The study analyzed pre-surgical factors affecting latent trajectories of 5-year weight loss in a bariatric surgery population. Researchers identified three distinct trajectories of weight loss for gastric sleeve and bypass operations, influenced by factors such as BMI, environmental factors, comorbidity burden, race, and weight control strategies. Monitoring real-time patient-reported outcomes post-surgery is crucial for tailoring […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Enhanced Survival Benefit with Surgical Resection in BCLC-A/B HCC Beyond Milan Criteria
Patients with BCLC-A/B HCC beyond Milan criteria and tumor burden beyond the up-to-7 criteria but within 3 tumors showed better overall survival with surgical resection compared to transarterial chemoembolization. The seven-eleven criteria can help identify candidates for surgical resection in this patient population, emphasizing the importance of considering SR in resectable patients for optimal treatment […]
Robot-Assisted Surgery Reduces Surgical Stress Response in Colon Cancer
In a randomized clinical trial (SIRIRALS), patients with stage 1-3 colon cancer underwent robot-assisted or laparoscopic surgery. The laparoscopic group exhibited a higher postoperative C-reactive protein response on the first day, but no significant differences on subsequent days. Robot-assisted surgery was associated with reduced surgical stress response, providing evidence for its benefits in stage 1-3 […]
Robotic Surgery in Emergency General Surgery Improves Outcomes
Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized in emergency general surgery cases, showing significant year-over-year increases for cholecystectomy, colectomy, inguinal hernia, and ventral hernia repair. It is associated with a lower risk of conversion to open surgery and shorter postoperative lengths of stay compared to laparoscopic surgery. This suggests that robotic surgery may offer better outcomes for […]
Rising Incidence of School Shooting Victims: A 53-Year Analysis
Firearm violence in American schools has increased significantly over 53 years, with a total of 2,056 school shooting incidents involving 3,083 victims analyzed. Most victims and shooters were male, with rifles showing a higher fatality-to-wounded ratio. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant increase in rates of school shooting victims, wounded, and fatalities among children over […]
Adjuvant Chemoradiation Improves Survival in Resected Biliary Adenocarcinoma
Analyzing a national cancer database, researchers found that adjuvant chemoradiation in resected extrahepatic bile duct or gallbladder adenocarcinoma, following the SWOG S0809 protocol, yielded a median overall survival of 36.9 months. A propensity score-matched cohort revealed a survival benefit for those receiving adjuvant chemoradiation over adjuvant chemotherapy alone, supporting the consideration of multimodal therapy in […]
Importance of Competitive Surgeon Compensation in Academic Medicine
Competitive surgeon compensation is crucial for successful faculty recruitment and retention in academic medicine. An optimal compensation system should support patient care, encourage teamwork, recruit and retain faculty, and be viewed as fair and transparent. Ensuring compensation remains a background issue for academic surgeons requires leadership emphasis. Compensation plans can influence behaviors and contributions, making […]
The Importance of Social Determinants and Primary Care Appointments in Traumatic Injury Follow-Up
After reviewing trauma admissions from 2018 to 2021, researchers found an overall loss to follow-up rate of 36.9%. Non-white patients, those who underwent operations, and individuals discharged to rehabilitation facilities were more likely to attend follow-up appointments within 30 days. Patients with substance use disorder and those with public insurance had higher loss to follow-up […]
Assessment of AI-generated Medical Information on Appendicitis
Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Bard, and Claude-2 were assessed for content and quality on appendicitis information. Results showed favorable quality scores for all but Claude-2, which had significantly lower quality. Bard was the only platform providing verifiable sources, while others advised consulting a physician. Readability levels exceeded public standards, indicating potential for patient […]
Optimal Round Ligament Management in Women’s Hernia Repair
Transection of the round ligament of the uterus (RLU) during minimally invasive groin hernia repair in women reduces operative time with no difference in postoperative complication rates. Preserving the RLU does not impact chronic pain, paresthesia, recurrence rates, or complications. Further randomized studies are needed for long-term outcomes and patient-reported results to determine the optimal […]