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AI model accurately assesses surgical skills in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

An AI-based surgical phase recognition model achieved 82.3% accuracy in assessing the skill levels of surgeons performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Novice surgeons demonstrated significantly longer dissection times compared to experts, with similar patterns observed in clipping and cutting tasks. The model proved effective in categorizing surgical proficiency, identifying key metrics such as phase duration and confidence scores. These findings suggest potential enhancements to surgical education and outcomes through the adoption of automated assessments.

Journal Article by Yanagida Y, Takenaka S (…) Ito M et 9 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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Operative treatment improves outcomes for acute cholecystitis in pregnancy

A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies involving 45,883 pregnant women found that operative treatment of acute cholecystitis significantly reduces adverse pregnancy outcomes and hospital stay length compared to nonoperative approaches. Specifically, the odds of negative outcomes were reduced by 40%, and the average hospital stay decreased by over seven days. Importantly, while maternal mortality, pregnancy loss, and preterm delivery rates were similar across both treatment options, operative treatment showed potential advantages in certain conditions.

Review by Martins MAB, Meine GC (…) Mazzola Poli de Figueiredo S et 3 al. in Surg Endosc

© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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Preoperative von Willebrand factor predicts liver failure risk.

Combining preoperative von Willebrand factor antigen (vwf-ag) with existing liver function assessments significantly enhances prediction of posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). An analysis of 534 patients from the Mayo Clinic revealed that vwf-ag is an independent predictor of PHLF grade B/C. Utilizing two cutoff values, the positive predictive value improved to 27.9%. This model was validated with an independent cohort, showing a superior predictive power for PHLF risk assessment that could inform clinical decision-making.

Journal Article by Dong Y, Gregory LA (…) Starlinger PP et 11 al. in Liver Transpl

Copyright © 2025 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

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Modified blumgart anastomosis decreases pancreatic fistula rates

A novel modified blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy technique significantly reduces the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (cr-popf) after pancreaticoduodenectomy. In a study involving patients from January 2020 to December 2024, cr-popf occurred in 6.4% of those undergoing the m-bpj approach compared to 15.6% in the conventional group. This technique, featuring an anchoring method and omental reinforcement, enhances surgical efficiency and supports safer reconstruction in high-risk patients, ultimately improving postoperative recovery.

Journal Article by Ye L, Jian Z (…) Yu Y et 7 al. in Front Surg

© 2025 Ye, Jian, Yue, Weng, Mo, Li, Li, Shi, Zhou and Yu.

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AI Enhances Prognostic Assessments in Resected Pancreatic Cancer

AI-powered spatial analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) shows promise for prognostic assessment. Among 304 patients, those with an immune-inflamed phenotype demonstrated significantly longer overall and recurrence-free survival compared to other immune profiles. High intratumoral TIL density correlated with extended overall survival (median 52.47 months). The study suggests that AI can streamline TIL assessment processes, making it a valuable tool in predicting outcomes for PDAC patients.

Journal Article by Kim H, Choi JH (…) Park JK et 21 al. in JAMA Surg

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Psychological and sleep interventions enhance recovery in gastric cancer patients

A study involving 198 postoperative gastric cancer patients reveals a structured psychological and sleep enhancement program significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and perceived stress while improving sleep quality. After three months, immune function and inflammatory markers also showed notable improvements. Patients in the intervention group experienced better disease-free survival rates (81.2% vs. 68.5%) and overall survival rates (88.5% vs. 76.7%), underscoring the interventions’ effectiveness in promoting mental well-being and optimizing health outcomes in this population.

Journal Article by Wang G and Pan S in Ann Surg Oncol

© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.

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High-fidelity simulation improves surgical trainees’ confidence in trauma procedures

A new high-fidelity simulation model, known as OS3, significantly boosts surgical trainees’ confidence and skills in managing vascular trauma. Analysis of surveys from 183 participants revealed that increasing postgraduate years correlated with higher self-assessments of knowledge and skills. Despite this, many trainees reported difficulties with critical vascular procedures, emphasizing the utility of the OS3 curriculum in addressing these gaps. The simulation effectively enhanced confidence in a range of surgical techniques essential for trauma care.

Journal Article by Chernetskii N, Chao E (…) Klein MJ et 2 al. in J Surg Res

Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Novel surgical technique preserves ghrelin secretion in gastric cancer

A new surgical approach, super subtotal gastrectomy (SSTG), effectively preserves the fornix, a vital site for ghrelin secretion, in patients with upper-third gastric cancer. This innovative technique minimizes the typical impacts on appetite and weight loss associated with traditional proximal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy. In the SSTG group, procedures averaged 333 minutes with minimal blood loss and no serious complications, demonstrating a significant advancement in treatment options near the esophagogastric junction.

Journal Article by Fujita K, Sagawa H (…) Takiguchi S et 2 al. in Ann Gastroenterol Surg

© 2025 The Author(s). Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery.

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New deep learning models excel in organ donation image segmentation

Deep learning models, detectron2 and yolov8, significantly improved automated segmentation in organ donation photography, achieving internal validation Intersection over Union (IoU) scores of 0.93 and 0.94 for kidneys, and 0.97 for livers. Compared to traditional methods, which peaked at IoU 0.54, these new models demonstrated superiority in accuracy and speed, completing tasks in just 0.13-1.5 seconds per image. This advancement could transform surgical photography practices.

Journal Article by Kourounis G, Elmahmudi AA (…) Wilson C et 12 al. in Innov Surg Sci

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Smoking increases surgical site infection risk in trauma patients

A significant association between smoking and surgical site infections (SSI) was identified in trauma patients, with 24.3% of those studied being smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers had higher SSI rates (0.9% vs. 0.7%) and an increased risk persisted even after controlling for confounding factors. The strongest correlation was observed in patients with severe trauma. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted counseling and possible interventions to reduce infection risks for this vulnerable population.

Journal Article by Lee C, Grigorian A (…) Nahmias J et 5 al. in J Surg Res

Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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