Electrosurgery: short-circuit between education and practice

Figures & data

Table 1. A summary of the characteristics of the respondents.

Characteristics
Sex:	Respondents	Response
74 male/123 female	(approached)	rate
Subspecialty
General surgery	36 (400)	9%
Gynaecology	90 (350)	26%
Urology	34 (134)	25%
Thoracic surgery	7 (28)	25%
Plastic surgery	22 (111)	20%
Orthopaedic surgery	8 (413)	2%
Experience (no. of procedures)	No. (% of total)
0–50	33 (17%)
50–100	36 (18%)
100–200	40 (20%)
200–400	52 (26%)
400–600	14 (7%)
>600	22 (11%)
Median months of residency (IQR)	35 (32)

Figure 1. Feeling of competence in theory among residents of different experience.

Figure 2. Feeling of competence in practical skills among residents of different experience.

Table 2. Details of the incidents described by the residents.

Type	Frequency	Location	Cause	Harmed person
Burn wound	31×	Skin superficial	Direct contact (19×)	Patient (26×)
			Disinfectants (2×)	Surgeon (5×)
			Unknown (4×)
			Capacitive coupling 3×
			Stray voltage 2×
			Broken wire 1×
Lesion	6×	Intestines	Unknown (3×)	Patient
			Direct (2×)
			Capacitive coupling (1×)
	5×	Vagina	Capacitive coupling	Patient
	1×	Liver	Capacitive coupling	Patient
Shock	11×	Hand	Dielectric breakdown	Surgeon
	1×	Leg	Dielectric breakdown	Surgeon
Technical defect	2×	N/A	Wrong settings	Patient (1×)
Fistula	1×	Skin	Direct contact	Patient
Needlestick injury	1×	Unknown	Unknown	Surgeon