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Fitzgerald TN, Zambeli-Ljepović A, Olatunji BT, Saleh A, Ameh EA. Gaps and priorities in innovation for children's surgery. Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151352. [PMID: 37976896 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Lack of access to pediatric medical devices and innovative technology contributes to global disparities in children's surgical care. There are currently many barriers that prevent access to these technologies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Technologies that were designed for the needs of high-income countries (HICs) may not fit the resources available in LMICs. Likewise, obtaining these devices are costly and require supply chain infrastructure. Once these technologies have reached the LMIC, there are many issues with sustainability and maintenance of the devices. Ideally, devices would be created for the needs and resources of LMICs, but there are many obstacles to innovation that are imposed by institutions in both HICs and LMICs. Fortunately, there is a growing interest for development of this space, and there are many examples of current technologies that are paving the way for future innovations. Innovations in simulation-based training with incorporated learner self-assessment are needed to fast-track skills acquisition for both specialist trainees and non-specialist children's surgery providers, to scale up access for the larger population of children. Pediatric laparoscopy and imaging are some of the innovations that could make a major impact in children's surgery worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alan Zambeli-Ljepović
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Fransisco, USA
| | | | | | - Emmanuel A Ameh
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
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Zadey S, Leraas H, Gupta A, Biswas A, Hollier P, Vissoci JRN, Mugaga J, Ssekitoleko RT, Everitt JI, Loh AHP, Lee YT, Saterbak A, Mueller JL, Fitzgerald TN. KeyLoop retractor for global gasless laparoscopy: evaluation of safety and feasibility in a porcine model. Surg Endosc 2023:10.1007/s00464-023-10054-5. [PMID: 37074419 PMCID: PMC10338623 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many surgeons in low- and middle-income countries have described performing surgery using gasless (lift) laparoscopy due to inaccessibility of carbon dioxide and reliable electricity, but the safety and feasibility of the technique has not been well documented. We describe preclinical testing of the in vivo safety and utility of KeyLoop, a laparoscopic retractor system to enable gasless laparoscopy. METHODS Experienced laparoscopic surgeons completed a series of four laparoscopic tasks in a porcine model: laparoscopic exposure, small bowel resection, intracorporeal suturing with knot tying, and cholecystectomy. For each participating surgeon, the four tasks were completed in a practice animal using KeyLoop. Surgeons then completed these tasks using standard-of-care (SOC) gas laparoscopy and KeyLoop in block randomized order to minimize learning curve effect. Vital signs, task completion time, blood loss and surgical complications were compared between SOC and KeyLoop using paired nonparametric tests. Surgeons completed a survey on use of KeyLoop compared to gas laparoscopy. Abdominal wall tissue was evaluated for injury by a blinded pathologist. RESULTS Five surgeons performed 60 tasks in 15 pigs. There were no significant differences in times to complete the tasks between KeyLoop and SOC. For all tasks, there was a learning curve with task completion times related to learning the porcine model. There were no significant differences in blood loss, vital signs or surgical complications between KeyLoop and SOC. Eleven surgeons from the United States and Singapore felt that KeyLoop could be used to safely perform several common surgical procedures. No abdominal wall tissue injury was observed for either KeyLoop or SOC. CONCLUSIONS Procedure times, blood loss, abdominal wall tissue injury and surgical complications were similar between KeyLoop and SOC gas laparoscopy for basic surgical procedures. This data supports KeyLoop as a useful tool to increase access to laparoscopy in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhesh Zadey
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, MH, India.
| | - Harold Leraas
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Aryaman Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Arushi Biswas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Julius Mugaga
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amos H P Loh
- Duke-NUS Medical School, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - York Tien Lee
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ann Saterbak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jenna L Mueller
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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Zhu Q, Jesiek BK. Practicing Engineering Ethics in Global Context: A Comparative Study of Expert and Novice Approaches to Cross-Cultural Ethical Situations. Sci Eng Ethics 2020; 26:2097-2120. [PMID: 31721025 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-019-00154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Engineers and other technical professionals are increasingly challenged by the impacts of globalization. Further, engineering educators, technical managers, and human resources staff have demonstrated great interest in selecting and training engineers who are capable of working competently, professionally, and ethically in global context. However, working across countries and cultures brings considerable challenges to global engineers, including as related to understanding and navigating local and regional differences in what counts as professional ethics and integrity. In this study, we focus on written responses to 27 assessment scenarios that involve micro- and/or macro-ethical considerations in six national/cultural contexts (China, France, Germany, India, Japan, and Mexico). More specifically, we analyze responses to open-ended versions of the scenarios. Our participants consisted of both experts (e.g., experienced engineers) and novices (e.g., undergraduate students and early career professionals). Comparing and contrasting how experts and novices responded to these ethical problems sheds light on differences in their ethical strategies and approaches. This analysis also allows us to discern what specific cultural knowledge and sensitivity were employed by experts in solving cross-cultural ethical problems, but were largely lacking among novices. Finally, we analyze and discuss challenges faced by experts and novices in responding to cross-cultural ethical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhu
- Division of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Colorado School of Mines, 1005 14th Street, Stratton Hall 306, Golden, CO, 80401, USA.
| | - Brent K Jesiek
- School of Engineering Education, Purdue University, 701 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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Arivoli M, Biswas A, Burroughs N, Wilson P, Salzman C, Kakembo N, Mugaga J, Ssekitoleko RT, Saterbak A, Fitzgerald TN. Multidisciplinary Development of a Low-Cost Gastroschisis Silo for Use in Sub-Saharan Africa. J Surg Res 2020; 255:565-574. [PMID: 32645490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastroschisis silos are often unavailable in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), contributing to high mortality. We describe a collaboration between engineers and surgeons in the United States and Uganda to develop a silo from locally available materials. METHODS Design criteria included the following: < $5 cost, 5 ± 0.25 cm opening diameter, deformability of the opening construct, ≥ 500 mL volume, ≥ 30 N tensile strength, no statistical difference in the leakage rate between the low-cost silo and preformed silo, ease of manufacturing, and reusability. Pugh scoring matrices were used to assess designs. Materials considered included the following: urine collection bags, intravenous bags, or zipper storage bags for the silo and female condom rings or O-rings for the silo opening construct. Silos were assembled with clothing irons and sewn with thread. Colleagues in Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya investigated material cost and availability. RESULTS Urine collection bags and female condom rings were chosen as the most accessible materials. Silos were estimated to cost < $1 in SSA. Silos yielded a diameter of 5.01 ± 0.11 cm and a volume of 675 ± 7 mL. The iron + sewn seal, sewn seal, and ironed seal on the silos yielded tensile strengths of 31.1 ± 5.3 N, 30.1 ± 2.9 N, and 14.7 ± 2.4 N, respectively, compared with the seal of the current standard-of-care silo of 41.8 ± 6.1 N. The low-cost silos had comparable leakage rates along the opening and along the seal with the spring-loaded preformed silo. The silos were easily constructed by biomedical engineering students within 15 min. All silos were able to be sterilized by submersion. CONCLUSIONS A low-cost gastroschisis silo was constructed from materials locally available in SSA. Further in vivo and clinical studies are needed to determine if mortality can be improved with this design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arushi Biswas
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Nolan Burroughs
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Patrick Wilson
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Caroline Salzman
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Nasser Kakembo
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Julius Mugaga
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Duke-Makerere University Biomedical Engineering Partnership, Durham, North Carolina and Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert T Ssekitoleko
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Duke-Makerere University Biomedical Engineering Partnership, Durham, North Carolina and Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ann Saterbak
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Duke-Makerere University Biomedical Engineering Partnership, Durham, North Carolina and Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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