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Bhinder J, O'Brien-Irr M, Reilly B, Montross B, Khan S, Rivero M, Cherr G, Harris L. Understanding radiation exposure and improving safety for vascular surgery trainees. J Vasc Surg 2023; 77:269-278. [PMID: 35953003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite having robust radiation safety education procedures and policies in place, we discovered that the trainees at our Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved integrated vascular surgery residency and fellowship program were exceeding the annual radiation exposure limits. In the present report, we have described our quality improvement project to identify the root causes and implement policies to improve radiation safety education, oversite, and, ultimately, the exposure levels of our trainees. METHODS A committee of faculty, fellows, radiology nurses, and radiation safety officers from each of the programs affiliated hospitals convened to identify the potential root causes of the increased radiation exposure and potential modifiable actions. The radiation exposure reports for postgraduate year 4 to 7 trainees were evaluated before and after the interventions. RESULTS Excessive radiation exposure was found to be more prevalent than anticipated, with multiple trainees surpassing the annual exposure limits. The committee classified the factors at play and interventions into four categories: policies and procedures, curriculum, environment, resources, and equipment. The multisite status of our program was a key factor associated with the increased radiation exposure. In addition, we found that excessive radiation levels were occurring primarily at a single hospital site. After the interventions, the monthly average levels at this site had decreased considerably from 936 mrem to 272 mrem. CONCLUSIONS We found it alarming that the safety policies in place at vascular residency and fellowship programs were inadequate in securing the safety of their trainees. We found interventions such as inventorying and ensuring the availability of safety equipment, hands-on instruction to complement traditional didactics, lowering the default frame rates, and converting to real-time dosimetry to be effective measures for reducing radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Bhinder
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY.
| | - Monica O'Brien-Irr
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Brendon Reilly
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Brittany Montross
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Sikandar Khan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Mariel Rivero
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Gregory Cherr
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Linda Harris
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
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Lee NJ, Leung E, Buchanan IA, Geiselmann M, Coury JR, Simhon ME, Zuckerman S, Buchholz AL, Pollina J, Jazini E, Haines C, Schuler TC, Good CR, Lombardi J, Lehman RA. A multicenter study of the 5-year trends in robot-assisted spine surgery outcomes and complications. JOURNAL OF SPINE SURGERY (HONG KONG) 2022; 8:9-20. [PMID: 35441099 PMCID: PMC8990386 DOI: 10.21037/jss-21-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although a growing amount of literature that suggests robots are safe and can achieve comparable outcomes to conventional techniques, much of this literature is limited by small sample sizes and single-surgeon or single center series. Furthermore, it is unclear what the impact of robotic technology has made on operative and clinical outcomes over time. This is the first and largest multicenter study to examine the trends in outcomes and complications after robot-assisted spine surgery over a 5-year period. METHODS Adult (≥18 years old) patients who underwent spine surgery with robot-assistance between 2015 and 2019 at four unique spine centers. The robotic systems used included the Mazor Renaissance, Mazor X, and Mazor Stealth Edition. Patients with incomplete data were excluded from this study. The minimum follow-up was 90 days. RESULTS A total of 722 adult patients were included (117 Renaissance, 477 X, 128 Stealth). Most patient and operative factors (e.g., sex, tobacco status, total instrumented levels, and pelvic fixation,) were similar across the years. Mean ± standard deviation Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 1.5±1.5. The most commonly reported diagnoses included high grade spondylolisthesis (40.6%), degenerative disc disease (18.4%), and degenerative scoliosis (17.6%). Mean (standard deviation) number of instrumented levels was 3.8±3.4. From 2015 to 2019, average robot time per screw improved from 7.2 to 5.5 minutes (P=0.004, R2=0.649). Average fluoroscopy time per screw improved from 15.2 to 9.4 seconds (P=0.002). Rates of both intraoperative screw exchange for misplaced screw (2015-2016: 2.7%, 2019: 0.8%, P=0.0115, R2=0.1316) and robot abandonment (2015-2016: 7.1%, 2019: 1.1%, P=0.011, R2=0.215) improved significantly over time. The incidence of other intraoperative complications (e.g., dural tear, loss of motor/sensory function, blood transfusion) remained consistently low, but similar throughout the years. The length of stay (LOS) decreased by nearly 1 day from 2015 to 2019 (P=0.007, R2=0.779). 90-day reoperation rates did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS At four institutions among seven surgeons, we demonstrate robot screw accuracy, reliability, operative efficiency, and radiation exposure improved significantly from 2015 to 2019. 90-day complication rates remained low and LOS decreased significantly with time. These findings further validate continued usage of robot-assisted spine surgery and the path toward improved value-based care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J. Lee
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric Leung
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ian A. Buchanan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Geiselmann
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Josephine R. Coury
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew E. Simhon
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott Zuckerman
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Avery L. Buchholz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John Pollina
- Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ehsan Jazini
- Department of Orthopaedics, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Colin Haines
- Department of Orthopaedics, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Thomas C. Schuler
- Department of Orthopaedics, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston, VA, USA
| | | | - Joseph Lombardi
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronald A. Lehman
- Department of Orthopaedics, Columbia University Medical Center, The Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
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Bhinder J, Fakhoury E, O'Brien-Irr M, Reilly B, Dryjski M, Dosluoglu H, Cherr G, Harris L. National Survey of Vascular Surgery Residents & Fellows on Radiation Exposure and Safety Practices. J Vasc Surg 2022; 76:274-279.e1. [PMID: 35065221 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2021.12.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate radiation safety practices, radiation training, and radiation exposure among senior vascular residents and fellows in ACGME accredited programs across the United States. METHODS Anonymous surveys were sent to all ACGME program directors to be distributed to post graduate year 4-7 vascular trainees for completion. Survey questions focused upon program type (single or multiple hospital site), familiarity with their radiation officer, formal radiation training, frequency of radiation feedback, use of safety equipment, and adherence to ALARA principles. RESULTS There were a total of 95 respondents (27% response rate). Forty-nine (51.6%) individuals reported they had never met their radiation safety officer. Seventy-four (77.9%) reported that they had received formal radiation safety education. A total of 50 (53%) individuals reported feedback regarding monthly radiation exposure and 24 (25%) trainees reported never having received feedback on radiation exposure levels. All findings were found to be more common among multiple hospital site program respondents CONCLUSION: It should be of significant concern that such a high number of trainees are exceeding radiation exposure limits. Programs should strive to reduce radiation exposure through formal training, provision of safety equipment, modeling by attendings of adherence to ALARA principles, and timely exposure feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Bhinder
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Elias Fakhoury
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Monica O'Brien-Irr
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Brendon Reilly
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Maciej Dryjski
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Hasan Dosluoglu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Gregory Cherr
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
| | - Linda Harris
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY.
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