A novel comorbidity score, termed the comorbid operative risk evaluation (CORE), outperformed existing indices in predicting in-hospital mortality among surgical patients. Using data from 699,155 records, the CORE score achieved higher accuracy than both the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index and the Charlson Comorbidity Index across multiple databases. For instance, CORE scored 0.90 in the national inpatient […]

A comprehensive analysis of over 7.5 million surgical patients reveals significant racial disparities in postoperative outcomes. White, Asian, and Native Hawaiian patients exhibited better outcomes compared to Black and American Indian patients, who faced higher rates of complications. Additionally, socio-economic factors such as wealth, healthcare access, and food security influence discharge destinations and recovery. The […]

The study identifies that high-quality multi-hospital health systems performing major cancer surgery produced an adjusted 30-day operative mortality rate of 1.7%, compared to 3.1% in lower-quality systems. These high-quality systems typically had fewer hospitals, each conducting more procedures annually, and were geographically concentrated, reducing variation in quality between hospitals. These characteristics suggest a model for […]

A mixed-methods study examined laparoscopic surgery practice among Liberian surgeons, highlighting significant training gaps. With only 32% having received laparoscopic training and 16% possessing experience, most participants expressed a strong desire for further education and willingness to invest. Despite varying levels of knowledge, the findings indicate a readiness for implementing a laparoscopic program, although challenges […]

A penicillin allergy protocol significantly enhanced the use of β-lactam prophylaxis in patients undergoing open abdominal wall reconstruction. Following protocol implementation, surgical site infections, wound complications, reoperations, and readmissions decreased. Of the 315 patients identified, 250 were treated pre-protocol and 65 post-protocol, with the latter group showing improved outcomes despite comparable demographics. The initiative’s success […]

A study on octogenarians found that 19.8% remained in non-home facilities by postoperative day 30. Key risk factors for not returning home included a preoperative history of falls (odds ratio 2.92) and the development of new postoperative pressure ulcers (odds ratio 2.66). Other significant factors included the use of mobility aids, surrogate-signed consent, and postoperative […]

An international Delphi consensus has established 139 standardized statements for robotic surgical training curricula across 15 key themes. The expert agreement emphasizes that consistent training frameworks enhance patient safety. Key recommendations advocate for multiplatform curricula, inclusion of non-technical skills, the use of clinically relevant performance metrics, and a shift towards high-fidelity synthetic models over traditional […]