Introductory Video as a Supplemental Application for General Surgery Residency Candidates: Concept, Implementation, Preliminary Outcomes, and Future Directions.

OBJECTIVE: The residency selection process has changed dramatically over the past several years, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a transition to virtual interviews and limiting sub-internship opportunities. Another new major change is the transition of the USMLE Step 1 examination from a numerical score to pass/fail as of January 2022. In anticipation of this major change, our program asked applicants to submit a short video clip expressing their interest. PARTICIPANTS: Review of each of the videos was completed by three members of the admission committee and each reviewer was required to complete formal implicit bias training prior to reviewing the videos. RESULTS: Over 1200 general surgery residency applications were received via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for the 2022-2023 application cycle. 286 applicants were selected for a formal interview invitation and asked to submit a 2-minute introductory video. In response, 222 (77.62%) of the 286 cohort submitted introductory videos. 210 of these videos (94.59%) were submitted within the first week. The average length of the videos submitted was 105.10 seconds. CONCLUSION: Using optional introductory videos as a supplemental application has helped to narrow the applicant pool and identify individuals to offer interviews.

Laparoscopic Graham Patch for Anterior Duodenal Perforation in a 6-Year-Old.

Peptic ulcer disease causing perforation is extremely rare in children and primarily affects teenagers. We present a case of a perforated peptic ulcer in a 6-year-old with abdominal pain and emesis with CT findings of moderate pneumoperitoneum and pelvic free fluid without a distinct cause. He was emergently transferred, found to be peritonitic, and taken to the operating room for diagnostic laparoscopy revealing an anterior duodenal ulcer, and underwent laparoscopic Graham patch repair. Postoperatively, the child had positive fecal antigen for H. pylori. He was treated with triple therapy and underwent subsequent testing to confirm eradication. Perforated peptic ulcer is an uncommon pediatric surgical problem, and imaging may not be diagnostic as in the case presented here. Thus, clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating children with free air and a surgical abdomen in the setting of long-standing abdominal pain.