Patient Safety in Surgery - Latest Articles

Indication for surgical treatment in patients with adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis -- a critical appraisal

Hans-Rudolf Weiss — 2013-05-24T00:00:00Z

A recent literature search of the pertinent publications in the field revealed that there is poor evidence that would support surgical intervention in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). With complications estimated to exceed 50% over a lifetime, surgical intervention is unwarranted in the 'Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis' AIS population. In the relatively benign population of patients with AIS, according to the findings in literature, we may conclude that the long-term outcome of surgery for AIS creates a more negative end result over the course of a lifetime than the natural history of the condition itself.As a result, surgeons electing to recommend surgery are strongly advised to openly discuss and inform patients of the long-term probability of potential complications occurring after spinal fusion surgery, and document their explanations accordingly.

A cascade of preventable complications following a missed femoral neck fracture after antegrade femoral nailing

Lucas McDonald — 2013-05-23T00:00:00Z

Background: Occult femoral neck fractures associated with femoral shaft fractures are frequently missed and may lead to adverse outcomes.Case presentationA 46-year old female presented to our institution with increasing groin pain one month after antegrade intramedullary nailing of a femoral shaft fracture at an outside hospital. Radiographic evaluation revealed a displaced ipsilateral femoral neck fracture, adjacent to the piriformis starting point of the nail. A revision fixation of the femoral shaft and neck fracture was performed. The patient sustained a series of complications requiring multiple revision surgeries, including a total hip arthroplasty. Despite the cascade of complications, the patient had an uneventful long-term recovery, without additional complications noted at one-year follow-up. Conclusion: This case report illustrates the necessity of increased awareness with a high level of suspicion for the presence of associated femoral shaft and neck fractures in any patient undergoing antegrade femoral nailing. Arguably, the cascade of complications presented in this paper could have been prevented with early recognition and initial stabilization of the occult femoral neck fracture. Standardized diagnostic protocols include "on table" pelvic radiographs to rule out associated femoral neck fractures. The diagnosis must be enforced in case of equivocal radiographic findings, either by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging.

Pseudoaneurysm of the superior lateral genicular artery: case report of a rare complication after total knee arthroplasty

Pramod Saini — 2013-05-20T00:00:00Z

Background: Pseudoaneurysm of superior lateral genicular artery following total knee arthroplasty is a rare complication and has been reported following lateral release performed for eversion of patella in a knee with tight lateral structures.Case presentationThis report describes a case of pseudo aneurysm of superior lateral geniculate artery that developed after primary Total knee arthroplasty for a stiff knee in a 68 year old patient. Patient presented with pain and rapidly increasing swelling in early post operative period. Diagnosis was made on duplex ultrasound and confirmed by angiography. Angiographic coil embolisation of the pseudoaneurysm was performed. Since no lateral release was performed in this case, the probable mechanism was shear injury to the vessel. Conclusion: Pseudoaneurysm of superior lateral genicular artery can occur in absence of lateral release by shear injury to an atherosclerotic vessel. Angiographic coil embolisation appears to be the best method for treating such post arthroplasty pseudoaneurysm because of less chance of infection, non interference with rehabilitation and diagnosis and treatment during same procedure.

Surgical checklists: the human factor

Paul O¿Connor — 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z

Background: Surgical checklists has been shown to improve patient safety and teamwork in the operating theatre. However, despite the known benefits of the use of checklists in surgery, in some cases the practical implementation has been found to be less than universal. A questionnaire methodology was used to quantitatively evaluate the attitudes of theatre staff towards a modified version of the World Health Organisation (WHO) surgical checklist with relation to: beliefs about levels of compliance and support, impact on patient safety and teamwork, and barriers to the use of the checklist. Methods: Using the theory of planned behaviour as a framework, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with theatre personnel regarding their attitudes towards, and levels of compliance with, a checklist. Based upon the interviews, a 27-item questionnaire was developed and distribute to all theatre personnel in an Irish hospital. Results: Responses were obtained from 107 theatre staff (42.6% response rate). Particularly for nurses, the overall attitudes towards the effect of the checklist on safety and teamworking were positive. However, there was a lack of rigour with which the checklist was being applied. Nurses were significantly more sensitive to the barriers to the use of the checklist than anaesthetists or surgeons. Moreover, anaesthetists were not as positively disposed to the surgical checklist as surgeons and nurse. This finding was attributed to the tendency for the checklist to be completed during a period of high workload for the anaesthetists, resulting in a lack of engagement with the process. Conclusion: In order to improve the rigour with which the surgical checklist is applied, there is a need for: the involvement of all members of the theatre team in the checklist process, demonstrated support for the checklist from senior personnel, on-going education and training, and barriers to the implementation of the checklist to be addressed.

Swiss flag or Red Cross emblem: why the confusion?

Philip Stahel — 2013-05-07T00:00:00Z

N/A (editorial)

Iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis after tibial plateau fracture fixation related to undiagnosed May-Thurner syndrome: a case report

Niels Foit — 2013-04-29T00:00:00Z

Background: May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) represents an anatomic variation of the iliac vessels, in which the left common iliac vein is compressed by an overriding iliac artery. Patients with this abnormality are predisposed to the formation of a left-sided iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). While DVT is a familiar complication in the setting of lower extremity trauma, there are no previous reports of MTS complicating the care of patients requiring orthopaedic surgery.Case presentationWe present the case of an extensive limb-threatening DVT in a patient with previously undiagnosed MTS, resulting after internal fixation of a left tibial plateau fracture. Four days after surgery, despite standard prophylactic anticoagulation, the patient developed an extensive occlusive DVT, extending from the common iliac vein to the popliteal vein. Successful diagnosis required a CT venogram in addition to standard lower extremity ultrasound exam. Severe lower extremity edema continued to worsen despite formal anticoagulation. Urgent mechanical thrombolysis was undertaken, followed by staged catheter-directed thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) and intraluminal stenting. Following this treatment, the patient was noted to have gradual but dramatic resolution of his lower extremity edema and swelling. Conclusion: The present case demonstrates the potential danger that may accompany MTS in the setting of lower extremity trauma. When an extensive left lower extremity DVT complicates the care of a patient with extremity trauma, clinicians should have a low threshold to pursue the diagnosis of MTS with advanced imaging studies. Venography remains the gold standard in diagnosis, but CT and MRI venography are less invasive and should allow for accurate diagnosis. In this case, formal anticoagulation proved to be ineffective, and endovascular intervention was required.

A rapid and accurate new bedside test to assess maximal liver function: a case report

Sascha Müller — 2013-04-25T00:00:00Z

Background: In liver surgery, appropriate preoperative evaluation and preparation of the patient is of cardinal importance. The up-to-date, preoperative prediction of residual liver function has thus far been limited. As post-hepatectomy liver failure is a major cause of mortality, a new and simple bedside test (LiMAx) has been developed to predict postoperative liver function in conjunction with preoperative volumetric analysis of the liver.Case presentationA 45-year-old patient presented with a cecal carcinoma and a large synchronous liver metastasis for major liver surgery. Liver function was determined by the LiMAx-test for the enzymatic capacity of cytochrome P450 1A2, which is ubiquitously and solely active in the liver. A solution of 2 mg/kg body weight 13C-labeled methacetin was injected as a bolus into an intravenous catheter and, thereafter, was metabolized into acetaminophen and 13CO2 and pulmonarily exhaled. The analysis of the 13CO2/12CO2 ratio was performed using online breath sampling over a period of maximally 60 minutes. Based on this test, a value of more than 315 μg/kg/h represents normal liver function. A laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy was planned during virtual resection with a residual liver volume of 48% and a preoperative anticipated residual LiMAx of 301 μg/kg/h. After successful resection, the initial postoperative LiMAx value was 316 μg/kg/h, indicating good liver function and a correct prediction of the outcome. Conclusion: In the presented patient, residual liver function could be accurately predicted preoperatively using a combination of the new LiMax test with CT-volumetry. This test might significantly improve preoperative evaluation and postoperative outcomes in liver surgery.

Is detection of adverse events affected by record review methodology? an evaluation of the ¿Harvard Medical Practice Study¿ method and the ¿Global Trigger Tool¿

Maria Unbeck — 2013-04-15T00:00:00Z

Background: There has been a theoretical debate as to which retrospective record review method is the most valid, reliable, cost efficient and feasible for detecting adverse events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and capability of two common retrospective record review methods, the “Harvard Medical Practice Study” method and the “Global Trigger Tool” in detecting adverse events in adult orthopaedic inpatients. Methods: We performed a three-stage structured retrospective record review process in a random sample of 350 orthopaedic admissions during 2009 at a Swedish university hospital. Two teams comprised each of a registered nurse and two physicians were assigned, one to each method. All records were primarily reviewed by registered nurses. Records containing a potential adverse event were forwarded to physicians for review in stage 2. Physicians made an independent review regarding, for example, healthcare causation, preventability and severity. In the third review stage all adverse events that were found with the two methods together were compared and all discrepancies after review stage 2 were analysed. Events that had not been identified by one of the methods in the first two review stages were reviewed by the respective physicians. Results: Altogether, 160 different adverse events were identified in 105 (30.0%) of the 350 records with both methods combined. The “Harvard Medical Practice Study” method identified 155 of the 160 (96.9%, 95% CI: 92.9-99.0) adverse events in 104 (29.7%) records compared with 137 (85.6%, 95% CI: 79.2-90.7) adverse events in 98 (28.0%) records using the “Global Trigger Tool”. Adverse events “causing harm without permanent disability” accounted for most of the observed difference. The overall positive predictive value for criteria and triggers using the “Harvard Medical Practice Study” method and the “Global Trigger Tool” was 40.3% and 30.4%, respectively. Conclusions: More adverse events were identified using the “Harvard Medical Practice Study” method than using the “Global Trigger Tool”. Differences in review methodology, perception of less severe adverse events and context knowledge may explain the observed difference between two expert review teams in the detection of adverse events.

Predictors of poor outcome after both column acetabular fractures: a 30-year retrospective cohort study

Philipp Lichte — 2013-03-19T00:00:00Z

Background and PurposeAcetabular fractures are often combined with associated injuries to the hip joint. Some of these associated injuries seem to be responsible for poor long-term results and these injuries seem to affect the outcome independent of the quality of the acetabular reduction. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcome of both column acetabular fractures and the influence of osseous cofactors such as initial fracture displacement, hip dislocation, femoral head lesions and injuries of the acetabular joint surface. Methods: A retrospective cohort study in patients with both column acetabular fractures treated over a 30 year period was performed. Patients with a follow-up of more than two years were invited for a clinical and radiological examination. Displacement was analyzed on initial and postoperative radiographs. Contusion and impaction of the femoral head was grouped. Injuries of the acetabular joint surface consisting of impaction, contusion and comminution were recorded. The Merle d’Aubigné Score was documented and radiographs were analysed for arthritis (Helfet classification), femoral head avascular necrosis (Ficat/Arlet classification) and heterotopic ossifications (Brooker classification). Results: 115 patients were included in the follow up examination. Anatomic reduction (malreduction ≤ 1mm) was associated with a significantly better clinical outcome than nonanatomical reduction (p = 0.001). Initial displacement of more than 10mm (p = 0.031) and initial intraarticular fragments (p = 0.041) were associated with worse outcome. Other associated injuries, such as the presence of a femoral head dislocation, femoral head injuries and injuries to the acetabular joint surface showed no significant difference in outcome individually, but in fractures with more than two associated local injuries the risk for joint degeneration was significant higher (p < 0.001) than in cases with less than two of them.In the subgroup of anatomically reconstructed fractures no significant influence of the analyzed cofactors could be observed. Conclusion: Anatomical reduction appears to be an important parameter for a good clinical outcome in patients with both column acetabular fractures. Additional fracture characteristics such as the initial displacement and intraarticular fragments seem to influence the results. Patients should also be advised that both column acetabular fractures with more than two additional associated factors have a significantly higher risk of joint degeneration.

Incidence and pattern of technical complications in balloon-guided osteoplasty for depressed tibial plateau fractures: a pilot study in 20 consecutive patients

Cyril Mauffrey — 2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

Background: Inflation bone tamps are becoming increasingly popular as a reduction tool for depressed tibial plateau fractures. A number of recent publications have addressed the technical aspects of balloon inflation osteoplasty. However, no study has yet been published to describe the technical limitations, intraoperative complications, and surgical bailout strategies for this new technology. Methods: Observational retrospective study of all patients managed with inflatable bone tamps for depressed tibial plateau fractures between October 1, 2010 and December 1, 2012. The primary outcome parameter was the rate of complications, which were stratified into “minor” and “major” depending on the necessity for altering the surgical plan intraoperatively, and based on the risk for patient harm. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the State of Colorado. Results: A consecutive series of 20 patients were managed by balloon inflation osteoplasty for depressed tibial plateau fractures during the 15 months study period. The mean age was 42.8 years (range 20–79), with 9 females and 11 males. A total of 13 patients sustained an adverse intraoperative event (65%), with three patients sustaining multiple technical complications. Minor events (n = 8) included the burst of a balloon with extrusion of contrast dye, and the unintentional posterior wall displacement during balloon inflation. Major events (n = 5) included the intra-articular injection of calcium phosphate in the knee joint, and the inability to elevate the depressed articular fragment with the inflatable bone tamp. Conclusion: The observed intraoperative complication rate of 65% reflects a steep learning curve for the use of inflation bone tamps to reduce depressed tibial plateau fractures. Specific surgical bailout options are provided in this article, based on our early anecdotal experience in a pilot series of 20 consecutive cases. Patients should be advised on the benefits and risks of this new technology as part of the shared decision-making process during the informed consent.