Providers recognize significant gaps in end-of-life care for critically ill patients, impacting decision-making and outcomes. Poor symptom management contributes to pain and loss of dignity. Nonbeneficial treatments prolong suffering and do not align with patient values. Early and clear communication with patients and families is vital to set realistic expectations and reduce unnecessary interventions. Training […]

A novel wearable device significantly outperforms metoclopramide in managing moderate to severe postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The TEAS group achieved a 2-hour remission rate of 77.6% vs. 55.2% for controls (p < 0.001). 24-hour relapse rates were 12.2% for TEAS compared to 56.3% for metoclopramide (p < 0.001). This suggests wearable TEAS could enhance […]

Surgeons are wasting an estimated 337,596 liters of water annually during surgical scrubs, representing 34.2% of total usage. The median water wasted per wet scrub at timer-controlled sinks is 10 liters. Wet scrubs are performed in 25.9% of cases by attending surgeons and OR staff. Optimizing scrub practices could lead to significant water conservation without […]

Machine learning can help personalize opioid-sparing strategies for outpatient surgeries. In a study of 223 patients, 42% required opioids, using a median of 4 doses post-surgery. The machine learning model identified key risk factors like active cancer and age, achieving an AUC of 0.674, with 70% sensitivity and 68% specificity. Adoption of this model could […]

Surgical trainees show significant gaps in understanding critical cancer surgery standards, impacting surgical outcomes. Only 30% of trainees received formal training on CoC operative standards. Correct response rates were just 30% for CoC standards versus 50% for core cancer principles. Incorporating education on these standards is crucial for improving surgical quality and documentation practices. 71% […]

A new embalming method offers superior realism for laparoscopic surgery training. Residents and experts rated laparoscopic procedures positively, especially TEP, with scores of “good” to “very good.” Novices rated lifelike tissue manipulation significantly higher than experts (p < 0.001). This model may improve surgical education, leading to better outcomes for patients. Tissue quality and color […]

Effective teamwork in the operating room significantly influences patient safety and surgical outcomes. Surgeons scored highest in teamwork and leadership, while circulating staff excelled in checklist completion and communication. Gender dynamics affected teamwork scores; male surgeons received lower ratings when their respondents were female. Longer surgeries (over 3 hours) correlated with lower teamwork and communication […]

Increasing real-time feedback through entrustable professional activities (EPAs) enhances resident satisfaction during training. 74.4% of residents reported receiving at least one EPA microassessment per rotation. Satisfaction with feedback was significantly higher with more frequent EPA microassessments (p<0.001). On their worst rotations, satisfaction improved from 42% to over 50% when at least one EPA assessment was […]

Recent survey shows how surgical oncology fellowship prepares graduates for varied practices with implications for patient selection and training focus. Post-2013 graduates feel better equipped for peritoneal surface and gynecologic cancers and robotic surgery. Pre-2013 graduates reported greater readiness for melanoma and thoracic cases. Consider emphasizing advanced training for emerging areas like robotic techniques and […]