The impact of a pediatric surgery fundamentals boot camp on new surgical trainees' perceived knowledge and confidence levels.

Background: Transition periods within surgical education are characterized by heightened stress and a sense of under-preparedness. We evaluated the self-reported knowledge and preparedness of new surgical residents for pediatric rotations, and the impact of a pediatric surgery fundamentals boot camp on the same.

Methods: An annual full-day pediatric surgery boot camp, consisting of didactic and interactive lectures, was created in 2020 as part of a 4-week surgical boot camp for new residents in general surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, urology, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology, delivered each July.

Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation for Medical Student Procedural Training: Assessment of Cognitive Load and Usability.

ObjectiveIn a previous randomized controlled trial, we found immersive virtual reality (VR) simulation to be effective for teaching procedural skills to medical students. We further investigated this interface's usability and cognitive load.MethodsThis was a secondary analysis of data from a previous randomized controlled trial.

Virtual Reality Training Improves Procedural Skills in Mannequin-Based Simulation in Medical Students: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to evaluate whether immersive virtual reality (VR) training used in conjunction with interactive online learning improved procedural skills in medical students, using chest tube insertion as a model.MethodsMedical students (n = 30) with limited or no experience with chest tube insertion were randomized into control and VR groups. All participants received access to a previously developed online module to learn the equipment and steps involved in performing chest tube insertion.

Surgical treatment of bronchopulmonary malformations in children: experience in a Brazilian center.

Introduction: Bronchopulmonary malformations (BPM) are lower respiratory tract anomalies that include congenital malformations of the pulmonary airways (CMPA), bronchogenic cysts (BC), bronchopulmonary sequestrations (BPS), and congenital lobar emphysema (CLE). Prenatal detection in low- and middle-income countries is less common than in high-income ones. This study aims to show the experience in the surgical approach to BPM in a Brazilian center, with emphasis on clinical evolution and surgical results, according to the time of diagnosis (prenatal versus postnatal).

Virtual Reality for Pediatric Trauma Education - A Preliminary Face and Content Validation Study.

Purpose: Pediatric trauma education remains expensive and available only to a few providers worldwide. Innovative educational technologies like virtual reality (VR) can be key to decentralizing trauma education. This preliminary validation study evaluates the face and content validity of a VR software designed to enhance pediatric trauma skills.

Frequency of splenectomy for pediatric splenic injury in Brazil: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Non-operative management for pediatric blunt splenic injury is well established in high-income countries, leading to a low splenectomy rate in hemodynamically stable children. Splenectomy rate became a quality indicator for Trauma Center verification utilized by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. However, data on splenectomy rate in children from countries with different income levels, such as Brazil, remain limited.

Expansion of national surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia plans in Latin America: can Brazil be next?

On the sidelines of the 75th Session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization for the Americas, the Republic of Ecuador hosted an event to expand on National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plans (NSOAPs). NSOAPs are policy frameworks that offer governments a pathway to incorporate surgical planning into their overall health strategies. In Latin America, Ecuador became the first country to lead the development of an NSOAP and is fostering regional efforts for other Latin American countries to have sustainable surgical strengthening plans.

Social determinants of gastrointestinal malformation mortality in Brazil: a national study.

Introduction: In Brazil, approximately 5% are born with a congenital disorder, potentially fatal without surgery. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between gastrointestinal congenital malformation (GICM) mortality, health indicators, and socioeconomic factors in Brazil.

Methods: GICM admissions (Q39-Q45) between 2012 and 2019 were collected using national databases.

Implementation of a Global Pediatric Trauma Course in an Upper Middle-Income Country: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Over 90% of pediatric trauma deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet pediatric trauma-focused training remains unstandardized and inaccessible, especially in LMICs. In Brazil, where trauma is the leading cause of death for children over age 1, we piloted the first global adaptation of the Trauma Resuscitation in Kids (TRIK) course and assessed its feasibility.

Methods: A 2-day simulation-based global TRIK course was hosted in Belo Horizonte in October 2022, led by one Brazilian and four Canadian instructors.

The State of Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been recently shown to improve clinical workflows and outcomes - yet its potential in pediatric surgery remains largely unexplored. This systematic review details the use of AI in pediatric surgery.

Methods: Nine medical databases were searched from inception until January 2023, identifying articles focused on AI in pediatric surgery.

Improving Pediatric Trauma Education by Teaching Non-technical Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pediatric trauma is a significant cause of child mortality, and the absence of non-technical skills (NTS) among health providers is linked with errors in patients' care. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of a structured debriefing protocol in enhancing NTS during pediatric trauma simulation.

Methods: A total of 45 medical students were successfully recruited from two medical schools, one in Brazil and one in Canada.

Perceived Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Surgical Training: A Brazilian Survey.

Introduction: Recent studies revealed that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) negatively impacted residency programs worldwide, particularly procedure-based programs. However, most studies are from high-income countries, with scarce data from low- and middle-income countries. Pandemic effects on surgical training were likely worse in strictly apprenticeship models relying heavily on surgical volume as opposed to competency-based programs.

Limitations of using the DATASUS database as a primary source of data in surgical research: a scoping review.

Objective: DATASUS is the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS) department responsible for providing health data that are used as a primary source of data in several studies on surgery and surgical specialties although its main limitations have not been previously reviewed. The objective of this work is to synthesize information from studies on surgery that used DATASUS systems as a data source and to identify the main gaps in this platform.

Methods: a scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR method to identify papers on surgery, and other surgical specialties, that used the DATASUS platform as a primary data source.

Delivery of essential pediatric congenital surgical care within Brazil's universal health coverage system: a national survey of pediatric surgeons.

Objective: In this study, we assess the delivery of congenital pediatric surgical care under Brazil's system of universal health coverage and evaluate differences in delivery between public and private sectors.

Methods: A cross-sectional national survey of pediatric surgeons in Brazil was conducted. Participants were asked which of 23 interventions identified through the they perform and to report barriers faced while providing surgical care.

Academic global surgical competencies: A modified Delphi consensus study.

Academic global surgery is a rapidly growing field that aims to improve access to safe surgical care worldwide. However, no universally accepted competencies exist to inform this developing field. A consensus-based approach, with input from a diverse group of experts, is needed to identify essential competencies that will lead to standardization in this field.

Online medical education: A student survey.

Background: During COVID-19, medical schools transitioned to online learning as an emergency response to deliver their education programmes. This multi-country study compared the methods by which medical schools worldwide restructured the delivery of medical education during the pandemic.

Methods: This multi-country, cross-sectional study was performed using an internet-based survey distributed to medical students in multiple languages in November 2020.

Who Gets Burned in Brazil?

Burns are preventable injuries that still represent a relevant public health issue. The identification of risk factors might contribute to the development of specific preventive strategies. Data of patients admitted at the Hospital due to acute burn injuries from May 2017 to December 2019, was extracted manually from medical records.

Is authorship by women in Brazilian academic surgery increasing? A five-year retrospective analysis.

Women remain underrepresented in 80% of Brazilian surgical specialties, however, women representation within the Brazilian academic surgical literature remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the gender distribution of first and last authors in Brazilian surgical journals. All publications between 2015 and 2019 from the five Brazilian surgical journals with the highest impact factor were reviewed.

Technology-enhanced trauma training in low-resource settings: A scoping review and feasibility analysis of educational technologies.

Background: Lack of training contributes to the burden of trauma-related mortality and morbidity in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Educational technologies present a unique opportunity to enhance the quality of trauma training. Therefore, this study reviews current technologies used in trauma courses and evaluates their feasibility for LMICs.

A debriefing tool to acquire non-technical skills in trauma courses.

Objective: The study reports the use of a nominal group technique (NGT) to evaluate the PEARLS Healthcare debriefing tool as a tool to foster non-technical skills in trauma simulation courses. Additionally, it introduces a debriefing card to be used in trauma courses.

Design: A nominal group technique was used to evaluate the main strategies for PEARLS.