The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as an alternative to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for extended thromboprophylaxis after major abdominal/pelvic cancer surgery is effective and safe. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies, including 2651 patients, found that DOACs had a similar incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to LMWH. These findings suggest that […]
Category: Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities
Surgeon-Scientists in the US: Increasing in Number, Grant Costs, and Gender Diversity
The study reveals that the number of surgeon-scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US has increased, with a higher proportion engaged in basic science research rather than clinical research. In fiscal year 2022, 1,324 surgeon-scientists were awarded $1.3 billion in grants, and the percentage of female surgeon principal investigators (PIs) […]
Effect of Intraoperative Music on Surgeon Stress
Researchers conducted a pilot study to determine the impact of background music on stress levels in surgeons during operations. The study involved five primary operators performing 74 elective surgeries while listening to selected music or working in a non-music environment. The protocol was well-tolerated, with no cases being abandoned. However, the presence of intraoperative music […]
Low Frequency of Early Robotic Surgery Training Found in Surgical and Surgical Subspecialty Residency
Findings from a study on early implementation of robotic training in surgical and surgical subspecialty residencies show that only 9.4% of participants had any formal robotic surgery training prior to the training session, with just 19% reporting robotic operative experience. A standardized introduction of multidisciplinary robotic surgery training is needed in medical school and early […]
Low-volume Ambulatory Surgery Centers Linked to Higher Revisit Rates, especially for Multimorbid Patients
The study assessed the association between surgical volume and patient outcomes in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). It found that patients who had surgery at low-volume ASCs had a higher odds of revisiting within 7 days compared to those at higher-volume ASCs. This association was more pronounced among patients with multimorbidity, particularly those undergoing orthopedic procedures. […]
Non-Thermal Plasma accelerates wound healing in abdominal surgeries
Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) therapy was evaluated as a method to speed up wound healing in patients who underwent laparoscopic and open abdominal surgeries. Researchers used a needle-type reactor with an irradiance of 0.5 w/cm² to apply NTP. The pilot study showed promising results, indicating that NTP therapy can be efficacious and safe in enhancing recovery […]
Mindfulness-Based Interventions Improve Well-being and Performance in Surgeons
A scoping review of 24 studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for surgeons found that MBIs are feasible in surgical contexts and can increase mindfulness, improve well-being (including burnout and psychological measures of stress), and enhance performance in terms of executive function, surgical skills, and communication skills. The conclusions are supported by psychometric measures, observations of […]
Surgical Sabermetrics Can Enhance Non-Technical Skills in the Operating Room
Researchers conducted a scoping review to evaluate the evidence for surgical sabermetrics, which refers to digital methods of assessing surgical non-technical skills. From a total of 19,229 articles, 81 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies utilized 122 distinct objective, digital metrics to assess various non-technical skills, such as cognitive load, situation awareness, communication, teamwork, […]
Provider Perspectives on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Frail Surgical Patients
Surgeons, anesthesiologists, and geriatricians hold differing views on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for frail surgical patients. While judgment on CPR appropriateness depends on multiple factors including patient goals, comorbidities, and arrest cause, moral distress can arise from performing resuscitation in such patients. The study also highlights biases like ableism and ageism affecting clinicians’ perspectives and emphasizes […]
Judgement Errors and Patient Outcomes in Surgery
Researchers examined the impact of judgement errors on surgical patient care using data from a single institution’s national surgery quality improvement program. They found that 18% of surgical patients who experienced morbidity or mortality had an error in judgement during their hospitalization. Patients with specific preoperative variables, such as hepatobiliary procedures, insulin dependent diabetes, severe […]