the number of notches applied in handheld clamps. In addition, all instruments maintained jaw force after 1 hour of continuous clamping. Finally, leak pressure studies performed with used clamps showed that Klein Surgical Systems bulldog, Aesculap bulldog and Satinsky handheld clamps leaked at a pressure of 153 to 223, 465 to 795 and 1,500 to 2,600 mm Hg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Vascular clamps have varying occlusive forces according to clamp type, manufacturer, jaw and teeth characteristics, jaw clamping position and duration of use. However, across all clamps the jaw force was greatest at the proximal position. This is most important when applying laparoscopic bulldog clamps. In contrast, all handheld vascular clamps generated higher force than intracorporeal bulldog clamps. At 1 notch the handheld vascular clamps provided supraphysiological occlusion force regardless of position or manufacturer.

Erosion of Embolization Coils into the Renal Collecting System Mimicking Stone

Urinary tract interventions can lead to multiple complications in the renal collecting system, including retained foreign bodies from endourologic or percutaneous procedures, such as stents, nephrostomy tubes, and others. We report a case of very delayed erosion of embolization coils migrating into the renal pelvis, acting as a nidus for stone formation, causing mild obstruction and finally leading to gross hematuria roughly 18 years post transarterial embolization. History is significant for a remote unsuccessful endopyelotomy attempt that required an urgent embolization.

Consideration of comorbidity in risk stratification prior to prostate biopsy

Previously, the patient‐reported Total Illness Burden Index for Prostate Cancer (TIBI‐CaP) questionnaire and/or the physician‐reported Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) have provided assessments of competing comorbidity during treatment decisions for patients with prostate cancer. In the current study, the authors used these assessments to determine comorbidity and prognosis before prostate biopsy and the subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer to identify those patients least likely to benefit from treatment.

Evaluation of the outcomes of electrosurgical induced bowel injury treated with tissue glue/sealant versus sutured repair in a rabbit model.

INTRODUCTION Bowel injury is an uncommon, although potentially devastating, intraoperative laparoscopic complication. Questions have been raised about the possible use of a tissue adhesive to repair injured bowel. We compared glued repair and sutured repair of both large bowel (LB) and small bowel (SB) electrosurgical injuries in a rabbit model. METHODS Pneumoperitoneum was obtained, and four laparoscopic ports were placed in each of 48 New Zealand rabbits. The hook electrode was used in a specified manner to create an equal number of uniform full-thickness injuries to either the SB or the LB. Laparoscopic repair was performed with a 3-0 silk Lembert suture (LS), fibrin glue (FG), or BioGlue (BG), or repair was not performed (i.e., no repair, NR); the animals were monitored for 3 weeks. Adverse clinical outcomes and findings at laparotomy were recorded. Pathologic assessment included an objective scaled evaluation of the intensity of the inflammatory response and degree of healing. RESULTS In the SB injury group, deteriorating clinical condition necessitated early euthanasia in one animal repaired with FG, one animal repaired with BG, and two animals with NR. LS repair animals had no adverse clinical outcomes. The LB injury group had no adverse clinical outcomes regardless of the method of repair, including the control group. Of the animals that survived for 3 weeks, the animals repaired with BG had more intraabdominal adhesions (100%) than LS (33%), FG (55%), and NR (50%) (p = 0.001). The pathologic assessment revealed that BG induced a more intense inflammatory response (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION In the rabbit, suture repair of an electrosurgical SB injury appears to have improved outcomes when compared with a glued repair. In contrast, LB injury responded well to any form of treatment. The data suggest that suture is superior to biological glues when dealing with a laparoscopic electrosurgical bowel injury.

58 TOTAL ILLNESS BURDEN INDEX FOR PROSTATE CANCER (TIBI-CAP) PRIOR TO PROSTATE BIOPSY CAN PREDICT OTHER CAUSE MORBIDITY

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The treatment of prostate cancer is evaluated in the context of a patient’s age and comorbidity. Shifting the assessment of a patient’s health status to a point earlier in the process of disease evaluation and treatment may be useful to identify more suitable candidates to begin this process earlier rather than later. The Total Illness Burden Index for Prostate Cancer (TIBI-CaP) questionnaire is an immediate patient reported measure of comorbidity to guide decision making. We compare it prospectively to the standard physician reported Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in patients undergoing prostate biopsy to predict hospital admissions. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was performed of 133 participants prior to obtaining a transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Eleven patients had incomplete data or missing follow-up; therefore, a total of 122 (92%) patients were retained for a mean of 21 months (range 4 31 months). The TIBI-CaP and CCI scores were compared between subgroups defined by non-elective hospital admission, elective surgery, non-prostate malignancy and survival status using t-tests. RESULTS: Patients averaged 64.5 years at enrollment. One patient died in the study from a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The overall hospital admission rate was 17% (21/122), most commonly from cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Forty-six men (38%) were diagnosed with cancer on the prostate biopsy. Twenty-three percent (28/122) had elective non-prostate surgery and 5% (6/122) were diagnosed with a non-prostate malignancy. Mean TIBI-CaP scores were higher in men who were admitted to the hospital (5.1 vs. 3.5, p 0.03), had elective surgery (4.8 vs. 3.4, p 0.05) or non-prostate cancers (5.5 vs 3.7, p 0.17) with odds ratios displayed in figure 1. No significant differences were observed in CCI scores. In stepwise logistic regression, a TIBI-CaP score 5.0 was associated with 3.5 times higher risk for hospital admission (95% CI: 1.3-10.0, p 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The patient-reported measure of comorbidity (TIBI-CaP) identified patients at high risk for non-elective hospital admission over at 20 month average follow up period and may aid medical decision making specifically in the prostate biopsy population better than that of the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Source of Funding: None

Use of total illness burden index for prostate cancer (TIBI-CaP) to predict nonprostate cancer morbidity.

215 Background: Comorbidities significantly influence how physicians approach the treatment of prostate cancer and should be evaluated prior to the prostate biopsy. The Total Illness Burden Index for Prostate Cancer (TIBI-CaP) patient questionnaire and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) usually calculated by the physician, may provide information on competing risks but have not been compared prospectively. METHODS A prospective observational cohort study was performed of 133 participants prior to obtaining a transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Eleven patients had incomplete data or missing follow-up; therefore, a total of 122 (92%) patients were retained for a mean of 21 months (range 4 - 31 months). The TIBI-CaP and CCI scores were compared between subgroups defined by non-elective hospital admission, elective surgery, non-prostate malignancy and survival status using t-tests. RESULTS Patients averaged 64.5 years at enrollment. One patient died in the study from a metastatic sarcoma. The overall hospital admission rate was 17% (21/122), most commonly from cardiovascular or pulmonary complications. Forty-six men (38%) were diagnosed with cancer on the prostate biopsy. The most common treatments were prostatectomy (39%), active surveillance (26%), or external beam radiation therapy (20%). Twenty-three percent (28/122) had elective surgery and 5% (6/122) were diagnosed with a non-prostate malignancy. Mean TIBI-CaP scores were higher in men who were admitted to the hospital (5.1 vs. 3.5, p=0.03), had elective surgery (4.8 vs. 3.4, p=0.05) or non-prostate cancer (5.5 vs 3.7, p=0.17). No significant differences were observed in CCI scores In stepwise logistic regression, a TIBI-CaP score > 5.0 was associated with 3.5 times higher risk for hospital admission (95% CI: 1.3-10.0, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS The patient-reported measure of comorbidity (TIBI-CaP) identified patients at high risk for non-elective hospital admission over at 20 month average follow up period and may aid medical decision making specifically in the prostate biopsy population better than that of the Charlson Comorbidity Index.