Building a microneurosurgical laboratory in Latin America: challenges and possibilities

Background: Training in microsurgical neuroanatomy is a priority for neurosurgical education. During the 20th century, microsurgical laboratories arose and provided a way to develop surgical skills. Few reports addressed the assembly, construction, and details of a training laboratory. Methods: We have conducted a literature review and searched legislation on the need to plan the structure of the laboratory. Results: We projected and built a laboratory through a public-private partnership. High-tech workstations and instruments were planned to meet the needs of residents, fellows, and student. All steps and materials were in accordance with the Brazilian legislation and articles previously selected. Conclusion: We described our experience and demonstrated the implementation of a micro neurosurgical skills laboratory.

Teaching Tip: Designing Flipped Classrooms to Enhance Learning in the Clinical Skills Laboratory

Flipped classroom is an educational technique in which content is delivered online for students to study at their own pace in preparation for in-class learning. Benefits include increased flexibility, enhanced student engagement and satisfaction, and more effective use of time spent during face-to-face teaching. However, the development and implementation of flipped classroom teaching are also associated with challenges, including time required to develop learning materials and getting students to engage with the preparatory work. This teaching tip describes a structured approach to designing and implementing the flipped classroom approach for clinical skills to allow a greater focus on practicing the hands-on skills and the provision of feedback during the laboratory session. First, the rationale for flipping the classroom and the expected benefits should be considered. On a practical level, decisions need to be made about what to include in the flipped component, how it will complement the face-to-face class, and how the resources will be created. In the design phase, adopting a structured template and aligning with established pedagogical principles is helpful. A well-designed flipped classroom motivates learners by including different elements such as quality educational media (e.g., videos), the opportunity to self-assess, and well-defined connections to relevant knowledge and skills. Student engagement with the flipped material can be promoted through different strategies such as clear communication to manage student expectations and adapting the delivery of the face-to-face component. Finally, gathering feedback and evaluating the initiative are important to inform future improvements.

Objective Measurement of Impact of Bench Laparoscopic Training in Novices

Background: We are currently in the era of laparoscopic surgery. It has gained popularity in the last few decades because of its well- known advantages. Laparoscopy requires different skills from those of open surgery. In a paradigm shift, learning basic surgical skills is now performed more in the skills laboratory than in the operation theater. However, there is a lack of reliable training and assessment tools for laparoscopic surgical skills. This study aimed to objectively assess the effect of bench laparoscopic training in novices. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the Clinical Skills Centre of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) in Bangalore, India. Sixty interns with no previous experience in laparoscopy were included. They underwent supervised training on the box trainer for 3 days, 2 hours a day, in basic surgical tasks, including pointing dots, joining straight lines, joining curved lines, picking objects, peg transfer, and circle cut. All participants were assessed objectively in a virtual reality (VR) simulator before and after training. The objective outcomes measured were time taken, distance traveled, and error scores given by the VR simulator metrics. Results: The novices showed statistically significant improvement in all the tasks after the training compared with their skill levels before the training. Conclusion: Structured short-term training significantly improves basic laparoscopic surgery skills.

Continuing Education of Animal Health Professionals in Uganda: A Training Needs Assessment

In Uganda, delivery of veterinary services is vital to animal health, and productivity and is heavily dependent on well-trained and skilled animal health professionals. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize areas for refresher training and continuous professional development of animal health professionals (veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals), with the overarching aim of improving veterinary service delivery in Uganda. A survey was administered electronically to 311 animal health professionals during the period November 14–30, 2019. Data were collected on relevant parameters including demographics, knowledge on preventive medicine, diagnostics, disease control and treatment, epidemiology, and One Health, as well as participants’ opinions on training priorities, challenges faced, and constraints to veterinary service delivery. Most respondents were veterinarians 26–35 years old, were male, and worked in clinical practice. Lowest perceived knowledge was reported on subjects relating to laboratory diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and nutrition. Training topics considered to be of most benefit to respondents included laboratory diagnostics, treatment of common livestock diseases, AMR, and practical clinical skills in reproductive and preventive medicine. Participants preferred to receive training in the form of practical workshops, in-practice training, and external training. This study highlights the need to prioritize training in practical clinical skills, laboratory diagnostics, and AMR. Wet labs and hands-on practical clinical and laboratory skills should be incorporated to enhance training. Provision of targeted and successful trainings will be dependent on the allocation of adequate resources and support by relevant public and private stakeholders across the veterinary sector.

An Unusual Cause of Primary Amenorrhea

Background: Müllerian agenesis is the most common cause of primary amenorrhea in patients with typical thelarche and adrenarche. Most of the time, this diagnosis is made at the age of 10-13 years. Clinical Case: We present a case of a 18 year-old Vietnamese female who was referred to the endocrine clinic for primary amenorrhea. She stated that pubic hair developed at age 15 years. Patient is sexually active and uses condoms. She has 10 siblings (7 sisters, 3 brothers), 6 older sisters with menarche at ages 12-16 and a younger sister of 10 years old who has not yet had menarche. In addition, her older sister has 3 biological children and there was no reported infertility in her family. She stated that a pelvic ultrasound had been done at age of 17 years that showed no uterus. Oral contraceptives had been previously trialed and failed to induce withdrawal bleeding. HT 157.48 cm, WT 55.34 kg. The patient had a normal female phenotype with normal bilateral breast development, and no hirsutism. She was not concerned with this issue, which questioned her personality and coping skills. Laboratory testing-cortisol 13.0 ug/dL (5.3- 2.5), ACTH 29 pg/mL (0-47), estradiol 46.04 pg/mL), total testosterone 39 ng/dL (2-45), free testosterone 4.2 pg/mL (0.1-6.4), TSH 1.80 uIU/mL (0.358- .74), free T4 0.99 ng/dL(0.76- .46), FSH 4.4 mIU/mL (Follicular Phase:2.3 - 12.6, Midcycle Peak:5.2-17.5 mIU/mL, Luteal Phase:1.7-12.9 mIU/mL), Progesterone <0.5 ng/mL (follicular -less than 0.8 ng/ml, luteal=4.1- 3.7 ng/ml, mid-luteal= 4.5-25.2 ng/ml), LH 3.7 mIU/mL (follicular phase = 1.9-26.2 mIU/mL, Midcycle = 22.8 - 6.1 mIU/mL, Luteal phase = 0.6-16.6 mIU/mL). Transvaginal ultrasound-uterus not visualized; ovaries were unremarkable. DXA scan-normal Z scores. She refused to have a karyotype analysis. Differential diagnoses included müllerian agenesis, 5-alpha-reductase deficiency and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome. Unfortunately, our patient declined karyotype testing. Based on clinical presentation, which showed normal female genitalia, absence of uterus and normal laboratory finding, the most likely diagnosis was müllerian agenesis (Mayesr-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome). This syndrome has an incidence of 1/4,500-5,000 females and is caused is caused by embryologic underdevelopment of the müllerian duct, with resultant agenesis or atresia of the vagina, uterus, or both. Patients with müllerian agenesis usually are identified when they are evaluated for primary amenorrhea with otherwise typical growth and pubertal development, as in our patient. Psychosocial and genetic counseling, as well as offering options for pregnancy are important. In addition, certain personality traits, such as higher neuroticism, depression, and decreased coping styles may be observed. References: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Müllerian agenesis: Diagnosis, management, and treatment. Vol.131, NO.1, January 2018

Histopathology of Microvascular Anastomosis—Comparison of Patent and Nonpatent Anastomosis: An Experimental Study

Objective To compare the histopathology of patent and nonpatent microvascular anastomosis using rat femoral artery end-to-end anastomosis model. Materials and Methods In 15 Sprague–Dawley rats, end-to-end anastomosis was performed on the right femoral artery. The classical method was used in four cases and one-way up method in 11 cases. The animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks and the anastomosis was subjected to histopathology. The pathological changes in patent and nonpatent cases were compared. Results The immediate patency rate and delayed patency (after 2 weeks) rate was 86.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The mean follow-up was 3 months. At sacrifice, 5/15 anastomosis were not patent. Marked subintimal thickening was noted in ⅘ (80%) of the nonpatent group, which was absent in the patent group. Severe loss or fibrosis of tunica media and marked adventitial inflammation were noted in all nonpatent cases (5/5, 100%). As much as ⅘ of the nonpatent cases had poor or indeterminate apposition; in contrast, good apposition was seen in 6/10 (60%) of the patent group. The mean clamp time and mean suturing time were significantly longer in the nonpatent group (69.2 minutes and 53.8 minutes, respectively) as compared with the patent group (48.8 minutes and 31.8 minutes, respectively). A single case that was initially nonpatent was found to have recanalized at 6 months. Conclusion Minimal intimal injury and reaction, minimal thinning of tunica media, mild-to-moderate adventitial changes, good apposition, and equidistant sutures were associated with a successful microvascular anastomosis. Short duration of vessel clamping time and suturing comes with experience and dedicated practice in a skills laboratory.

Thermal Conductance Through the Skull Base From Endoscopic Surgery Cauterization Instruments: Cadaver and Goat Model

Objective Cauterization prevents hemorrhage and optimizes the surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery but may cause injury to nearby structures. The objective of this study is to examine thermal conductance from cauterization equipment across the skull base. Study Design Cadaver and animal model. Setting Surgical skills laboratory of an academic tertiary medical institution. Methods A pilot study was conducted with a deidentified cadaver head and expanded to a goat head animal model. Endoscopic dissection was performed to expose the lamina papyracea, ethmoid roof, sphenoid roof, and frontal sinus. Cautery was applied to the frontal sinus of goat heads, and temperatures were measured via thermocouple sensors placed along the intracranial skull base. Surgical instruments studied included monopolar, bipolar, and endoscopic bipolar devices at various power settings. Results Temperature increase, as averaged across all cautery powers and measurement positions, was highest for the monopolar cautery (17.55 °C) when compared with the bipolar and endoscopic bipolar devices (<2 °C for bipolar, Endo-Pen, Stammberger, and Wormald; P < .001). Monopolar cautery reached 30.86 °C at high power when averaged over all positions ( P < .001) as compared with <3 °C for the other instruments. Temperatures rose as power of cautery was increased from low to medium and high. Temperatures decreased as the distance of the thermocouple sensor probe from the cautery origin increased. Conclusion Thermal conductance across the skull base varies depending on equipment and power of cautery, with monopolar resulting in the largest temperature increase. Choice and implementation of cauterization instruments have implications on inadvertent transmission of thermal energy during endoscopic sinus surgery.