Surgeons need to know that NIH funding is growing, but surgeon engagement in research is shifting, risking patient outcomes. NIH surgery funding surged 53% to $539 million, while the number of grants remained stable. MD-only investigators fell from 48.9% to 40.8% of grants; MD-PhDs rose from 15.2% to 24.9%. The gap between credentialing and active […]

Surgeons should note that the public generally supports laws allowing internationally trained surgeons to practice in the U.S., but with significant reservations. 85% of respondents backed state licensure laws for internationally trained surgeons. 93% believe these laws will enhance access to care; 80% think they will improve diversity in the workforce. 70% expressed concern over […]

Postoperative undertriage increases risk for high-acuity patients, prompting new goals of care. Undertriaged patients had higher unplanned intubation rates (12.1% vs. 7.1%) and in-hospital mortality (7% vs. 1.1%). New DNR status orders were issued for 7.2% of undertriaged patients compared to 2.8% in the ICU cohort. Surgeons should reevaluate triage practices to mitigate these risks […]

Higher procedural volume predicts better trauma care outcomes. High-volume trauma centers (3.7% mortality) significantly outperform low-volume centers (5.4%) on mortality, p<0.001. Major complication rates are also lower in high-volume centers (3.1%) compared to low-volume (8.1%), p<0.001. Surgeons should focus on procedural volume for better patient outcomes. Centers grouped by total trauma volume showed the opposite […]

Informed consent practices vary widely, impacting surgical patient decision-making and autonomy. Different procedures have inconsistent consent requirements, like written consent for arterial lines but not peripheral IVs. Context shapes disclosures; risks highlighted for mastectomy may not be for cardiac surgery. Streamlining consent processes with standardized, patient-centered policies is vital for protecting autonomy. Efficiency pressures often […]

Spatial analysis reveals geographic influences on surgical results and access, shaping patient selection and care strategies. Kernel density estimation can pinpoint geographic clusters of complications. Spatial autoregression models highlight both direct and spillover effects on outcomes. Surgeons must carefully interpret spatial findings to avoid misleading conclusions. Bayesian approaches offer stable estimates, particularly in small-area studies. […]

Surgeons are eliciting patient values but often failing to integrate them into surgical decisions. 87% of surgeons reported eliciting patient values, but only 25% of cases saw those values impacting recommendations. 93% felt prepared to discuss values, yet 78% sought more training to improve integration. Re-evaluating how we incorporate patient values could enhance shared decision-making […]

A European consensus identifies critical practices to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs), enhancing surgical outcomes. 92% consensus on 33 of 36 recommended practices for SSI prevention across preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Surgeons comprised 59% of the 820 healthcare professionals surveyed, ensuring relevance for surgical settings. Implementing these evidence-based recommendations can significantly reduce SSIs and […]

This study reveals trends in robot-assisted surgical training over 35 years, highlighting implications for surgeons and patient outcomes. Research output increased dramatically, with focus areas evolving through three phases: technical validation, methodological innovation, and standardization with AI integration. The U.S. contributed nearly half of all publications, with European Urology having the highest impact factor at […]