Category: General Surgery

Quality Assessment of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Videos: Academic vs. Online Comparison

Academic laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy videos provide more detailed information on technical steps, instruments used, and patient outcomes compared to online videos. A newly developed quality assessment tool can enhance the value and reliability of educational video resources. Commercial videos on platforms like YouTube score lower in quality reporting, highlighting the importance of peer-reviewed publications in […]

Adaptation and Validation of the Brazilian Version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Severe Obesity

A study validated the Brazilian version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (BR-YFAS 2.0-OBES) for individuals with severe obesity, demonstrating its adequacy in terms of convergent validity, reliability, and one-factor structure. This adaptation allows its use among Brazilian candidates for bariatric surgery and individuals with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², facilitating assessment of food addiction in […]

Outpatient Management and Antibiotic Use in Acute Diverticulitis

Outpatient observation for acute diverticulitis (Hinchey 1a) and no antibiotics resulted in lower recurrence rates and shorter hospital stays compared to inpatient treatment and antibiotics. Recurrence, hospital admissions, and mortality rates were similar between outpatient and inpatient management. Future studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of observation-only and antibiotics-free approaches in managing uncomplicated acute […]

Impact of Routine Lymph Node Dissection on Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Patients

Therapeutic effects of routine lymph node dissection (LND) with liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) were inconclusive. However, subgroup analyses revealed a potential benefit for ICC patients with low risk of bias, suggesting a positive impact on overall survival. More studies are needed to clarify the role of LND in this patient population. Review by […]

Ultrasound as an Adjunct in Management of Women with Right Iliac Fossa Pain

Pelvic ultrasound in women with right iliac fossa pain led to 42% pathology detection, with appendicitis diagnosis in 4.8%. Ultrasound had 78% specificity for appendicitis. Preoperative imaging reduced negative appendicectomy rates to 21.3%. Results advocate for ultrasound as a useful tool alongside clinical assessment in managing these patients. Journal Article by Standing HR, Boag KF […]

Options for Expiry Dates in Surgical Equipment

Hospitals are significant contributors to global warming, with operating theatres generating 70% of hospital waste. This study explores the assignment of use-by dates to surgical equipment and the potential for reusing or re-sterilizing expired items to reduce waste. While incineration is common, alternative disposal methods, like re-processing, are emerging. Further research is needed to ensure […]

Long-Term Oncologic Outcome of Duodenum-Preserving Pancreatic Head Resection

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for benign tumors, cystic neoplasms, and neuroendocrine tumors offers a cure with fewer complications compared to pancreatoduodenectomy. The meta-analysis showed lower mortality and reoperation rates with duodenum-preserving resection. It also demonstrated comparable rates of tumor recurrence between the two procedures. This suggests duodenum-preserving resection as a viable alternative to pancreatoduodenectomy for […]

National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Consensus meeting of national experts led to national practice guidelines for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for patient management. Diagnostic and staging workup includes imaging modalities and histopathologic confirmation may not always be necessary before resection. Surgical resection based on the Bismuth-Corlette classification remains the only curative option, with adjuvant chemotherapy […]

Effectiveness of Double-Nylon Purse-String Suture in Closing Postoperative Wounds after Gastric Submucosal Tumor Resection

Double-nylon purse-string sutures effectively close wounds post-endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of large (≥ 3 cm) gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). In a retrospective analysis of 85 patients, all tumors were completely resected using EFTR, with no serious adverse events reported. This technique is valuable, especially for large EFTR wounds in SMTs, ensuring successful closure without laparoscopic […]

Standardizing Letters of Recommendation for Surgical Training Programs

Letters of recommendation are crucial for applicant selection in medical education. The shift to pass/fail USMLE scoring has increased their importance. Narratives may introduce bias and inflation. Standardized letters can address these issues. Interviews and focus groups informed the development of a new standardized letter for surgical residency applications. Researchers were also invited to revise […]