Evolving Medical Student Experiences in the Surgery Clerkship: A New Generation.

BACKGROUND: The surgery clerkship has a powerful impact on medical students' attitudes toward surgery. The primary aim of this study was to identify factors that influence current medical student experiences during the surgery clerkship and discern if they have shifted following the COVID pandemic and with a new generation of "Zillennial" students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a qualitative content analysis of medical student surgery clerkship evaluations from 2018 to 2022 at three clinical training sites of our medical school (n = 596). The codes and themes that emerged from the data were then compared between the pre-COVID cohort (pre-March 2020) and post-COVID (post June 2020) cohorts. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed four themes: clerkship factors, educator qualities, surgical culture, and student expectations. Clerkship factors included the overall clerkship organization, preparatory sessions, and having schedule flexibility. The clinical educators had a significant impact on medical student experience by setting expectations and providing actionable feedback. Surgical culture included the team dynamic and professionalism or diversity issues. Students were expected to have clear guidance for their roles, opportunities to shine, and sought meaningful learning. While the themes were consistent between both cohorts, the frequency of codes varied, with more students commenting on flexibility, neglect, and long work hours in the post-COVID cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous previously unreported factors impact surgical clerkship experiences, revealing a generational shift in medical student attitudes. These results suggest that educators and their institutions must be proactive in tracking student evaluations to adapt their clerkship curriculum for an optimal educational experience and evolving student expectations.

Angiography with cone-beam CT versus contrast-enhanced MRI for living donor transplant imaging: Is MRI enough?

The purpose of this study is to compare the subjective and objective quality and confidence between conventional angiography with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the preoperative evaluation of potential donors for living donor liver transplant. Seventeen patients undergoing preoperative donor evaluation for living donor liver transplantation that underwent angiography with CBCT and contrast-enhanced MRI for evaluation of hepatic vascular anatomy were included in the study. Four attending radiologists interpreted anonymized, randomized angiography with CBCT images and MRIs, rating the diagnostic quality and confidence of their interpretation (on a 3-point scale) for each element, as well as clinically relevant measurements. Overall, the readers rated the quality of angiography with CBCT to be higher than that of MRI (median [interquartile range] = 3 (2, 3) vs. 2 (1-3), p < 0.001) across all patients. Readers of angiography with CBCT had more confidence in their interpretations as an average of all elements evaluated than the MRI readers (3 (3) vs. 3 (2, 3), p < 0.001). When the same reader interpreted both MRI and CBCT, the right hepatic artery diameter (3.8 mm ± 0.72 mm vs. 4.5 mm ± 1.2 mm, p < 0.005) and proper hepatic artery diameter (4.43 mm ± 0.98 mm vs. 5.4 mm ± 1.05 mm, p < 0.003) were significantly different between MRI and CBCT. There was poor interrater reliability for determining segment IV arterial supply for both modalities (κ < 0.2). Angiography with CBCT provides higher subjective diagnostic quality and greater radiologist confidence than MRI. The difference in measurements between CBCT and MRI when the same reader reads both studies suggests CBCT adds additional information over MRI evaluation alone.

Liver Disease is Associated with Increased Mortality and Major Morbidity After Infra-Inguinal Bypass but not After Endovascular Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Liver disease increases mortality after abdominal surgery, including endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. However, its effect on mortality and morbidity after endovascular and open management of peripheral vascular disease has not been widely evaluated. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was used to evaluate patients undergoing infra-inguinal bypass and endovascular intervention (2005 - 2016). Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio (APRI score) is a non-invasive tool recommended by the World Health Organisation to identify liver disease and was calculated for all patients. A ratio of > 0.5 was used to identify patients with liver fibrosis. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30 day outcomes were evaluated for patients with and without liver fibrosis. A subgroup analysis was completed in patients with APRI scores > 0.5, to evaluate the effect of increasing Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores on outcomes. Multivariable regression was used to account for differences in baseline factors. RESULTS: In total, 17 603 patients underwent infra-inguinal bypasses. Fibrosis was associated with higher mortality (3.8% vs. 2.4%; p < .001), major complications (23% vs. 20%; p = .020), pulmonary (5.1% vs. 2.9%; p < .001), and renal complications (1.9% vs. 1.1%; p = .007) after bypass. These differences persisted following multivariable adjustment. Altogether, 7 830 patients underwent endovascular intervention. Fibrosis was also associated with higher mortality (4.7% vs. 2.2%; p < .001), pulmonary (3.9% vs. 2.5%; p = .022), and renal complications (1.9% vs. 0.8%; p = .003) after endovascular intervention. After adjustment, only renal complications persisted. In a subgroup analysis of patients with liver fibrosis, morbidity (31% vs. 17%; p < .001) and mortality (7.2% vs. 1.8%; p < .001) increased after bypass among those with MELD scores > 15 but not after endovascular intervention. CONCLUSION: Liver fibrosis was associated with higher 30 day mortality and major complications after infra-inguinal bypass, with outcomes worsening as MELD scores increased. Surgeons may consider an endovascular first approach in managing peripheral arterial disease among those with liver fibrosis.

Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores are associated with morbidity and mortality after endovascular aneurysm repair among patients with liver dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis dramatically increases morbidity and mortality after open surgical procedures and is often a contraindication to open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, limited data have evaluated the effect of liver disease on outcomes after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms. METHODS: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was used to evaluate all nonemergent endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs) from 2005 to 2016. The aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index is a sensitive, noninvasive screening tool used to screen for liver disease and was calculated for all patients. A value >0.5 was used to identify those with significant liver fibrosis. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day outcomes were then compared between patients with and patients without fibrosis. Additional analysis was then completed to assess the effect of increasing Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score on 30-day outcomes. Multivariable regression was used to account for differences in baseline factors. RESULTS: EVAR was performed on 18,484 patients including 2286 with liver fibrosis and 16,198 without. Patients with liver fibrosis had an increased 30-day mortality (1.5% vs 2.4%; P < .01) and significantly higher rates of major morbidities including return to the operating room, pulmonary complications, transfusion, and discharge other than home. After multivariable analysis, patients with liver fibrosis had a significant increase in 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.1), return to the operating room (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8), pulmonary complications (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0), transfusion (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-2.0), and discharge other than home (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3-1.8). In further analysis, mortality also increased in a stepwise fashion with increasing MELD score (MELD <10, 1.3%; MELD 10-15, 2.3%; MELD >15, 4.7%; P < .01), as did major complications (MELD <10, 7%; MELD 10-15, 11%; MELD >15, 15%; P < .01). These increases persisted in adjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Liver fibrosis significantly increases mortality and major morbidity after EVAR. The aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index and MELD score should be used for preoperative risk stratification. Moreover, current 30-day morbidity and mortality rates among patients with MELD scores >10 exceed 5%, which is higher than the annual rupture risk for aneurysms <6 cm. Therefore, an increased size threshold of >6 cm may be warranted before EVAR in patients with liver fibrosis.

Identification of Specific Educational Targets to Improve the Student Surgical Clerkship Experience.

BACKGROUND: This study describes the relationship between medical student perception of surgery, frequency of positive surgery clerkship activities, and overall surgical clerkship experience. METHODS: Medical students at four academic hospitals completed pre- and post-clerkship surveys assessing 1) surgery clerkship activities/experiences and 2) perceptions of surgery during the 2017-2018 academic year. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of students completed both a pre- and post-clerkship survey (n = 162 of 179). Student perception of surgery significantly improved across the clerkship overall (P < 0.0001) and for 7 of 21 specific items. Eighty-six percent of students agreed that the clerkship was a meaningful experience. Sixty-six percent agreed that the operating room was a positive learning environment. Multivariable logistic regression identified one-on-one mentoring from a resident (OR [95% CI] = 2.12 [1.11-4.04], P = 0.02) and establishing a meaningful relationship with a surgical patient (OR = 2.21 [1.12-4.37], P = 0.02) as activities predictive of student agreement that the surgical clerkship was meaningful. Making an incision (OR = 2.92 [1.54-5.56], P = 0.001) and assisting in dissection (OR = 1.67 [1.03-2.69], P = 0.035) were predictive of student agreement that the operating room was a positive learning environment. Positive student perception of surgery before the clerkship was associated with increased frequency of positive clerkship activities including operative involvement (r = 0.26, P = 0.001) and relationships with surgical attendings (r = 0.20, P = 0.01), residents (r = 0.41, P < 0.0001), and patients (r = 0.24, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to improve surgery clerkship quality should target enhancing student relationships with residents and surgical patients as well as providing opportunity for student operative involvement beyond just suturing. In addition, fostering positive perceptions of surgery in the preclinical period may increase meaningfulness and experience with the later surgery clerkship.

The Abdominal Transplant Surgery Workforce: Current state and future trends.

Transplant surgical workforce concerns have arisen in the last 5 years as reflected in challenges securing job opportunities for new fellows. The present survey was designed by the ASTS Membership and Workforce Committee to describe the current practice characteristics of transplant centers in order to estimate changes in the workforce. The survey questionnaire requested information about the transplant programs, the transplant surgeons involved in the program, and the estimated changes in the staffing of the program over the next 3 years. Seventy-one transplant centers responded from a total of 235 identified and queried (30.2% response rate), with median responding centers per UNOS region of 7 (IQR 4.5-8.5). The recruitment outlook for the next 3 years forecasts a positive inflow of surgeons at a 2:1 rate (incoming:leaving). The new female transplant workforce within the responding cohort has increased from 3.7% in 1980 to 18.4% in 2010. Currently, 13.1% of practicing US transplant surgeons in this survey are female which is higher than many other surgical specialties. This report represents the most up-to-date view into the abdominal transplant surgical workforce. The positive job recruitment outlook for transplant surgeons and the narrowing gender gap are new findings from this study.

Primary Stent Placement for Hepatic Artery Stenosis After Liver Transplantation: Improving Primary Patency and Reintervention Rates.

Recent studies have reported high rates of reintervention after primary stenting for hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) due to the loss of primary patency. The aims of this study were to evaluate the outcomes of primary stenting after HAS in a large cohort with longterm follow-up. After institutional review board approval, all patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2003 and 2017 at a single institution were evaluated for occurrence of hepatic artery complications. HAS occurred in 37/454 (8%) of patients. HAS was defined as >50% stenosis on computed tomography or digital subtraction angiography. Hepatic arterial patency and graft survival were evaluated at annual intervals. Primary patency was defined as the time from revascularization to imaging evidence of new HAS or reaching a censored event (retransplantation, death, loss to follow-up, or end of study period). Primary stenting was attempted in 30 patients (17 female, 57%; median age, 51 years; range, 24-68 years). Surgical repair of HAS prior to stenting was attempted in 5/30 (17%) patients. Endovascular treatment was performed within 1 week of the primary anastomosis in 5/30 (17%) of patients. Technical success was accomplished in 97% (29/30) of patients. Primary patency was 90% at 1 year and remained unchanged throughout the remaining follow-up period (median, 41 months; interquartile range [IQR], 25-86 months). Reintervention was required in 3 patients to maintain stent patency. The median time period between primary stenting and retreatment was 5.9 months (IQR, 4.4-11.1 months). There were no major complications, and no patient developed hepatic arterial thrombosis or required listing for retransplantation or retransplantation during the follow-up period. In conclusion, primary stenting for HAS has excellent longterm primary patency and low reintervention rates.

[18F]fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography as a prognostic tool before liver transplantation, resection, and loco-ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and resection are curative treatment options for well-selected patients with HCC, whereas loco-ablative therapy has been shown to prolong survival. Organ and treatment allocations for these patients are currently based on the number and size of tumors, as defined by the Milan criteria, and on functional capacity, and they are incorporated into the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system and treatment strategy. Even though these staging criteria have markedly improved the outcomes of patients with HCC, they still lack accuracy in predicting the risk of tumor recurrence because they do not incorporate markers of tumor biology and behavior. Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) with [(18) F]fludeoxyglucose ([(18) F]FDG) constitute an imaging modality for detecting tumor tissue that is metabolically active. Uptake of [(18) F]FDG is highly associated with tumor aggressiveness. In this review, we present the accumulating data on the use of [(18) F]FDG PET-CT as an in vivo biomarker and its predictive value in identifying patients at risk for HCC recurrence after liver transplantation, resection, or ablation. These data suggest that the introduction of [(18) F]FDG PET-CT into the imaging algorithm of patients planned for liver transplantation, resection, or ablation may improve outcomes.

Concerns of ABO incompatible and crossmatch-positive potential donors and recipients about participating in kidney exchanges.

Kidney paired exchanges (KPEs) have increased, yet are still underutilized. This study aimed to develop tools for assessing KPE concerns, identify predictors of KPE concerns, and describe common KPE concerns among potential living donors (LDs) and intended recipients. Incompatible former potential LDs (n = 135) and intended recipients (n = 83) retrospectively completed questionnaires to assess KPE concerns. Healthcare system distrust also was assessed. A minority (n = 48 or 36.5% of potential LDs; n = 25 or 30.1% of intended recipients) had pursued KPE participation. Of those who pursued KPE participation, 11 (22.9%) and 6 (24.0%) completed KPE donation or transplantation, respectively. The questionnaires for potential LDs and recipients showed good internal consistency and preliminary convergent validity. LDs and patients less willing to pursue KPE reported more KPE concerns. Common KPE concerns for both potential LDs and recipients were related to perceived Distrust/Inequity and Inconvenience/Cost. Multivariate predictors of more KPE concerns were as follows: male gender (t = 4.5, p < 0.001) and more healthcare system distrust (t = 2.5, p = 0.01) for potential LDs; black race (t = 2.1, p = 0.04) and more healthcare system distrust (t = 2.3, p = 0.03) for intended recipients. These findings underscore the importance of addressing concerns potential LDs and patients have about KPE if the true potential of KPE is to be realized.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Living Kidney Donation: A Single Center Experience.

This article describes the development and implementation of an initiative at one transplant center to annually assess psychosocial outcomes of living kidney donors. The current analysis focuses on a cohort of adults (n = 208) who donated a kidney at BIDMC between September 2005 and August 2012, in which two post-donation annual assessments could be examined. One and two year post-donation surveys were returned by 59 % (n = 123) and 47 % (n = 98) of LKDs, respectively. Those who did not complete any survey were more likely to be younger (p = 0.001), minority race/ethnicity (p < 0.001), and uninsured at the time of donation (p = 0.01) compared to those who returned at least one of the two annual surveys. The majority of donors reported no adverse physical or psychosocial consequences of donation, high satisfaction with the donation experience, and no donation decision regret. However, a sizable minority of donors felt more pain intensity than expected and recovery time was much slower than expected, and experienced a clinically significant decline in vitality. We describe how these outcomes are used to inform clinical practice at our transplant center as well as highlight challenges in donor surveillance over time.

Endovascular management of critical limb ischemia in renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is a significant negative predictor of limb salvage and patient survival in patients with limb ischemia, but little is known of the overall effects of renal transplantation. Endovascular management may be less morbid than open surgery, but technical success and durability in these patients is not well established. METHODS: All patients with functioning renal transplants and critical limb ischemia (CLI) treated with endovascular techniques between 2003 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed for limb salvage, reintervention, pre- and postprocedure creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and overall survival. Contralateral common femoral access, low-profile techniques, and isosmolar contrast were standard for all interventions. RESULTS: Endovascular interventions were performed on 57 limbs in 28 patients with renal transplants. Mean age was 54 years, 78% were male, 85% were diabetic, 100% were hypertensive, and 64% had a positive smoking history. All patients were treated for CLI. Treated regions included 16 iliac, 19 superficial femoral, 16 popliteal, and 12 tibial arteries, as well as 1 bypass graft with initial technical success of 100% and 0% 30-day mortality. Of all lesions, 43% required reintervention during the follow-up period, the majority in the first year. There was no significant change in eGFR or creatinine comparing pre- and post-angiogram value. Limb salvage and 1-year survival were 83% and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular management of CLI in renal transplant patients results in good technical success and can be accomplished without a measurable change in transplant kidney function, although it requires repeat interventions. Endovascular therapy is a reasonable first-line treatment option for this high-risk group.

Renal transplantation in the setting of early steroid withdrawal: a comparison of rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction dosing in two eras.

BACKGROUND: Modern immunosuppression and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) have facilitated the success of early steroid withdrawal (ESW) protocols. Little data exist on optimal rATG dosing in ESW protocols. METHODS: Rejection at 12 months in era 1 (four doses of rATG, 1.25 mg/kg) vs. era 2 (three doses of rATG, 1.25 mg/kg) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included patient and graft survival, renal function and infectious complications. Factors associated with rejection at 1 year were identified. RESULTS: 199 patients received rATG induction and ESW: 102 in era 1 and 97 in era 2. Compared to era 1, era 2 was not associated with worse outcomes, including rejection, renal function, infection or graft survival. Rejection at 1 year and uncensored graft survival differed between the dosing groups. Rejection rates were significantly higher in the <4 mg/kg group compared to the 4-5.9-mg/kg and the ≥6-mg/kg groups, whereas uncensored graft survival was the lowest in the ≥6-mg/kg group. Factors associated with rejection at 12 months included: rATG dose received of 4-5.9 versus <4 mg/kg (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.036-0.85, p = 0.026); recipient age (per year, OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-1.0, p = 0.038); panel reactive antibody 10-79.9 versus <10% (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.2-25, p = 0.030) and rATG dose held (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.0-15, p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: A comparison of rATG dosing based on era did not result in a significant difference in rejection, renal function, infection or graft survival. However, when evaluating the study population based on actual dose received there were notable differences in both rejection rates and uncensored graft survival.

Surgical Adaptation of the Situation Awareness Rating Technique (S-SART): Assessing Situational Awareness Among Medical Students.

OBJECTIVE: Situational awareness (SA) impacts team dynamics and patient care. However, few formal curricula and tools exist to teach and assess longitudinal SA in surgical environments. We sought to evaluate medical students' SA in the operating room (OR) during surgical clerkships over time. DESIGN: We prospectively administered pre- and post-rotation surveys using a surgical adaptation of the previously validated Situation Awareness Rating Technique (SART). Surgical SART (S-SART) scores were calculated as: Situational Awareness = Understanding - (Attentional Demand - Attentional Supply) + 14. Each of 10 questions was scored from 1 to 7, with a maximum possible score of 60. Two-tailed two-sample and paired t-tests were conducted to determine differences in S-SART scores. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Sixty-nine of 75 second- and third-year medical students rotating in Surgery and Obstetrics/Gynecology clerkships at a tertiary academic medical center from September 2018 to September 2019 completed the surveys for a response rate of 92.0%. RESULTS: The mean baseline pre-rotation baseline S-SART score was 29.5 (SD=8.3), which increased by 20.9% to 35.9 (SD=6.9) post-rotation (p<0.001). Significant predictors of higher baseline S-SART scores included age ≥25 (p=0.02), surgical career interest (p=0.01), completion of prior surgical rotations (p<0.001), confidence about pre-procedural OR steps (p<0.001), and knowledge of OR item locations (p<0.001). There were increases in each of the subdomains of Understanding-including OR familiarity (3.2 to 4.3, p<0.001), knowledge of the medical student OR role (3.5 to 5.7, p<0.001), and knowledge of others' OR roles (4.1 to 5.9, p<0.001)-along with increases in alertness within Attentional Supply (5.1 to 5.5, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SA is a learnable skill with increases in S-SART scores from pre- to post-rotation, with the greatest gains in the domain of Understanding. More advanced aspects of SA such as Attentional Demand may require further surgical training or curricular innovations to address these needs.

A multisite study of medical student perspectives on the core surgical clerkship.

BACKGROUND: The surgical clerkship is the primary surgical learning experience for medical students. This study aims to understand student perspectives on the surgery clerkship both before and after the core surgical rotation. METHODS: Medical students at 4 academic hospitals completed pre and postclerkship surveys that included open-ended questions regarding (1) student learning goals and concerns and (2) how surgical clerkship learning could be enhanced. Thematic analysis was performed, and interrater reliability was calculated. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of students completed both a pre and postclerkship survey (n =162 of 179), generating 320 preclerkship and 270 postclerkship responses. Mean kappa coefficients were 0.83 and 0.82 for pre and postclerkship primary themes, respectively. Thematic analysis identified 5 broad themes: (1) core learning expectations, (2) understanding surgical careers, culture, and work, (3) inhabiting the role of a surgeon, (4) inclusion in the surgical team, and (5) the unique role of the medical student on clinical clerkships. Based on these themes, we propose a learner-centered model of a successful surgical clerkship that satisfies discrete student learning and goals and career objectives while ameliorating the challenges of high-stakes clinical surgical environments such as the operating room. CONCLUSION: Understanding student perspectives on the surgery clerkship, including preclerkship motivations and concerns and postclerkship reflections on surgical learning, revealed potential targets of intervention to improve the surgery clerkship. Future investigation may elucidate whether the proposed model of the elements of a successful surgery clerkship learning facilitates improvement of the surgical learning environment and enhanced surgical learning.

Utilization of kidneys from donation after circulatory determination of death.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The present review describes the recent experience with kidney transplantation using donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) including efforts to expand the potential pool of DCDD donors. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of DCDD kidneys represents a growing source of kidneys for transplantation in the USA, although not to the same extent as in Europe. Expansion of the potential donor pool has included the use of kidneys with extended time to donor arrest and pediatric donors. The use of machine perfusion for DCDD kidneys has failed to demonstrate significant benefit. SUMMARY: DCDD kidneys continue to demonstrate increased rates of delayed graft function and primary nonfunction when compared with kidneys recovered after donation after brain death (DBD) likely due to increased warm ischemic time during recovery. Despite early complications, DCDD kidneys show comparable function and survival after the immediate postoperative period and have been demonstrated to provide a survival benefit to recipients over waiting for DBD kidneys. The effect of machine perfusion on DCDD kidneys may decrease delayed graft function but has no effect on long-term function. Despite concerns, the increasing number of DCDD donors does not appear to be directly responsible for decreased numbers of DBD donors.

Minimising cold ischaemic time is essential in cardiac death donor-associated liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: An important issue in the transplantation of livers procured from cardiac death donors (CDDs) concerns why some centres report equivalent outcomes and others report inferior outcomes in transplantations using CDD organs compared with standard criteria donor (SCD) organs. Resolving this discrepancy may increase the number of usable organs. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test whether differences in cold ischaemic time (CIT) are critical during CDD organ transplantation and whether such differences might explain the disparate outcomes. METHODS: Results of CDD liver transplants in our own centre were compared retrospectively with results in a matched cohort of SCD liver recipients. Endpoints of primary non-function (PNF) and ischaemic cholangiopathy (IC) were used because these outcomes are clearly associated with CDD organ use. RESULTS: In 22 CDD organ transplants, CIT was a strong predictor of PNF or IC (P = 0.021). Minimising CIT in CDD organ transplants produced outcomes similar to those in a matched SCD organ transplant cohort at our centre and in SCD organ transplant results nationally (1- and 3-year graft and patient survival rates: 90.9% and 73.3% vs. 77.6% and 69.2% in CDD and SCD grafts, respectively. A review of the published literature demonstrated that centres with higher CITs tend to have higher rates of PNF or IC (correlation coefficient: 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a targeted effort to minimise CIT might improve outcomes and allow the safer use of CDD organs.

Mistreatment and the Learning Environment: A Mixed Methods Approach to Assess Knowledge and Raise Awareness Amongst Residents.

OBJECTIVE: Trainee mistreatment, either intentional or unintentional, negatively affects the learning environment. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention about mistreatment and the learning environment on general surgery residents. DESIGN: Video-based modules were developed and added to the residency curriculum. Modules provided definitions and examples of active and passive mistreatment and components of positive and negative learning environments. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the impact of this intervention. Residents completed a previously validated pre and post-test of related knowledge and attitudes (Abuse Sensitivity Questionnaire). Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to compare test results. During video-review sessions, discussion was prompted amongst residents using a semistructured interview guide. Immersion crystallization method was used to identify dominant themes. SETTING: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an academic tertiary care facility located in Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: All general surgery residents in our institution (n = 58) were invited to complete a survey at 3 time points. RESULTS: Fifty-eight residents (55% male) responded to the survey (100% response rate). Mean age was 30.2 year (SD 3.9). Perception of nicknames related to personal identifiers (p = 0.0065) and name-calling (p = 0.02) changed significantly postintervention (Table 1). Regarding standards of behavior, 42 (72.4%) residents considered yelling not to be abusive unless it occurred frequently or constantly; 15 (25.8%) residents considered swearing (not directed at a person) as "not abuse"; 6 (10.3%) considered constructive criticism to be abusive if it was frequent or constant; and 24 (41%) residents feel powerless to intervene in these scenarios. Multiple themes emerged regarding resident-student interactions: (1) resident perception that description of behavior as mistreatment depends on medical student sensitivity; (2) neglect of medical students avoids trouble (e.g., being labeled as active mistreatment); (3) failure to integrate students into the surgical team may occur due to perceived lack of student interest; and (4) communication with the medical student is key. Residents reported that discussion along with video review was more effective than video review alone. CONCLUSIONS: The video-based curriculum on mistreatment and the learning environment created awareness amongst residents about this important topic. Knowledge and attitudes about mistreatment changed in some areas postintervention. These findings suggest a need for development of complementary curricula to improve resident awareness and understanding of components of a positive learning environment and definition/examples of mistreatment.

Prenatal diagnosis and subsequent treatment of an intermediate-risk paraspinal neuroblastoma: case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, and the most common malignancy diagnosed during infancy. In comparison, neonatal neuroblastoma is relatively rare. Improvements in prenatal imaging and widespread use of fetal ultrasonography have led to an increased rate of prenatal diagnoses. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: We report a case of an intermediate-risk neuroblastoma, diagnosed at 36 weeks' gestation by ultrasound and subsequently visualized by fetal MRI, that resulted in spinal cord compression and decreased fetal movement. A multidisciplinary team approach resulted in rapid delivery, evaluation, biopsy, staging, and treatment implementation in a successful effort to preserve lower extremity function. CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of neuroblastoma, management and outcomes are reviewed. Prompt diagnosis can strongly influence perinatal management and improve prognosis.

The Living Donor Lost Wages Trial: Study Rationale and Protocol.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper describes the background, rationale, and design of an NIH-funded, single-center study to test the impact of offering reimbursement for donor lost wages incurred during the post-nephrectomy recovery period on the live donor kidney transplant (LDKT) rate in newly evaluated kidney transplant candidates, to examine whether offering reimbursement for donor lost wages reduces racial disparity in LDKT rates, and to determine whether higher reimbursement amounts lead to higher LDKT rates. RECENT FINDINGS: LDKT is the optimal treatment for renal failure. However, living kidney donation has declined in the past decade, particularly among men, younger adults, blacks, and low-income adults. There is evidence that donation-related costs may deter both transplant candidates and potential donors from considering LDKT. Lost wages is a major source of financial loss for some living donors and, unlike travel and lodging expenses, is not reimbursed by financial assistance programs. SUMMARY: The study addresses the transplant community's call to reduce the financial burden of living donation and examine its impact on LDKT rates. Findings have the potential to influence policy, clinical practice, LDKT access, and income-related and racial disparities in LDKT and living donation.