Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Emergency Undocking in Robotic Surgery: A Simulation Curriculum
06:48

Emergency Undocking in Robotic Surgery: A Simulation Curriculum

Published on: May 20, 2018

The impact of rolling theatre closures on core urology training

D W Good1, N Khan, E Kiely

  • 1Department of Urology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. goodd@tcd.ie

Irish Medical Journal
|August 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Government funding cuts led to hospital operating theatre closures, reducing urological surgical procedures and impacting surgical training. Solutions like simulation training are proposed to mitigate these effects.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Healthcare Management
  • Surgical Training

Background:

  • Government funding for the Health Service Executive (HSE) has significantly decreased since 2008.
  • Cork University Hospital (CUH) implemented cost-saving measures, including scheduled operating theatre closures.
  • These measures aimed to address budget reductions within the public healthcare system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of scheduled operating theatre closures on urological surgical activity at Cork University Hospital.
  • To analyze changes in the volume and type of urological procedures performed.
  • To assess the effect on urological surgical training opportunities.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of theatre log books and records was conducted.
  • Data from 2009 and 2011 were compared to assess changes over time.
  • The number, type, and training status of urological procedures were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Scheduled theatre closures increased by 33 sessions in 2011 compared to 2009.
  • Total urological procedures decreased by 20.2%, from 555 in 2009 to 443 in 2011.
  • The proportion of training cases reduced by 10.2%, with 8 out of 9 core urology training procedures showing a decline.

Conclusions:

  • Scheduled operating theatre closures have demonstrably reduced the volume of urological surgical procedures.
  • These closures have negatively impacted the training of urology surgical residents.
  • Anticipated increases in theatre closures necessitate proactive solutions, such as simulation training, to preserve surgical education.

More Related Videos

Technical Modification of the Terminal Ureter During Total Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma06:39

Technical Modification of the Terminal Ureter During Total Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Published on: November 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management01:25

Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management

Procedures for Kidney StonesMedical intervention is necessary when kidney stones or renal calculi are too large to pass spontaneously (typically greater than 5 millimeters) when stones are accompanied by symptomatic infection (such as fever or pyelonephritis), when they impair kidney function, or when they cause persistent symptoms like severe pain, nausea, or urinary retention. Additionally, patients with only one kidney or those who cannot be treated with medical management also require...
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry01:19

Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a non-invasive urodynamic test designed to measure various aspects of urination, including volume, flow rate, and the time to void. This test is crucial for diagnosing and assessing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence, and urinary tract blockages caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urethral strictures.Pre-Test Instructions:Before a uroflowmetry test, patients are typically advised to drink...
Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations01:26

Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...
Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management01:30

Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management

The diagnosis of renal calculi involves several imaging techniques, including non-contrast CT scans and ultrasound. These methods help visualize kidney stones, assess their size and location, and detect possible obstructions. Additionally, Measuring urine pH is useful for diagnosing specific stone types, such as struvite (alkaline pH) and uric acid stones (acidic pH). Cystine stones are primarily linked to cystinuria, a genetic condition. A urinalysis helps detect blood in the urine (hematuria)...
Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction01:28

Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction

Renal calculi, or kidney stones, are solid deposits of minerals and salts formed inside the kidneys. In medical terminology, "calculus" refers to the stone itself, while "lithiasis" describes the process of stone formation. Depending on their location within the urinary system, these stones may be classified as either urolithiasis, when situated within the urinary tract, or nephrolithiasis, when located within the kidneys. Each term signifies the specific impact of the stone.Predisposition...
Ureters01:22

Ureters

The ureters are retroperitoneal tubes located on either side of the vertebral column. They are responsible for transporting urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder. These tubes have thick walls and are approximately 25-30 cm long. Their diameter is around 10 mm at the renal pelvis, gradually narrowing to 1 mm as the ureter obliquely enters the posterior bladder wall through the ureteric orifices. The shape of these orifices is slit-like, which helps to prevent urine backflow toward the...