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Many trauma patients currently transferred from rural and community hospitals (RCH) to Level I trauma centers (LITC) for trauma surgery evaluation may instead be appropriate for immediate discharge or admission to the local facility after evaluation by a trauma and acute care surgery (TACS) surgeon. Unnecessary use of resources occurs with current practice. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptance of a teletrauma surgery consultation service between LITC and RCH.LITC TACS surgeons provided telehealth consults on trauma patients from 3 local RCHs. After consultation, appropriate patients were transferred to LITC; selected patients remained at or were discharged from RCH. Participating TACS surgeons and RCH physicians were surveyed.A total of 28 patients met inclusion criteria during the 5-month pilot phase, with 7 excluded due to workflow issues. The mean ± SD age was 63 ± 17 years. Of 21 patients, 7 had intracranial hemorrhage; 12 had rib fractures. The mean ± SD Injury Severity Score was 8.1 ± 4.0). A total of 6 patients were discharged from RCH, 4 admitted to RCH hospitalist service, 2 transferred to a LITC emergency room, and 9 transferred to LITC as direct admission. There was one 30-day readmission and no missed injuries or complications, or deaths. RCH providers were highly satisfied with the teletrauma surgery consultation service, TACS surgeons, and equipment used. Mental demand and effort of consulting TACS surgeons decreased significantly as the consult number increased.Teletrauma surgery consultation involving 3 RCH within our system is feasible and acceptable. A total of 10 transfers and 19 emergency department visits were avoided. There was favorable acceptance by RCH providers and TACS surgeons.

Background Although physician health promotes retention to the profession and encourages higher-quality patient care, residents can face challenges seeking routine medical care. Erratic working hours, time constraints, easy access to informal health consultation, and a culture of self-reliance can deter help-seeking behavior. Despite national focus on physician burnout and efforts to promote wellness, little is known about the self-care habits of residents. The goal of this study was to evaluate the routine healthcare practices of resident physicians. Study Design A 44-question survey with questions on medical and psychiatric health was electronically distributed to 102 program directors in 20 New England teaching hospitals. Program directors were asked to forward the survey to current trainees. Results Two hundred and ninety-nine residents completed the survey. One-third of respondents reported not having a routine place for care (RPFC), and these residents had lower use of preventive health services. Thirty-eight percent of residents taking daily prescription medication did not have an RPFC. Compared with residents in family medicine, those in surgery, internal medicine, radiology, anesthesia, OB/GYN, and pediatrics were considerably more likely to lack an RPFC. Although two-thirds of respondents reported symptoms of depression, these residents were less likely to have been under the care of a mental health professional than those who did not report depression symptoms. Conclusions Despite a high prevalence of self-reported depression and prescription medication use, a significant proportion of surveyed resident physicians in New England do not seek mental health resources and lack consistent, routine healthcare. Resident health is vital to the mission of physician well-being and mitigating the escalating problem of burnout. Barriers to self-care and help-seeking behavior should be evaluated to promote sustainable behavior that will encourage a long professional career.

Objective Recent surgical education literature has focused on means of improving structured educational experience in residency, particularly in the context of limited working hours. In addition, prior studies have illustrated a void in training regarding leadership. Learning teams have been adopted in several medical schools with an aim to improve the educational experience. We instituted resident learning teams with a goal of improving resident education. Design In the 2015 to 2016 academic year, we implemented a team-based learning (TBL) system of 5 teams each led by 1 to 2 chief residents and containing an approximately equal number of residents from postgraduate year (PGY)1-4. The learning teams competed for points based on weekly quizzes, preparation of materials for resident teaching, and American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE) scores. After a full year of TBL, residents were surveyed on their view of the learning teams with respect to the educational experience in the residency with a series of Likert-type questions. Median ABSITE scores of categorical interns were compared between the 3 years after the implementation of the learning teams and the 4 years prior with a Mann-Whitney U test. Setting Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Tertiary Care Center. Participants All residents from 2011 to 2018. Results After TBL implementation, median ABSITE percentile scores of PGY2-5 residents increased (35-44, p = 0.04). PGY1 scores were not significantly changed. After TBL implementation, a majority of residents agreed or strongly agreed that they studied more consistently, felt more prepared for the ABSITE, were more prepared for resident school, learned more in resident school, and that the learning teams improved the educational experience of the residency. Conclusions Learning teams subjectively improved the educational experience in our residency and engaged residents in studying and participating. In addition, PGY2-5 ABSITE scores were significantly improved. Learning teams are a program that can be easily adopted by surgical residencies elsewhere.

Background On July 1, 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) eliminated 30-hour call in an attempt to improve resident wakefulness. We surveyed interns on the Newton Wellesley Hospital (NWH) surgery service before and after the transition from Q4 overnight call to a night float schedule. Methods For 15 weeks, interns completed weekly surveys including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The service changed to a night float schedule after 3 weeks (ie, first to 3–4 and then to 6 nights in a row). Results The average ESS score rose from 9.8 ± 5.2 to 14.9 ± 3.1 and 14.4 ± 4.5 ( P = .042) on the 3/4 and 6/1 schedules, respectively. Interns were more likely to be abnormally tired on either night float schedule (relative risk=2.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–6.97, P = .029). Conclusions The new ACGME work hours increased the ESS scores among interns at NWH and caused interns to be more tired than interns on the Q4 schedule. This is likely caused by the multiple nights of poor sleep without a post-call day to make up sleep.

Laparoscopy has emerged as an alternative to laparotomy in select trauma patients. In animal models, increasing abdominal pressure is associated with an increase in intrathoracic and intracranial pressures. We conducted a prospective trial of human subjects who underwent laparoscopic-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (lap VPS) with intraoperative measurement of intrathoracic, intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures. Ten patients undergoing lap VPS were recruited. Abdominal insufflation was performed using CO2 to 0, 8, 10, 12 and 15 mmHg. ICP was measured through the ventricular catheter simultaneously with insufflation and with desufflation using a manometer. Peak inspiratory pressures (PIP) were measured through the endotracheal tube. Blood pressure was measured using a noninvasive blood pressure cuff. End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) was measured for each set of abdominal pressure level. Pressure measurements from all points of insufflation were compared using a two-way ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferroni test. Mean changes in pressures were compared using t test. ICP and PIP increased significantly with increasing abdominal pressure (both p

Objective To determine how the new 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education work hours affected case volume across postgraduate year (PGY) levels of surgical trainees. Design Retrospective review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs of surgical residents at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2006 to 2013. Setting Tertiary care center. Participants All categorical surgical residents from 2006 to 2013. Results PGY-1 cases decreased from 139 (122.25-172.5) to 111.5 (102.25-117.5) (p = 0.003). PGY-2 case volume decreased as well from 162 (151.5-192) to 126 (95.5-173) (p = 0.011). Only 45% of PGY-2 residents performed more than 250 major cases after the work hours changed compared with 82% of residents before 2011. PGY-3 cases increased from 263 (215-309) to 309 (282-340) (p = 0.0038). Cases performed by PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents were not statistically different. Total cases performed by graduating chiefs, however, has increased from 987 (848.5-1050) to 1090 (1033-1145) (p = 0.0006). Conclusions Intern and PGY-2 case volume has declined at our institution as new work-hour regulations took effect in 2011. However, PGY-3 case volume increased significantly, and graduating chiefs are graduating with more cases. The work hours do not appear to have had the intended result of improving intern educational experience from a standpoint of case volume. Significant programmatic changes will likely be required to achieve the 250-case minimum by the end of PGY-2 year, as per 2014 American Board of Surgery requirements.

Background Laparoscopy has emerged as an alternative to laparotomy in select trauma patients. In animal models, increasing abdominal pressure is associated with an increase in intrathoracic and intracranial pressures. We conducted a prospective trial of human subjects who underwent laparoscopic-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (lap VPS) with intraoperative measurement of intrathoracic, intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures.

Importance Increased abdominal pressure may have a negative effect on intracranial pressure (ICP). Human data on the effects of laparoscopy on ICP are lacking. We retrospectively reviewed laparoscopic operations for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement to determine the effect of insufflation on ICP. Observations Nine patients underwent insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at pressures ranging from 8 to 15 mm Hg and ICP measured through a ventricular catheter. We used a paired t test to compare ICP with insufflation and desufflation. Linear regression correlated insufflation pressure with ICP. The mean ICP increase with 15–mm Hg insufflation is 7.2 (95% CI, 5.4-9.1 [ P 2 O. The increase in ICP correlated with increasing insufflation pressure ( P = .04). Maximum ICP recorded was 25 cm H 2 O. Conclusions and Relevance Intracranial pressure significantly increases with abdominal insufflation and correlates with laparoscopic insufflation pressure. The maximum ICP measured was a potentially dangerous 25 cm H 2 O. Laparoscopy should be used cautiously in patients with a baseline elevated ICP or head trauma.

anorexia. In addition 11 patients reported GERD, 3 had recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis and 7 cases presented symptoms of upper GI obstruction. 5 patients had previously undergone fundoplication without symptoms relief. Mean aorto-mesenteric angle was 18° +/-1.8 and distance 4.6 +/2.1 mm. A duodenojejunostomy was performed in 7 patients, in the remainders the duodenojejunostomy was done after distal duodenum resection. There were no mortality, we observed 2 post operative complications: an abdominal bleeding and a mild acute pancreatitis. At mean follow period of 10 +/6.3 months, all patients are well and alive, 2 of them are still complaining mild epigastric pain. There is a significant improvement in patient weight (pre-operatory mean 50+/-1 kg, post-operatory mean 55+/-9 kg p= 0.003) and BMI (pre-operatory mean 18.1+/-3.4 kg, post-operatory mean 20.0+/-3.4 kg p= 0.004) and there is a significant decreased in need of PPI therapy (p=0.004). We didn't observed significant differences, in the outcome, between the two surgical procedures. Conclusions: Duodenojejunostomy can be recommended as a safe and appropriate option for SMAS. In our series there is no significant difference between distal duodenal resection with duodenojejunostomy and duodenojejunostomy bypass.