Analysis of 1170 elective abdominal surgery patients revealed two acute pain trajectory clusters: high and low. Those in the high pain groups experienced almost double the likelihood of developing chronic postsurgical pain (cpsp), along with a significantly poorer recovery quality. Mediation analysis indicated that the quality of recovery within the first five days and subacute […]
Category: Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities
Clinical factors explain less than 55% of postoperative stay variability
A machine-learning framework quantified the impact of clinical versus nonclinical influences on postoperative length of stay after colectomy. Analysis of 96,081 patients revealed that clinical factors accounted for only 29-54% of length of stay variability. Despite optimizing these variables, significant unexplained variance remained, indicating the influence of nonclinical factors. This study is pioneering in highlighting […]
Robotic cholecystectomy training proves effective for novice surgeons
A training program focused on robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) demonstrated significant enhancements in novice surgeons’ technical skills and confidence. An analysis of 300 robotic cholecystectomies revealed no major complications or conversions to other surgical methods. Additionally, the comprehensive RAST curriculum, employing a multimodal learning approach, emphasizes efficient skill transfer from traditional laparoscopic techniques to RAS. The […]
Proctoring boosts surgical skills and reduces operating times
Proctoring in robotic surgery significantly improved surgical skills and reduced operating times, according to a retrospective analysis of surgeons’ feedback in a single-center program. The study revealed that proctoring not only enhanced individual surgical abilities but also positively influenced the number of cases performed and overall surgical quality. Surgeons expressed general satisfaction, noting that learning […]
Human errors significantly contribute to surgical adverse events
Over a decade, 52.7% of 14,237 adverse events in a South African surgical department were linked to human error. This resulted in an error rate of 14% per admission and 2% per inpatient day, correlating with increased length of hospital stays and mortality. Addressing these errors requires comprehensive, multilevel interventions rather than isolated actions, emphasizing […]
Racial disparities in surgical outcomes are set for analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of racism on surgical outcomes in the USA and Canada. The study will compile data on adverse postoperative events for racialised versus non-racialised patients across common and high-risk surgeries. Key outcomes include mortality and complication rates, with a focus on identifying substantial gaps in care. […]
Increased familiarity among surgical teams lowers patient complications
Higher levels of surgical team familiarity significantly reduce patient complications and adverse events, according to a cohort study of over 8,500 operations. Specifically, investigators found that initial collaborations cut composite adverse event rates from 23% to 16.5%. The related odds ratios indicated notable decreases in major complications, unplanned reoperations, and ICU stays. These findings underscore […]
Prehabilitation improves postoperative outcomes for digestive cancer patients.
A meta-analysis of 20 studies involving 1,719 patients revealed that exercise-based prehabilitation significantly reduced overall postoperative complications with a risk ratio of 0.74. While it did not shorten hospital stays, prehabilitation improved the six-minute walk distance preoperatively and maintained benefits at four weeks post-surgery. High acceptance (61%) and completion rates (90%) indicate strong patient engagement […]
3D surgical videos enhance student preparedness despite lower knowledge retention.
A randomized controlled trial with 231 medical students found that while 3D immersive videos led to lower immediate knowledge retention compared to 2D videos, they significantly improved expected preparedness, satisfaction, and self-confidence after one month. Participants using 3D video reported feeling more engaged, better able to identify anatomical structures, and less overwhelmed. These findings suggest […]
ABsite Exam Demonstrates Strong Reliability and Unidimensionality
The internal structure study of the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) revealed strong reliability (Cronbach’s alpha >0.9) along with suitable item difficulty (0.66) and item discrimination index (>0.2). Analyzing data from 55,986 unique test results between 2018 and 2023, the findings suggest that ABSITE is a unidimensional tool, which makes it appropriate for […]