Educational Intervention Program Improved the Torqued Testis Survival: A Quality-of-Care Study - Abstract
Introduction: The time from onset of symptoms to surgery is the most important factor determined testicular survival due to testicular torsion (TT). While
the time between the onset of symptoms and arrival to the Emergency department (ED) is not depended on medical team, delay in time spent in the ED is
preventable and should be minimized. In this study we examined the impact of an educational intervention program to reduce the length of time passing from
patient admission to the ED to the start of de-torsion surgery.
Methods: An explanatory intervention, which included frontal lectures followed by knowledge test on TT was conducted for nursing and medical staff
working in the ED. Door to detorsion time (DTD) defined as the duration of time from admission to ED, to onset of surgery. DTD was reviewed before and after
the intervention. The correlation to testicular survival rate before and after the intervention were examined using a univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results: Data on 46 patients with TT were retrospectively reviewed in the pre-intervention period and 56 were prospectively reviewed the postintervention period. Following educational intervention program time between ED arrival to OR was shortened from 169.76 minutes to 107.52 minutes
(p=0.001) which reflects a relative time decrease of 58.89%. Orchiectomy rates were substantially lower from 12 patients (26.08%) to 10 patients (17.86%)
though this was not statistically significant, (p=0.32). Multivariate regression showed intervention program lowered substantially ED delay with an average of
64.9 minutes shortening when compared to pre-intervention period (p<0.001). Orchiectomy rates were substantially lowered following implementation of the
intervention program with an odds ratio of 4.05. 95% CI [1.11,14.71].
Conclusions: Following a dedicated and ongoing educational intervention program the duration from patient entrance to the ED to surgery for detorsion
shortened. Shortening this time frame is expected to significantly reduce the risk of orchiectomy