The National Cancer Database now offers improved, timely data critical for surgeons to make informed decisions. The NCDB captures data from over 55 million records across 1,413 hospitals, enhancing breadth and relevance. Embargo periods for survival data have decreased from 5 years to 3 years, improving the speed of access to vital information. Timely, relevant […]

High-fidelity trauma simulation significantly boosts communication and teamwork among surgical teams, impacting patient safety and outcomes. Confidence in communication improved from 3.67 to 4.51 (p < .001) across two scenarios. 88% of participants stated simulation influenced their future communication practices, focusing on active listening and status updates. Integrating these simulations into training may enhance OR […]

A new reporting checklist improves how surgical prehabilitation studies are conducted and evaluated, enhancing outcomes for patients. The checklist has 40 items: 16 essential and 24 important for clear reporting. It covers intervention components, delivery methods, adherence, and outcomes. Adopting these standards will boost transparency in prehabilitation trials, leading to better reproducibility and clinical application. […]

This study validates a low-cost, ex vivo porcine model for surgical education with strong realism and reproducibility. Participants rated overall satisfaction at 5.0/5, with tissue quality at 4.9/5. Average harvesting and preparation times were 16.3 and 15.7 minutes, respectively. This model addresses ethical concerns and may enhance surgeon training outcomes while supporting the agri-food supply […]

A national mentorship network is addressing the significant mentorship gap for general surgery residents from marginalized backgrounds. More than one-third of surgery residents reported unmet mentorship needs; 68.2% enrolled in the program for this reason. 77.3% of residents met with their mentors, and 64.7% found them to be a good fit. This program may enhance […]

Understanding individual social drivers of health is vital for improving surgical results and addressing healthcare disparities. Among over 297,000 patients, high-risk transportation needs notably increased 30-day readmission rates across all surgical procedures. For elective surgeries, these transportation challenges also correlated with higher mortality rates. Surgeons should consider addressing these social factors during patient selection and […]

Surgeons can confidently wear scrubs or white coats without impacting patient trust. Patients showed no significant difference in trust levels between surgeons in traditional attire (mean score 2.00) and those in scrubs (mean score 2.08). Trust scores were consistent regardless of physician attire across various patient demographics. Surgeons can prioritize comfort and practicality in their […]

Surgeons can improve access safety and efficiency with a novel manometric visualization technique for Veress needle entry. Pneumoperitoneum success rates were 99% across standard-weight patients with no complications in both test groups. The modified manometric technique reduced insufflation time to 1 minute, compared to 2 minutes with traditional methods (p < 0.001). For obese patients, […]

Integrating environmental sustainability into operating room guidelines is feasible and necessary. Surgical practices significantly contribute to healthcare’s environmental impact, driven by disposables, energy use, and anesthetic emissions. A systematic review of 42 studies found the evidence quality was “very low” to “low,” yet consistent environmental threats were identified. Surgical teams should consider actionable sustainability practices […]

Rural patients prioritize access to specialized surgical care within hub-and-spoke cancer networks. 53% of patients prefer a specialist surgeon and are willing to travel for a high-volume team. 39% prefer in-person visits, while 8% want to limit travel for their care. Surgeons should tailor services to align with these patient preferences for better outcomes. Four […]