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OBJECTIVES The incidence, demographic characteristics, and treatment approaches for pediatric patients who present to the ED with a primary complaint of postoperative pain have not been well described. The purpose of this study was to describe opioid and nonopioid prescribing patterns for pediatric patients evaluated for postoperative pain in the Emergency Department (ED). METHODS Pediatric Health Information System is an administrative database of encounter-level data from 48 children's hospitals. Emergency department visits for postoperative pain from January 2014 to September 2017 were analyzed. Visits were matched by the Pediatric Health Information System identifier to associate corresponding same site surgery encounters directly preceding ED visits. RESULTS There were 7365 ED visits for acute postoperative pain, for which 4044 could be linked to corresponding surgical procedure. Eight-one percent of ED visits were within 7 days of surgery. Opioids were given at 1979 (49%) of visits, and nonopioids at 678 (17%) of visits. The most common surgeries preceding a postoperative pain ED visit were for tonsils and adenoids (48.5%). Age, sex, length of stay for both procedure and ED visits, procedure specialty, and the number of days between procedure discharge and admission to ED were associated with opioid administration during ED visits (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients treated in the ED for postoperative pain were often treated with opioid and nonopioid analgesics, with wide prescriber variability. Further research is warranted to help balance optimal pain management and safe prescribing practices.

Objectives To determine caregiver-reported reasons for delay of desired neonatal circumcision. Methods Caregivers requesting elective outpatient circumcision at two urban tertiary care hospitals were surveyed from 1/2017 to 12/2018. Boys >3 years and those with abnormal penile anatomy were excluded. Patient/parent demographics, insurance status, comorbidities, birth history, family history, reasons circumcision was desired, and reasons for circumcision delay were obtained. Results Surveys were completed by 206/229 caregivers (90% response rate). Respondents were primarily mothers (74%) who identified as African-American (62%). Eligible boys presented at a median 7.5 months [0.3-35.6] and were predominantly African-American (63%), publicly-insured at birth (83%), and publicly-insured at present (86%). 80% were full-term. 83% had no comorbidities. Most caregivers (84%) requested inpatient circumcision, primarily for penile cleanliness (75%) and infection prevention (72%). Common reasons for delay included neonatal circumcision not being performed by the birth physician/hospital (26%) and prematurity (16%). Publicly-insured boys were more likely to encounter delays related birth physician/hospital not performing circumcisions (P = .02). Non-Caucasian/mixed race boys were less likely to be eligible for circumcision without general anesthesia (P = .004). In 108 cases (52%), circumcision was requested for full-term boys without comorbidities. Of these, 72 (35% of the cohort) now require general anesthesia to undergo circumcision. Conclusion Among 206 boys experiencing circumcision delay, most were full-term, African-American, and publicly-insured. Common reasons for delay included neonatal circumcision not being performed by the birth hospital/physician and prematurity. General anesthesia could have been avoided in >35% of boys if circumcision was performed at birth.

Button battery ingestion can cause serious injury or death in young children who cannot communicate symptoms. An 18-month-old male presented after his mother noted drooling, nonbilious emesis and a metallic smell to his breath. He underwent rigid esophagoscopy and a 3-V 20-mm button battery was removed. Subsequent bronchoscopy after a 1-week interval revealed progression to a large broncho-esophageal fistula on the posterior wall of the right mainstem bronchus past the carina. A fenestrated nasogastric tube for local control of secretion and a feeding jejunostomy was placed. Six weeks later, the patient underwent a right thoracotomy for division and repair of the fistula and intercostal muscle flap interposition. Utilizing a well-placed fenestrated nasogastric tube to manage secretions can help reduce fistula size and improve conservative management results. When surgical repair is required, an intercostal muscle flap can reinforce fistula closure while simultaneously buttressing the bronchus and esophagus.

Aim: We reviewed intraoperative video recordings (IVRs) of laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) for inguinal hernia in children blindly to assess performance. Methods: IVRs of 1...

Medical education has undergone significant change as we have moved from a purely apprenticeship model to one of competence. Simulation-based education can and does play a significant role in the development of an expert surgeon. Proven concepts of simulation-based education include distributed deliberate practice, content that challenges the learner, formative and summative feedback. The application of mastery learning principles is critical to achieve the best retention and outcomes related to an educational program. In this manuscript, we explore the methodology and justification for Mastery Learning as the gold standard of surgical education.

Objective Identify demographic variables related to emergency department (ED) returns, and analgesic administration in the ED for postoperative pain after adenotonsillectomy (T&A). Study design Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database analysis. Methods Forty-seven children's hospitals included in the PHIS database were queried for all ED visits within 30 days of surgery with a diagnosis of acute postoperative pain (n = 2459) from 2014 to 2015. The subset of postoperative T&A patients (n = 861) was further analyzed for variables associated with return, and for pain management strategies, specifically opioids, employed by the ED. Results Of the 2459 pediatric patients returning to the ED for acute postoperative pain, the largest subset included T&A patients (n = 861, 35%). Patients were seen an average of 4 days (SD 2.4) after their surgery. ED administration of opioids was not associated with gender, race, surgical diagnosis, or ethnicity. The rate of opioid administration by the ED increased with advancing age of the children analyzed (P = .01). The incidence was also higher for those with commercial versus Medicaid insurance carriers. A total of 204 (23.7%) patients received opioids while in the ED, 439 (51%) received both opioids and non-opioids, and only 51 (5.9%) received no pain medication. Conclusion T&A patients make up the largest subset of patients returning to the ED for postoperative pain. A total of 74.7% of patients receive opioids, either alone or in combination with non-opioids, on return to the ED. ED opioid administration was associated with older age of the child and payer, but not with gender, race, surgical diagnosis, or ethnicity. Level of evidence 4.

Background/purpose Arterial catheter complications are a common problem in a pediatric critical care setting, but reported complication rates and risk factors associated with peripheral arterial catheter complications vary. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors in a pediatric patient population. Methods We performed a detailed abstraction of provider notes in the electronic medical records of inpatients ≤18years of age who underwent arterial line placement between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2013 at a university-affiliated standalone pediatric hospital. Inpatient records were assessed for complications associated with arterial catheterization and risk factors inherent to arterial catheter insertion. Results Two hundred twenty-eight children were identified, of whom 75 (33%) had a total of 106 arterial catheter complications. Complications included line malfunctions (59%, n=63), bleeding (16%, n=17), multiple complications (11%, n=12), infiltration (8%, n=9), and hematoma (4%, n=4). Line malfunction was reported in all patients with multiple complications. Independent predictors of complications associated with arterial catheterization were the presence of more than one provider during the insertion (p=0.007) and insertion attempts at multiple sites (p=0.036). Conclusions Our analysis suggests the need for a prospective study to comprehensively assess provider-related risk factors associated with arterial catheter complications in children. Level of evidence IV

This chapter addresses the gastrointestinal complications that can occur in pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. Gastrointestinal complications are not uncommon in the critically ill cardiac patients and are associated with prolong ICU stay and hospital length of stay as well as poor growth and development.

Simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) is a powerful tool for teaching both technical and cognitive skills. In medical education, SBML has been used effectively to teach a number of procedural skills. Simulator-based practice can act synergistically with traditional clinical education to produce trainees who are better prepared to perform procedures and care for patients safely and effectively. Using SBML to teach surgical skills is a natural extension of traditional educational models. However, several complexities basic to learning surgical operations make using the SBML model a difficult proposition. Operations have multiple steps, each requiring a deep understanding of anatomy, technical maneuvers, surgical instruments, and potential complications. In addition to technical skills, the surgeon must be competent in the preoperative evaluation and preparation of the patient and have a good grasp of intraoperative decision-making. Incorporating all of the necessary knowledge and skills into a surgical SBML curriculum poses a challenge. This chapter describes the methods used to apply SBML principles to several curricula developed to teach surgical skills and entire operations. The educational and clinical impact of these curricula and potential applications of SBML in future surgical education are discussed.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) decreases overall costs and length of stay in patients with choledocolithiasis. However, utilization of LCBDE remains low. We sought to evaluate a previously developed general surgery LCBDE simulator among a cohort of pediatric surgical trainees. The study purpose was to evaluate the content validity of an LCBDE simulator to support or refute its use in pediatric surgery education.After IRB exempt determination, 30 participants performed a transcystic LCBDE using a previously developed simulator and evaluated the simulator using a self-reported 28-item instrument. The instrument consisted of two primary domains (Quality and Ability to Perform) that were rated using twenty-five 4-point rating scales and one 4-point global rating scale. Validity evidence relevant to test content was evaluated using a many-facet Rasch model. Interitem consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. P .05 was considered statistically significant.The highest combined observed averages were for the Value subdomain (OA = 3.79), whereas the lowest ratings were for the Physical/visual attributes subdomain (OA = 3.19). The averaged global rating was 3.14, consistent with this simulator can be considered for use in pediatric LCBDE training, but could be improved slightly. Rasch indices were favorable and supported evidence relevant to test content. Interitem consistency estimates were also favorable, with α values of 0.94 and 0.56 for Qualities and Ability, respectively.Overall, participants rated the LCBDE simulator highly valuable for pediatric surgical education and felt that it could be used as an educational tool with minor modifications.

Thoracoscopic repair of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the neonate is controversial due to reports of increased hernia recurrence. A multicenter review on thoracoscopic CDH repair was conducted to evaluate outcomes and to identify factors that are associated with recurrence.A multicenter retrospective review was conducted from 2009 to 2015 in neonates who were treated for CDH with thoracoscopic repair. Demographics, preoperative, intraoperative, including repair techniques, and postoperative variables were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Comparative analysis was performed between those patients who were repaired entirely thoracoscopically with hernia recurrence and those without.One hundred nine infants, of whom 57% were male with an average gestational age at time of surgery of 39.6 ± 4.6 weeks and a weight of 3.4 ± 1.1 kg, were included. The median age at repair was 5 days (range: 3-9), 61% patients required vasopressor support, and 1.8% patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation before repair. Forty-five percent were repaired on high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Repair was completed thoracoscopically in 83 patients (76%), 68 (82%) were repaired primarily, 15 (18%) were repaired with a patch, and 50 (60%) had extracorporeal/rib fixation sutures. Recurrence occurred in 7 (8.4%) of those completed thoracoscopically. Factors found to be significant for recurrence included: vasopressor therapy (P = .02), repair on HFOV (P = .04), and the presence of the spleen in the chest (P = .04). There was no significant difference identified between technical variations in repair.These data suggest that thoracoscopic repair of CDH is feasible in carefully selected patients. However, there is currently no evidence to support a standardized surgical approach to thoracoscopic repair.

Mandates for improved patient safety and increasing work hour restrictions have resulted in changes in surgical education. Educational courses increasingly must meet those needs. We sought to determine the experience, skill level, and the impact of simulation-based education (SBE) on two cohorts of pediatric surgery trainees.After Institutional Review Board (IRB) exempt determination, a retrospective review was performed of evaluations for an annual advanced minimally invasive surgery (MIS) course over 2 consecutive years. The courses included didactic content and hands-on skills training. Simulation included neonatal/infant models for rigid bronchoscopy-airway foreign body retrieval, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, and real tissue diaphragmatic hernia (DH), duodenal atresia (DA), pulmonary lobectomy, and tracheoesophageal fistula models. Categorical data were analyzed with chi-squared analyses with t-tests for continuous data.Participants had limited prior advanced neonatal MIS experience, with 1.95 ± 2.84 and 1.16 ± 1.54 prior cases in the 2014 and 2015 cohorts, respectively. The 2015 cohort had significantly less previous experience in lobectomy (P = .04) and overall advanced MIS (P = .007). Before both courses, a significant percentage of participants were not comfortable with DH repair (39%-42%), DA repair (50%-74%), lobectomy (34%-43%), and tracheoesophageal fistula repair (54%-81%). After course completion, 60% of participants reported improvement in comfort with procedures and over 90% reported that the course significantly improved their perceived ability to perform each operation safely.Pediatric surgery trainees continue to have limited exposure to advanced MIS during clinical training. SBE results in significant improvement in both cognitive knowledge and trainee comfort with safe operative techniques for advanced MIS.

Although minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum has been shown to have a low complication rate in large series, several case reports have documented life-threatening complications, including bleeding and cardiac perforation. We present a rare case of an arteriovenous malformation from the internal thoracic artery to the pulmonary artery caused by occlusion of the internal thoracic artery by the Nuss bar followed by an unidentified angiogenic process. The patient became symptomatic and required transcatheter coil embolization.

Hypergranulation tissue formation is a common complication after gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement, occurring in 44%-68% of children. Hydrocolloid dressings are often used in the treatment of hypergranulation tissue but have not been studied for the prevention of postoperative hypergranulation tissue. An institutional review board (IRB)-approved, prospective, randomised study was performed in paediatric patients who underwent G-tube placement at a single, large children's hospital from January 2011 to November 2016. After placement, patients were randomly assigned to (1) standard postoperative G-tube care, (2) standard hydrocolloid G-tube dressing, or (3) silver-impregnated hydrocolloid G-tube dressing, and the incidences of postoperative hypergranulation tissue formation, tube dislodgement, infection, and emergency department use were compared. A total of 171 patients were enrolled; 128 patients (75%) had at least 4 months of follow up and were included in the analyses. Eighty-nine patients (69.5%) developed hypergranulation tissue during the postoperative period, with no significant differences in incidence among the three treatment arms. Of those who developed hypergranulation tissue, 46 (56%) visited the emergency department, compared with 6 of the 39 patients (19%) who did not develop hypergranulation tissue. Hydrocolloid dressings (standard or silver-impregnated) do not prevent the development of hypergranulation tissue or other complications after G-tube placement in paediatric patients.

Pediatric surgeons rely on simulation courses to develop skills for safe minimally invasive repair of complex congenital anomalies. The majority of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) training courses occur during short "exposure courses" at annual conferences. Little data are available to support the benefit of these courses relative to the safe implementation of new skills. The purpose of this article is to determine the impact of an exposure course for advanced neonatal MIS on self-perceived comfort levels with independent performance of advanced MISs.Participants of a 4-hour hands-on course for neonatal MIS were surveyed regarding clinical practices and pre- and post-training perceived "comfort levels" of MIS skills for thoracoscopic esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (tTEF) repair, thoracoscopic left upper lobe pulmonary lobectomy (tLobe), and laparoscopic duodenal atresia (lapDA) repair. Descriptive analyses were performed.Seventeen participants completed pre- and postcourse surveys. The majority of participants had no prior experience with tLobe (59%) or lapDA (53%), and 35% had no experience with tTEF repair. Similarly, the majority were "not comfortable" with these procedures. After the short course, the majority of surgeons reported that they were "likely to perform" these operations within 6 months, despite low levels of baseline experience and comfort levels.An exposure training course led to immediate perception of increased skills and confidence. However, these courses typically do not provide basic tenets of expert performance that demands deliberate practice. Future course design should transition to a mastery learning framework wherein regular skill assessments, milestones, and unlimited education time are prioritized before implementation of the new skills.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a process where a physical object is created from a three-dimensional computer model through successive material layering. 3D printing is used in many industries to design and manufacture new products. Creation of training models for use in medical education is now possible via adoption of medical 3D printing. This article presents a critical-realist review of the medical literature evaluating different ways 3D printing has been used to produce training models for medical education, with a special emphasis on transplantation medicine. From the 68 articles identified by this review, three themes emerged: (a) 3D printing of patient-specific models for preoperative planning, (b) printing training devices for direct use in simulation-based medical education, and (c) printing molds for simulation models that are then used to cast non-printable materials such as soft tissues. Only two reports were identified that described the use of 3D printing for education in transplantation medicine. Many opportunities exist for further research and advancement of 3D printing within the field of transplantation medicine.

Thoracoscopic lobectomy in infants requires advanced minimally invasive skills. Simulation-based education has the potential to improve complex procedural skills without exposing the patient to undue risks. The study purposes were (1) to create a size-appropriate infant lobectomy simulator and (2) to evaluate validity evidence to support or refute its use in surgical education.In this Institutional Review Board-exempt study, a size-appropriate rib cage for a 3-month-old infant was created. Fetal bovine tissue completed the simulator. Thirty-three participants performed the simulated thoracoscopic lobectomy. Participants completed a self-report, 26-item instrument consisting of 25 4-point rating scales (from 1=not realistic to 4=highly realistic) and a one 4-point Global Rating Scale. Validity evidence relevant to test content and response processes was evaluated using the many-facet Rasch model, and evidence of internal structure (inter-item consistency) was estimated using Cronbach's alpha.Experienced surgeons (observed average=3.6) had slightly higher overall rating than novice surgeons (observed average=3.4, P=.001). The highest combined observed averages were for the domain Physical Attributes (3.7), whereas the lowest ratings were for the domains Realism of Experience and Ability to Perform Tasks (3.4). The global rating was 2.9, consistent with "this simulator can be considered for use in infant lobectomy training, but could be improved slightly." Inter-item consistency for items used to evaluate the simulator's quality was high (α=0.90).With ratings consistent with high physical attributes and realism, we successfully created an infant lobectomy simulator, and preliminary evidence relevant to test content, response processes, and internal structure was supported. Participants rated the model as realistic, relevant to clinical practice, and valuable as a learning tool. Minor improvements were suggested prior to its full implementation as an educational and testing tool.

Purpose Real-time tracking of clinical outcomes is limited by a lack of accuracy, consistency, and easy accessibility of longitudinal data. Increasingly available features of electronic health records (EHR), including standardized note templates and automated data extraction (ADE), offer improved clinical documentation and outcome tracking capabilities. Previous work demonstrated successful integration of a comprehensive structured ADE-templated note into routine clinical care, resulting in the capture of previously undocumented or inconsistently recorded clinical data. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of real-time clinical …

BACKGROUND Simulation-based education has been integrated into many orthopaedic residency programs to augment traditional teaching models. Here we describe the development and implementation of a combined didactic and simulation-based course for teaching medical students and interns how to properly perform a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of a pediatric supracondylar humeral fracture. METHODS Subjects included in the study were either orthopaedic surgery interns or subinterns at our institution. Subjects all completed a combined didactic and simulation-based course on pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures. The first part of this course was an electronic (e)-learning module that the subjects could complete at home in approximately 40 minutes. The second part of the course was a 20-minute simulation-based skills learning session completed in the simulation center. Subject knowledge of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humeral fractures was tested using a 30-question, multiple-choice, written test. Surgical skills were tested in the operating room or in a simulated operating room. Subject pre-intervention and post-intervention scores were compared to determine if and how much they had improved. RESULTS A total of 21 subjects were tested. These subjects significantly improved their scores on both the written, multiple-choice test and skills test after completing the combined didactic and simulation module. Prior to the module, intern and subintern multiple-choice test scores were significantly worse than postgraduate year (PGY)-2 to PGY-5 resident scores (p < 0.01); after completion of the module, there was no significant difference in the multiple-choice test scores. After completing the module, there was no significant difference in skills test scores between interns and PGY-2 to PGY-5 residents. Both tests were validated using the scores obtained from PGY-2 to PGY-5 residents. CONCLUSIONS Our combined didactic and simulation course significantly improved intern and subintern understanding of supracondylar humeral fractures and their ability to perform a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of these fractures.

This article describes the development, implementation, and modification of an institutional process to evaluate and fund graduate medical education simulation curricula. The goals of this activity were to (a) establish a standardized mechanism for proposal submission and evaluation, (b) identify simulation-based medical education (SBME) curricula that would benefit from mentored improvement before implementation, and (c) ensure that funding decisions were fair and defensible. Our intent was to develop a process that was grounded in sound educational principles, allowed for efficient administrative oversight, ensured approved courses were high quality, encouraged simulation education research and scholarship, and provided opportunities for medical specialties that had not previously used SBME to receive mentoring and faculty development.

Emergent retrieval of airway foreign bodies (AFBs) in children remains a priority skill set for pediatric surgeons. In the setting of low procedural volume, simulation-based education with deliberate practice is essential to ensure trainees reach expected surgical competency. The purposes of this work were to (1) create a realistic rigid bronchoscopy for AFB retrieval simulation model and (2) to evaluate preliminary validity evidence of a novel simulator for the use of training and assessing pediatric surgical trainees' rigid bronchoscopy skills.After institutional review board exemption determination, 18 participants performed AFB retrieval of two different objects on a novel simulator that represented an 18-month-old pediatric tracheobronchial airway. Participants reported their experience and comfort level, and rated the simulator across two domains-Authenticity and their Ability to perform tasks. Authenticity was measured by 23 items across five subdomains (Visual Attributes, Materials' Response, Realism of Experience, Value and Relevance, and Global Value). Participants who had previously performed ≥10 rigid bronchoscopies were categorized as "experienced," while those reporting10 were considered "novice." Validity evidence relevant to test content and internal structure was evaluated using a many-facet Rasch model.Novice surgeons (n = 12) had previously performed a mean of 2.7 (±2.0) rigid bronchoscopies, compared to 15.4 (±7.7) by experienced surgeons (n = 6). For both models, the Value and Relevance subdomain received the highest ratings (observed average [OA] = 3.9, while Materials' Response received the lowest (OA3.0). Participants' Global Value rating for this model was consistent with "requires minor improvements before it can be considered for use in rigid bronchoscopy training."We successfully designed, assembled, and evaluated a novel pediatric rigid bronchoscopy model for AFB retrieval. The model was considered as relevant to educational needs and valuable as a testing and training tool. With recommended improvements, the model could be used for implementation with a Mastery Learning curriculum.

Adhesive small bowel obstruction is a significant cause of short- and long-term morbidity in infants and children. Unfortunately, the majority of scientific literature relative to adhesive obstructions continues to be dominated by adult studies. In this article, the existing literature for infant and pediatric adhesive obstructions is reviewed, with relevant comparisons to the available adult data. In addition, general guidelines for the management of infant and pediatric adhesive obstructions are recommended, based on the best available evidence.

Education in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for a surgeon to perform at an expert level in the operating room, and beyond, must address all potential cognitive and technical performance gaps, professionalism and personal behaviors, and effective team communication. Educational strategies should also seek to replicate the stressors and distractions that might occur during a high-risk operation or critical care event. Finally, education cannot remain fixed in an apprenticeship model of "See one, do one, teach one," whereby patients are exposed to the risk of harm inherent to any learning curve. The majority of these educational goals can be achieved with the addition of simulation-based education (SBE) as a valuable adjunct to traditional training methods. This article will review relevant principles of SBE, explore currently available simulation-based educational tools for pediatric surgeons, and finally make projections for the future of SBE and performance assessments for pediatric surgeons.

Thoracoscopic diaphragmatic hernia (DH) repair has a high recurrence rate. Effective simulation modeling may improve technical performance for thoracoscopic DH repair. The study purpose was to evaluate measures of validity evidence for a low-cost thoracoscopic DH simulator.Synthetic diaphragm/intestine was connected to a to-scale left-sided neonatal rib cage and then covered with synthetic skin. Forty participants evaluated the DH repair simulator, using survey ratings that were analyzed for test content and internal structure validity evidence.Observed averages (on a scale of 0-5) for the domains were 4.6 for Relevance, 4.5 for Value, 4.3 for Physical attributes, 4.0 for Realism of experience, 3.8 for Realism of materials, and 4.2 for Ability to perform. The highest observed averages were "relevance to practice" and "value, testing tool," whereas the lowest ratings were realism, intestines and realism, diaphragm. The observed average of global opinion ratings was 2.84/4.0, indicating the simulator can be considered for teaching thoracoscopic DH repair but could be improved. Experienced surgeons (more than eight DH repairs, at least four thoracoscopic repairs) had higher overall ratings than inexperienced surgeons (4.4 versus 4.1, P=.001).We successfully created a thoracic space relevant to a thoracoscopic DH repair and completed the model using inexpensive, readily accessible materials. After participants performed a simulated thoracoscopic DH repair, their ratings indicated the simulator was relevant to clinical practice and valuable as a learning tool but still requires improvements. Improvements and additional evaluation of validity evidence (content, internal structure, response processes, and relationship to other variables) are necessary prior to full implementation of this model as an educational tool.

The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the positive and negative predictive value (NPV) of transabdominal color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) for diagnosing ovarian torsion (OT) in pediatric patients and 2) identify predictors of a false-positive CDU result for OT.An IRB-approved retrospective chart review was performed on all female patients who underwent transabdominal CDU evaluation of the ovaries (664 CDUs in 605 patients) for acute abdominal pain. CDU reports were categorized as positive for OT if the report stated "cannot rule out torsion" or "positive for torsion."There were 47 false-positive ultrasounds, 3 false negatives, 11 true positives, and 603 true negatives for OT. Sensitivity was 78.6%, specificity 92.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) 19.0%, and NPV 99.5%. False-positive CDU when compared to true positives were more common in older patients (p=0.004) and were more commonly read as "cannot rule out torsion" (p0.001). Ovarian cysts were larger in true-positive CDU than in false-positive CDU (p0.001). However, cyst presence/absence did not predict a true positive result.Transabdominal CDU has a low PPV and a high NPV for ovarian torsion in pediatric patients. False-positive results are more common in older patients and associated with small ovarian cysts.

The current healthcare environment demands optimization of patient outcomes in addition to maximal cost efficiency. Restrictions on resident work hours have placed limitations on the amount of time that trainee physicians can spend on patient care. For the surgery resident, the consequence is less time spent in the operating room under the supervision of a senior surgeon, the cornerstone of Halsted's approach to resident surgeon education. The use of simulation in graduate medical education has gained significant traction as a way to provide trainees with exposure to various techniques and procedures before use on the general patient population. This article describes simulation-based education with particular attention to surgical education. It proceeds to address competency-based education and mastery learning (ML) as key features of effective surgery education programs. A case study of ML in surgery is presented along with examples of translational medical education science from other medical specialties. The report concludes with a brief discussion about simulation-based surgical education today and prospects for the future.

Background/Purpose Although prohibitively labor intensive, manual data extraction (MDE) is the prevailing method used to obtain clinical research and quality improvement (QI) data. Automated data extraction (ADE) offers a powerful alternative. The purposes of this study were to 1) assess the feasibility of ADE from provider-authored outpatient documentation, and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of ADE compared to MDE. Methods A prospective collection of data was performed on 90 ADE-templated notes (N=71 patients) evaluated in our bowel management clinic. ADE captured data were compared to 59 MDE notes (N=51) collected under an IRB-exempt review. Sixteen variables were directly comparable between ADE and MDE. Results MDE for 59 clinic notes (27 unique variables) took 6months to complete. ADE-templated notes for 90 clinic notes (154 unique variables) took 5min to run a research/QI report. Implementation of ADE included eight weeks of development and testing. Pre-implementation clinical documentation was similar to post-implementation documentation (5–10min). Conclusions ADE-templated notes allow for a 5-fold increase in clinically relevant data that can be captured with each encounter. ADE also results in real-time data extraction to a research/QI database that is easily queried. The immediate availability of these data, in a research-formatted spreadsheet, allows for rapid collection, analyses, and interpretation of the data. Level of evidence IV. Type of study Retrospective Study.

Gastrostomy tube placement is associated with frequent postoperative complications. The aims of this study were to 1) determine the incidence of postoperative gastrostomy complications and 2) determine if patient demographics, comorbidities, or operative technique could predict these complications.A retrospective review was conducted on children who underwent gastrostomy tube placement from June 2006 through August 2009. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative technique, health care visits, and complications were collected. Data were analyzed by chi-squared analysis (P 0.05 significant).One hundred and fifty-nine patients were evaluated, with the majority of patients5 years of age (129/159). Ninety-four patients underwent open gastrostomy, 31 laparoscopic gastrostomy, and 34 laparoscopic-assisted gastrostomy. Granulation tissue was the most common postoperative complication, occurring in 58% of patients (93/159). The majority of patients with granulation tissue had full resolution by the fourth postoperative month. Tube dislodgement was the second most common complication, occurring 69 times in 44 of the patients (28%) and resulting in 59 emergency department (ED) visits. Overall, gastrostomy complications resulted in 100 ED and 462 clinic visits. Ninety-three percent (93/100) of ED visits resulted in discharge home from the ED. Gender, age, insurance status, and operative technique were not predictive of complications.Granulation tissue and tube dislodgement are the most common complications after gastrostomy placement in children. Gender, age, insurance status, and operative technique were not predictive of complications. Emergency department utilization is high in children with gastrostomy tubes.

Background Pyloromyotomy is a common operative procedure performed on infants. The purpose of this study was to determine if hospital type affects lengths of stay (LOS), charges, and morbidity. Methods Patients undergoing pyloromyotomy were identified in the Kids' Inpatients Database from 2000, 2003, and 2006. Freestanding children's hospitals (CH) were compared with children's units within general hospitals (CUGH) and general/nonchildren's hospitals (GH). Results Of the 10,969 patients, 25% received care at 30 CH, 35% received care at 94 CUGH, and 40% received care at 662 GH. Adjusted LOS were 2.41 days for CH, 2.75 days for CUGH, and 2.82 days for GH (P < .01). Adjusted mean charges were $11,160 for CH, $12,284 for CUGH, and $10,197 for GH (P = .01). CH had the lowest unadjusted complication rate at 1.2% compared with 1.6% at CUGH and 2.2% at GH (P < .01). GH were more likely to have patients with prolonged LOS (≥4 days) compared with CH after adjusting for patient and hospital factors (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–2.5). After accounting for LOS, CUGH were more likely to have higher charges (≥$11,057) compared with CH (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.03–11.18). The adjusted mean charges rose from $7,733 in 2000 to $11,335 in 2003 and to $14,572 in 2006 (P < .01). Conclusion CH had the shortest LOS and lowest complication rates. Despite a higher complication rate and longer LOS, GH had the lowest charges. There is an opportunity to identify best practices, to improve quality, and to lower costs for pyloromyotomy in the United States, regardless of hospital type.

With the rapid growth in competency-based performance requirements for medical resident education, there is a critical need for validated assessments of technical skills. Skill evaluation today is predominantly based on manual evaluations by expert surgeons-which is time-consuming, non-uniform, and cumbersome to work into the natural flow of training or testing events. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for automated recognition of surgical procedural steps using video analysis for the objective assessment of technical skills during surgical training. We employ a bouquet of computer vision techniques, such as template matching, for the automated detection of correct and incorrect surgical procedural steps during tracheoesophageal fistula repair. We consider specifically a simulated model of human infant anatomy used to train surgeons to perform the tracheoesophageal fistula repair procedure. Using a simulated model is key for gaining expertise in repairing this relatively rare but deadly abnormality. Our automated detection approach provides an appropriate, clinically-relevant scenario using a well-designed and validated simulator and produces a uniform, manageable and verifiable solution. The algorithm was validated on nine performances of thoracoscopic tracheoesophageal fistula ligation from surgeons with a broad range of surgical skills. The algorithm result imitates the groundtruth for the evaluations, and thus demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed work for efficient, practical and objective assessment of surgical skill during training.

Traditional opportunistic and experiential surgical training can expose patients to excess risk of harm, particularly when new technology or surgical approaches are applied to highly complex operations. Declining birth rates, decreasing academic regionalization of complex neonatal procedures, duty hour restrictions, and the increasing need for highly specialized surgical skills all serve to further degrade the educational opportunities for surgical trainees. Even more concerning, practicing pediatric surgeons are also struggling with declines in neonatal surgical volumes, with fewer opportunities to maintain established cognitive, technical, and nontechnical skills in the operating room. In an effort to balance patient safety with a deeply rooted commitment to surgical education, surgical educators have developed a number of innovative educational strategies to achieve these goals.

Herein is a case of a congenitally diagnosed mesenteric lymphatic malformation involving nearly the entire small bowel and colon. Although drainage and sclerotherapy were initially performed, extensive small and large bowel resection was ultimately necessary. A review of the literature is provided with a discussion of potential and optimal treatment modalities.

Arteriovenous malformations can lead to life-threatening complications, particularly in neonates. Only a few case reports document arteriovenous malformations of the umbilicus, all presenting with complications and necessitating urgent surgical intervention. We report the case of a neonate with an incidentally noted umbilical arteriovenous malformation, treated with laparoscopic assisted resection.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), initially identified as an LPS receptor, is critical to the signaling of a variety of danger signals, including heat shock protein 60, fibrinogen, and fibronectin. Recent data also suggest that TLR-4 plays a role in determining survival in both endotoxemia and hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized that a functional TLR-4 would be required for hemorrhage and endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Hemorrhage- and endotoxin-induced lung TNF-α mRNA and protein production, neutrophil accumulation, and protein permeability were dependent on a functional TLR-4. Hemorrhage-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation was independent of functional TLR-4, whereas endotoxin-induced activation of NF-κB requires a functional TLR-4 for full response. Therefore, we conclude that 1) hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury is TLR-4 dependent and 2) hemorrhage has a different and distinct TLR-4-dependent intracellular activation mechanism compared with endotoxemia.

Renovascular injury is uncommon among children. This study hypothesized that preservation of the severely injured kidney can be achieved safely without renal insufficiency, postinjury hypertension, or the need for hemodialysis.Retrospective chart review of renal injuries seen between 1997 and 2001 at a level 1 pediatric trauma center was conducted. Severity of injury was graded by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Organ Injury Severity Scale. The outcome variables included the need for hemodialysis, impaired renal function (creatinine), and postinjury hypertension.In this study, 34 children presented with grade 1, 2, or 3 injury (74%), whereas 13 children presented with grade 4 or 5 renovascular injury (28%). The children with unilateral renovascular injury who underwent either nephrectomy or renal preservation had comparable outcomes with no hypertension, hemodialysis, or renal insufficiency in either group.The treatment outcomes were not different between the patients who underwent renal preservation and those who had immediate nephrectomy. The authors conclude that renal preservation should be attempted for all children with grade 4 or 5 renovascular injury.

Background Children have a lower incidence of postinjury multiple organ failure (MOF) compared with adults with equivalent injury severity. Because MOF appears to be the end result of systemic hyperinflammation, children may have either an attenuated proinflammatory response or an augmented antiinflammatory response compared with adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro- and antiinflammatory cytokine response of pediatric versus adult peritoneal macrophages (PM). The authors hypothesized that pediatric PMs would have an enhanced antiinflammatory response compared with adults. Methods Human PMs were collected during elective laparoscopic procedures and stimulated with LPS. (Pediatric cohort: n=9 [mean, 5.4 years], adult cohort: n=8 [mean, 41.6 years]). P less than .05 was accepted as significant. Results LPS-induced a 50-fold increase in interleukin-10 (IL-10) antiinflammatory cytokine production in pediatric versus adult PMs. LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production was also increased in pediatric versus adult PMs. The anti-proinflammatory cytokine ratio (IL-10 to TNF-α) was 20-fold higher in pediatric versus adult PMs. Conclusions LPS-induced macrophage production of both IL-10 and TNF-α was increased in children. The anti-proinflammatory cytokine ratio (IL-10 to TNF-α) was strikingly higher in pediatric versus adult PMs. These data suggest that the age-related balance of anti- and proinflammatory cytokines in resident macrophages is different in children compared with adults.

Background: Rib fractures have a strong association with nonaccidental trauma (NAT) and severe trauma. The purposes of this study were to evaluate rib fractures in children to determine (1) the positive predictive value of a rib fracture in defining NAT and (2) the frequency of rib fractures as the only skeletal manifestation of NAT. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and imaging of all children with rib fractures over a 6-year period. NAT was determined by the Child Advocacy and Protection team. Results: In children younger than 3 years of age, the positive predictive value (PPV) of a rib fracture as an indicator of NAT was 95%. The positive predictive value increased to 100% once historical and clinical circumstance excluded all other causes for rib fractures. Conclusion: In this study, rib fracture(s) were the only skeletal manifestation of NAT in 29% of the children.

Fifteen years ago, an experimental effort to magnify a myocardial infarction, with preinfarction episodes of transient ischemia, proved paradoxically protective. In the ensuing years, surgeons have learned to discriminate a biochemical/metabolic/functional spectrum of cardiac states ranging from healthy myocardium to "stunned" or "hibernating" heart to the modes of "apoptotic" or "necrotic" cardiomyocyte death. It is now clear that "protective cardiac preconditioning" influences all of these cardiac states. The cellular mechanisms of preconditioning (PC) are now sufficiently understood to permit clinical application. Ligation of adrenergic, adenosine, bradykinin or opioid receptors involves signaling via both tyrosine and calcium-dependent protein kinases (PKC), which activate mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channels. Subsequently, the release of oxygen radicals induces nuclear translocation of transcriptional regulators, which transform the cardiomyocyte into a more resilient cell. Although preconditioning was initially recognized as protecting only against infarction, PC also limits postischemic dysrhythmias and enhances contractile function. Phase I (safety) and phase II (efficacy) clinical trials now persuasively support pharmacological preconditioning as a safe mode of preventing postcardiac surgical complications. Indeed, preconditioning is currently being proposed as adjunctive to hypothermic perfusates in protecting against the obligate organ ischemia during transplantation.

Interleukin (IL)-11 is a growth factor for megakaryocytes, osteoclasts, and intestinal mucosa. IL-11 is also an anti-inflammatory agent, mediating many of its effects by inhibition of the transcriptional activator nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B. The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of IL-11 on human vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and NF-kappa B activity. VSMC were cultured from human transplant donor aortas, stimulated with basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), and treated with IL-11. VSMC stimulated with bFGF demonstrated an increase in cell number by direct cell counting and mitochondrial activity. IL-11 caused a concentration-dependent decrease in bFGF-induced VSMC proliferation. Furthermore, IL-11 attenuated bFGF-induced increases in cytoplasmic and intranuclear unbound NF-kappa B p65. Similarly, IL-11 attenuated VSMC expression of two NF-kappa B-dependent cytokines, IL-8 and IL-6. Stimulated VSMC did not secrete IL-11, suggesting that endogenous IL-11 did not account for our observations. In conclusion, IL-11 inhibits human VSMC proliferation in vitro and is associated with suppression of NF-kappa B.