Current C-SATS metrics don’t effectively assess proficiency in robotic surgeries, raising concerns for surgeon training. Total GEAR scores correlate with case volumes for robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (r=0.65) and inguinal hernia repair (r=0.54). No correlation was found for novice surgeons or those with fewer than 50 cases, indicating limitations in evaluating their skills. Surgeons need better tools […]

Surgeons must navigate the complex landscape of surgical decision-making for patients with dementia, emphasizing informed choices and collaboration. 28 recommendations were developed, with 25 deemed critically important but feasible only in the long-term. Consensus among 23 stakeholders highlighted the need for better resources and team-based care for surgical candidates with cognitive impairment. Prioritize education on […]

Medicare Advantage plans often limit patient access to surgical specialists, which can affect care delivery and outcomes. Among 36,584 counties, the average Medicare Advantage network included only 57.6% of surgical specialists. Plastic surgery networks had the least access, averaging 47.1%, while vascular, thoracic, and orthopedic networks exceeded 60%. Over 1 million enrollees reside in counties […]

Dexmedetomidine is a standout option for preventing postoperative delirium in older adults. Overall delirium risk post-surgery is 14.5%. Dexmedetomidine shows a significant reduction (odds ratio 0.46) in delirium risk. Corticosteroids also reduce delirium severity but do not affect other outcomes like length of stay or mortality. Be cautious with dexmedetomidine due to potential hypotension and […]

A structured mentoring committee significantly enhances academic trajectories for early-career surgeons. After 8 years, 58 mentees rated the program highly, with 94% finding the information valuable. 90% felt the meetings contributed to their academic success and 88% appreciated the communication following sessions. Implementing formal mentoring in surgical departments can lead to better faculty development and […]

Access to safe and timely cancer surgery is critical but lacking, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Over 80% of patients with solid tumors will require at least one surgical intervention. Low- and middle-income countries will face rising cancer burdens, intensifying demand for surgery. Surgeons must be aware of these disparities to adapt treatment strategies. […]

A new tabular foundation model outperforms traditional methods in predicting surgical risks for emergency patients, improving decision-making. In a study of 7,281 emergency surgery patients, the model demonstrated a mortality prediction accuracy of 0.89 and a morbidity accuracy of 0.82. It achieved better calibration scores (0.04 for mortality and 0.15 for morbidity) than logistic regression […]

Surgeons can leverage an innovative framework for integrating data-driven performance metrics into surgical training to improve education and patient outcomes. Interactive workshops with 54 participants from 13 countries identified priority methods: real-time feedback for technical skills and dashboards for non-technical skills. The framework allows supervising surgeons to access structured performance reports while protecting trainee data […]

Surgeons can lower their environmental impact with new actionable guidelines for sustainable operating room practices. 21 recommendations are organized into four key areas: reduce waste, reuse items, recycle materials, and rethink practices. Focus on reducing pharmaceutical waste and unnecessary energy use can help cut greenhouse gas emissions from ORs. Adopting these strategies not only benefits […]