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Improving Resident Feedback in General Surgery Training

Increasing real-time feedback through entrustable professional activities (EPAs) enhances resident satisfaction during training.

  • 74.4% of residents reported receiving at least one EPA microassessment per rotation.
  • Satisfaction with feedback was significantly higher with more frequent EPA microassessments (p<0.001).
  • On their worst rotations, satisfaction improved from 42% to over 50% when at least one EPA assessment was provided.

Incorporating EPAs can bridge feedback gaps and boost resident engagement.

Journal Article by Diaconescu A, White E (…) Lindeman B et 7 al. in J Am Coll Surg

Copyright © 2026 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Innovative Approach to SMA Dissection in Laparoscopic Surgery

A new in situ anterior technique for dissecting the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy improves outcomes.

  • Operative time averaged 340 minutes with a blood loss of 200 ml.
  • Patient had no complications, including pancreatic fistula, and was discharged on postoperative day 8.

This technique minimizes tension on mesenteric vessels, reducing the risk of accidental bleeding.

  • Histological results confirmed poorly-differentiated biliary adenocarcinoma without lymph node involvement.

Journal Article by Li JA, Lu X (…) Zhang L et 3 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2026. The Author(s).

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Surgical oncology training evolves to meet diverse needs

Recent survey shows how surgical oncology fellowship prepares graduates for varied practices with implications for patient selection and training focus.

  • Post-2013 graduates feel better equipped for peritoneal surface and gynecologic cancers and robotic surgery.
  • Pre-2013 graduates reported greater readiness for melanoma and thoracic cases.

Consider emphasizing advanced training for emerging areas like robotic techniques and specific malignancies.

  • 36% of respondents focus more than half of their time on one disease site, highlighting the need for tailored training approaches.

Journal Article by Scott A, Nguyen A (…) Lai LL et 5 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2026. The Author(s).

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Robotic Esophagectomy Cuts Nerve Palsy Risk, Outcomes Similar

Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) shows lower nerve injury rates compared to conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer.

  • RAMIE had an operative time of 629 minutes vs. 574 minutes for MIE (p < 0.01).
  • Incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy was 22% with RAMIE vs. 34% with MIE (p = 0.02).

Both techniques yielded similar long-term survival rates (3-year: RAMIE 77% vs. MIE 74%; 5-year: both 66%).

  • Morbidity was slightly lower with RAMIE (18% grade ≥ III vs. 23%) without significant differences in blood loss or in-hospital mortality.

Journal Article by Tsunoda S, Hosogi H (…) Obama K et 10 al. in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2026. The Author(s).

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Robotic Single-Port Right Hepatectomy Shows Promise

Surgeons can safely perform robotic single-port right hepatectomy, offering a minimally invasive option for complex liver resections.

  • The procedure took 241 minutes with minimal blood loss (100 ml) and no transfusions.
  • The patient had negative resection margins and was discharged on postoperative day 7 without complications.

This technique demonstrates feasibility and safety, suggesting it may lead to better outcomes as surgeons gain experience.

  • Despite limitations, such as restricted working space, the ergonomic benefits could encourage wider use in appropriate cases.

Journal Article by Jang EJ and Kim KW in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2026. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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Phenotype-Specific Insights on Mortality After Pancreatoduodenectomy

The T-MOD PD framework identifies preventable mortality opportunities after pancreatoduodenectomy, crucial for improving surgical outcomes.

  • 57% of deaths linked to postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), with 38% occurring in an early, surgery-related, modifiable context.
  • 74% of deaths classified as surgery-attributable potentially preventable.

Surgeons can target interventions based on identified phenotypes to enhance patient safety and outcomes.

  • Median 72-hour delays in recognizing complications suggest significant opportunities for earlier intervention.

Journal Article by Parray AM, Shah N (…) Shrikhande SV et 6 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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International Benchmarks set for Robotic Whipple Surgery

Robotic Whipple surgery shows promising outcomes, establishing benchmarks vital for surgical practice.

  • Conversion rate ≤4.3%, transfusion rate ≤2.1%, and 6-month mortality ≤2.2%.
  • Major complications capped at ≤23.2%, with clinically relevant pancreatic fistula and hemorrhage rates ≤23.6% and ≤12.7%, respectively.

These benchmarks can guide patient selection and enhance surgical quality.

  • Higher caseload centers reported fewer pancreas-specific complications, highlighting the importance of surgical volume.

Journal Article by Pfister M, Li Z (…) Clavien PA et 37 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Genetic and Lifestyle Factors Elevate Diverticulitis Risk

Surgeons should consider genetic and lifestyle factors to better stratify severe diverticulitis risk and optimize patient selection.

  • High-risk individuals, based on polygenic and lifestyle scores, had a hazard ratio of 4.71 for severe diverticulitis, with a cumulative incidence of 3.50% versus 0.75% in lower-risk patients.
  • The combined effects of genetic and lifestyle risks surpassed the influence of either alone.

Personalized risk profiles can enhance discussions about operative interventions.

Journal Article by Ueland TE, Shelley JP (…) Hawkins AT et 6 al. in J Am Coll Surg

Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Surgeons.

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Laparoscopic Antireflux Surgery Outperforms Robotic Approach

Robotic-assisted antireflux surgery shows less cost-effectiveness compared to laparoscopic methods.

  • Robotic surgery costs significantly more: $15,676 vs. $7,694.
  • Operating room time is longer with robotic surgery (169 min vs. 128 min).

Surgeons should reconsider the use of robotic techniques for antireflux surgery due to higher costs and similar outcomes.

  • Intraoperative complications were slightly higher with robotic surgery (5.8% vs. 1.4%).
  • Endoscopic interventions were more common post-robotic surgery (89% vs. 43%).

Journal Article by Latorre-Rodríguez AR, Vittori A, Bremner RM and Mittal SK in Surg Endosc

© 2026. The Author(s).

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Emergency Colorectal Cancer Presentation in Africa: A Call for Action

Emergency presentations of colorectal cancer in Africa are variable and poorly understood, impacting surgical outcomes and patient management.

  • Reported rates of emergency presentations range from 8.3% to 64.9%.
  • Limited data on early mortality and no long-term outcome data post-surgery.

Surgeons should note the clinical signs: bowel obstruction, perforation, and peritonitis.

  • Treatment largely relies on surgery; endoscopic stenting is rare and only in South Africa.

Journal Article by Chinyowa S, Murewanhema G (…) Muguti G et 3 al. in BMJ Open

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.

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