Monday, January 31, 2011

Adhesion Awareness: A National Survey of Surgeons.

Schreinemacher MH, ten Broek RP, et al: World J Surg; 2010;34 (December): 2805-2812


Objective: To report on a survey of Dutch surgeons, hypothesizing that lack of knowledge about adhesions and their consequences is related to surgeon practice and adhesion-related complications.

Design: Survey.

Participants: 1455 surgeons and trainees.

Methods: Initial survey questions were developed by a group of surgeons with a particular interest in adhesions. Questions were then edited by researchers with expertise in survey design and construction of multiple choice questions. Resultant survey was pilot-tested with 5 practicing surgeons and 3 surgical trainees. Final survey contained 55 multiple-choice questions, 4 open-ended questions, and 4 optional questions. Survey was sent to all members of the Dutch Association for Surgery, as well as to all registered surgical trainees. A reminder was sent electronically 1 week after the initial email if no response was obtained. Data from surveys with <80% p ="0.032).">Conclusions: The magnitude of the problem of postoperative adhesions is underestimated.
Reviewer's Comments: None of the agents that have been proposed as the magic bullet to prevent adhesions has lived up to expectations (or hopes), although certain products are effective in certain high-risk operations and populations. Even if adhesions are viewed as an inevitable result, it does make sense to include this in the preoperative discussion with patients, particularly those in high-risk groups. It appears that hopes and expectations will continue to rest on a future magic bullet.(Reviewer–Karen J. Brasel, MD, MPH).
© 2010, Oakstone Medical Publishing
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