This study reveals a stark lack of diversity among academic surgical leaders in the United States. Although the medical community recognizes the importance of diversity, surgical department chairs, vice chairs, and division chiefs remain predominantly male and underrepresented by racial and ethnic minorities. Notably, leadership roles associated with diversity and faculty development show greater female […]
Category: General Surgery
Neoadjuvant Imatinib Enhances Resection in Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)
Neoadjuvant imatinib, a treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), effectively and safely decreases tumor size, enabling less extensive surgery with a higher rate of complete resection. Among 108 GIST patients, 88% experienced reduced tumor size. Those with specific genetic mutations predicted a positive response to imatinib. Surgical complications occurred in 15% of cases, but 89% […]
Systemic Chemotherapy’s Impact in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases Patients Undergoing CRS-HIPEC
In patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRC-PM) treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC), systemic chemotherapy (SC) did not significantly enhance overall survival (OS). However, the timing of SC made a difference. Preoperative SC correlated with more major complications and shorter disease-free intervals, while postoperative SC resulted in longer disease-free intervals. The study […]
Ultrasound-Guided Lithotripsy: A Game Changer for Common Bile Duct Stones
Researchers compared treatments for common bile duct (CBD) stones, and ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) stood out. PTCSL outperformed laparoscopic exploration, with better perioperative outcomes and fewer complications. It also beat endoscopic treatment with fewer instances of pancreatitis, reflux esophagitis, and papillary stenosis. Additionally, the study identified gallstones and family history as independent risk […]
No Negative Impact: Aberrant Right Hepatic Artery in Pancreaticoduodenectomy
A systematic review and meta-analysis explored whether the presence of an aberrant right hepatic artery (A-RHA) influences outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Results indicate that A-RHA doesn’t significantly affect critical endpoints, such as tumor margin (R1) rate, overall survival, morbidity, mortality, and biliary fistula rate. Additionally, non-critical outcomes like postoperative pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, post-pancreatectomy […]
Revolutionizing Gastric Cancer Care: Multimodal Prehabilitation for Frail Elderly Patients
Gastric cancer in elderly folks is a global health concern, as it often leads to post-op complications and poor outcomes due to frailty. This innovative study presents a plan: a multimodal prehabilitation combined with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). They’re putting 368 patients through the paces, focusing on nutrition, fitness, and mental health before gastrectomy. […]
Game-Changing Prognostic Models Unveiled for Gastrointestinal Melanoma
In a data-driven investigation involving 991 primary gastrointestinal melanoma patients, researchers constructed reliable prognostic models for predicting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). These models incorporated key factors like age, disease stage, lymph node density, and surgery. Rigorous testing confirmed their effectiveness, making them valuable tools for assessing the prognosis of primary gastrointestinal melanoma […]
MRI Scoring Sheds Light on Post-Op Anorectal Function in Rectal Cancer
In a two-center study, researchers established a postoperative MRI-based scoring system for fibrosis in locally advanced rectal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). They found a positive correlation between anastomotic and perirectal fibrosis scores (AFS and PFS) and anorectal function, measured using the Wexner score. Age, tumor height, AFS, and PFS were identified as […]
Consensus-Based Prioritization of Simulation Procedures for General Surgery Trainee Assessment
This study aimed to create a ranked list of surgical procedures for high-stakes simulation assessments in general surgery training. Using a Delphi consensus approach, a diverse group of 30 surgical trainers and a steering committee evaluated procedures based on perceived importance, risk, frequency, and feasibility. The study produced prioritized lists for two key training stages: […]
Elective Hernia Repair Boosts Life Expectancy for Asymptomatic Paraesophageal Hernia Patients
This study reevaluated the best approach for asymptomatic paraesophageal hernia (PEH) patients: elective laparoscopic hernia repair (ELHR) or watchful waiting (WW). The conventional wisdom, based on older analyses, favored WW. However, updated research shows that ELHR leads to increased life expectancy, especially for women aged 40-90. Sensitivity and probabilistic analyses supported this shift, indicating that […]