Surgeons exhibit substantial variability in their skills, directly impacting patient outcomes. Despite limited efforts to enhance surgical skills, the potential lies in surgical coaching programs. This article discusses the promise of such programs, challenges faced in their development, and lessons learned from existing initiatives like the Wisconsin Surgical Coaching Program, SCOPE, MBSC, and ISQIC. While […]
Category: Perspectives, Opinions and Curiosities
Variation in the Definition of ‘Failure to Rescue’ Limits Comparisons in Postoperative Studies
Researchers conducted a systematic review and analyzed 359 studies involving 212,048,069 patients to examine the variation in the definition of ‘failure to rescue’ from postoperative complications. They found that there was a wide range of complications included in the failure to rescue denominator, with a median of 10 complications per study. Studies that included more […]
Endoscopy Training Trends Among General Surgery Residents in the United States
The study analyzed operative case logs of general surgery residents in the United States from 2010 to 2023. It found that the mean overall endoscopy procedures per resident remained stable during this period, with the majority performed by surgeon juniors. Colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were the most common procedures, with a stable volume for colonoscopy and […]
General Surgery Textbooks Lack Thorough Understanding of Racial Disparities in Healthcare
General surgery textbooks lack thorough understanding of racial disparities in healthcare, potentially contributing to inequities experienced by minority patients. A study analyzed 13 textbooks and found that the majority of passages discussing medical differences among racial/ethnic groups did not address systemic causes or the role of racism. Only a small percentage of passages indicated that […]
Surgeon Well-Being Impacted by Home Call: Loss of Sleep and Burnout Results
Home call for acute care surgeons was found to have detrimental effects on sleep and burnout, even without receiving calls or returning to the hospital. A study involving 224 surgeons wearing tracking devices and completing daily surveys revealed that home call without calls resulted in 3 minutes of sleep loss, while home call with calls […]
Insufficient Evidence for the Beneficial Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Surgical Outcomes
After systematically reviewing 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1982 surgical patients, researchers found insufficient evidence to support the use of vitamin D supplementation in improving overall survival or postoperative mortality rates. The studies varied in patient conditions, surgical procedures, and dosages of vitamin D administered. Furthermore, there was no clear evidence suggesting any benefits in […]
Examining Surgical Team Member Adaptation to Uncertainty Using the Operating Room Black Box
Results from this observational study using the Operating Room Black Box demonstrated how surgical team members adapt their teamwork skills during instances of uncertainty, specifically when dealing with intraoperative adverse events (IAEs). Nurses exhibited increased backup behavior skills during IAEs, while surgeons and medical trainees expressed more psychological safety skills. However, all roles exhibited fewer […]
Emerging Trends and Collaborations in Research on Surgical Smoke
Knowledge mapping of surgical smoke from 2003 to 2022 was conducted through a bibliometric analysis. The study identified a growing interest in surgical smoke research, with a notable surge in publications in 2020. The journal Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques was the most active in this field. The USA, Italy, and China emerged as […]
Compromised Intestinal Integrity is Associated with Increased Postoperative Complications in Cancer Patients
In this study, it was found that compromised intestinal integrity during oncologic surgery is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications in cancer patients. The gut wall becomes more permeable due to splanchnic hypoperfusion, allowing intraluminal microbes to enter the splanchnic circulation and potentially contribute to complications. Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (i-fabp) was […]
Entrustable Professional Activities in General Surgery Residency: Validity and Correlations with Milestones
Results from a national pilot study conducted at 28 general surgery programs revealed a moderate to strong positive correlation between entrustable professional activities (EPAs) and milestone subcompetencies. EPAs related to specific surgical procedures showed similar correlation values, while EPAs focusing on diagnosis and communication had higher correlations. Patient care, medical knowledge, and communication milestones were […]