General surgery teaching faculty in the US generally support pregnant surgical residents, but acknowledge the need for institutional culture improvements. Despite positive perceptions, there is still evidence of discrimination and negative comments towards pregnant residents. More efforts are needed to normalize pregnancy and enhance policies for better support during training. Journal Article by Freudenberger DC, […]

The study evaluated the prognostic impact of cachexia index on gastrointestinal cancer surgery outcomes, finding that a low cachexia index was associated with worse overall and progression-free survival. Cachexia index was identified as a potential biomarker for assessing oncological outcomes in these patients, though study limitations should be considered. Review by Takano Y, Kai W […]

The SAGES White Paper discusses the creation and evaluation of the Fundamentals of Leadership Development (FLD) curriculum to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in surgical practice. The FLD curriculum, developed using the ADDIE model, focuses on pipeline improvement, healthcare equity, and conflict negotiation. Surgeon leaders are empowered with tools to drive positive change in their […]

Patients undergoing common general surgical procedures experienced varying improvements in Impact on Life (IOL) scores post-operatively. Gallbladder surgery showed the greatest improvement, with consistent changes across ethnic groups. Pre-surgery IOL scores and the type of surgery were significant predictors of post-operative improvement. These findings support the inclusion of patient-derived IOL scores in prioritization tools for […]

Amidst an aging population and improved surgical outcomes, a review found a concerning lack of perioperative function reporting in older adults undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery. Only a small proportion of studies included in the review reported on postoperative function, suggesting a need for greater focus on functional recovery as an outcome measure to improve […]

A synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE)-based model was developed to predict postoperative delirium in elderly patients with abdominal malignancies. In this cohort of 611 patients, risk factors for delirium included Charlson comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, history of cerebrovascular disease, surgical duration, perioperative blood transfusion, and postoperative pain score. The SMOTE-based predictive model […]

Microencapsulated sodium butyrate, a stable form of the compound, is gaining attention for its potential use in gastrointestinal disease prevention and treatment. It offers energy to the large intestine, supports intestinal epithelium integrity, and stimulates the immune system. This review discusses its use from both surgical and gastroenterological perspectives, highlighting its role in prehabilitation, perioperative […]

This study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected medical student education in surgery clerkships. Most directors shifted to virtual platforms and then back to in-person learning. Student preparation and progression were impacted, but interest in surgical careers remained stable. Despite initial challenges, the pandemic led to positive changes in virtual patient encounters, didactics, and student […]