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High-Volume Endocrine Surgeons Achieve Cost-Effective Thyroid Surgery

A study exploring healthcare cost-efficiency in thyroid surgeries found that high-volume endocrine surgeons, performing over 50 cases annually, managed thyroidectomies at significantly lower costs compared to their low-volume counterparts. The cost reduction was even more pronounced when cases were categorized by relative value units, demonstrating that experienced surgeons can deliver cost-effective care without compromising quality. This finding supports the potential for healthcare systems to improve value-based care by harnessing the expertise of high-volume surgeons.

Journal Article by Romero-Velez G, Noureldine SI, Burneikis T and Siperstein A in BMC Surg

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Robotic Surgery May Reduce Complications for Minority Patients in Colon Cancer Resection

In a study analyzing over 64,000 patients undergoing elective colon cancer resection, it was found that robotic colectomy led to fewer complications in minority patients compared to laparoscopic colectomy. After adjusting for various factors, there were no significant differences in mortality based on surgical approach or race. However, Black patients who had laparoscopic surgery experienced higher complication rates compared to their white counterparts who underwent the same procedure, as well as those who had robotic surgery. Further research is needed to understand the reasons behind these disparities.

Journal Article by Ahuja V, Paredes LG (…) King JT et 4 al. in Am J Surg

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Referrals to Non-Surgical Providers Delay Treatment for Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis

Researchers investigated if referrals to non-surgical providers, following the initial presentation of symptomatic cholelithiasis, lead to delays in surgical management. Their study included 482 patients who had cholecystectomies from 2015 to 2019. Among these patients, 61.2% received direct surgical referrals, while 38.8% were referred to non-surgical providers. The latter group experienced significantly longer delays from initial symptom presentation to surgical evaluation (65.7 days vs. 10.3 days) and cholecystectomy (102.0 days vs. 39.1 days). These delays impact patient symptoms and healthcare resource use.

Journal Article by Cook LB, Gunasingha MRMKD (…) Gosztyla LC et 3 al. in Am J Surg

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Gender Bias in Surgical Equipment: A Barrier to Women Surgeons

This study delves into the challenges faced by women surgeons due to an androcentric bias in surgical equipment. Surveys were distributed to female surgeons in North America and Australasia. Out of 480 respondents, 453 were surgeons. A significant number (89%) reported difficulties in using surgical instruments related to size, while 71% struggled with required grip strength. An astounding 112 different tools were identified as problematic. These findings underline a need for addressing androcentric bias to promote equity for women in surgery.

Journal Article by Koo YE, Allen C, Ballantyne A and Yassaie E in Am J Surg

Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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