Patients' treatment preferences for potentially resectable tumors of the head of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to assess if patients with potentially resectable ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) of the head of the pancreas would choose a Whipple procedure versus palliative chemotherapy. METHODS: A cohort of adults with radiological resectable PDAC was enrolled at a tertiary Canadian teaching hospital. Participants were informed about treatment options, expected outcomes, and adverse events using data from the most recent scientific literature. Probability trade-off (PTO) was used to elicit treatment preferences. RESULTS: Surgery was preferred by all participants except one (96.7% vs. 3.3%; P = 0.0001). For 90% of participants preferring surgery, the main reason was the hope of being cured (P = 0.001). If the risk of perioperative mortality was higher than 57%, the risk of perioperative morbidity higher than 85% and the survival benefit was less than 4 months, half of the participants preferred palliative chemotherapy. The likelihood of needing blood transfusions, the length of hospital stay, and long-term consequences such as diabetes or pancreatic exocrine insufficiency were negligible concerns to participants. CONCLUSIONS: Informed patients with early-stage PDAC prefer resection over palliative chemotherapy. The dominating factor influencing their decision is the hope of a cure that overshadow the risks of complications, mortality and recurrent disease.

Providing mentorship support to general surgery residents: a model for structured group facilitation.

SUMMARY: Mentorship is foundational to surgical training, with recognized benefits for both mentees and mentors. The University of Ottawa General Surgery Mentorship Program was developed as a module-based group facilitation program to support inclusive personal and professional development of junior general surgery residents. The group format provided an opportunity for both vertical and horizontal mentorship relationships between staff mentors and resident mentees. Perceived benefits of program participants were evaluated at the conclusion of the first year of the program. The program was well-received by staff and resident participants and may provide a time-efficient and inclusive mentorship structure with the additional benefit of peer support. We review the development and implementation of the program to date and share our mentorship experience to encourage the growth of formal mentorship opportunities within general surgery training programs.

Live liver donors' risk thresholds: risking a life to save a life.

BACKGROUND: There is still some controversy regarding the ethical issues involved in live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and there is uncertainty on the range of perioperative morbidity and mortality risks that donors will consider acceptable. METHODS: This study analysed donors' inclinations towards LDLT using decision analysis techniques based on the probability trade-off (PTO) method. Adult individuals with an emotional or biological relationship with a patient affected by end-stage liver disease were enrolled. Of 122 potential candidates, 100 were included in this study. RESULTS: The vast majority of participants (93%) supported LDLT. The most important factor influencing participants' decisions was their wish to improve the recipient's chance of living a longer life. Participants chose to become donors if the recipient was required to wait longer than a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 6 ± 5 months for a cadaveric graft, if the mean ± SD probability of survival was at least 46 ± 30% at 1 month and at least 36 ± 29% at 1 year, and if the recipient's life could be prolonged for a mean ± SD of at least 11 ± 22 months. CONCLUSIONS: Potential donors were risk takers and were willing to donate when given the opportunity. They accepted significant risks, especially if they had a close emotional relationship with the recipient.