Researchers sought to identify the factors contributing to in-hospital mortality (IHM) after complex cancer surgery. They analyzed data from 52,838 patients across 294 hospitals and found that patient characteristics (PCS) had the largest influence on IHM, accounting for 32% of the variance. Case volume (CV) contributed 2.4%, hospital characteristics (HCS) contributed 1.3%, and social determinants […]

The economic burden associated with unmet surgical needs in Liberia was investigated through a nationwide enumeration of surgical procedures and providers. Researchers estimated that surgical activities prevented an economic loss ranging from $35 to $141 million in 2018, averting a total of 55,890 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Non-specialist physicians played a significant role in generating […]

Researchers conducted a systematic review on the feasibility of using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker in the immediate postoperative period. Eight cohort studies across six different cancer types showed that patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery had an increased risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that early postoperative time points could be used […]

Researchers conducted a study to determine if faculty perception aligned with resident self-perception of intraoperative behaviors in order to enhance intraoperative learning. They found that faculty were not able to accurately perceive residents’ motivational style, as evidenced by the lack of correlation between resident self-perception and faculty perception of resident behavior in eight out of […]

Over a 10-year period, researchers assessed the utilization of acute laparoscopic surgery for common general surgical conditions in New Zealand. The study found that laparoscopic appendicectomy, cholecystectomy, adhesiolysis, and inguinal hernia repair significantly increased, with the highest rise observed in appendicectomy and adhesiolysis. Laparoscopic surgery cohorts had shorter hospital stays and lower costs compared to […]

Researchers analyzed 936 open-text responses from bereaved families to explore their experiences with end-of-life care after surgery. The results revealed a belief in unnecessary pain and distrust in treatment decisions among respondents. Limited communication about disease severity and surgical risks led to conflicting narratives about the cause of death. Families expressed feelings of disempowerment when […]

A pilot study examined the effectiveness of video-based self-assessment in enhancing surgical skills of general surgery trainees performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Trainees in the intervention group, who had access to video recordings of their surgeries for self-assessment, showed improved operative performance compared to the control group that received traditional teaching alone. Feasibility criteria were not fully […]

Offering small financial incentives to smokers on surgery wait-lists was not found to significantly increase smoking cessation before surgery, according to a randomised feasibility trial at an Australian public hospital. Of the 620 participants, 21.9% registered to quit when offered a $a70 supermarket voucher, increasing to 32.6% with a $a140 incentive. However, the proportion of […]

The analysis of general surgery trainee cases over a decade revealed that there was a preservation of operative volume, although with changes in case distribution based on trainee level. There was an increase in cases with more than one trainee and a rise in minimally invasive surgery, accompanied by a decrease in open cases. These […]