Studies analyzed 625,316 surgical procedures and found that claims with modifier 22 had higher charges, payments, but were more likely to be denied. Overall mean payments varied, with some procedures showing higher payments with modifier 22. However, for most surgeries, little financial advantage was seen, suggesting surgeons have little incentive to use modifier 22 under […]

Heart rate variability parameters, measured immediately post-operatively and combined with patient age, were used to develop a predictive model with an AUC of 0.980, providing a negative predictive value of 1.00 for post-operative cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. This model has the potential to aid in early risk stratification, clinical decision-making, and […]

Global surgery collaborations with Africa are dominated by European institutions, with most African countries participating. South Africa and Nigeria have the highest collaboration frequency, but most publications originate from Eastern Africa. High- and low- to middle-income countries leveraging synergies, well-defined structures, and secure data platforms facilitate collaboration. However, the underrepresentation of collaborators from LMICs remains […]

Surgeons record a limited portion of eligible cases due to barriers such as lack of perceived value, forgetfulness, legal concerns, and difficulty accessing equipment and videos. Touch Surgery Enterprise, a new recording solution, addresses these barriers and is highly recommended by respondents for adoption due to features like ease of use, AI for privacy, full-length […]

Patients on long-term opioid therapy with Medicaid insurance had a higher likelihood of experiencing postoperative unplanned care encounters compared to those with private insurance after abdominopelvic surgery. The study, involving 1212 patients in Michigan, found a 4.5 percentage point higher probability of such encounters among Medicaid-insured individuals within 30 days post-discharge. This suggests disparities in […]

French nationwide study evaluated 61,169 high-risk digestive cancer surgeries. Postoperative mortality rates varied across types, with liver and pancreas surgeries showing benefits from the new criteria. Higher volume thresholds could further decrease mortality risks. Centralization policies and improved clinical pathways may enhance patient access to complex care in France. Journal Article by Thereaux J, Badic […]

Patients with preoperative opioid exposure experienced higher pain scores 30 days after surgery compared to opioid-naïve individuals. As opioid exposure increased, the probability of reporting moderate to severe pain also increased. Furthermore, clinical outcomes such as ED visits, readmissions, and reoperations within 30 days, as well as patient-reported outcomes like satisfaction, regret, and quality of […]

Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) in general surgery show moderate validity evidence and practical recommendations for implementation, providing a more accurate assessment of residents’ competence compared to other methods. Challenges include obtaining faculty and resident buy-in for microassessments and feedback. EPAs represent a significant shift in evaluating general surgery residents, aligning with Competency-Based Education (CBE) progression. […]

Investigators analyzed data from 12,433 patients who underwent ambulatory cancer surgery and completed 110,936 surveys on symptom severity and interference. Pain severity was highest on postoperative days 1-3, but gradually improved, with moderate initial fatigue that rarely reached severe levels. Nausea was common, while vomiting and shortness of breath were less frequent. These findings provide […]