Impact of continuing education in vascular images analysis for endovascular planning

Abstracts

Introduction:

Manipulation of images using three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction algorithms (3D MPR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) is dependent on prior understanding of the method's true validity and its superiority over traditional semi-digital or analog methods of measurement.

Objective:

To assess the understanding of doctors who attended the course of the methodology they routinely employed for planning endovascular surgery before taking the course and determine their choice of method after completion of the course.

Methods:

A survey was conducted with the students who took the course using an intranet questionnaire.

Results:

One hundred and sixty-one participants responded to the questionnaire. In relation to their prior knowledge, 38.8% reported no knowledge, 45.6% reported little knowledge, 15% reported basic knowledge and just 0.6% considered their prior knowledge was advanced. With respect to the measurement method used, 12.5% relied on the measurements in the radiologist's report, 14% used printed plates and manual compasses, 36.8% used axial images to take measurements, 11.8% used axial images in OsiriX, 14% used the 3D MPR method and 11% used the 3D MPR method and 3D MPR combined with MIP. Additionally, 81.5% of the participants stated that they repeated measurements intraoperatively using a centimeter pigtail catheter, despite having taken measurements in advance using one of the methods listed above.

Conclusion:

The study showed that continuing education in specialized course was effective for imparting understanding of the importance of the three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction image analysis method and of image optimization algorithms.

diagnostic self evaluation; tomography; endovascular procedures; educational measurement

Introdução:

A manipulação de imagens utilizando os algoritmos de reconstrução tridimensional multiplanares (3D MPR) e a intensidade de projeção máxima (MIP) demanda, inicialmente, a constatação da real validade do método e da sua superioridade sobre os métodos tradicionais analógicos ou semidigitais de mensuração.

Objetivo:

Avaliar a compreensão dos médicos que realizaram o curso da metodologia por eles aplicada anteriormente, para programação cirúrgica endovascular, e sua opção de método após realização do curso.

Método:

A pesquisa foi realizada entre os alunos que realizaram o curso, que responderam um questionário em intranet.

Resultados:

Um número de 161 participantes respondeu ao questionário proposto. Com relação a seu conhecimento prévio, 38,8% reportaram nenhum conhecimento, 45,6% reportaram pouco conhecimento, 15% responderam conhecimento básico e apenas 0,6% considerou seu conhecimento como avançado. Com relação ao método de mensuração utilizado, 12,5% confiavam nas medidas do laudo do Radiologista; 14% utilizavam as chapas impressas e usavam compasso; 36,8% utilizavam as imagens axiais para fazer as medidas; 11,8% utilizavam as imagens axiais no próprio OsiriX; 14% utilizavam o método 3D MPR, e 11% utilizavam o 3D MPR e o 3D MPR associado ao MIP. Dos participantes, 81,5% afirmaram refazer as medidas no intraoperatório com o uso do cateter centimetrado, apesar de ter feito as medidas anteriormente por um dos métodos supracitados.

Conclusão:

A pesquisa revelou que a educação continuada, por meio de curso especializado, mostrou-se eficaz na compreensão da importância do método de análise de imagens por reconstrução tridimensional multiplanar e algoritmos de otimização de imagens.

processamento de imagem assistida por computador; tomografia; aneurisma; educação continuada

INTRODUCTION

Although we have left the analog era of medical image analysis behind,¹ adaptation to the new digital methods does not only demand dedication to the technique, but also a good three-dimensional understanding of patient anatomy. Manipulation of images employing algorithms for three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction (3D MPR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) are primarily dependent on an understanding of the method's true validity and superiority over traditional analog or semi-digital measurement methods. This understanding is often acquired in an introductory course on manipulation of medical images using OsiriX software.²,³

This course is designed to introduce the methods to specialists who already have prior experience in vascular surgery, cardiovascular surgery or radiology, but do not have experience in image manipulation.

This study was conducted with the physicians who took the course with the objective of assessing their understanding of the methodology they had been using for planning endovascular procedures prior to attending the course and to document their preferred method after completing the course.⁴

METHOD

This is a retrospective study using the data from questionnaires that were administered to physicians who took the OsiriX course between August 2011 and September 2013.

A questionnaire containing 17 items related to the course taken and to students' prior knowledge was administered after completion of the course (Table 1). The questionnaires were completed using computers provided by the course, using an intranet, and the results were exported to a tabulated database in the Excel file format.

Table 1
Questions asked in the post-course online questionnaire.

Question

What qualifications do you hold? Do you own a Mac computer? What did you know about OsiriX before the course? Were the cases selected for the course adequate? Were the theoretical lessons adequate? Was the lecturer clear when presenting? Does the lecturer have mastery of the subject? Was the lecturer instructive? Was use of media (projectors and computers) adequate? Was the number of teaching hours sufficient? Was the time well-distributed? How do you take measurements for planning surgery? Do you repeat all measurements intraoperatively with a pigtail (or other method)? After taking this course will you still repeat your measurements intraoperatively? Has the course changed your daily practice? How would you rate the course as a whole? Would you recommend the course to a colleague?

The results were analyzed using Wizard 1.3.13 software (Evan Miller). Characteristics were expressed as categorical data and analyzed as absolute frequencies and proportions. The chi-square test and the Shapiro-Wilk test were used to assess the distribution of responses and p<0.05 was adopted as the cutoff for statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 161 questionnaires were administered (Table 2) to physicians with the following specialties: Vascular Surgery - 140 (88.6%); Cardiac Surgery - 13 (8.2%); Radiology - 2 (1.3%), and other specialties - 3 (1.9%).

Table 2
Main questions and responses from the questionnaire administered.

Specialties (p<0.0001)
Vascular surgeon	Cardiac Surgeon		Radiologist	Others
140 (88.6%)	13 (82%)		2 (1.3%)	3 (1.9%)
Method of measurement (p<0.0001)
Radiologist's report	Printed plates and compasses	Axial images	OsiriX with Axial images	3D MPR	3D MPR + MIP
17 (12.5%)	19 (14%)	50 (36.8%)	16 (11.8%)	19 (14%)	15 (11%)
Previous knowledge about OsiriX (p<0.0001)
None	Little		Basic	Advanced
62 (38.8%)	73 (45.6%)		24 (15%)	1 (0.6%)
Repeat measurements intraoperatively (p<0.0001)
Yes			No
110(81.5%)			25(18.5%)
Will continue to repeat measurements intraoperatively (p<0.0001)
Yes			No
36 (25.9%)			103 (74.1%)

An Apple computer is required to run the OsiriX software and the results showed that 92 (57.5%) of the participants already had one.

The results for prior knowledge were: 62 (38.8%) stated they had no prior knowledge; 73 (45.6%) stated they had little prior knowledge; 24 (15%) stated they had basic prior knowledge, and just 1 (0.6%) participant stated that he had advanced prior knowledge.

In relation to the measurement methods employed by participants, 17 (12.5%) trusted the measurements on the radiologist's report; 19 (14%) used compasses to take measurements on plates; 50 (36.8%) employed axial images to take measurements (irrespective of image viewing software employed); 16 (11.8%) used axial images in OsiriX itself; 19 (14%) used the 3D MPR method, and 15 (11%) used 3D MPR and 3D MPR combined with MIP.

Additionally, 120 participants (81.5%) stated that they repeated measurements intraoperatively using a centimeter pigtail catheter, despite having already taken the measurements with one of the methods listed above.

Of the 110 students who had stated they repeated measurements intraoperatively, 78 (70.9%) responded that after taking the course they would no longer repeat measurements during the procedure.

A majority of the participants (n=147, 94.8%) responded that the course changed their daily practice (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Distribution of responses to the question 'Has the course changed your daily practice?' The response options were as follows: 1) Disagree completely; 2) Partially disagree; 3) Neither agree nor disagree; 4) Agree partially; 5) Agree completely. Distribution is not normal according to the Shapiro-Wilk test (p<0.0001).

DISCUSSION

Self-evaluation using online questionnaires has been shown to be effective for improving self-awareness.⁵ After the OsiriX course, self-evaluation of participants' own competencies was increased. As has been described elsewhere, short duration courses can have a positive impact on self-evaluation.⁶

The course's primary objective is to make students aware of the existence of better image assessment methods and the secondary objective is to teach them how to perform the technique. It is more effective to allow physicians to reflect on the information acquired and take their own decisions on which method to employ⁷ than to impose without explanation a specific method through exhaustive repetitions of the technique.

Shockingly, a proportion of these physicians were still employing methods that are not considered safe for endovascular planning,⁸,⁹ such as taking measurements using compasses on printed plates (14%) or blindly trusting the radiologist's written report (12.5%). However, there was also evidence of progression to digital media, since the great majority were already using some type of computerized image assessment method. A total of 66 students (48.5%) were using axial images to take measurements, which is not considered ideal, but is at least conducted using a computer. Nineteen (14%) of the students were using the 3D MPR method, which is considered an ideal method for diameters and lengths of non-tortuous vessels,⁸ and 15 (11%) were using 3D MPR and 3D MPR combined with MIP, the second of which is considered an important tool for measurement of the length of tortuous vessels.

A total of 110 students (81.5%) stated they had been repeating measurements intraoperatively and 70.9% of them considered that after the course they would cease repeating measurements intraoperatively and trust in the angiotomography results, which is a method that is already considered adequate for planning endovascular procedures.¹⁰

CONCLUSIONS

Continuing education in a specialized course proved effective for imparting comprehension of the importance of the three-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction method and of image optimization algorithms.

• Financial support: None.
• The study was carried out at Curso OsiriX, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Oct-Dec 2014

History

• Received
  29 Jan 2014
• Accepted
  06 May 2014