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BACKGROUND: Most patients with resectable gastric cancer present with locally advanced disease and warrant neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on level 1 evidence. However, the incremental benefit of adding radiation to chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment strategy for these patients is less clear. METHODS: While awaiting the results of two ongoing randomized clinical trials attempting to specifically address this question (TOPGEAR and CRITICS-II), this article presents the debate between two gastric cancer surgery experts supporting each side of the argument on the use or omission of neoadjuvant radiation in this setting. RESULTS: On the one hand, neoadjuvant radiation may be better tolerated compared with modern triplet chemotherapy and may be associated with higher rates of major pathologic response. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that radiation may offer a survival benefit when the tumor is located at the gastroesophageal junction or there is concern for a margin-positive resection. However, in the setting of adequate surgery, no survival benefit has been demonstrated by adding radiation to modern chemotherapy, likely reflecting the fact that death from gastric cancer is a result of distant recurrence, which is not addressed by local treatment such as radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: While awaiting the results of the TOPGEAR and CRITICS-II trials, this discussion of current evidence can facilitate the refinement of an optimal neoadjuvant therapy strategy in patients with resectable gastric cancer.
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Adenocarcinoma , Neoplasias Gástricas , Humanos , Adenocarcinoma/patología , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Quimioradioterapia , Quimioterapia Adyuvante , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Neoplasias Gástricas/patología , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como AsuntoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis is a critical prognostic factor for patients with gastric carcinoma (GC). Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has the potential to identify the initial site of draining lymph node metastasis and reduce the extent of surgical lymphadenectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of SLN mapping in GC. METHODS: The study enrolled 129 GC patients undergoing total or partial gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and indocyanine green fluorescence-guided SLN mapping. The primary outcomes were the negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity of SLN mapping. The secondary outcomes were clinicopathologic factors associated with SLN mapping accuracy and successful SLN mapping. RESULTS: The SLN detection rate in this study was 86.8 %. The study had an overall NPV of 83.1 % and an overall sensitivity of 65.8 %. The NPV was found to be significantly higher in the patients with no lymphovascular invasion (LVI) than in those with LVI (96.0 % vs 59.3 %; p < 0.001) and in the patients whose pathologic T (pT) stage lower than 3 than in those whose T stage was 3 or higher (92.0 % vs 66.7 %; p = 0.009). The sensitivity of SLN mapping was 50 % in the patients with no LVI and 33 % in the patients with a pT stage lower than 3. CONCLUSION: The study results showed that for patients with early-stage GC with no LVI, negative SLN findings may represent a potential additive predictor indicating the absence of regional LN metastasis. However, given the low sensitivity rates noted, further research is needed to identify specific patient populations that may benefit from SLN mapping in GC.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate inpatient satisfaction with surgical resident care. BACKGROUND: Surgical trainees are often the primary providers of care to surgical inpatients, yet patient satisfaction with surgical resident care is not well characterized or routinely assessed. METHODS: English-speaking, general surgery inpatients recovering from elective gastrointestinal and oncologic surgery were invited to complete a survey addressing their satisfaction with surgical resident care. Patients positively identified photos of surgical senior residents and interns before completing a modified version of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Surgical Care Survey (S-CAHPS). Adapted S-CAHPS items were scored using the "top-box" method. RESULTS: Ninety percent of recruited patients agreed to participate (324/359, mean age=62.2, 50.3% male). Patients were able to correctly identify their seniors and interns 85% and 83% of the time, respectively ( P =0.14). On a 10-point scale, seniors had a mean rating of 9.23±1.27 and interns had a mean rating of 9.01±1.49 ( P =0.14). Ninety-nine percent of patients agreed it was important to help in the education of future surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical inpatients were able to recognize their resident physicians with high frequency and rated resident care highly overall, suggesting that they may serve as a willing source of feedback regarding residents' development of core competencies such as interpersonal skills, communication, professionalism, and patient care. Future work should investigate how to best incorporate patient evaluation of surgical resident care routinely into trainee assessment to support resident development.
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Cirugía General , Internado y Residencia , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Pacientes Internos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Satisfacción del Paciente , Personal de Salud/educación , Cirugía General/educación , Competencia ClínicaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of a virtual coaching program offered to women surgery residents in a surgical society. BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled experiments evaluating the effect of coaching on trainee well-being and burnout is lacking. METHODS: Women surgery residents in the Association of Women Surgeons were recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial of the effects of a virtual coaching program on trainee well-being. Attending surgeons served as coaches after completing in-person training. Residents (n=237) were randomized to intervention (three 1:1 coaching sessions over 9 mo) or control (e-mailed wellness resources). Participants were surveyed at baseline and postintervention using validated measures of well-being, burnout, and resilience. Changes in outcome measures between presurvey and postsurvey were compared between study arms. RESULTS: Survey response rates were 56.9% (n=66) in the control group and 69.4% (n=84) in the intervention group ( P =0.05). The intervention group showed significant improvement in professional fulfillment ( P =0.021), burnout (0.026), work exhaustion (0.017), self-valuation (0.003), and well-being ( P =0.002); whereas the control group showed significant improvement in self-valuation ( P =0.015) and significant decline in resilience ( P =0.025). The intervention group had a significant improvement in well-being ( P =0.015) and intolerance of uncertainty ( P =0.015) compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Women surgery residents who participated in a remote coaching program offered by a surgical society demonstrated improvement in aspects of well-being relative to peers who did not receive coaching. Therefore, remote coaching offered by a professional society may be a useful component of initiatives directed at trainee well-being.
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Agotamiento Profesional , Internado y Residencia , Tutoría , Cirujanos , Humanos , Femenino , Cirujanos/educación , Agotamiento Profesional/prevención & control , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The optimal time to initiate adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) following resection remains undefined. Herein, we investigated the impact of time to adjuvant ICI on survival in patients with stage III melanoma. METHODS: Patients with resected stage III melanoma receiving adjuvant immune therapy were identified within a multi-institutional retrospective cohort. Patients were stratified by time to adjuvant ICI: within 6 weeks, 6-12 weeks, and greater than 12 weeks from surgery. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared among time strata with Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods in the multi-institutional cohort. RESULTS: Altogether, 626 patients were identified within the multi-institutional cohort: 39% of patients initiated adjuvant ICI within 6 weeks, 42.2% within 6-12 weeks, and 18.8% greater than 12 weeks from surgery. In a multivariate Cox model, adjusting for histology, nodal tumor burden, and pathologic stage, we found that increased time to adjuvant ICI was associated with improved RFS. Patients who initiated adjuvant ICI within 6 weeks of surgery had worse RFS. These findings were preserved in a conditional landmark analysis and separate subgroups of patients with (1) new melanoma diagnoses, (2) occult stage III disease, and (3) those receiving anti-PD-1 monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes for patients with stage III melanoma are not compromised when adjuvant ICI is initiated beyond 6 weeks from resection. Additional work is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and implications of timing of adjuvant ICI on long-term outcomes.
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Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Melanoma/tratamiento farmacológico , Melanoma/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Melanoma Cutáneo MalignoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Medical students historically receive little to no preclinical exposure to surgery and surgical subspecialties. As a result, by the time they reach their clinical clerkship time, students often have already found interest in other specialties. The goal of this study is to utilize the knowledge to action (KTA) implementation framework to design and refine a clinical immersion experience during the second year of medical school. METHODS: A total of 94 second-year Harvard Medical School students underwent the surgical immersion experience between 2019 and 2022 (the program was postponed in 2020 due to COVID). The development and refinement of the curriculum were nicely modeled by the KTA implementation framework. We identified a gap in medical student preclinical education, adapted a curriculum for preclinical medical students at Massachusetts General Hospital , selected the curriculum components to provide a high-level overview of surgery, monitored the student experience, and evaluated outcomes using the student surveys. Based on the survey results, inductive thematic analysis was utilized to identify prominent positive and negative themes. The feedback was then used to tailor subsequent iterations of the immersion experience. RESULTS: Eighty-eight medical students completed the survey (RR = 93.6%), and 85% rated the immersion experience as "excellent", 11% "very good", 4% "good", and 0% "fair" or "poor". There was no significant difference in ratings between sessions. Several key themes were identified, including changed perceptions, diversity of surgical fields, teamwork, surgery clerkship preparedness, and the need for more preclinical exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Preclinical medical students gave overwhelmingly positive reviews of the surgical immersion experience. A half-day intervention is sufficient to begin changing students' views toward surgery, disproving stereotypes, and even inspiring some to consider a surgical field themselves. In addition, the KTA implementation framework is a useful model for the development and refinement of medical education curricula.
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COVID-19 , Prácticas Clínicas , Educación de Pregrado en Medicina , Estudiantes de Medicina , Humanos , Inmersión , Retroalimentación , Curriculum , Educación de Pregrado en Medicina/métodos , Prácticas Clínicas/métodosRESUMEN
The treatment of advanced melanoma has significantly changed since the development of targeted and immune therapy. To date, these agents have primarily been used in the adjuvant or metastatic setting. Given several theoretical advantages, there is increased interest in the use of these new therapeutics in the neoadjuvant setting. In this review, we detail the potential benefits and pitfalls of neoadjuvant therapy for melanoma, review the currently available data, and describe ongoing neoadjuvant trials.
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Melanoma , Neoplasias Cutáneas , Humanos , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Neoplasias Cutáneas/tratamiento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
This article discusses subspecialty Canadian neurosurgeons' perceptions of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) assessments and variabilities prior to the implementation of the Competence by Design (CBD) system in Canada. Vascular neurosurgeons were asked to reflect on how they would evaluate and give feedback to neurosurgery residents concerning the EPA "Performing surgery for patients with an intracranial aneurysm." Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a deductive approach. Themes were derived from these interviews and reflected on the subjectivity and biases present in the EPA assessment forms. Indeed, faculty may require more training in the transitioning to a CBD evaluation system.
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Neurocirujanos , Neurocirugia , Humanos , Canadá , Procedimientos NeuroquirúrgicosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Coaching has been shown to decrease physician burnout; however, coachee outcomes have been the focus. We report the impact of coaching on women-identifying surgeons who participated as coaches in a 9-month virtual program. METHODS: A coaching program was implemented in the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) to determine the effects of coaching on well-being and burnout from 2018 to 2020. AWS members volunteered and completed training in professional development coaching. Pre- and post-study measures were assessed, and bivariate analysis performed based on burnout and professional fulfillment score. RESULTS: Seventy-five coaches participated; 57 completed both pre- and post-study surveys. There were no significant changes in burnout or professional fulfillment including the Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment scale, hardiness, self-valuation, coping, gratitude, or intolerance of uncertainty scores from baseline to post-survey. On bivariate analysis, hardiness was associated with lower burnout throughout the duration of the program. Coaches with lower burnout at the end of the program met with their coachee more frequently than coaches with higher burnout [mean (SD) 3.95(2.16) versus 2.35(2.13) p = 0.0099]. DISCUSSION: Burnout and professional fulfillment demonstrated no change in women surgeons who participated as professional development coaches. Those with lower burnout and higher professional fulfillment at the end of the program were found to have higher hardiness, which may be worth future investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Acquisition of coaching skills did not directly improve well-being in faculty who participated in a resident coaching program. Future studies would benefit from control groups and exploration of qualitative benefits of coaching.
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Agotamiento Profesional , Tutoría , Cirujanos , Humanos , Femenino , Cirujanos/educación , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Agotamiento Profesional/prevención & control , Satisfacción PersonalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced surgical fellowship programs to transition from in-person to remote applicant interviews; the virtual interviewing format presented new and unique challenges. We sought to understand applicants' perceived challenges to virtual interviewing for a surgical fellowship program. METHOD: A grounded theory-based qualitative study was performed utilizing semi-structured interviews with fellowship applicants from the 2020 fellowship match. All Fellowship Council-registered applicants were eligible. We purposefully sampled participants to balance across gender, specialty-choice, and academic versus community-program affiliation. Interviews were inductively analyzed by two researchers for prominent themes. RESULTS: Fifteen interviews were conducted. Participants were 60% male (n = 9), with 33% (n = 5) from non-academic institutions. They applied for the following fellowships: Advanced Gastrointestinal/Minimal Invasive (55%), Bariatric (30%), Hepatopancreatobiliary (10%) and Surgical Oncology (5%). Four main themes emerged to describe virtual interview process challenges: (1) perceived data deficiency, (2) superficial personal connections, (3) magnification of non-professionalism, and (4) logistical frustrations. Applicants recommend program directors provide more information about the fellowship prior to interview day and offer informal independent interactions with current and previous fellows. CONCLUSIONS: According to fellowship applicants, virtual interviews resulted in a lack of information for rank-list decision making ultimately requiring them to rely on other information avenues to base their decisions. These applicants have offered advice to fellowship program directors and future applicants to better optimize this process.
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COVID-19 , Internado y Residencia , Oncología Quirúrgica , Becas , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , PandemiasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Low first-time pass rates of the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) exam stimulated development of virtual reality (VR) simulation curricula for test preparation. This study evaluates the transfer of VR endoscopy training to live porcine endoscopy performance and compares the relative effectiveness of a proficiency-based vs repetition-based VR training curriculum. METHODS: Novice endoscopists completed pretesting including the FES manual skills examination and Global Assessment of GI Endoscopic Skills (GAGES) assessment of porcine upper and lower endoscopy. Participants were randomly assigned one of two curricula: proficiency-based or repetition-based. Following curriculum completion, participants post-tested via repeat FES examination and GAGES porcine endoscopy assessments. The two cohorts pre-to-post-test differences were compared using ANCOVA. RESULTS: Twenty-two residents completed the curricula. There were no differences in demographics or clinical endoscopy experience between the groups. The repetition group spent significantly more time on the simulator (repetition: 242.2 min, SD 48.6) compared to the proficiency group (proficiency: 170.0 min, SD 66.3; p = 0.013). There was a significant improvement in porcine endoscopy (pre: 10.6, SD 2.8, post: 16.6, SD 3.4; p < 0.001) and colonoscopy (pre: 10.4, SD 2.7, post: 16.4, SD 4.2; p < 0.001) GAGES scores as well as FES manual skills performance (pre: 270.9, SD 105.5, post: 477.4, SD 68.9; p < 0.001) for the total cohort. There was no difference in post-test GAGES performance or FES manual skills exam performance between the two groups. Both the proficiency and repetition group had a 100% pass rate on the FES skills exam following VR curriculum completion. CONCLUSION: A VR endoscopy curriculum translates to improved performance in upper and lower endoscopy in a live animal model. VR curricula type did not affect FES manual skills examination or live colonoscopy outcomes; however, a proficiency curriculum is less time-consuming and can provide a structured approach to prepare for both the FES exam and clinical endoscopy.
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Internado y Residencia , Entrenamiento Simulado , Realidad Virtual , Animales , Competencia Clínica , Colonoscopía , Simulación por Computador , Curriculum , Endoscopía/educación , Humanos , PorcinosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) is increasing worldwide. Although most NMTCs grow slowly, conventional therapies are less effective in advanced tumors. Approximately 5-15% of NMTCs have a significant germline genetic component. Awareness of the NMTC susceptibility genes may lead to earlier diagnosis and better cancer prevention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide the current panorama of susceptibility genes associated with NMTC and the spectrum of diseases associated with these genes. METHODS: Twenty-five candidate genes were identified by searching for relevant studies in PubMed. Each candidate gene was carefully checked using six authoritative genetic resources: ClinGen, National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, Genetics Home Reference, GeneCards, and Gene-NCBI, and a validated natural language processing (NLP)-based literature review protocol was used to further assess gene-disease associations where there was ambiguity. RESULTS: Among 25 candidate genes, 10 (APC, DICER1, FOXE1, HABP2, NKX2-1, PRKAR1A, PTEN, SDHB, SDHD, and SRGAP1) were verified among the six genetic resources. Two additional genes, CHEK2 and SEC23B, were verified using the NLP protocol. Seventy-nine diseases were found to be associated with these 12 NMTC susceptibility genes. The following diseases were associated with more than one NMTC susceptibility gene: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, kidney cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, paraganglioma, pheochromocytoma, and benign skin conditions. CONCLUSION: Twelve genes predisposing to NMTC and their associated disease spectra were identified and verified. Clinicians should be aware that patients with certain pathogenic variants may require more aggressive surveillance beyond their thyroid cancer risk.
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Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Cáncer Papilar Tiroideo , Neoplasias de la Tiroides , Mutación de Línea Germinal , Humanos , Cáncer Papilar Tiroideo/genética , Neoplasias de la Tiroides/genéticaRESUMEN
Background The opioid crisis has prompted surgeons to search for alternative postoperative methods of analgesia. Liposomal bupivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic formulation used for pain, potentially reducing opioid use. Evaluation of liposomal bupivacaine as a viable alternative for pain management is needed. The objective was to assess the efficacy of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of liposomal bupivacaine in postoperative pain management and opioid consumption. Material and Methods The authors extracted RCTs comparing liposomal bupivacaine versus placebo or active comparators for postoperative pain or opioid reduction from PubMED/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Exclusion criteria included nonhuman studies, non-RCTs, pooled studies, and inability to access full text. The following variables were abstracted: surgical specialty, number of subjects, pain and opioid outcomes, and authors' financial conflicts of interest. Results We identified 77 published RCTs, of which 63 studies with a total of 6770 subjects met inclusion criteria. Liposomal bupivacaine did not demonstrate significant pain relief compared to placebo or active agents in 74.58% of RCTs. Of the studies evaluating narcotic use, liposomal bupivacaine did not show a reduction in opioid consumption in 85.71% of RCTs. Liposomal bupivacaine, when compared to standard bupivacaine or another active agent, yielded no reduction in opioid use in 83.33% and 100.00% of studies, respectively. Clinical trials with a financial conflict of interest relating to the manufacturer of liposomal bupivacaine were significantly more likely to show pain relief (OR: 14.31 [95% CI, 2.8, 73.10], P = 0.0001) and decreased opioid consumption (OR: 12.35 [95% CI 1.40, 109.07], P = 0.0237). Of the 265 unpublished RCTs on ClinicalTrials.gov, 47.54% were withdrawn, terminated, suspended, or completed without study results available. Conclusions The efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine for providing superior postoperative pain control relative to placebo or another active agent is not supported by a majority of RCTs. Underreporting of trial results and bias due to underlying financial relationships amongst authors are two major concerns that should be considered when evaluating the available evidence.
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Analgésicos Opioides/administración & dosificación , Anestésicos Locales/administración & dosificación , Bupivacaína/administración & dosificación , Dolor Postoperatorio/tratamiento farmacológico , Analgésicos Opioides/efectos adversos , Humanos , Liposomas , Epidemia de Opioides/prevención & control , Manejo del Dolor/efectos adversos , Manejo del Dolor/métodos , Manejo del Dolor/estadística & datos numéricos , Dimensión del Dolor/estadística & datos numéricos , Dolor Postoperatorio/diagnóstico , Placebos/administración & dosificación , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been linked to burnout, job satisfaction, and work performance among resident physicians. Individuals with a growth mindset believe intelligence and ability are traits that can be increased or improved upon through learning. EI and mindset have yet to be studied among plastic surgeons in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was distributed to plastic surgery residents and general surgery residents at a single institution containing a validated EI survey tool (TEIQue-SF). Second, a survey was sent to all plastic surgery residents in the United States containing the TEIQue-SF and a validated survey tool to assess mindset (ITIS). RESULTS: The response rate for the local study was 82% (plastic surgery) and 75% (general surgery). Only 7.8% of plastic surgery residents had any prior formal EI training or education. Mean global EI scores of local plastic surgery residents were higher than the normative population sample (P <0.0001). Plastic surgery and general surgery residents had similar EI scores. Integrated residents and junior plastic surgery residents had higher Well-Being scores compared to independent (P = 0.04) and senior residents (P = 0.04). Sixty-four plastic surgery residents completed the national survey. No correlation was found between EI and ITIS scores among the national plastic surgery resident cohort. CONCLUSION: Despite different work profiles, general surgery and plastic surgery residents may have similar EI profiles. Mindset does not appear to correlate to EI domains. Future studies will focus on how EI and mindset may develop over the course of residency training and their relationship to overall resident wellness.
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Agotamiento Profesional , Internado y Residencia , Cirujanos , Cirugía Plástica , Agotamiento Profesional/psicología , Inteligencia Emocional , Humanos , Cirujanos/psicología , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Video-based education (VBE) is an effective tool for knowledge and skill acquisition for medical students, but its utility is less clear for resident physicians. We sought to determine how to incorporate VBE into a general surgery resident operative curriculum. METHODS: We conducted a single-institution, survey-based needs assessment of general surgery residents to determine desired content and format of an operative VBE module. RESULTS: The response rate was 84% (53/63), with 66% senior (postgraduate year ≥3) resident respondents. VBE was the most commonly cited resource that residents used to prepare for an operation (93%) compared with surgical textbooks (89%) and text-based website content (57%). Junior residents were more likely to utilize text-based website content than senior residents (P < 0.01). The three most important operative video components were accuracy, length, and cost. Senior residents significantly preferred videos that were peer-reviewed (P < 0.05) and featured attending surgeons whom they knew (P = 0.03). A majority of residents (59%) believed 5-10 min is the ideal length of an operative video. Across all postgraduate year levels, residents indicated that detailed instruction of each operative step was the most important content of a VBE module. Senior residents believed that the overall indications and details of each step of the operation were the most important contents of VBE for a junior resident. CONCLUSIONS: At this institution, general surgery residents preferentially use VBE resources for operative preparation. A centralized, standardized operative resource would likely improve resident studying efficiency, but would require personalized learning options to work for both junior and senior surgery residents.
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Cirugía General/educación , Internado y Residencia/métodos , Evaluación de Necesidades/estadística & datos numéricos , Cirujanos/educación , Grabación en Video/estadística & datos numéricos , Competencia Clínica , Curriculum , Femenino , Humanos , Internado y Residencia/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Cirujanos/estadística & datos numéricos , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Operativos/educación , Encuestas y Cuestionarios/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
As the SARS-COV-2 pandemic created the need for social distancing and the implementation of nonessential travel bans, residency and fellowship programs have moved toward a web-based virtual process for applicant interviews. As part of the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons 5th Annual Meeting, an expert panel was convened to provide guidance for prospective applicants who are new to the process. This article provides perspectives from applicants who have successfully navigated the surgical subspecialty fellowship process, as well as program leadership who have held virtual interviews.
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COVID-19/prevención & control , Cirugía General/educación , Internado y Residencia/organización & administración , Selección de Personal/métodos , Comunicación por Videoconferencia/organización & administración , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/transmisión , Certificación/organización & administración , Certificación/normas , Docentes/psicología , Docentes/normas , Becas/organización & administración , Becas/normas , Humanos , Internado y Residencia/normas , Liderazgo , Pandemias/prevención & control , Selección de Personal/organización & administración , Selección de Personal/normas , Distanciamiento Físico , Interacción Social , Consejos de Especialidades , Cirujanos/psicología , Cirujanos/normasRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has a high worldwide prevalence in adults and children. There is uncertainty regarding medical versus surgical therapy and different surgical techniques. This review assessed outcomes of antireflux surgery versus medical management of GERD in adults and children, robotic versus laparoscopic fundoplication, complete versus partial fundoplication, and minimal versus maximal dissection in pediatric patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched (2004-2019) to identify randomized control and non-randomized comparative studies. Two independent reviewers screened for eligibility. Random effects meta-analysis was performed on comparative data. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias and Newcastle Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: From 1473 records, 105 studies were included. Most had high or uncertain risk of bias. Analysis demonstrated that anti-reflux surgery was associated with superior short-term quality of life compared to PPI (Std mean difference = - 0.51, 95%CI - 0.63, - 0.40, I2 = 0%) however short-term symptom control was not significantly superior (RR = 0.75, 95%CI 0.47, 1.21, I2 = 82%). A proportion of patients undergoing operative treatment continue PPI treatment (28%). Robotic and laparoscopic fundoplication outcomes were similar. Compared to total fundoplication, partial fundoplication was associated with higher rates of prolonged PPI usage (RR = 2.06, 95%CI 1.08, 3.94, I2 = 45%). There was no statistically significant difference for long-term symptom control (RR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.85, 1.04, I2 = 53%) or long-term dysphagia (RR = 0.73, 95%CI 0.52, 1.02, I2 = 0%). Ien, minimal dissection during fundoplication was associated with lower reoperation rates than maximal dissection (RR = 0.21, 95%CI 0.06, 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence regarding the optimal treatment of GERD often suffers from high risk of bias. Additional high-quality randomized control trials may further inform surgical decision making in the treatment of GERD.
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Reflujo Gastroesofágico , Laparoscopía , Adulto , Niño , Fundoplicación , Reflujo Gastroesofágico/cirugía , Humanos , Calidad de Vida , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is an extremely common condition with several medical and surgical treatment options. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians, patients, and others in decisions regarding the treatment of GERD with an emphasis on evaluating different surgical techniques. METHODS: Literature reviews were conducted for 4 key questions regarding the surgical treatment of GERD in both adults and children: surgical vs. medical treatment, robotic vs. laparoscopic fundoplication, partial vs. complete fundoplication, and division vs. preservation of short gastric vessels in adults or maximal versus minimal dissection in pediatric patients. Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology by subject experts. Recommendations for future research were also proposed. RESULTS: The panel provided seven recommendations for adults and children with GERD. All recommendations were conditional due to very low, low, or moderate certainty of evidence. The panel conditionally recommended surgical treatment over medical management for adults with chronic or chronic refractory GERD. There was insufficient evidence for the panel to make a recommendation regarding surgical versus medical treatment in children. The panel suggested that once the decision to pursue surgical therapy is made, adults and children with GERD may be treated with either a robotic or a laparoscopic approach, and either partial or complete fundoplication based on surgeon-patient shared decision-making and patient values. In adults, the panel suggested either division or non-division of the short gastric vessels is appropriate, and that children should undergo minimal dissection during fundoplication. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations should provide guidance with regard to surgical decision-making in the treatment of GERD and highlight the importance of shared decision-making and patient values to optimize patient outcomes. Pursuing the identified research needs may improve future versions of guidelines for the treatment of GERD.
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Esofagoplastia , Reflujo Gastroesofágico , Laparoscopía , Adulto , Niño , Fundoplicación , Reflujo Gastroesofágico/cirugía , Humanos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Trainee burnout is on the rise and negative training environments may contribute. In addition, as the proportion of women entering vascular surgery increases, identifying factors that challenge recruitment and retention is vital as we grow our workforce to meet demand. This study sought to characterize the learning environment of vascular residents and to determine how gender-based discrimination and bias (GBDB) affect the clinical experience. METHODS: A survey was developed to evaluate the trainee experience; demographics and a two-item burnout index were also included. The instrument was sent electronically to all integrated (0 + 5) vascular surgery residents in the United States. Univariate analyses were performed and predictors of burnout identified. RESULTS: A total of 284 integrated vascular residents were invited to participate and 212 (75%) completed the survey. Participants were predominantly male (64%) and white (56%), with a median age of 30 years (interquartile range, 28-32 years). Seventy-nine percent of respondents endorsed some form of negative workplace experience and 30% met high-risk criteria for burnout. More than a third (38%) of residents endorsed personally experiencing GBDB, with a significant difference between men and women (14% vs 80%; P < .001). Women were more likely than men to report witnessing GBDB (76% vs 56%; P = .003). Patients and nurses were the most frequently cited sources of GBDB (80% and 64%, respectively), with vascular surgery attendings cited by 41% of trainees. One in four female resident respondents indicated being sexually harassed during the course of training; this was significantly higher than for male residents (25% vs 1%; P < .001). Nearly half (46%) of trainees who witnessed or experienced GBDB thought that quality of patient care, job satisfaction, personal well-being, and personal risk of burnout were directly affected as a result of GBDB. GBDB was predictive of burnout (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.5; P = .04), as were longer work hours (>80 h/wk; odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-7.1; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: GBDB was experienced by 38% of integrated trainees, with women significantly more affected than men. GBDB is predictive of burnout, and this has significant implications for our specialty in the recruitment and retention of female physicians. Resources addressing these issues are needed to maintain a diverse workforce and to promote physician well-being.
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Actitud del Personal de Salud , Agotamiento Profesional/epidemiología , Educación de Postgrado en Medicina , Médicos Mujeres/psicología , Racismo/psicología , Sexismo , Acoso Sexual/psicología , Cirujanos/educación , Cirujanos/psicología , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Vasculares/educación , Lugar de Trabajo/psicología , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Agotamiento Profesional/diagnóstico , Agotamiento Profesional/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
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.