Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Teamwork and communication
Published in Rhona Flin, George G. Youngson, Steven Yule, Enhancing Surgical Performance, 2015
Paul O’Connor, Ivan Keogh, Augusto Azuara-Blanco
Clarity and precision in communication are also important in high-risk work environments. For example, members of US Navy submarine crews are forbidden from using certain words that can cause confusion or ambiguity (e.g. ‘left’ and ‘right’ or ‘maximum’ and ‘minimum’). An example of the potential effect of a lack of precision is an actual wrong-site surgery performed on a young child. The patient was due to have an upper labial frenulum release (division of the labial frenulum). Unfortunately, the electronic patient admission system had only one code for three different types of surgical procedures, all being described as ‘tongue tie’. Instead of having the division of her upper labial frenulum, the surgeon erroneously performed a lingual frenectomy (incision of the lingual frenulum under the tongue).11 Although this was not the only failure of communication in the scenario, the lack of clarity in the admission system was a contributing factor. In the following box, an example of how a procedure was performed on the wrong patient due to a lack of precision is given.
Effectiveness of frenectomy for ankyloglossia correction in terms of breastfeeding and maternal outcomes: A critically appraised topic
Published in Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention, 2019
Hannah Butenko, Vanessa Fung, Sarahlouise White
The effectiveness of lingual frenectomy (frenotomy) in improving breastfeeding outcomes was considered through the critical appraisal of three systematic reviews. Overall, there is some evidence of short-term improvement in breastfeeding and maternal nipple pain, following a frenectomy. The diagnosis and management process should commence at an early intervention stage aiming for non-surgical alternative (e.g. appropriate positioning during breastfeeding and education for mothers) before considering more invasive procedures (e.g. frenectomy). Additional research is, however, required to further understand the effectiveness and outcomes of less invasive tongue-tie management options.