Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.
- Presentation
Keep It Simple in Surgery: Your Patients and Yourself
Description
In her presentation, Charlene, a dermatologic surgeon, emphasizes the importance of simplicity in surgical procedures to enhance outcomes for both patients and practitioners. She introduces three main themes: simplifying procedures, optimizing positioning, and being gentle with both tissue and anesthesia. Charlene advocates for taking smaller, simpler approaches to wound closure to minimize complications and improve healing, suggesting alternatives like primary closures, purse string techniques, or opting out of surgery altogether in certain cases. She stresses the significance of ergonomics, encouraging surgeons to maintain good posture to prevent musculoskeletal issues, which are prevalent among surgeons. Charlene also discusses the importance of proper patient positioning to facilitate excision and closure, thereby reducing tension and improving outcomes. Additionally, she highlights the need to ensure patient comfort during anesthesia, promoting slow infiltration techniques to reduce pain perception. Finally, Charlene advises finding a mentor to guide and improve surgical skills, underscoring the value of mentorship in achieving excellence in surgery. Overall, her insights advocate for a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to surgical practice.
View moreConclusions
- Simplifying surgical procedures improves outcomes for both surgeons and patients.
- Smaller wounds generally lead to better healing and less complications than larger wounds.
- Single-stage repairs are often preferable to multi-stage repairs for efficiency and patient comfort.
- Primary closures should be prioritized over flap closures where possible to reduce complexity.
- Gentle techniques during procedures lead to improved patient comfort and better aesthetic outcomes.
- Surgeons should prioritize their physical well-being to enhance performance and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
- Proper patient positioning during procedures can optimize outcomes and reduce tension on tissues.
- Administering anesthesia slowly and methodically can minimize patient pain during procedures.
- Creating a calm environment during surgery can further lower anxiety and enhance the patient experience.
- Mentorship is crucial for continuous improvement and achieving excellence in surgical practice.
- Lam C, Jacobs A, Simonetta C, & Travelute, CR. Dermatol Surg. 2020; 46(5): 708-10.
- Lam C, Larson E, Vidimos AT, Billingsley. Dermatol Surg. 2020; 46 (2):272-6.
- Bhatia AC, Xu S, Robinson JK. The need for ergonomics education in dermatology and dermatologic surgery. JAMA Derm. 2017; 153(1): 13-4.
- Esser AC, Koshy JG, Randle HW. Ergonomics in Office-Based Survey: A Survey-Guided Observational Study. Dermatol Surg. 2007; 33 (11):1304-1314.
- Powell E, Guidry J, Orengo I. Optimizing patient position during dermatologic surgery. Cutis 2021; 107: 43-4.
- Wysong A and Higgins S. Basic Principles in Flap Reconstruction in Flaps and Grafts in Dermatologic Surgery. 2nd ed. Elsevier, 2018.
- Zilinsky I, Bar-Meir E, Zaslansky R, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2005;4:212-216.
- Strazar A, et al. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;132:675-84.
- Scarfone et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1998; 31(1): 36-40.
- Gawande, A. Personal Best. The New Yorker. 3 Oct 2011.