Clinical Scorecard: Insights Gained from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Utilizing Remote Coaching in Bariatric Surgical Practices

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• LSG requires a learning curve of 50 to 100 cases to reduce complications and improve outcomes.
• COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions necessitated the use of telementoring for surgical training.
• Telementoring platform allowed successful remote coaching with significant operative time reduction over cases.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Not specifically addressed in the article.

Management

• Use of telementoring platforms for remote surgical coaching during learning curve of LSG.
• Maintain real-time audio-video communication between mentor and mentee during procedures.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Collect data on operative time, intraoperative complications, and hospital stay to assess learning progress.
• Use linear regression analysis to correlate case number with operative time improvements.

Risks

• Potential limitations due to lack of physical mentor presence in case of intraoperative complications.
• Dependence on stable internet connection and compatible devices for effective telementoring.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Eight patients (3 males, 5 females) with mean age 36.9 years and BMI 41.8 kg/m2 undergoing LSG under telementoring guidance.

All procedures completed without conversion or intraoperative complications; mean operative time decreased significantly with experience.

Clinical Best Practices

• Implement telementoring as a supplement or alternative to onsite mentoring during surgical training, especially when travel is restricted.
• Ensure the telementoring platform supports low-speed internet and is compatible with common electronic devices.
• Use headsets and visual aids (e.g., special glasses) to facilitate clear communication between mentor and mentee.
• Monitor operative times and complication rates to evaluate learning curve progression.
• Obtain informed consent and ethical approval when implementing new training modalities.

References

• Italian Society of Surgery for Obesity (S.I.C.OB.) guidelines
• Effectiveness of teleproctoring for endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty
• Telementoring in surgery: a review