Preoperative low-energy diets may reduce complications for overweight patients undergoing non-bariatric surgery. Patients lost an average of 4.5 kg during a 3-week low-energy diet. Pooled analysis shows a 19% relative risk reduction in postoperative morbidity with low-energy diets. Further validation through a larger trial is needed to enhance recruitment and follow-up. Adherence to the diet […]

Increasing postoperative steps may significantly reduce hospital stay and complications for surgical patients. Each additional 1,000 steps/day post-surgery is linked to a 6% shorter length of stay. This increase is associated with a 17% lower chance of 30-day complications and a 18% drop in 90-day readmissions. Focus on monitoring step count post-surgery rather than relying […]

Early mobilisation within 24 hours post-abdominal surgery significantly enhances patient recovery. Engaging patients in standing or walking boosts physiological recovery and outcomes. Key prerequisites include stable hemodynamics, effective pain relief, and cognitive readiness. Implementing early mobilisation can standardize recovery protocols and improve surgical outcomes. Well-staffed healthcare teams are crucial for successful early mobilisation efforts. Systematic […]

Using surgical report cards linked to quality improvement efforts can enhance patient outcomes. Review identified 19 studies showing report cards lead to improved surgical outcomes when tied to quality improvement initiatives. One in four controlled studies saw a statistically significant reduction in mortality. Integrating report cards with actionable improvements is essential for better results. Most […]

Informal caregivers for older adults undergoing major elective surgery face overwhelming demands and need more support. Caregivers reported feeling all-consuming pressure throughout the surgical process. 67% described increased strain on their relationship with the patient due to caregiving demands. A universal desire for greater perioperative guidance indicates a gap that can be addressed. Surgeons should […]

Early alignment of residency and fellowship milestones can predict surgical trainee success. Significant alignment found between PGY-5 general surgery and year-1 vascular surgery fellowship competencies in professionalism, patient care, medical knowledge, and interpersonal skills. For every 1-unit difference in residency milestones, fellows showed mean differences of 0.49 to 0.64 units in competencies. These insights can […]

A new risk calculator helps surgeons predict protracted recovery and long-term loss of independence in veterans post-surgery. Care assessment needs score for 90-day hospitalization and pre-op functional status are the strongest predictors. The model shows high accuracy (c-statistics 0.906-0.908) with 83% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Surgeons can use this tool to identify high-risk patients for […]

A shift in global surgery is needed to address current challenges in evidence generation and care delivery. Traditional research methods are inadequate for sustainability and equity in surgical practices. Emphasizing context-sensitive and systems-oriented approaches is critical. Strengthening foundational evidence will enhance credibility and guide effective policy and surgical decisions. Future success depends on both expanding […]

A new prediction model helps surgeons estimate patient recovery time after gastrointestinal cancer surgery, improving preoperative counseling. Among 91,270 patients, the median days at home within 90 days post-surgery was 82 (IQR 77-85). The model achieved strong accuracy (mean absolute error 8.67) and good calibration. This tool enhances shared decision-making by providing tailored recovery expectations […]

Over one-quarter of elective surgery patients exhibit high-risk substance use, signaling potential complications. 27.6% of patients reported high-risk substance use; 6.6% reported polysubstance use. Most common substances: cannabis (15.0%), alcohol (11.1%), and nicotine (8.5%). Routine preoperative screening is essential to identify these risks and optimize patient outcomes. Highest rates of high-risk use were seen in […]