Addressing the high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in surgery, this study reviews existing literature on surgical ergonomics. Collaborating with surgeons, the researchers create practical pictorial reminders for open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgical settings. These illustrations, derived from evidence-based ergonomic recommendations, are evaluated for practicality by residents and surgeons. The resulting visual guidelines aim to facilitate ergonomic education, improve awareness of ergonomic risks, and enhance operative postures across different surgical modalities.

Review by Tetteh E, Wang T (…) Hallbeck MS et 7 al. in Am J Surg

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Investigating the surgeon’s role in teamwork, this study explores the effectiveness of the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) in practice. Through interviews with operating room staff, engaged use of the SSC by attending surgeons emerged as a crucial factor. Surgeons actively employing the checklist to foster group discussion improved intraoperative teamwork, preventing later tensions. The study emphasizes the surgeon’s leadership potential in leveraging structured communication tools, like the SSC, to enhance teamwork and patient safety.

Journal Article by Lia H, Hammond Mobilio M, Rudzicz F and Moulton CA in Surg Endosc

© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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Analyzing 598,736 patients across 52 Norwegian hospitals from 2011 to 2021, this study investigates failure to rescue (FTR30) after abdominal surgery. Despite a 30% decrease in FTR30 rates over a decade, substantial variations persist among similar hospitals. General surgical complications, with circulatory collapse and cardiac arrhythmia prevalent, were linked to FTR30. Surprisingly, hospital factors and proximity to intensive care units didn’t explain FTR variations. The study underscores the need for addressing microsystem issues affecting FTR30 in hospitals, emphasizing a complex interplay beyond geographic and institutional characteristics.

Journal Article by Augestad KM, Skyrud KD, Lindahl AK and Helgeland J in BMJ Open

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

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Addressing rising cancer rates in Portuguese-speaking African countries, a surgical oncology fellowship, led by the Portuguese Institute of Oncology and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, trained residents and surgeons in Portugal. Following a standardized program, participants underwent hands-on training and assessments, with post-fellowship evaluations indicating enhanced knowledge, skills, and organizational abilities. Certified by a Portuguese university, the fellowship’s positive impact on fellows’ professional development underscores its potential recognition by local health and university authorities in Africa.

Journal Article by Santos LL, Nhampule R (…) Costa PM et 7 al. in Eur J Surg Oncol

© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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A Singapore-based prospective study transformed the surgical safety checklist through systematic reimplementation. Penetration and fidelity significantly improved, and team performance, assessed by the Oxford Non-Technical Skills system, rose substantially. Device-related interruptions decreased, safety culture surveys showed significant enhancements, and exploratory findings hinted at reduced patient safety events and complications. This study advocates for the impactful revitalization of established safety interventions to fortify patient safety culture and outcomes.

Journal Article by Etheridge JC, Moyal-Smith R (…) Havens JM et 6 al. in JAMA Surg

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