Non-technical skills such as communication, environmental factors, anticipation, and teamwork are crucial in robotic-assisted surgery. Team-related factors like ambient noise and poor design of the operating room can compromise patient safety. The review identified three novel assessment tools and emphasized the need for further research on the benefits of non-technical skills in improving patient safety […]
Category: Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities
Effectiveness of Cultural Competency Training in Surgical Settings
Health disparities in surgical settings are unjust and result in poor outcomes. Cultural competency training (CCT) for providers may address these disparities, but its cost-effectiveness is unclear. The effectiveness of CCT in improving health outcomes and whether it should be team-based are key considerations. Further research is needed to determine if CCT is a worthwhile […]
General Surgery Residents Overwhelmingly Support Mandatory Wellness Curriculum Six Years Later
Following the approval of a resident-created physician wellness program in 2016, a recent survey of 25 general surgery residents showed unanimous support for ongoing development and mandatory participation in the wellness curriculum. The majority preferred quarterly “wellness half-days” as a mandatory component, citing reasons such as ease of explanation to faculty, guilt around leaving shifts, […]
Key ERAS Recommendations Predict Surgical Outcomes in Multi-Institutional US Study
Compliance to the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocol significantly impacts surgical outcomes in the United States, with certain recommendations showing more predictive value than others. Early Foley catheter removal, limited nasogastric tube use, oral carbohydrates, and patient education are associated with improved recovery and reduced complications in specific surgeries. Future research should validate these […]
Last day of hospital stay has minimal impact on total charges for surgical patients
Reducing post-operative length of stay for surgical patients may not have a significant impact on cost savings, as the last day of stay contributes only a small portion to total charges. Costs are primarily concentrated on the day of surgery, emphasizing the need for cost containment efforts during the perioperative period. Journal Article by Hashmi […]
Heterogeneity of Postoperative Delirium: Preoperative Screening Inadequate for Hallucinatory Risk
This exploratory study on postoperative delirium in elective cancer surgery found that preoperative cognitive screening tools like the Mini-Cog and Geriatric-8 (G8) scores cannot detect hallucinatory delirium risk. Among patients who developed delirium, those with hallucinations had higher cognitive function and less frailty, indicating a subgroup not identified by conventional screening. Journal Article by Yajima […]
Flagship Hospitals Show Lower Mortality Rates Than Affiliate Hospitals
Patients undergoing inpatient general surgery at flagship system hospitals and flagship hospitals had lower 30-day mortality rates compared to control patients, while patients at flagship hospital affiliates had similar mortality rates to controls. Flagship hospitals also had lower mortality rates than affiliate hospitals, suggesting that flagship system affiliation alone does not guarantee better surgical outcomes. […]
Preoperative History and Physical Update Visits: Minimal Impact on Operative Management
Researchers evaluated the impact of preoperative history and physical update visits on 8,683 patients across different surgical specialties in 2019. They found that the majority of documented changes were in histories, with minimal impact on physical exams and operative plans. 99.2% of visits were suitable for telehealth, suggesting a potential alternative to in-person visits. The […]
Common Colorectal Procedures Can Be Safely Performed Using the Hugo™ RAS System with No Prior Robotic Surgery Experience
Colorectal procedures were successfully performed using the Hugo™ RAS system by a team inexperienced in robotic surgery after intensive training. Ten patients underwent procedures with no conversions, technical difficulties, or postoperative morbidity. Median total operative time was 185 minutes, and median docking time was 14 minutes. Hospital stays ranged from 2 to 4 days, and […]
Importance of Competitive Surgeon Compensation in Academic Medicine
Competitive surgeon compensation is crucial for successful faculty recruitment and retention in academic medicine. An optimal compensation system should support patient care, encourage teamwork, recruit and retain faculty, and be viewed as fair and transparent. Ensuring compensation remains a background issue for academic surgeons requires leadership emphasis. Compensation plans can influence behaviors and contributions, making […]