Nearly 30% of patients seek non-local care for urgent/emergent surgery. Counties with the lowest hospital treatment rates performed 15% fewer surgeries per admission. Surgical outcomes may hinge more on local practices than workforce numbers. Regions with low surgery rates saw a 17% increase in non-local urgent care utilization. Journal Article by Abid M, Holmes GM […]

Evaluating liver toxicity from oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) can enhance surgical decision-making for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Significant increases in splenic volume and hepatic parenchyma variability were observed post-chemotherapy (p < 0.001). Low liver attenuation and heterogeneous enhancement pre-surgery were linked to severe postoperative complications (p < 0.001). This study underscores the importance of preoperative imaging […]

Tranexamic acid significantly reduces blood loss and transfusion needs during cancer surgeries, which can improve patient outcomes. In 16 trials with 1,830 patients, TXA cut total, intraoperative, and postoperative blood loss compared to control. It lowered intraoperative blood component need and perioperative red blood cell transfusions. TXA may also modestly reduce operative time without increasing […]

In surgery, unclear team roles amid rising demands can lead to poor learning, burnout, and patient safety risks. Role ambiguity during high case volumes disrupts teamwork and learning, impacting both residents and advanced practice providers. Increased cognitive load and diminished educational opportunities are evident when residents face unclear responsibilities. Addressing these systemic issues can enhance […]

Surgeons face significant burnout, and this review evaluates intervention effectiveness to combat it. 44 studies examined various strategies, including organizational changes and individual support methods like mentorship and mindfulness. Improvements in burnout scores were noted; however, many lacked statistical significance, raising concerns about their reliability. Ongoing research is crucial to develop effective solutions in a […]

Surgeons should be aware that burnout among childbearing colleagues is linked to increased obstetric complications and unsafe working conditions. 55% of childbearing surgeons reported burnout, which is significantly higher than the general population. Burnout risks include lack of workplace support (OR 2.10), major pregnancy complications (OR 1.59), and prolonged standing during pregnancy (OR 1.52). This […]

Surgeons perceive anesthesiologists as lacking ownership and dedication to patient care. Anesthesiologists feel surgeons overlook their expertise and sometimes prioritize procedural goals over patient safety. Awareness of these perceptions can enhance collaboration and improve surgical outcomes. Both groups value professionalism but emphasize different traits: surgeons focus on engagement; anesthesiologists stress respect. Journal Article by Cooper […]

Patients who bypass their nearest surgical hospitals for urgent procedures may face worse clinical outcomes. Bypass is linked to higher odds of disease progression (adjusted odds ratio 1.22). Complications increase by 12% (aor 1.12) and length of stay by 20% (aor 1.20) for bypass patients. Understanding these risks is essential for optimizing patient selection and […]

Postoperative undertriage of high-acuity patients leads to higher rates of do-not-resuscitate orders and respiratory failure. Patients on standard floors had a 7.2% transition to DNR status versus 2.8% in ICU. Unplanned intubation rates were 12.1% in undertriaged patients compared to 7.1% in ICU counterparts. Surgeons should prioritize optimal triage to prevent adverse outcomes and facilitate […]

Surgeon-scientist representation in surgical research is declining, reshaping the landscape of surgical innovation. NIH surgery funding rose 53% from $352M to $539M, but the total number of grants remained stable. MD-only principal investigators dropped from 48.9% to 40.8%, while MD-PhD investigators increased from 15.2% to 24.9%. A growing disconnect is noted; 93.2% of MD principal […]