Effective management of human capital in a surgical department is crucial for enhancing the well-being and productivity of all team members. This study highlights the importance of an ongoing, communication-heavy approach based on fairness and transparency. By being aware of and tending to the needs of team members, clinicians can elevate departmental and organizational productivity […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography can predict metastatic potential of small nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Tumor vascularity on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was studied for its predictive value in determining metastatic potential in small nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The study included 77 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, with a focus on small tumors (≤2.0 cm). The results showed that the computed tomography a/e ratio was a useful […]
Virtual Interviews for General Surgery Residency Applicants: Saving Time and Money, But Limiting Exposure
The study evaluates the impact of virtual recruitment and interviewing platforms on general surgery residency applicants. The results show that more than half of the applicants applied to more programs and accepted more interviews due to the virtual format, citing advantages such as saving money, time, and avoiding travel risks. However, limitations of virtual interviews […]
Global Telemedicine for Surgical Wound Assessment: Lower SSIs Found in International Cohort and Meta-analysis
Using telemedicine for remote wound reviews can be upscaled globally and may help reduce the risk of SSI after surgery. In an international cohort study of over 15,000 patients from 66 countries, telemedicine follow-up resulted in slightly lower SSI rates compared to in-person review. This association persisted after risk adjustment and was consistent across sensitivity […]
Intraoperative AI in Robotic Surgery: Scoping Review of Development and Autonomy
The scoping review identified 129 studies on intraoperative artificial intelligence (AI) applications in robotic surgery. The majority of these applications (75%) provided robot assistance, while a smaller percentage (23%) enabled task autonomy. Only a few studies (2%) achieved conditional autonomy. All studies were in early stages of development, with no clinical investigations on humans. The […]
Augmented Reality Combined with Fluorescence Imaging Enhances Laparoscopic Segmentectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Augmented reality combined with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging guided laparoscopic segmentectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss, decreases remnant liver ischemia, and improves disease-free survival rates at 1 and 3 years. This technology provides a standardized approach for liver parenchyma section and shows promising clinical application prospects. Journal Article by Wang D, Hu […]
Conditional survival rates and probabilities of death in patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer
Survival rates and probabilities of death in patients with exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC) were investigated in a population-based study. The study found that the overall 5-year relative survival rate at diagnosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was 8.5%. Among PDAC patients who survived for 2 years, the 3-year conditional survival rate was 50.1%, and among […]
Primary tumor resection does not impact event-free survival in patients with metastatic small bowel neuroendocrine tumors
The study investigated the impact of primary tumor resection on the development of disease-specific complications in patients with metastatic well-differentiated small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs). The retrospective analysis of 180 patients showed that rates of event-free survival did not differ based on primary tumor management. Patients who underwent medical management first had a 23% complication […]
Comparison of Single-Port and Multi-Port Robotic Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: Similar Efficacy and Safety
Single-port robotic total mesorectal excision is comparable to multi-port robotic total mesorectal excision in terms of short-term clinical outcomes for rectal cancer treatment. A retrospective study of 128 patients found that the single-port system resulted in shorter operative times, smaller incision length, and shorter hospital stays. C-reactive protein levels were also lower in the single-port […]
Primary Surgeon Specialty Does Not Impact Postoperative Complications in Esophagectomy
Cardiothoracic surgeons and general surgeons perform the majority of esophagectomies, but differences in surgical techniques exist. This study analyzed data from 3,247 patients and found that cardiothoracic surgeons were more likely to use traditional minimally invasive or open approaches, while general surgeons favored robotic or hybrid approaches. However, after adjusting for risk factors, there were […]