Researchers conducted a multicenter international study on overweight patients, exploring the effectiveness and safety of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) as an early intervention against obesity. The results, involving 189 patients, revealed that ESG is safe and effective in treating overweight individuals, with a significant rate of BMI normalization. ESG shows promise as a tool to […]
Category: General Surgery
Irreversible Electroporation for Pancreatic Cancer: A Safer Alternative
A multi-institutional analysis of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer revealed that irreversible electroporation (IRE), a novel treatment, resulted in a lower rate of adverse events (25%) compared to pancreatectomy (39%) for early-stage disease. IRE patients had a greater risk of severe complications when they received high-dose neoadjuvant radiation, had electrodes close to vital blood […]
Simulation in Residency Transition Programs Lacks Emphasis on Non-Clinical Skills
Transition to residency programs often incorporate simulation to enhance clinical skills but tend to overlook non-clinical skills. In a scoping review of 38 articles, researchers found that simulation activities, such as mock paging and procedural skills training, primarily focused on clinical aspects. The most common simulation tools were standardized patients. While communication skills, critical thinking, […]
Balanced Blood Transfusions Improve Survival in Trauma Patients
A retrospective analysis of trauma patients receiving blood transfusions aimed to validate findings from a previous study on transfusion outcomes. Researchers analyzed 17,047 patients and found that mortality increased with each unit of packed red blood cells transfused, with a higher likelihood of death at 11 units. Notably, patients receiving balanced transfusions had better survival […]
Decline in Surgery for Advanced Rectal Cancer Raises Concerns About Guideline Adherence
A study using the National Cancer Database analyzed trends in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancers. Researchers found that despite the traditional treatment approach involving surgery, there was a concerning decrease in the number of patients undergoing surgery, along with a rise in patients declining surgery. Several factors associated with forgoing surgery included older […]
Endoscopic Quality Assurance in Greenland: Positive Results from Surgical Coastal Expeditions
Surgical coastal expeditions (SCEs) brought endoscopic services to small coastal hospitals in Greenland, aiming to increase patient accessibility and reduce transport costs. A review of 89 endoscopies during two SCEs revealed satisfactory cecal intubation rates, adenoma detection rates, and advanced adenoma detection rates. However, attention to bowel preparation was needed, considering Greenland’s specific eating habits. […]
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act Falls Short in Improving Surgical Outcomes for Non-English Speakers
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which mandated the use of qualified language interpreters, had an unintended impact. A study analyzing surgical outcomes in non-English primary language speakers (N-EPL) found that after Section 1557’s implementation, N-EPL patients experienced increased mortality, post-operative complications, and non-routine discharges. Contrary to expectations, the regulation did not lead to […]
Age No Barrier to Oesophagogastric Resection Success
Researchers explored the impact of age on post-operative outcomes for patients undergoing resection for oesophageal and gastric cancer. They analyzed data from a cohort of 466 patients over nearly two decades. Patients over 75 faced slightly higher post-operative complications, primarily cardiac or thromboembolic issues, when undergoing oesophagectomy, but no significant difference in outcomes was observed […]
Enhancing Surgical Ward Rounds: Checklists and More
A systematic review delved into strategies to improve surgical ward rounds. Checklists, technology, personnel, and well-being interventions were among the methods studied. Checklists were the most prevalent and demonstrated significant enhancements in documentation, staff understanding, and patient satisfaction. Other interventions also improved communication, patient safety, and reduced patient stress. The findings highlight the potential of […]
Bariatric Surgery’s Varied Impact on Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk
In a study using U.S. National Inpatient Sample data from 2016 to 2020, researchers delved into the connection between bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS) and hospital admissions for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. They found that BMS was linked to a higher risk of gastric and pancreatic cancer hospital admissions but a lower risk of colorectal and liver […]
