Abstract ID: 26-101
Integration of surgical education with high quality service delivery in temporal artery biopsies
Author: Kelly Ann Hutchinson Base Hospital / Institution: Queen’s University
Presentation Type: ePoster Presentation
Purpose
Delays in temporal artery biopsy (TAB) for suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA) increase diagnostic uncertainty and can prolong high-dose corticosteroid exposure. We evaluated a structured, oculoplastics-supervised, resident-led TAB service that acts as the primary regional provider. Primary objectives were service quality (timeliness from referral to biopsy) and effectiveness (specimen adequacy).
Methods
Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing TAB through a weekly resident-led clinic at a tertiary academic center (Oct 2023–Oct 2025). Cases were identified from a prospectively maintained procedural registry and cross-referenced with EMR and pathology reports. The clinic operated under direct oculoplastics supervision with standardized preoperative review, intraoperative coaching, and post-procedure debriefing aligned with competency-based surgical education. Quality metrics were time from referral to initial ophthalmic assessment and time from referral to TAB. Effectiveness outcomes included specimen adequacy (temporal artery/branch tissue present) and indeterminate rate due to insufficient/absent target tissue. TAB positivity was defined as histopathologic vasculitis.
Results
Among 121 patients (median age 72 years; 72.7% female), 146 biopsies were performed. Median time from referral to urgent assessment was 1 day (IQR 1–2) and to TAB was 5 days (IQR 3–9), with no significant differences by TAB result. TAB positivity was 17.8% (26/146); 4.8% (7/146) were indeterminate due to insufficient tissue or absence of temporal artery/branch tissue. Median specimen length was 17 mm (IQR 13.0–22.5) and did not differ by TAB result.
Conclusion
An oculoplastics-supervised, resident-led TAB clinic provided timely access (short referral-to-assessment and referral-to-biopsy intervals) with effective procedural performance (high specimen adequacy, low indeterminate rate). This educational-service model may be scalable for maintaining TAB access while supporting competency-based surgical training.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Kristina | Nazzicone | Queen’s University |
| Alexa | Fine | Queen’s University |
| Selya | Amrani | Queen’s University |
| Vladimir | Kratky | Queen’s University |
| Sarah | Simpson | Queen’s University |