scholarly journals Examining the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Operative Volumes of US General Surgery Residents

Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Ammann ◽  
Alexander R. Cortez ◽  
Dennis M. Vaysburg ◽  
Leah K. Winer ◽  
Jeffrey J. Sussman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Surgery ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The impact of coronavirus 2019 on general surgery residency: A national survey of program directors

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 102285
Author(s):  
Maxwell F. Kilcoyne ◽  
Garrett N. Coyan ◽  
Edgar Aranda-Michel ◽  
Arman Kilic ◽  
Victor O. Morell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Survey ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Program Directors ◽  
General Surgery Residency ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Telemedicine Experience of General Surgery Trainees: Impact on Patient Care and Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110234
Author(s):  
Brandon J Nakashima ◽  
Navpreet Kaur ◽  
Chelsey Wongjirad ◽  
Kenji Inaba ◽  
Mohd Raashid Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Surgical Training ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Southern California ◽  
University Of Southern California ◽  
General Surgery Residency ◽  
Surgical Training Program ◽  
Current Utilization ◽  
Surgery Resident ◽  
The Impact

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on patient care, including the increased utilization of contact-free clinic visits using telemedicine. We looked to assess current utilization of, experience with, and opinions regarding telemedicine by general surgery residents at an academic university–based surgical training program. Design A response-anonymous 19-question survey was electronically distributed to all general surgery residents at a single academic university–based general surgery residency program. Setting University of Southern California (USC) general surgery residency participants: Voluntarily participating general surgery residents at the University of Southern California. Results The response rate from USC general surgery residents was 100%. A majority of residents (76%) had utilized either video- or telephone-based visits during their careers. No resident had undergone formal training to provide telemedicine, although most residents indicated a desire for training (57.1%) and acknowledged that telemedicine should be a part of surgical training (75.6%). A wide variety of opinions regarding the educational experience of residents participating in telemedicine visits was elicited. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic brought telemedicine to the forefront as an integral part of future patient care, including for surgical patients. Additional investigations into nationwide telemedicine exposure and practice among United States general surgery residencies is imperative, and the impact of the implementation of telemedicine curricula on general surgery resident telemedicine utilization, comfort with telemedicine technology, and patient outcomes are further warranted. Competencies Practice-based learning, systems-based practice, interpersonal and communication skills

The Obesity Paradox in Emergency General Surgery Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482096852
Author(s):  
Sean R. Maloney ◽  
Caroline E. Reinke ◽  
Abdelrahman A. Nimeri ◽  
Sullivan A. Ayuso ◽  
A. Britton Christmas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Surgery ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Operative Management ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Emergency General Surgery ◽  
Common Procedure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Social Security Death Index ◽  
The Impact

Operative management of emergency general surgery (EGS) diagnoses involves a range of procedures which can carry high morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the impact of obesity on patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 and mortality for EGS patients. We hypothesized that obese patients would have increased mortality rates. A regional integrated health system EGS registry derived from The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma EGS ICD-9 codes was analyzed from January 2013 to October 2015. Patients were stratified into BMI categories based on WHO classifications. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Longer-term mortality with linkage to the Social Security Death Index was also examined. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. A total of 60 604 encounters were identified and 7183 (11.9%) underwent operative intervention. Patient characteristics include 53% women, mean age 58.2 ± 18.7 years, 64.2% >BMI 30 kg/m2, 30.2% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 19% with congestive heart failure, and 31.1% with diabetes. The most common procedure was laparoscopic cholecystectomy (36.4%). Overall, 90-day mortality was 10.9%. In multivariable analysis, all classes of obesity were protective against mortality compared to normal BMI. Underweight patients had increased risk of inpatient (OR = 1.9, CI = 1.7-2.3), 30-day (OR = 1.9, CI = 1.7-2.1), 90-day (OR = 1.8, CI 1.6-2.0), 1-year (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.7-2.0), and 3-year mortality (OR = 1.7, CI = 1.6-1.9). When stratified by BMI, underweight EGS patients have the highest odds of death. Paradoxically, obesity appears protective against death, even when controlling for potentially confounding factors. Increased rates of nonoperative management in the obese population may impact these findings.

scholarly journals The impact of an acute care surgery model on general surgery service productivity

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam N. Paine ◽  
Bradley L. Krompf ◽  
Edward C. Borrazzo ◽  
Thomas P. Ahern ◽  
Ajai K. Malhotra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Acute Care Surgery ◽  
Service Productivity ◽  
Care Surgery ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals TP8.2.10 Impact of COVID-19 on General Surgery Training in a University Hospital with Ring Fenced Elective Centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanzeela Gala ◽  
Quratul Ain ◽  
Chekwas Obasi ◽  
Hajar Rashid ◽  
Sarkhell Radha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Surgery ◽  
Normal Activity ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Surgical Trainees ◽  
Higher Surgical Training ◽  
Theatre Utilisation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Training Opportunities ◽  
General Surgery Training

Abstract Aim Higher Surgical training was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic with cessation of elective care. Trainees raised concerns that the elective restart and need for higher theatre activity to clear backlogs would impact on training opportunities. This study evaluated the resumption of training associated with a ring-fenced elective centre (EC). Methods The EC was established in July 2020 and three time periods were determined: pre-COVID (10/19-2/20), 1st wave of COVID (3/20-7/20) and post EC go-live (8/20-12/20). Data was collated from the E-Logbooks of General Surgery Registrars. Results The normal all-speciality pre COVID theatre-activity averaged 1052 cases/month. During the first wave elective activity decreased to 254 cases/month (24% of normal activity). Within 5 weeks of establishment of the EC, theatre activity was near normal despite a reduced number of theatres (with higher theatre utilisation). Pre COVID, trainees accessed 22.9 cases per month which then dropped to 7.7 cases during the first wave of COVID. Post the go live of the EC, trainees were able to operate on 20 cases per month almost back to normal training levels. Prior to the impact of the second wave, each trainee had developed a deficit of 90 cases during the 5 months pause. Conclusion The ring-fenced elective centre has protected training opportunities for higher surgical trainees. However, the pause in training requires a targeted training recovery plan to overcome the deficit secondary to the first and subsequent waves of COVID to ensure that the JCST target of 1200 cases can be met for CCT.

General Surgery Twitter during COVID-19: Tweets, Trends, and Implications for Recruitment Strategies

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110604
Author(s):  
James Shell Cox ◽  
Chase J. Wehrle ◽  
Christopher Mejias ◽  
Aditya K. Devarakonda ◽  
Jonathan Andrew McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Recruitment Strategies ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
General Surgery Residency ◽  
Recruitment Practices ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Virtual Events ◽  
The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional resident recruitment practices, requiring virtual interviews and new forms of outreach. Social media, such as Twitter, is one tool programs can use to connect with applicants. This study sought to assess changes in Twitter use during the COVID-19 pandemic among general surgery programs. Methods Twitter and residency program websites were queried for public Twitter accounts related to general surgery residency programs. Publicly available tweets for available accounts were reviewed for all posts for the period March 15, 2019-November 25, 2020. Thematic analysis of each tweet was performed, and engagement was determined by likes and retweets on each tweet. Results The number of programs with active Twitter accounts increased after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, as did the number of tweets, likes-, and retweets-per-tweet. There was a significant increase in the number of tweets regarding resident promotion, program promotion, and virtual event promotion. Tweets received more likes-per-tweet if the subject was program promotion and resident promotion than tweets regarding virtual events. All results were statistically significant ( P < .05). Discussion Twitter use and engagement with residency programs have increased significantly since pandemic onset. Engagement is highest for tweets regarding program and resident promotion as measured by likes-per-tweet and highest for program promotion and virtual events as measured by retweets-per-tweet. Given the nearly nationwide increase in Twitter engagement after pandemic onset, programs should consider the impact of Twitter as a means of communication with applicants and program branding.

Publication Patterns and the Impact of Self-Citation among General Surgery Residency Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Robert J. Conrad ◽  
Benjamin C. Clark ◽  
Dylan M. Russell ◽  
John S. Mayo ◽  
Fadi M. Balla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Surgery ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
General Surgery Residency ◽  
Publication Patterns ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on core surgical training

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khurram Shahzad Khan ◽  
Rona Keay ◽  
Morag McLellan ◽  
Sajid Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Training ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Box Trainer ◽  
Surgical Trainees ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact

Background and aims COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in training which is even more pronounced in the surgical specialties. We aim to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on core surgical training. Methods All core surgical and improving surgical trainees in West of Scotland region were invited to participate in an online voluntary anonymous survey via SurveyMonkey. Results 28 of 44 (63.6%) trainees responded, 15 (53.6%) were CT1/ST1. 14 (50.0%) working in teaching hospital and 15 (53.6%) working in general surgery. 20 (71.4%) felt that due to the pandemic they have less opportunity to operate as the primary surgeon. 21 (75.0%) have not attended any outpatient clinics. 8 (28.6%) did not have any form of access to the laparoscopic box-trainer. 20 (71.4%) felt their level of confidence in preforming surgical skills has been negatively impacted. 18 (64.3%) found it difficult to demonstrate progress in portfolio. 21 (75.0%) trainees have not attended any teaching. 10 (35.7%) trainees have been off-sick. 8 (28.6%) trainees have felt slightly or significantly more stressed. Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has an unprecedented negative impact on all aspects of core surgical training. The long term impact on the current cohort of trainees is yet to be seen.

scholarly journals Creation and implementation of a novel clinical workflow based on the AAST uniform anatomic severity grading system for emergency general surgery conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kovi E Bessoff ◽  
Jeff Choi ◽  
Sylvia Bereknyei Merrell ◽  
Aussama Khalaf Nassar ◽  
David Spain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Grading System ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Emergency General Surgery ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Severity Grading ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveEmergency general surgery (EGS) conditions encompass a variety of diseases treated by acute care surgeons. The heterogeneity of these diseases limits infrastructure to facilitate EGS-specific quality improvement (QI) and research. A uniform anatomic severity grading system for EGS conditions was recently developed to fill this need. We integrated this system into our clinical workflow and examined its impact on research, surgical training, communication, and patient care.MethodsThe grading system was integrated into our clinical workflow in a phased fashion through formal education and a written handbook. A documentation template was also deployed in our electronic medical record to prospectively assign severity scores at the time of patient evaluation. Mixed methods including a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of trainees and attending surgeons were used to evaluate the impact of the new workflow and to identify obstacles to its adoption.ResultsWe identified 2291 patients presenting with EGS conditions during our study period. The most common diagnoses were small bowel obstruction (n=470, 20.5%), acute cholecystitis (n=384, 16.8%), and appendicitis (n=370, 16.1%). A total of 21 qualitative interviews were conducted. Twenty interviewees (95.2%) had a positive impression of the clinical workflow, citing enhanced patient care and research opportunities. Fifteen interviewees (75.0%) reported the severity grading system was a useful framework for clinical management, with five participants (25.0%) indicating the system was useful to facilitate clinical communication. Participants identified solutions to overcome barriers to adoption of the clinical workflow.ConclusionsThe uniform anatomic severity grading system can be readily integrated into a clinical workflow to facilitate prospective data collection for QI and research. The system is perceived as valuable by users. Educational initiatives that focus on increasing familiarity with the system and its benefits will likely improve adoption of the classification system and the clinical workflow that uses it.Level of evidenceLevel III.

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