The use of local anaesthetics for emergency abdominal operations

Surgical Residency Training in Developing Countries: West African College of Surgeons as a Case Study

BACKGROUND

In 1904, William Halsted introduced the present model of surgical residency program which has been adopted worldwide. In some developing countries, where surgical residency training programs are new, some colleges have introduced innovations to the Halsted's original concept of surgical residency training. These include 1) primary examination, 2) rural surgical posting, and 3) submission of dissertation for final certification.

STUDY DESIGN

Our information was gathered from the publications on West African College of Surgeons' (WACS) curriculum of the medical schools, faculty papers of medical schools, and findings from committees of medical schools. Verbal information was also gathered via interviews from members of the WACS. Additionally, our personal experience as members and examiners of the college are included herein. We then noted the differences between surgical residency training programs in the developed countries and that of developing countries.

RESULTS

The innovations introduced into the residency training programs in the developing countries are mainly due to the emphasis placed on paper qualifications and degrees instead of performance.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the innovations introduced into surgical residency training programs in developing countries are the result of the misconception of what surgical residency training programs entail.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of intraperitoneal local anaesthetic for pain reduction after laparoscopic gastric procedures

BACKGROUND

With the advent of minimally invasive gastric surgery, visceral nociception has become an important area of investigation as a potential cause of postoperative pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to investigate the clinical effects of intraperitoneal local anaesthetic (IPLA) in laparoscopic gastric procedures.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were conducted independently without language restriction. Studies were identified from the following databases from inception to February 2010: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase and CINAHL. Relevant meeting abstracts and reference lists were searched manually. Appropriate methodology according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was adhered to.

RESULTS

Five randomized controlled trials in laparoscopic gastric procedures were identified for review. There was no significant heterogeneity between the trials (χ(2) = 10·27, 10 d.f., P = 0·42, I(2) = 3 per cent). Based on meta-analysis of trials, there appeared to be reduced abdominal pain intensity (overall mean difference in pain score -1·64, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) -2·09 to -1·19; P < 0·001), incidence of shoulder tip pain (overall odds ratio 0·15, 95 per cent c.i. 0·05 to 0·44; P < 0·001) and opioid use (overall mean difference -3·23, -4·81 to -1·66; P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION

There is evidence in favour of IPLA in laparoscopic gastric procedures for reduction of abdominal pain intensity, incidence of shoulder pain and postoperative opioid consumption.

Intraperitoneal use of local anesthetic in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

With the advent of minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, and now with natural orifice techniques emerging, visceral nociception has been neglected as a cause of postoperative pain. A systematic review and metaanalysis was carried out to investigate the use of intraperitoneal local anesthetic (IPLA) in order to assess its role in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the clinical effects of this modality.

METHODS

Comprehensive searches were conducted independently without language restriction. Studies were identified from the following databases from inception to September 2009: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL/CCTR), Cochrane Library, Medline, PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL). Relevant meeting abstracts and reference lists were manually searched. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.0 software.

RESULTS

Thirty randomized controlled trials were identified for review. The clinical heterogeneity of IPLA use was high. However, there appeared to be reduced pain, opioid use, and need for rescue analgesia, and reduced postoperative cortisol and glucose responses.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence in favor of IPLA in LC. Further trials of this modality in LC are not needed as these are unlikely to reduce clinical heterogeneity. IPLA should be trialled as future minimally invasive surgical techniques approach.