Student challenges during third-year perioperative clerkships through the lens of faculty and residents: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Studies of medical students suggest they often find the transition from the pre-clinical curriculum to clinical rotations particularly challenging during perioperative clerkships. Educators could add a new perspective into students' clerkship experiences and potential interventions to improve them. The purpose of this study was to examine the educator perspective on students' experiences in perioperative clerkships. The findings could inform potential curricular interventions to facilitate student transition from a didactic environment into perioperative clerkships. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 faculty and residents in the departments of anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN), and general surgery across multiple clinical teaching sites at one institution. Interview questions explored their perceptions of the challenges students face during their transition into perioperative clerkships and probed thoughts on curriculum interventions they believed would be the most beneficial. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. FINDINGS: Three themes were identified. Faculty and residents perceive that student experiences on perioperative clerkships are shaped by (1) students' ability to adapt to the specialty and operating room norms on these clerkships, (2) students' understanding of how they can meaningfully contribute to the clinical team, and (3) dedicated teaching time constraints. Interventions were suggested to address educator expectations and student gaps, such as implementing a pre-clerkship orientation across anaesthesia, general surgery and OBGYN. CONCLUSIONS: To facilitate the medical student transition to perioperative clerkships, interventions should aid students in adapting to clerkship norms for these specialties and clarifying their role and expectations within the care team.

Inadequate Lymph Node Yield: An Inadequate Indication for Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage II Colon Cancer.

Background: Optimal therapy for stage II colon cancer remains unclear, and national guidelines recommend "consideration" of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in the presence of high-risk features, including inadequate lymph node yield (LNY, <12 nodes). This study aims to determine whether the survival benefit of ACT in stage II disease varies based on the adequacy of LNY. Methods: We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify adults who underwent resection for a single primary T3 or T4 colon cancer between 2006 and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression tested for associations between ACT and prespecified demographic and clinical characteristics, including the adequacy of LNY. We used Cox proportional hazards models to assess overall survival and restricted cubic splines to estimate the optimal LNY threshold to dichotomize patients based on overall survival. Results: Unadjusted 5- and 10-year survival rates were 84% and 75%, respectively, among patients who received ACT and 70% and 50% among patients who did not (log-rank P < 0.01). Inadequate LNY was independently associated with both receipt of ACT (odds ratios, 1.50; P < 0.01) and decreased overall survival [hazard ratio (HR), 1.56; P < 0.01]. ACT was independently associated with improved survival (HR, 0.67; P < 0.01); this effect size did not change based on the adequacy of LNY (interaction P = 0.41). Results were robust to re-analysis with our cohort-optimized threshold of 18 lymph nodes. Conclusions: Consistent with contemporary guidelines, patients with inadequate LNY are more likely to receive ACT. LNY adequacy is an independent prognostic factor but, in isolation, should not dictate whether patients receive ACT.

Exploring the complexity and spectrum of racial/ethnic disparities in colon cancer management.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across U.S. racial/ethnic groups. Existing studies often focus on a particular race/ethnicity or single domain within the care continuum. Granular exploration of disparities among different racial/ethnic groups across the entire colon cancer care continuum is needed. We aimed to characterize differences in colon cancer outcomes by race/ethnicity across each stage of the care continuum. METHODS: We used the 2010-2017 National Cancer Database to examine differences in outcomes by race/ethnicity across six domains: clinical stage at presentation; timing of surgery; access to minimally invasive surgery; post-operative outcomes; utilization of chemotherapy; and cumulative incidence of death. Analysis was via multivariable logistic or median regression, with select demographics, hospital factors, and treatment details as covariates. RESULTS: 326,003 patients (49.6% female, 24.0% non-White, including 12.7% Black, 6.1% Hispanic/Spanish, 1.3% East Asian, 0.9% Southeast Asian, 0.4% South Asian, 0.3% AIAE, and 0.2% NHOPI) met inclusion criteria. Relative to non-Hispanic White patients: Southeast Asian (OR 1.39, p < 0.01), Hispanic/Spanish (OR 1.11 p < 0.01), and Black (OR 1.09, p < 0.01) patients had increased odds of presenting with advanced clinical stage. Southeast Asian (OR 1.37, p < 0.01), East Asian (OR 1.27, p = 0.05), Hispanic/Spanish (OR 1.05 p = 0.02), and Black (OR 1.05, p < 0.01) patients had increased odds of advanced pathologic stage. Black patients had increased odds of experiencing a surgical delay (OR 1.33, p < 0.01); receiving non-robotic surgery (OR 1.12, p < 0.01); having post-surgical complications (OR 1.29, p < 0.01); initiating chemotherapy more than 90 days post-surgery (OR 1.24, p < 0.01); and omitting chemotherapy altogether (OR 1.12, p = 0.05). Black patients had significantly higher cumulative incidence of death at every pathologic stage relative to non-Hispanic White patients when adjusting for non-modifiable patient factors (p < 0.05, all stages), but these differences were no longer statistically significant when also adjusting for modifiable factors such as insurance status and income. CONCLUSIONS: Non-White patients disproportionately experience advanced stage at presentation. Disparities for Black patients are seen across the entire colon cancer care continuum. Targeted interventions may be appropriate for some groups; however, major system-level transformation is needed to address disparities experienced by Black patients.

Treatment and post-operative follow-up of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma: A case report.

Introduction and importance: Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare tumor thought to originate from respiratory epithelial cells. It is usually benign, but may rarely metastasize to lymph nodes. Surgeons face unique challenges in diagnosis and management of this condition, and ideal surgical management is yet to be established. Case presentation: 48-year-old woman with a 7 × 7 mm pulmonary lesion discovered incidentally on computerized tomography (CT) imaging, which grew to 9 mm over the following year. Seven years later, follow-up imaging revealed that the mass had grown to 1.3 cm in largest dimension. Surgery was recommended and the mass was resected via a right video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) middle lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. All lymph nodes were negative and the patient's postoperative course was unremarkable. Clinical discussion: There are few evidence-based guidelines available on the treatment and postoperative surveillance of PSP. Research has shown comparable recurrence-free survival rates for sublobar resection and lobectomy, though recurrence can occur, especially following sublobar resection in larger or more centrally-located tumors. In absence of established guidelines, it was decided to follow this patient according to NCCN guidelines for surveillance of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer due to potential risk of recurrence. Conclusion: This case report adds to the limited literature on PSP and depicts a possible treatment and postoperative follow-up plan. Right VATS middle lobectomy can effectively treat some cases of central PSP. In absence of established guidelines for postoperative follow-up of PSP, NCCN guidelines may outline one possible strategy for postoperative management.

Outcomes of Anastomotic Evaluation Using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence during Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists assessing whether anastomotic evaluation using indocyanine green fluorescence (IGF) during minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) predicts or improves outcomes. We hypothesized that IGF helps surgeons predict anastomotic complications and reduces anastomotic leaks after MIE. METHODS: In September 2019, our institution began routinely using IGF for intraoperative evaluation of anastomoses during MIE. Data were collected from patients undergoing MIE in the two years before and after this technology began being routinely used. Baseline characteristics and outcomes, including anastomotic leak, in patients who underwent indocyanine green fluorescence evaluation (ICG) and those who did not (nICG) were compared. Outcomes were also compared between ICG patients with normal versus abnormal fluorescence. RESULTS: Overall, 181 patients were included. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics did not differ between the ICG and nICG groups. ICG patients experienced higher rates of anastomotic leak (10.2% vs. 1.6%, P = .015) and 90-day mortality (8.5% vs. 1.6%, P = .04) compared to nICG patients. Due to lack of equipment availability, 19 nICG patients underwent MIE after the use of IGF became routine, and none developed leaks. ICG patients with abnormal fluorescence had higher rates of anastomotic leak (71.4% vs 1.9%, P < .001) and 30-day mortality (28.6% vs 0%, P = .012) compared to those with normal fluorescence. DISCUSSION: Abnormal intraoperative IGF was associated with increased rate of anastomotic leak, suggesting predictive potential of IGF. However, its use was associated with an increased leak rate and higher mortality. Further studies are warranted to assess possible physiologic effects of indocyanine green on the esophageal anastomosis.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) enucleation of large gastroesophageal junction leiomyoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Esophageal leiomyomas are the most common benign esophageal tumors. They are typically smaller than 3 cm, but larger tumors can impede local structures to cause symptoms, including dysphagia and epigastric pain. Surgical treatment of esophageal leiomyomas has historically involved open thoracotomy, but this approach is being replaced by minimally invasive approaches, including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old female patient presented with upper abdominal pain. Computerized tomography (CT) scanning of the abdomen and chest revealed a large (6.0 × 4.0 × 3.0 cm) gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) mass. An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration confirmed diagnosis of esophageal leiomyoma. A right VATS esophageal mass resection was performed to enucleate the mass. An intraoperative EGD was performed to check mucosal integrity, ensure adequate lumen patency, and visualization and insufflation was negative for a mucosal leak. The post-operative course was unremarkable. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case report adds to the emerging evidence that VATS can be utilized for enucleation of larger leiomyomas (>5 cm in largest dimension). Additionally, the use of direct intraoperative endoscopic evaluation via esophagoscopy suggests that larger esophageal masses could potentially be enucleated with a combined VATS and endoscopic approach. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this report is to add to the limited literature on minimally invasive surgical treatment of a relatively large GEJ leiomyoma. This case highlights that VATS, in addition to simultaneous endoscopic visualization, is an efficacious and safe option for treatment of larger leiomyomas (>5 cm) and can be associated with minimal risk.