Sandy Widder
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View article: Methods of Adverse Event Detection in Intensive Care: A Systematic Review
Methods of Adverse Event Detection in Intensive Care: A Systematic Review Open
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to characterize adverse event detection methods in the ICU setting, including neonatal, pediatric, and adult ICUs, to summarize the evidence of their performance characteristics. DATA …
View article: Methods of detection of adverse events in critical care: a protocol for a systematic review
Methods of detection of adverse events in critical care: a protocol for a systematic review Open
Introduction Adverse events, defined as unintended patient harm contributed to by healthcare, continue to increase morbidity, mortality and cost. Critically ill patients are at high risk of adverse events; however, the optimal approach to …
View article: Trauma resident exposure in Canada and operative numbers (TraumaRECON): a national multicentre retrospective review of operative and nonoperative trauma teaching
Trauma resident exposure in Canada and operative numbers (TraumaRECON): a national multicentre retrospective review of operative and nonoperative trauma teaching Open
General surgery residents who train in Canada receive variable and limited exposure to operative and nonoperative trauma care. These data can be used as a baseline to inform the application of competency-based medical education in trauma c…
View article: Paramedic to trauma team verbal handover optimization — a complex interaction
Paramedic to trauma team verbal handover optimization — a complex interaction Open
Our study shows agreement by prehospital and hospital personnel that a standardized handover tool is preferred. A brief confirmation of physiologic stability, including vital signs, limiting distractions, and team summarization improves ha…
View article: The next frontier of acute care general surgery: fellowship training
The next frontier of acute care general surgery: fellowship training Open
Acute care surgery (ACS) is an area of surgical specialization within general surgery and a model for clinical care delivery that has proliferated over the last 2 decades. Models of ACS in Canada exist in both academic and community settin…
View article: Operating room use for emergency general surgery cases: analysis of the Patterns of Complex Emergency General Surgery in Canada study
Operating room use for emergency general surgery cases: analysis of the Patterns of Complex Emergency General Surgery in Canada study Open
We found considerable variation in OR booking priority within the same preoperative diagnoses among EGS patients in Canada. Sites with dedicated EGS ORs performed more cases during weekday daytime compared to sites without dedicated EGS OR…
View article: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in Canada: a context-specific position paper from the Canadian Collaborative for Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS)
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in Canada: a context-specific position paper from the Canadian Collaborative for Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS) Open
SummaryResuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a well-described intervention for noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Several Canadian centres have included REBOA in their hemorrhagic shock protocols. However, REB…
View article: Failure to rescue in emergency general surgery in Canada
Failure to rescue in emergency general surgery in Canada Open
There was variability in FTR rates across EGS services in Canada, which suggests that there is opportunity for ongoing quality-improvement efforts. This study provides FTR benchmarking data for Canadian EGS services.
View article: Multidisciplinary, multisite trauma team training during COVID-19: lessons from the first virtual E-S.T.A.R.T.T. course
Multidisciplinary, multisite trauma team training during COVID-19: lessons from the first virtual E-S.T.A.R.T.T. course Open
Trauma care delivery is a complex team-based task that requires deliberate practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has not diminished the importance of excellent trauma team dynamics. However, the pandemic hampers our ability to gather safely and …
View article: Geriatric Recovery and Enhancement Alliance in Trauma (GREAT) multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative: improving rates of successful resuscitation, rehabilitation and reintegration of geriatric trauma patients across the trauma spectrum of care
Geriatric Recovery and Enhancement Alliance in Trauma (GREAT) multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative: improving rates of successful resuscitation, rehabilitation and reintegration of geriatric trauma patients across the trauma spectrum of care Open
Geriatric Recovery and Enhancement Alliance in Trauma (GREAT) multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative: improving rates of successful resuscitation, rehabilitation and reintegration of geriatric trauma patients across the trauma sp…
View article: Patterns of complex emergency general surgery in Canada
Patterns of complex emergency general surgery in Canada Open
This study characterizes the epidemiology of nonbiliary, nonappendiceal EGS operative interventions across Canada. Canadian surgeons are performing a large volume of EGS, and conditions treated by EGS services are associated with a substan…
View article: Evaluation of trauma resources in rural northern Alberta identifies opportunities for improvement
Evaluation of trauma resources in rural northern Alberta identifies opportunities for improvement Open
Our study demonstrates that the trauma resources of rural health care centres may be evaluated in a standardized fashion centres, and the results point to opportunities to remedy gaps in equipment and personnel. Our methods may be applied …
View article: A 30-day prospective audit of all inpatient complications following acute care surgery: How well do we really perform?
A 30-day prospective audit of all inpatient complications following acute care surgery: How well do we really perform? Open
BACKGROUND: Acute care surgery (ACS) and emergency general surgery (EGS) services must provide timely care and intervention for patients who have some of the most challenging needs. Patients treated by ACS services are often critically ill…
View article: Mental toughness in surgeons: Is there room for improvement?
Mental toughness in surgeons: Is there room for improvement? Open
Staff surgeons scored significantly higher than residents in all mental toughness domains measured. Both groups expressed a desire to improve mental toughness. There are many techniques to improve mental toughness, and further research is …
View article: A quality-improvement approach to effective trauma team activation
A quality-improvement approach to effective trauma team activation Open
Compliance with TTA protocols improved to more than 90% over a 2-year period, which shows the benefit of having a clearly outlined qualityimprovement process. This well-defined quality-improvement method provides a framework for use by oth…
View article: High-risk medications in older patients with trauma: a cross-sectional study of risk mitigation
High-risk medications in older patients with trauma: a cross-sectional study of risk mitigation Open
Beers Criteria medications were not discontinued during trauma admissions. Using the Beers Criteria as a process indicator for quality improvement in trauma care may provide interdisciplinary trauma teams an opportunity to audit patient me…
View article: A day in the life of emergency general surgery in Canada: a multicentre observational study
A day in the life of emergency general surgery in Canada: a multicentre observational study Open
The characteristics and case mix of these Canadian EGS services are heterogeneous, but all services are busy and provide comprehensive operative and nonoperative care to acutely ill patients with high levels of comorbidity.
View article: 2018 Canadian Surgery Forum Abstracts.
2018 Canadian Surgery Forum Abstracts. Open
# 01. Laparoscopic splenectomy with management of intraoperative hemorrhage {#article-title-2} This video demonstrates a laparoscopic splenectomy for ITP with safe management of intraoperative hemorrhage. YouTube video link: [www.youtube.c…
View article: Ensuring adequate vascular access in patients with major trauma: a quality improvement initiative
Ensuring adequate vascular access in patients with major trauma: a quality improvement initiative Open
Ensuring adequate vascular access in major trauma patients prior to decompensative physiological processes is crucial to patient outcomes. Most protocols suggest achieving two 18-gauge or larger intravenous lines immediately in patients wi…
View article: Use of intraosseous devices in trauma: a survey of trauma practitioners in Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Use of intraosseous devices in trauma: a survey of trauma practitioners in Canada, Australia and New Zealand Open
Intraosseous devices are readily available to trauma practitioners in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and most physicians are trained in device placement. Most physicians surveyed felt comfortable using an IO device in resuscitation of …
View article: A Review on All Terrain Vehicle Safety
A Review on All Terrain Vehicle Safety Open
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have become increasing popular in many countries around the world, both for occupational use, as well as recreational use. With an increase in popularity, and the supply of heavier and more powerful machines on …
View article: Trauma simulation in bilingual Canada: Insurmountable barrier or unexpected strength? Insights from the first bilingual S.T.A.R.T.T. course
Trauma simulation in bilingual Canada: Insurmountable barrier or unexpected strength? Insights from the first bilingual S.T.A.R.T.T. course Open
The Standardized Trauma and Resuscitation Team Training (S.T.A.R.T.T.) course focuses on training multidisciplinary trauma teams: surgeons/physicians, registered nurses (RNs), respiratory therapists (RTs) and, most recently, prehospital pe…
View article: S.T.A.R.T.T. plus: addition of prehospital personnel to a national multidisciplinary crisis resource management trauma team training course
S.T.A.R.T.T. plus: addition of prehospital personnel to a national multidisciplinary crisis resource management trauma team training course Open
The Simulated Trauma and Resuscitation Team Training (S.T.A.R.T.T.) course is a unique multidisciplinary trauma team training course deliberately designed to address the common crisis resource management (CRM) skills of trauma team members…
View article: A Ten year review of alcohol use and major trauma in a Canadian province: still a major problem
A Ten year review of alcohol use and major trauma in a Canadian province: still a major problem Open
The prevalence of alcohol use in major trauma appears to be increasing in Alberta but the true extent is still underappreciated. Furthermore, the role of alcohol in non-MVT injuries is significant and deserves further attention. The vast m…
View article: Increased health services use by severely obese patients undergoing emergency surgery: a retrospective cohort study
Increased health services use by severely obese patients undergoing emergency surgery: a retrospective cohort study Open
Obese patients requiring emergency surgery represent a complex patient population at high risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality. Greater resources are required for their care, including ICU support, repeat surgery and prolonged IC…