Implications of humanitarian orthopaedic surgery in a combat zone: Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom experience.

The primary mission of deployed military orthopaedic surgeons in a combat zone is to treat musculoskeletal battlefield trauma and associated wartime injuries. The role of humanitarian surgical care during combat operations has not been defined. An anonymous online survey was sent to databases containing all U.S. military active-duty orthopaedic surgeons as well as to members of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons. Inclusion criteria for the study were defined as at least one deployment to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF). Three hundred fifty-six invitations were sent with 107 orthopaedic surgeons completing the survey. Respondents reported approximately 3,000 humanitarian surgeries performed in the combat zone, with 70% to 80% involving chronic deformity and nonunion surgeries. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents believed that humanitarian surgery was a key component of the mission, improved skills (73%), benefited population (76%), and improved security (61%). A significant amount of humanitarian surgery in the combat zone has been performed in OEF/OIF.

Effective time management: surgery, research, service, travel, fitness, and family.

Over 1,500 years ago, the St. Benedictine Monks used planning and strict schedules to increase their productivity. Since then, surgeons have developed several different strategies to manage our time effectively. Finding a balance among career, family, and hobbies is essential for maintaining satisfaction and optimizing productivity. Several recurring themes throughout the medical literature offer potential solutions to help maximize the little time surgeons possess. In this article, we will explore some of the methods and strategies available to help surgeons minimize waste and make the most of the most precious commodity we have-our time.

Biliary leak rates after cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram in surgical residency.

Postoperative bile leak (BL) after cholecystectomy is a rare but dreaded complication, and is felt to be increased during surgical training. We sought to determine the incidence of BL after selective intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) at a teaching hospital and identify risk factors for predicting BLs. A retrospective review was performed analyzing all cholecystectomy with IOCs between September 2004 and September 2011. Residents performed under staff supervision. Of 1,799 cholecystectomies performed during the study period, only 96 (5.3%) were with IOCs (mean age 43, 65% female) and 4 BLs occurred (4.2%, 1 major duct injury, 3 cystic duct stump leaks). Univariate analysis demonstrated that male gender, significant medical comorbidities, case duration, preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and surgery type (laparoscopic versus open) increased the patient's risk of BL; however, age, performance of secondary procedures, common bile duct exploration, resident level (PGY), and diagnosis did not increase BL risk. Multivariate regression revealed that only surgery type lead to an increased risk of BL (p = 0.001) (OR 31.61, 95% CI 3.96-252.18). Patient factors and PGY level did not significantly affect BL rates, although open and converted procedures were associated with higher rates, suggesting an increased risk of a BL with more complex cases.