Telementoring of Open and Laparoscopic Knot Tying and Suturing Is Possible: A Randomized Controlled Study

Aim Several motor learning models have been used to teach highly complex procedural skills in medical education. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficiency of telementoring of open and laparoscopic suturing of medical students compared to conventional in-person teaching and training. Methods After randomization, 23 medical students were assigned to either the telementoring or the in-person training group. Both groups were taught by surgically trained residence with a student–teacher ratio of 1:1 (teacher–student). Open suturing was assessed in a model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and laparoscopic suturing in a model of bowel anastomosis. All subjects were trained according to the spaced learning concept for 3 hours. Primary end points were time, knot quality, precision, knot strength, and overall knotting performance/competency. Furthermore, we utilized the Surgery Task Load Index to evaluate the cognitive load of both teaching techniques. Students' subjective progress regarding skill acquisitions and acceptance of telementoring was assessed using a nine-item questionnaire. Results All 23 trainees significantly improved after training in all knot attributes. More than 90% of all subjects reached proficiency in both groups. In-person training and telementoring were similarly practical, and no significant differences regarding speed, knot quality, precision, knot stability, and procedure performance/competency were found. Students perceived no difference in acquisition of factual or applicational knowledge between the two groups. General acceptance of telementoring was moderate in both groups before training, but increased during training in students actually assigned to this group, in comparison to students assigned to conventional teaching. Conclusion The current study shows that telementoring of open and laparoscopic suturing is an ideal answer to the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, ensuring continuous training. On-site training and telementoring are similarly effective, leading to substantial improvement in proficiency in intracorporeal suturing and knot tying. Likewise, students' subjective progress regarding skill acquisitions and cognitive load does not differ between teaching methods. Skepticism toward telementoring decreases after exposure to this learning method. Given our results, telementoring should be considered a highly effective and resource-saving educational approach even after the current pandemic.

MODERN VIEWS ON THE TREATMENT OF PERFORATED PYLORODUODENAL ULCERS

Summary. Purpose: to improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with perforated pyloroduodenal ulcer. Materials and methods. The results of treatment of 101 patients operated on for perforated pyloroduodenal ulcer, which were treated in the surgical department for the period from 2015 to 2020, were analyzed. Results and discussion. Laparoscopic interventions were performed in 56 (55.4 %) patients with perforated ulcer. Excision of perforated ulcer by traditional laparotomy without vagotomy was used in 26 (25.7 %) patients. Suturing of perforated ulcer by traditional method without vagotomy was performed in 19 (18.8 %) patients. Complications of the early postoperative period in 8 (7.9 %) patients were surgical in nature. In 27 (26.7 %) patients postoperative complications were specific associated with the performance of dilated pyloroduodenoplasty. The largest number of postoperative complications was observed in patients who underwent suturing of the ulcer using traditional laparotomy access – 17 (16.8 %), of which general surgery – 6 (5.9 %), specific – 11 (10.9 %). Conclusions. Laparoscopic suturing of perforated ulcers is accompanied by less pronounced pain, a decrease in the number of postoperative complications, which requires greater use of endovideo-surgical technologies in this complication of peptic ulcer disease.

Laparoscopic Repair of Perforated Gastric Ulcer by Forming a “Covered Perforation”

Performing video endoscopic operations on patients with emergency surgical pathology in order to increase the efficiency and reduce the duration of surgical intervention, as well as to prevent postoperative complications, stimulates the continuous development and implementation of new minimally invasive technologies in emergency surgery. The aim of the study was to develop a new method for laparoscopic suturing of a perforated gastric ulcer (PGU) with the formation of a “covered perforation.” The proposed method uses a fold-duplicator from the anterior wall of the stomach to close the perforation of the stomach wall, thus expanding the possibilities of using minimally invasive technologies for PGU.