Domestic violence patterns in postpartum women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To longitudinally assess domestic violence (DV) during the postpartum period, identifying types, patterns and determinants of DV, according to mothers' reports in Fortaleza, Brazil.

METHODS

Data from the Iracema-COVID cohort study interviewed at home mothers who gave birth in the first wave of COVID-19, at 18 and 24 months after birth. Patterns of reported DV were classified as follows: no DV, interrupted DV, started DV and persistent DV. Adjusted multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with persistent DV.

RESULTS

DV was reported by 19 and 24% of the mothers at 18 and 24 months postpartum, respectively, a 5 percentage points increase. Persistent DV was present in 11% of the households in the period. The most frequent forms of DV were verbal aggression, reported by 17-20% of the mothers at 18 and 24 months, respectively; drunkenness or use of drugs at home, present in 3-5% of the households; physical aggression, reported by 1.2-1.6% of the mothers. Households with two or more forms of DV increased from 2 to 12% in the period. Adjusted factors associated with persistent DV were maternal common mental disorder, family headed by the mother and head of family's poor schooling. Food insecurity was associated with starting DV.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of DV was considerably high in the postpartum period. DV prevention policies should rely on improving care to women's mental health; preventing food insecurity; and fostering the educational level of young people of both sexes.

Coverage and determinants of childhood vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil: a longitudinal analysis

Brazil has seen a decrease in vaccination coverage since 2016. This study analyzes the immunization status of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil. This is a longitudinal analysis that included vaccination data of 313 children aged 12 and 18 months. Vaccination cards were checked for dose application considering the schedule of immunization recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Factors associated with no retention of vaccination cards and incomplete immunization by 18 months were identified by Tobit regression analysis. About 73% of mothers presented their child's vaccination card. Non-availability of vaccination cards was associated with maternal age < 25 years and mothers with paid jobs. Only 33% and 45% of the children aged 12 and 18 months had all vaccines up to date, respectively. For 3-dose vaccines, the delay rate was around 10% for the first dose application, but 40% for the third dose. Despite delays, most children with available vaccine cards had coverage above 90% by 18 months of age. Adjusted factors associated with incomplete vaccination included living in a household with more than one child (p = 0.010) and monthly income of less than one minimum wage (p = 0.006). Therefore, delays in child vaccine application were high during the COVID-19 pandemic but a considerable uptake by 18 months of age was found. Poorer families with more than one child were particularly at risk of not fully immunizing their children and should be the target of public policies.

Controversies in immunotherapy for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a scoping review with a proposal of operational definitions

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARE), an autoimmune encephalitis associated with autoantibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, affects predominantly young women and is associated with psychiatric symptoms, seizures, movement disorders, and autonomic instability. Traditional treatments of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis involve corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. However, many controversies remain in the treatment for NMDA receptor encephalitis, such as optimal timing and combination of different immunotherapies, the role of newer strategies (e.g., bortezomib or tocilizumab) for severe and refractory patients, and the need or not for long-term immunosuppression. Our goal was to perform a scoping review to discuss the controversial topics of immunotherapy for NMDA receptor encephalitis and propose operational definitions to guide clinical practice and future research in the field.

Correlation between ABO blood type, susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To verify the association between the ABO blood type and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity.

METHODS

This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), using the 2020 PRISMA Checklist and flow diagram, and articles selected for review were analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Rating Scale. The research question was: "Would the ABO blood group influence the risk of infection and clinical course of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2?", The following databases were used: Embase, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Scopus. The protocol for this review was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), number CRD42021245945.

RESULTS

We found 798 articles across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and Virtual Health Library and 54 articles were included in the final analysis. Among 30 studies evaluating the risk of COVID-19 infection, 21 found significant correlations with ABO blood groups, 14 of them revealing an increased risk in blood group A and 15 studies showing a decreased risk in blood group O. Most studies found no significant correlation with disease severity or mortality.

CONCLUSION

The qualitative assessment of available information suggests that blood group A may be a risk factor for COVID-19 infection and that blood group O may have a protective effect. We were unable to determine a clear association between the ABO blood group and mortality. These conclusions are based on highly heterogenous evidence.

Pathophysiology and Treatment of Lipid Abnormalities in Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: An Integrative Review

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by pathogenic variants in CYP27A1, leading to a deficiency in sterol 27-hydroxylase. This defect results in the accumulation of cholestanol and bile alcohols in various tissues, including the brain, tendons and peripheral nerves. We conducted this review to evaluate lipid profile abnormalities in patients with CTX. A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and the Virtual Health Library in January 2023 to evaluate studies reporting the lipid profiles of CTX patients, including the levels of cholestanol, cholesterol and other lipids. Elevated levels of cholestanol were consistently observed. Most patients presented normal or low serum cholesterol levels. A decrease in chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) leads to increased synthesis of cholesterol metabolites, such as bile alcohols 23S-pentol and 25-tetrol 3-glucuronide, which may serve as surrogate follow-up markers in patients with CTX. Lipid abnormalities in CTX have clinical implications. Cholestanol deposition in tissues contributes to clinical manifestations, including neurological symptoms and tendon xanthomas. Dyslipidemia and abnormal cholesterol metabolism may also contribute to the increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications observed in some CTX patients.

Development and validation of a video-assisted liver biopsy technique using a minimally-invasive device

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous liver biopsy is the gold standard technique for establishing the cause of cirrhosis and liver disease activity assessment. However, some cases of steatohepatitis or other chronic liver diseases show a high number of false negative results in samples obtained via the percutaneous route. This fact justifies performing a liver biopsy via the laparoscopic route. However, this is an expensive technique, with morbidities associated with pneumoperitoneum and anesthetic complications. The main objective of this study is to develop a video-assisted technique that uses only a minimally-invasive device for the liver biopsy and the optical trocar. Without additional trocars, this technique constitutes a less invasive procedure than the existing techniques in clinical practice.

METHODS

This is a device development and validation study and patients submitted to abdominal laparoscopic surgery and required liver biopsy for moderate to severe steatosis were recruited. The patients were randomized into two groups: laparoscopic liver biopsy technique (n = 10, control group) and mini-laparoscopic liver biopsy technique (n = 8, experimental group). The times associated with procedure performance in both groups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests according to data distribution.

RESULTS

At baseline, there was no statistical difference regarding gender and type of surgery. The experimental group had a significantly shorter time compared with the group that underwent the traditional procedure in mean procedure time (p = 0.003), biopsy time (p = 0.002) and hemostasis time (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The mini-laparoscopic biopsy device and technique showed to be capable of safely obtaining sufficient tissue samples, which was minimally invasive and in a shorter time than the classic technique.

Food insecurity among families with infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among families with infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors in Fortaleza, the fifth largest city in Brazil.

METHODS

Data from two survey rounds of the Iracema-COVID cohort study collected at 12 (n = 325) and 18 months (n = 331) after birth. FI was measured using the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Scale. FI levels were described according to potential predictors. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions with robust variance were used to assess factors associated with FI.

RESULTS

In the 12- and 18-month follow-ups interviews, there was a 66.5% and 57.1% prevalence of FI, respectively. Over the study period, 3.5% of the families persisted in severe FI and 27.4% in mild/moderate FI. Households headed by mothers, with more children, low education and income, sustained maternal common mental disorders, and that were beneficiaries of cash transfer programs were the most affected by persistent FI.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the prevalence of FI decreased in our sample, almost 60% of families in Fortaleza still have no regular access to enough and/or nutritionally appropriate food. We have identified the groups at higher FI risk, which can guide governmental policies.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices: a global scoping review

BACKGROUND

In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), generating stark economic and social repercussions that directly or indirectly affected families' wellbeing and health status.

AIMS

This review aims at mapping the existing evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices, worldwide, to identify evidence gaps and better inform future delivery of care and health policy measures.

METHODS

Following the protocol defined by PRISMA-ScR, this scoping review has searched for relevant studies published between January 2020 and June 2021, selecting evidence sources based on pre-established criteria. From a total of 2,308 articles, data were extracted from 537 publications from 35 countries on all three health domains.

RESULTS

The combined stressors brought forth by the pandemic have exerted a heavy burden on the mental health of mothers and the development of young children, partly mediated by its impact on parental practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite remaining gaps, we have identified sufficient evidence pointing to an urgent need for more concerted global research efforts and rapid policy responses to timely address severe and pervasive negative impacts to the mental health of mothers and children at a key developmental stage.

Development and perceived usability evaluation of an interactive smartphone application for the teaching of hemodynamics and evaluation of arterial pulse pressure variation

BACKGROUND

The use of fluids is the most frequently used therapy for circulatory shock. Its inadequate use has adverse effects, requiring hemodynamic goals, highlighting the use of pulse pressure variation due to its high accuracy. One of the problems related to this method is the difficulties in measuring the pulse pressure variation (PPV) in most monitors for clinical use. We assessed the qualitative aspects of perceived usability of a smartphone application (app), which, based on a photograph of the patient's arterial pulse wave, can help measure PPV and help in the diagnosis and management of shock cases.

METHODS

To assess the software perceived usability, we used the System Usability Scale (SUS) applied to 30 physicians in 2 tertiary hospitals in Brazil. The software accuracy was measured using a sequence of 3 images with different values ​​of pulse pressure variation, comparing the obtained values ​​ with the gold standard. The educational interface of the app was evaluated qualitativelyfrom the spontaneous testimonies of the selected test participants.The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Centro Universitário Christus.

RESULTS

The analysis showed an average SUS of 86.3 points on a scale of 1-100 (above 80.3 is considered the best in terms of interface). The assessment of the application's accuracy when evaluating pulse pressure variation showed that the average variation of the measurements taken by the participants was small, with a good measure of repeatability and reproducibility. The app's educational interface was qualitatively evaluated, being praised by the users.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that the developed mobile application showed excellent qualitative aspects of perceived usability results. More studies with this app will be required to evaluate the potential to help professionals with hemodynamic evaluation in emergency and intensive care settings.

Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: A practice review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis represents a rare and underdiagnosed inherited neurometabolic disorder due to homozygous or compound heterozygous variants involving the CYP27A1 gene. This bile acid metabolism disorder represents a key potentially treatable neurogenetic condition due to the wide spectrum of neurological presentations in which it most commonly occurs. Cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, spastic paraparesis, epilepsy, parkinsonism, cognitive decline, intellectual disability, and neuropsychiatric disturbances represent some of the most common neurological signs observed in this condition. Despite representing key features to increase diagnostic index suspicion, multisystemic involvement does not represent an obligatory feature and can also be under evaluated during diagnostic work-up. Chenodeoxycholic acid represents a well-known successful therapy for this inherited metabolic disease, however its unavailability in several contexts, high costs and common use in patients at late stages of disease course limit more favorable neurological outcomes for most individuals. This review article aims to discuss and highlight the most recent and updated knowledge regarding clinical, pathophysiological, neuroimaging, genetic and therapeutic aspects related to Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis.

Breastfeeding Practices Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil

BACKGROUND

Physical distancing associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to suboptimal maternal mental health, social support after birth, and infant feeding practices.

RESEARCH AIMS

To compare breastfeeding prevalence in participants who were pregnant at a time when strict physical distancing measures were imposed in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará state, Brazil, with the pre-pandemic breastfeeding levels, and to assess the association of breastfeeding prevalence with maternal common mental disorders, and sociodemographic and health predictors.

METHOD

A cross-sectional prospective two-group comparison design using two population-based surveys was carried out in Fortaleza before and after the pandemic. Participants (n = 351) who had a live birth in Fortaleza in July or August 2020, and participants (n = 222) who had a child younger than 12 months in 2017 were surveyed. Crude and adjusted multinomial logistic regressions with robust variance were used to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Similar prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding were observed in 2021 (8.1%) and 2017 (8.5%; p = .790). An increase in predominant (2.2% vs. 13.4%; p < .001) and a decrease in complementary breastfeeding (64.0% vs. 48.4%; p = .037) was observed in 2021, compared to 2017. The prevalence of maternal common mental disorders also increased in 2021 (17.6% vs. 32.5%, p < .001). No statistically significant associations were found between breastfeeding patterns, maternal common mental disorders, and other predictors in 2017 or 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic delayed solid foods introduction and breastfed predominantly longer than participants during the pre-pandemic period. While common mental disorders significantly increased, they were not associated with differences in breastfeeding.

Analyzing households' food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of public policies to mitigate it: evidence from Ceará, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of conditional cash transfer policies to mitigate the food insecurity (FI) among families living in poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ceará, Brazil.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out through telephone contact during the period of May-July 2021, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ceará. Families in a situation of high social and economic vulnerability participated in this study (monthly per capita income of less than US$16.50). FI was assessed using the EBIA, a Brazilian validated questionnaire. The participation of families in government programs and public policies was also investigated. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of the several factors assessed with food insecurity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of any food insecurity in this sample was 89.1% (95% Confidence interval (95% CI: 86.2 - 92.1) and of severe food insecurity, 30.3% (95% CI: 26.0 - 34.6). The Mais Infância card program, adopted as a cash transfer supplement in the state of Ceará, was significantly associated with food insecurity (OR 4.2 (95% CI: 1.7 - 10.2), with a p-value of 0.002. In addition, families affected by job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic presented higher odds of FI.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, 89% of evaluated families presented food insecurity. Conditional cash transfer programs were associated with FI. We highlight the need for policies and interventions to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity. Such policies can adopt appropriate criteria for defining the participants, as well as connect the participants to an appropriate set of broader social protection measures.

Cohort profile: maternal and child health and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ceará, Brazil: birth cohort study (Iracema-COVID)

PURPOSE

Maternal and child health and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ceará (Iracema-COVID) is a longitudinal, prospective population-based birth cohort designed to understand the effects of the pandemic and social withdrawal in maternal mental health, child development and parenting practices of mothers and families.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of mothers who gave birth in July and August 2020 (n=351) was enrolled in the study in January 2021. Interviews were conducted by telephone. Data were collected through standardised questionnaires that, in addition to sociodemographic and economic data, collected information on breast feeding, mental health status and COVID-19.

FINDINGS TO DATE

Results from the first wave show that the majority of participants have 9-11 years of schooling (54.4%; 95% CI 61.0 to 70.9) and are of mixed race (71.5%; 95% CI 66.5 to 76.0). At the time of the survey, 27.9% of the participants were out of the labor force (95% CI 23.5 to 32.9) and 78.6% reported a decrease in family income after restrictions imposed due to the pandemic (95% CI 74.0 to 82.6). The prevalence of maternal common mental disorder symptoms was 32.5% (95% CI 27.8 to 37.6).

FUTURE PLANS

Follow-up visits are planned to occur every 6 months for the next five years (2021-2025). Additional topics will be included in future waves (eg, food insecurity and parenting practices). Communication strategies for bonding, such as picture cards, pictures of mothers with their children and phone calls to the participants, will be used to minimise attrition. Results of this prospective cohort will generate novel knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health and parenting practices in a population of women and children living in fifth largest city of Brazil.

Determinants of late neonatal nosocomial infection: a case-control study in Ceará

OBJECTIVES

To assess the determining factors of late healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and bacterial multiple drug resistance in neonatal intensive care.

METHODS

This is a case-control study, conducted between January 2013 and December 2017, in a neonatal intensive care unit in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Newborns showing late HAIs were considered cases and those without infection, the control. Variables with p-values ≤ 0.05 in our initial bivariate regressive analysis were included in a non-conditional hierarchical logistic model for multivariate analysis. P-values below 0.01 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Of the 1,132 participants, 427 (37.7%) showed late healthcare-associated infections. Of these, 54 (12.6%), positive blood cultures, of which 14.9% contained multidrug-resistant bacteria. Bivariate analysis showed the protective effect of the feminine phenotype (OR = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.56-0.90) and of gestational ages ≥ 34 weeks (OR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.30-0.75). In earlier-born preterm infants, late infections were 18 times more likely in those with less than 30 week-gestations (OR = 18.61; 95%CI: 9.84-35.22) and four times higher in those weighing less than 1,500 g (OR = 4.18; 95%CI: 3.12-5.61). Mechanical ventilation increased infection odds by more than seven times (OR = 7.14; 95%CI: 5.26-9.09); as did parenteral nutrition (OR = 5.88; 95%CI: 4.54-7.69); central venous catheters (OR = 10.00; 95%CI: 6.66-16.66); the number of catheters used (OR = 3.93; 95%CI: 3.02-5.12); surgery (OR = 4.00; 95%CI: 2.27-7.14); and hospitalization time (OR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.05-1.07). The association between preterm infants with less than 30 week-gestations (OR = 5.62; 95%CI: 1.83-17.28); mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.84; 95%CI: 1.26-2.68); central venous catheters (OR = 2.48; 95%CI: 1.40-4.37); and hospitalization time (OR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.05-1.07) remained significant after adjustment. Among deaths, 41 (55.4%) were associated with late infections.

CONCLUSION

Better practices should be adopted in caring for the premature, as well as in the rational use of procedures, to avoid late healthcare-associated infections, preventable deaths, and risks of bacterial multiple drug resistance and environmental contamination.

Prevalence and factors associated with adverse early childhood experiences: a population-based study in Ceará, Brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and identify associated factors. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study comprised data from a sample of 3,200 households with 3,566 children under 6 years of age, representative of the state of Ceará, Brazil. A multistage sampling approach was used, with stratification among the state capital, Fortaleza, and the 28 countryside municipalities, in which 160 census tracts were randomly selected, each one with a cluster of 20 households. The outcome variable was structured based on adverse childhood experiences as suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the number of situations to which the child was exposed: 0–2, 3–5, and 6–9. Ordinal logistic regression multivariate model was applied to assess associations. Results: Among the 3,566 children studied, 89.7% (95%CI 88.7–90.7) were exposed to at least one adverse experience, of which the most prevalent were neglect, and emotional/physical abuse. The main factors associated were maternal advanced age and smoking, paternal absence, low education level of the head of the family, food insecurity and lack of a social support network. Conclusion: The study found a high occurrence of adverse early childhood experiences, particularly among preschool children born to mothers of older age, solo, who smoke and in a situation of social and economic vulnerability, including food insecurity, who should be target of control and prevention measures.

Primary Health Care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fortaleza, Brazil: associated factors and pattern of use by mothers and children up to 18 months of age

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the delay or failure to seek primary health care by the mother-child dyads during the COVID-19 pandemic, a practice that has a high potential to increase maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data from three survey rounds of the Iracema-COVID cohort study, collected 6, 12, and 18 months after birth, showed the patterns of postpartum attendance to primary health care consultation of the mother-child dyad. Crude and adjusted multinomial logistic regressions with robust variance were used to assess factors associated with nonattendance. Results: Among the 314 cohort mothers, 25% did not attend any primary health care consultation during the 18-months postpartum, while 30% of the mothers did all three. Regarding the child, 75% had regular primary health care consultations in all three survey rounds, while 4% did not attend any in their first 18 months of life. By the end of the first COVID-19 wave, the proportion of mother and child who attended the consultations had fallen by 23 and 18%, respectively. The main factors associated with nonattendance were mothers aged below 25 years, and mothers with more than one child. Conclusion: An important delay or nonattendance to primary health care consultation by the mother-child dyad was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such practice, with a high potential to increase maternal and child morbidity and mortality, was particularly frequent among younger mothers and those with more than one child.

Prevalence, socioeconomic factors and obstetric outcomes associated with adolescent motherhood in Ceará, Brazil: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Adolescent motherhood (AM) remains a public health problem, especially in low and middle income countries, where approximately 95% of these births occur. Evidence from studies with population representativeness about events associated with AM is limited. We assessed the prevalence of AM, as well as its association with Socioeconomic Factors and Obstetric Outcomes.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study on maternal and child health of women aged 10 to 49 years, living in the state of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil was carried out to assess the prevalence of AM, as well as its association with Socioeconomic Factors and Obstetric Outcomes. The definition of adolescence used in the study was the one utilized by the WHO. In addition to the interview, data were double-checked according to the information in the government's pregnancy health booklet. Sample-adjusted logistic models to determine the association of socioeconomic factors and AM, as well as the association of AM with obstetric outcomes, with a causal approach to multivariate analyses, were used.

RESULTS

The prevalence of adolescent motherhood was 18.6%. Poverty and household crowding were associated with greater chances of AM (p values of 0.038 and <  0.001, respectively), as well as not being in a stable relationship (OR 2.26 (95%CI: 1.67, 3.07), p <  0.001). AM showed a greater chance of not using community health services (p <  0.001), had fewer prenatal consultations (β - 0.432 (95%CI: - 0.75, - 0.10)) and started prenatal care at a later date (β 0.38 (95%CI: 0.21, 0.55), p <  0.001)). AM are also less likely to be tested for HIV and more likely to have urinary tract infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions aimed at socially-vulnerable adolescents are suggested. However, if pregnant, adolescents should receive proactive and differentiated prenatal care.

Simulated training model of ureteropyelic anastomosis in laparoscopic pyeloplasty

Purpose:

To develop a model for simulated training of ureteropyelic anastomosis in laparoscopicpyeloplasty.

Methods:

Longitudinal and experimental study, with 16 participants. A synthetic instrument was produced to simulate the renal pelvis and the proximal portion of the ureter positioned on a platform within laparoscopic simulators, thereby resulting in the realistic simulation of the ureteropelvic anastomosis. A step-by-step guide was also developed for the accomplishment of the ureteropelvic anastomosis training model.

Results:

In the evaluation of all participants’ suture training, a decrease was found in the time needed to perform the anastomosis, with a median of 17.83 min in the 1^st step and 14.21 min in the last one (p = 0.01). Regarding the knots, in the 1^st step, 5% of them were considered firm, with an evolution to 30% in the last step (p = 0.011).

Conclusion:

We noticed improvement in the ability to perform the ureteropelvic anastomosis by participants with no experience with it. Therefore, even unexperienced participants can improve their skills with this training. Moreover, we observed the effectiveness of the model use, confirmed by the participants’ opinion and its validation by expert surgeons.