Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2008; 90: 286-290 286The ability to assess one's own performance critically in surgery is a valuable trait for surgeons throughout training and independent practice. Unfortunately, this remains an underdeveloped skill in surgical training and receives little attention from surgical educators. For trainees, it allows identification of their strengths and, more importantly, weaknesses in their ability, to build upon previous performance and take the necessary remedial action. For surgeons in independent practice, the introduction of new surgical techniques necessitates focused self-assessment.Evidence for self-assessment in surgery is poor, compared self, peer and supervisor ratings with scores on the American Board of Surgery InTraining Examination (ABSITE). The results showed significant correlation between ratings by peers and supervisors (r = 0.92; P < 0.001). The average of peer and supervisor ratings showed a moderate correlation with ABSITE scores (r = 0.58; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis suggested that supervisors were influenced mainly by the interpersonal skill of the resident and secondarily by their ability. Self-assessment was influenced mainly by the residents' perceptions of their own ability, followed by interpersonal skills and effort.

Objective improvements in technical performance follow intensive workshop training. Participants' perform better, faster, and with an improved end product following the course. Such adjuncts to training play an important part in a focused integrated programme that addresses reduced work hours.

Senior trainees achieved the same score as consultants, suggesting a similar level of basic technical skill and knowledge required to perform CEA, and were significantly better than junior trainees. Performance on the bench model could provide an early assessment for suitability to proceed to operative training in a competency-based training and assessment programme.

Drug-eluting stents are a recommended treatment for lesions in the coronary arteries. Stent insertion requires the patient remain on antiplatelet medication for a minimum of six months after insertion. A serious consequence of ceasing antiplatelet medication is late stent thrombosis leading to myocardial infarction in the territory of the drug-eluting stent. Continuing antiplatelet medication can lead to excessive bleeding at the time of surgery. Understanding the risk of complications attributable to bleeding or myocardial ischaemia will help in defining the optimal management of these patients at the time of noncardiac surgery. This study is a retrospective database analysis and case note review of all patients with drug-eluting stents presenting for noncardiac surgical procedures over a three-year period in one centre. Twenty-four patients with drug-eluting stents inserted presented for 43 noncardiac surgical procedures. Severe bleeding problems were encountered in one case. Three of 15 patients (20%) who ceased clopidogrel prior to surgery without alternative anti-thrombotic prophylaxis suffered myocardial infarction due to stent thrombosis. Four patients who received alternative anti-thrombotic prophylaxis did not suffer complications. All 19 patients who ceased clopidogrel remained on aspirin prior to surgery. Patients treated with drug-eluting stents for coronary artery stenosis represent a challenging group of patients for subsequent perioperative management. The risk of myocardial infarction when clopidogrel is stopped prior to surgery is 20%, if alternative anti-thrombotic prophylaxis is not used. This risk persists beyond one year after insertion of drug-eluting stents. Some treatments appear to be effective in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction.

Half of adult inpatients, and two-thirds of those receiving gentamicin or t-LMWH, had recorded weights. There was significant variation in rates of weighing adult inpatients across hospitals. This may put patients at increased risk of side effects and problems resulting from malnutrition.

The technology exists to allow for both training and assessment of competency to take place in a controlled and objective environment for both CEA and CAS. The use of simulation needs to be robustly evaluated and assessed to both complement and augment existing training programs to ensure that the highest standards of care are maintained for treatment of carotid territory disease. Objective competency based training and assessment is no longer unattainable. Simulators augment this process and without them operative exposure is sporadic and crisis management infrequent.

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