The Association of Surgeons in Training Conference Abstracts

0049: LOCAL ANAESTHETIC TOXICITY: FOCUSED TEACHING IMPROVES SURGEONS’ KNOWLEDGE Usman Khalid , Aeliya Zaidi , Michael Lamyman , Marc Swan . 1 Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK; Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK. Aim: Local anaesthetic (LA) is routinely used by Plastic Surgeons. Toxicity can lead to potentially fatal complications. The aim of this audit was to determine the current awareness of LA toxicity amongst a cohort of Plastic Surgeons, and whether focused teaching is capable of improving their knowledge. Methods: All Plastic Surgical staff (5 Consultants, 5 SpR's and 5 core trainees) at a District General Hospital completed a questionnaire based on the AAGBI guidelines for LA toxicity. A focused teaching session on dosage calculations, toxicity recognition and the management of complications was delivered. The cohort was invited to complete an identical questionnaire after a period of 6 weeks. Results: 14 pre-teaching questionnaires were completed. 70% of respondents knew the LA safe doses, whilst only 50% knew the signs & symptoms of LA toxicity, 60% knew the immediate management steps and only 28% knew about additional measures such as lipid therapy. 11 postteaching questionnaires were returned. There was a marked improvement in knowledge with 80% of respondents obtaining the correct answers to all questions. Conclusion: Plastic Surgeons’ theoretical knowledge of the use of LA is sub-optimal. Focused teaching can help to improve this. We recommend regular teaching sessions for continued reinforcement. 0080: PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF EVOLVING TEAM STRUCTURES ON LEARNING AMONGST SURGICAL TRAINEES Thomas Fysh, Holly Baker, Kirsten Dalrymple. Imperial College, London, UK. This study explores how surgical trainees perceive the way in which the evolution of the surgical firm has affected their learning experience. It is proposed that the surgical firm is therefore a Community of Practice (CoP) in which the trainee surgeon learns through a gradual process of increasing participation within the firm, directed by a dedicated educational supervisor and which requires active participation by both. A modern emphasis on service delivery as well as changes in working patterns brought about, in part, by the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) mean that surgical trainees spend less time on their firms than in bygone days, and that the structure of surgical firms has changed. In this qualitative, interview-based study, nine senior surgical trainees consider how changes in firm structures have come about, the extent to which they have done so and make comparisons to bygone days. The themes generated are discussed in the context of educational theory and group dynamics, with the conclusion that, while learning and service delivery on a firm need not be mutually exclusive, the benefits of situated learning can only come about when education is actively considered and when the learning environment is nurtured; it cannot be assumed. 0081: THE EVOLUTION OF HEAD AND NECK TRAINING Shradha Gupta, Charles Tweed, Kavin Andi, Richard Oakley. Guys Hospital,