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Hyper-Realistic Surgical Simulator Enhances Trainee Surgeon Confidence in Operating on Trauma Patients

Researchers introduced a hyper-realistic surgical simulator, the cut suit, with an advanced skills package to improve trainee surgeon confidence in managing operative trauma. The study involved 123 surgery residents from six trauma centers in New York City. After the simulation, 68% of participants agreed that the simulation resembled actual surgery, and the percentage of residents reporting increased confidence in independently managing trauma patients rose by 42%. These results highlight the effectiveness of the cut suit surgical simulator as a valuable tool for training surgeons to handle complex operative trauma.

Journal Article by Chao E, Liveris A (…) Klein MJ et 9 al. in Am Surg

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Ondansetron Demonstrates Efficacy in Treating Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS)

Ondansetron, a serotonin receptor antagonist, shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for patients with Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). In a randomized study, patients who received ondansetron experienced a significant decrease in LARS severity and improvement in symptom scores compared to those who received a placebo. The study suggests that ondansetron can improve both symptoms and quality of life for individuals with LARS.

Journal Article by Popeskou SG, Roesel R (…) Christoforidis D et 5 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Liver Histology Predicts ALPPS Outcomes

Liver histology has been found to predict liver regeneration and outcome in ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy). The study analyzed the influence of histological alterations during the first and second stages of ALPPS on the liver’s ability to regenerate. A histological risk score and tumor pathology score were developed based on these alterations. The findings suggest that increased histological alterations in the liver parenchyma and the presence of poor prognostic factors in tumor histology are associated with longer time to reach the second stage of ALPPS.

Journal Article by Lopez-Lopez V, Linecker M (…) Robles-Campos R et 32 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Robotic limited liver resections show superior perioperative outcomes compared to laparoscopic limited liver resections

Robotic limited liver resections (RLLR) demonstrated superior perioperative outcomes, including reduced operative time, blood loss, and open conversion rate, compared to laparoscopic limited liver resections (LLLR) for posterosuperior liver segments. These findings were consistent even in a subset analysis of patients with cirrhosis. Postoperative outcomes, such as readmission, morbidity, and mortality, were similar between RLLR and LLLR.

Journal Article by Krenzien F, Schmelzle M (…) Goh BKP et 80 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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High variability in VTE risk across abdominal surgery procedures, impacting thromboprophylaxis decisions

The study conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses to estimate procedure-specific risks of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding after various types of abdominal surgery. They found that the risk of VTE varied widely among different procedures, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy having the lowest median risk (<0.1%) and emergency open total proctocolectomy having the highest median risk (10.0%). The use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis provided net benefit in some procedures but not in others, emphasizing the importance of individual risk prediction and preferences in decision-making.

Journal Article by Lavikainen LI, Guyatt GH (…) Tikkinen KAO et 35 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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Nationwide Implementation and Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy

After a nationwide training program and randomized trial, researchers conducted a Dutch pancreatic cancer audit-based study on 1496 patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). MIDP implementation increased from 48.6% to 63.0%, with considerable variation between centers. In the late implementation period, MIDP demonstrated stable outcomes, while ODP was more common in complex cases. MIDP showed advantages in shorter hospital stay and less blood loss but increased postoperative pancreatic fistula rates.

Journal Article by Korrel M, van Hilst J (…) Besselink MG et 17 al. in Ann Surg

Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Successful Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Barrett’s Neoplasia

Complete circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed on 11 patients with early Barrett’s neoplasia in a Canadian referral center. All procedures were technically successful with en-bloc resection. Nine patients achieved clear margins, while two required esophagectomy due to positive deep margins. The final pathology revealed adenocarcinoma in seven patients, with six cases showing upstaging from initial biopsies. The median area of resected specimen was 48 cm. ESD demonstrates high procedural success and a low rate of adverse outcomes for treating multifocal dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus.

Journal Article by Motomura D and Bechara R in Gastrointest Endosc

Copyright © 2023 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Telehealth Follow-Up After General Surgery Procedures is Safe and Effective: Study Highlights Lower Complication Rates

Telehealth utilization for postoperative care in general surgery has rapidly increased during the pandemic, but its usage among the veteran surgical population remains limited. A retrospective review of veterans undergoing general surgery found that telehealth follow-up after qualifying procedures was safe and effective. Among the 1075 patients included in the study, 56% followed up in-person and 44% via telehealth. Telehealth patients had a lower complication rate of 6% compared to 12% in-person follow-up. The study suggests considering postoperative telehealth care, particularly for low-risk general surgery procedures.

Journal Article by Abbitt D, Choy K (…) Jones EL et 7 al. in Am J Surg

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Increasing HCC Hospitalizations and Decreasing Mortality: A Rising Financial Burden on Healthcare

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inpatient hospitalizations have increased from 2011 to 2017, with a decrease in mortality rates. However, the financial burden on healthcare has significantly increased due to rising in-hospital costs. The study also highlights sepsis, acute renal failure, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage as common mortality risk factors. The findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and advancements in therapy for reducing HCC-related deaths, while also addressing the need for further investigation into the growing healthcare expenses associated with HCC treatment.

Journal Article by Wakil A, Wu YC (…) Pyrsopoulos NT et 2 al. in J Clin Gastroenterol

Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Telehealth intervention shows potential to improve quality of life for patients with eating symptoms after gastroesophageal cancer surgery

Researchers conducted a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a telehealth intervention for personalized self-management of eating symptoms after gastroesophageal cancer surgery. The intervention, delivered by a nutritionist through telehealth sessions over 4 months, demonstrated feasibility and acceptability among patients. Although the differences between the intervention and control groups were not statistically significant, the intervention group showed indications of greater improvements in quality of life, weight gain, and less sarcopenia compared to the control group. Further validation through a larger study is necessary.

Journal Article by Kim JY, Love M (…) Sun V et 7 al. in J Surg Oncol

© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Surgical Oncology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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