Surgery News - May 2008 - (Page 13)

M AY 2 0 0 8 • SURGERY NEWS 13 NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE Medical Simulation Web Site Launched astern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), in conjunction with the ACS, has developed a comprehensive database aimed at increasing collaboration among product developers, medical professionals, and researchers in the emerging field of medical modeling and simulation (MMS). The database, publicly available at www.medicalmodsim.com, includes more than 200,000 resources covering all aspects of MMS that previously existed only in a diffuse network of information sources. The database is also aimed at raising general awareness of the field. “The goal is to increase the use and quality of medical modeling and simulation,” said C. Donald Combs, Ph.D., associate dean for planning and health professions at EVMS. MMS encompasses three main elements: the creation of models that mirror reality with reasonable accuracy, the analysis of such models, and the creation of simulators based on those models. MMS brings virtual reality from the Joint Symposium to Focus on Neurotrauma/Critical Care embers of the ACS are invited to attend the first joint symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. The meeting, which will take place July 27-30 at the Hilton Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla, provides an opportunity to learn about the most up-to-date clinical and basic science in neurotrauma and critical care in a collaborative environment. Through this joint effort, specific clinical sessions have been created for practicing physicians, neurotrauma nurses, and basic scientists. These sessions will help attendees better understand the state-of-the-art management of neurotrauma and critical care through didactic sessions (such as management of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and intensive E realm of science fiction to the medical classroom and the operating room, and as the field has gained attention, the volume of research and development activity has gone up exponentially. L.D. Britt, M.D., FACS, chair of the EVMS Department of Surgery and vicechair of the ACS Board of Regents, helped facilitate the partnership. The move to a partnership fits with the College’s national leadership in promoting the use of MMS as a training tool to improve surgical practice. The driving principle behind the database’s development is to provide a central jumping-off point for new partnerships in MMS. The database can be searched using any of nine browse folders, including two that list articles preselected by health care profession or surgical specialty. More browse folders will be added as new areas and demand are identified. For additional details on the medical simulation database, visit www. medicalmodsim.com. M care) and hands-on sessions (such as spinal column trauma reconstruction, multimodality monitoring, and surgical management of brain trauma). The goal of this joint symposium is to create better dialogue and collaboration among clinicians and scientists that might translate into improved patient care in the future. Attendees will learn what can easily be incorporated into clinical practice and what is on the horizon in neurotrauma and critical care. They can also earn up to 25 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits. For program information and to register, visit www.neurotrauma.org/2008/index.htm#. You may also contact David Adelson, M.D., FACS, FAAP, chair, AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, and chair, Neurosurgery Subspecialty Group, ACS COT, via karen@tlceventsgroup.com. Georgia Redefines General Surgery fter years of grassroots advocacy on the legislative, regulatory, and judicial fronts, Georgia surgeons who fought to have general surgery defined as a single specialty finally achieved victory in the General Assembly. S.B. 433, a certificate-of-need (CON) reform bill, contains language that recognizes general surgery as a single specialty eligible for the exemption from the CON process for ambulatory surgery centers. A The Georgia House passed the bill 138-17, and the Senate quickly followed suit with a 447 vote on April 5, the last day of the state’s 2008 legislative session. Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) signed the bill into law on April 9. The ACS undertook major efforts to support the general surgery community in Georgia during this long-term battle. For more information, visit www.legis.ga.gov/legis/ 2007_08/sum/sb433.htm. Don a Helmet Before You Put the Pedal to the Metal B Y R I C H A R D J. FA N T U S , M . D. , FA C S ow that spring is in full swing and the dreary winter weather is merely a bad memory, throngs of bicyclists take to the trails, sidewalks, and, unfortunately, the streets, resulting in the frequent occurrence of a bicyclist being injured by a motor vehicle. Despite advances in design, head injuries have dated back to the early days of cycling. These injuries likely increased as more and more roads were paved. Fortunately, bicycle clubs recognized this trend, and helmets were first used as far back as 1880. Over the years, the helmet was refined, and national standards were put into place in 1984. Unfortunately, current helmet use ranges from one extreme to the other, depending on the geographic area and population demographic, with overall use close to 25%. N In order to examine the occurrence of bicyclists injured by motor vehicles in the National Trauma Data Bank Dataset 7.0, we used the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification cause of injury code E813.6, Motor vehicle traffic accident involving collision with other vehicle injuring pedal cyclist. In the dataset with this E code, there were 10,680 records with discharge status included. Of the victims in these records, 8,867 were discharged to home, 1,158 to acute care/rehabilitation, and 221 to nursing homes; 434 died. (See figure and corresponding percentages.) Among victims, 84.5% were male and on average 28.2 years of age; they had an average length of hospital stay of 5.1 days and an average injury severity score of 11.0. Of those bicycle riders tested for alcohol, one-fourth tested positive, whereas one-half of Hospital Discharge Status for Cyclist Injuries 2% 4% Nursing homes Death 11% Acute care/ rehabilitation 83% Home ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS heading to the streets—so you will be protected in case you put your pedal to the metal of a motor vehicle. The full NTDB Annual Report Version 7.0 is available on the ACS Web site as a PDF, and at www.ntdb.org as a PowerPoint presentation. If you are interested in submitting your trauma center’s data, contact Melanie L. Neal, Manager, NTDB, at mneal@facs.org. Acknowledgment Statistical support for this article has been provided by Sandra M. Goble, M.S. DR. FANTUS is director, trauma services, and chief, section of surgical critical care, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and clinical professor of surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Ill. He is chair of the ad hoc Trauma Registry Advisory Committee of the Committee on Trauma. Note: Based on data for 10,680 records of cyclists injured by motor vehicles. Source: Dr. Fantus those screened for drugs tested positive. Information on helmet use was available in 4,129 of the cases, and approximately onethird (1,381) of the injured riders were wearing a protective helmet. No one can argue the fact that helmets are protective de- vices and save lives. Otherwise, why would football players, hockey players, and baseball players wear them? When getting ready to mount your metallic steed, do not drink, do not take drugs, and do wear reflective clothing and reflectors after dark. And wear a bicycle helmet—especially if you are http://www.neurotrauma.org/2008/index.htm http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/sum/sb433.htm http://www.medicalmodsim.com http://www.medicalmodsim.com http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/sum/sb433.htm http://www.ntdb.org

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Surgery News - May 2008 Contents New Lung Approach Speeds Extubation Innovative GI Procedures May Improve Diabetes Quality Programs Differ on Risk Data Crystal Ball Medical Modeling Ventricular Valve Taking Stock

Surgery News - May 2008

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