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Surgical Technologies (surgical + technology)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	83%

Selected Abstracts

ASERNIP-S: INTERNATIONAL TREND SETTING

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 10 2008
Guy Maddern
The Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures , Surgical (ASERNIP-S) came into being 10 years ago to provide health technology assessments specifically tailored towards new surgical techniques and technologies. It was and remains the only organisation in the world to focus on this area of research. Most funding has been provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, and assessments have helped inform the introduction of new surgical techniques into Australia. ASERNIP-S is a project of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The ASERNIP-S program employs a diverse range of methods including systematic reviews, technology overviews, assessments of new and emerging surgical technologies identified by horizon scanning, and audit. Support and guidance for the program is provided by Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. ASERNIP-S works closely with consumers to produce health technology assessments and audits, as well as consumer information to keep patients fully informed of research. Since its inception, the ASERNIP-S program has developed a strong international profile through the production of over 60 reports on evidence-based surgery, surgical technologies and audit. The work undertaken by ASERNIP-S has evolved from assessments of the safety and efficacy of procedures to include guidance on policies and surgical training programs. ASERNIP-S needs to secure funding so that it can continue to play an integral role in the improvement of quality of care both in Australia and internationally. [source]

Minimally invasive surgical technologies: Challenges in education and training

ASIAN JOURNAL OF ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2010
J Sándor
Abstract The laparoscopic revolution has fundamentally changed surgical technology. However, this new technology, with its unique psychomotor adaptations, has been a challenge for both experienced and novice surgeons. This review summarizes the history of practical education and training methods and those currently used to ensure surgeons safely practice these new surgical skills. Traditional training boxes, augmented reality simulators and virtual reality simulators represent recently developed educational tools. There are objective programs that subsequently assess the results of training by these simulation methods. Additionally, the advent of robotics in laparoscopic surgery has been accompanied by the introduction of computer-based robotic surgical simulators. Surgical curricula should also include non-technical skills training, particularly as global certification of technical and non-technical surgical skills is expected in the near future. Ultimately, these new systems of surgical simulation contribute to a decrease in surgical error as well as with reduced morbidity and mortality. [source]

Recent trends in the use of radical prostatectomy in England: the epidemiology of diffusion

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003
S.E. Oliver
OBJECTIVE To describe recent trends in the use of radical prostatectomy (RP) in England, as there is currently no consensus on the most effective treatment for localized prostate cancer, although RP is the treatment of choice among urological surgeons for men aged < 70 years. METHODS Routine data were assessed to establish the number of RPs performed in England in 1991,99. Age-standardized operation rates were compared by region and socio-economic group, and the geographical spread of use mapped. RESULTS The number of RPs performed annually increased nearly 20-fold between 1991 and 1999. Rates of surgery were greatest in the London National Health Service (NHS) regions and lowest in the Trent region. Outside London, the risk of surgery in a NHS hospital was significantly greater for men living in the least deprived areas; in London this trend was reversed. CONCLUSION Rapid increases in the use of RP showed marked regional variations, most likely related to access to prostate-specific antigen testing and the location of surgeons able to carry out radical surgery. By 1999, a third of procedures were still being undertaken in ,low-volume' hospitals, with implications for the quality of care and outcomes. Crucially, these developments occurred in the absence of robust information about the effectiveness of RP. Recent funding of a randomized trial of treatment options in this area is welcome, but wider questions remain about the timing of the evaluation of surgical technologies. [source]

Learning How and Learning What: Effects of Tacit and Codified Knowledge on Performance Improvement Following Technology Adoption

DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 2 2003
Amy C. Edmondson
ABSTRACT This paper examines effects of tacit and codified knowledge on performance improvement as organizations gain experience with a new technology. We draw from knowledge management and learning curve research to predict improvement rate heterogeneity across organizations. We first note that the same technology can present opportunities for improvement along more than one dimension, such as efficiency and breadth of use. We compare improvement for two dimensions: one in which the acquisition of codified knowledge leads to improvement and another in which improvement requires tacit knowledge. We hypothesize that improvement rates across organizations will be more heterogeneous for dimensions of performance that rely on tacit knowledge than for those that rely on codified knowledge (H1), and that group membership stability predicts improvement rates for dimensions relying on tacit knowledge (H2). We further hypothesize that when performance relies on codified knowledge, later adopters should improve more quickly than earlier adopters (H3). All three hypotheses are supported in a study of 15 hospitals learning to use a new surgical technology. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. [source]

Changing work patterns for benign upper gastrointestinal and biliary disease: 1994,2007

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 7-8 2010
Alexander P. M. Jay
Abstract Background:, The evolution of surgical technology has impacted on surgical practice. We determined trends in surgical caseload for common benign biliary and uppergastrointestinal conditions in Australia over the last 15 years. Methods:, Using the Medicare Australia web site, the use of Medicare item numbers specific to gall stone, bariatric and anti-reflux procedures were determined nationally and for each Australian state for each year from 1994 to 2007. Rates of operative cholangiography, laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy conversion and bile duct exploration were calculated. Per capita use of bariatric procedures was also determined. Anti-reflux surgery was analysed as total and specific subgroups of anti-reflux procedures. Results:, The use of intra-operative cholangiography has increased over time, and the conversion to open cholecystectomy and application of common bile duct exploration both decreased. A rapid increase in restrictive bariatric procedures has occurred, and this has been followed by a similar increase in revision bariatric surgery and lap band adjustments. The application of anti-reflux surgery has also increased significantly with the repair of large hiatus hernia accounting for most of the increase over the last five years, whereas revision anti-reflux surgery remains uncommon. Conclusions:, These data demonstrate significant increases in the application of some laparoscopic surgical techniques, particularly for morbid obesity. Future health-care planning will need to consider the impact of these changes. [source]