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Best Papers in General Surgery
The five that matter, every day.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
A decline in surgical resident autonomy is evident, with data revealing a drop from 12.5% to 3.7% in independent surgeries from 2004 to 2019. Contrary to concerns, there's no proof that resident autonomy negatively impacts outcomes. This viewpoint advocates for preserving and enhancing resident autonomy…
Early-career surgeons often grapple with practice development hurdles, contributing to high burnout rates and attrition. A study across five academic medical centers found that both men and women surgeons face barriers like competition and resource allocation. However, women surgeons additionally confront gender-based discrimination, unequal referrals,…
