Impact of Surgeon Workload on Pregnancy Outcomes in Surgical Trainees and Faculty.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between workload and pregnancy outcomes among US surgical faculty and trainees. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the increased risk of pregnancy associated complications among surgeons, most US institutions do not have formalized support to help sustain a healthy pregnancy in surgeons. METHODS: An anonymous self-administered Qualtrics survey was distributed electronically to US surgeons across all surgical specialties. Female surgical trainees/faculty with current or previous pregnancy were invited to participate. Data pertaining to demographics, workload, and pregnancy outcomes were collected for each individual pregnancy resulting in live birth. Multivariate analysis was used to assess for workload and outcomes, controlling for age, race, gravidity, and use of assisted reproductive technology. A significance level of 0.0056 was used for each outcome (Bonferroni multiple-testing adjustment 0.05/9). RESULTS: 817 surgeons experiencing 1348 pregnancies resulting in live birth were included. The mean (SD) age at first live birth was 32(4). The most prevalent major and neonatal complications included preeclampsia/gestational hypertension (n=196, 14.5%) and preterm delivery (n=179, 12.8%), respectively. Most institutions did not have a policy regarding workload modification (n=1189, 88.5%). Most surgeons did not modify their workload (n=862, 63.9%). When looking at individual workload metrics, feeling overworked during the last week of pregnancy correlated with risk of major complication (P=0.0001), preeclampsia/gestational hypertension (P=0.0003), and intra/post-partum complication (P=0.0001). Association with unplanned cesarean section (P=0.0096) and preterm delivery (P=0.0036) reached nominal significance. CONCLUSIONS: Most surgeons do not modify their workload during pregnancy, potentially contributing to feeling overworked and peri-partum complications. There is an urgent need for a cultural shift and institutional policies to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pregnant surgeons.

Paraesophageal hernia recurrence following repair: making the case for reoperative surgery in a propensity-matched cohort.

BACKGROUND: Paraesophageal hernia repairs (PEHRs) have high rates of radiographic recurrence, with some patients requiring repeat operation. This study characterizes patients who underwent PEHR to identify the factors associated with postoperative symptom improvement and radiographic recurrence. We furthermore use propensity score matching to compare patients undergoing initial and reoperative PEHR to identify the factors predictive of recurrence or need for reoperation. METHODS: After IRB approval, patients who underwent PEHR at a tertiary care center between January 2018 and December 2022 were identified. Patient characteristics, preoperative imaging, operative findings, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. A computational generalization of inverse propensity score weight was then used to construct populations of initial and redo PEHR patients with similar covariate distributions. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients underwent PEHR (78.7% female, mean age 65.4 ± 12.3 years). Most repairs were performed with crural closure (81.4%) and fundoplication (71.7%) with 14.2% utilizing mesh. Postoperatively, 76.5% of patients had subjective symptom improvement and of 157 patients with postoperative imaging, 52.9% had evidence of radiographic recurrence at a mean follow-up of 10.4 ± 13.6 months. Only 4.9% of patients required a redo operation. Hernia type, crural closure, fundoplication, and mesh usage were not predictors of radiographic recurrence or symptom improvement (P > 0.05). Propensity weight score analysis of 50 redo PEHRs compared to a matched cohort of 194 initial operations revealed lower rates of postoperative symptom improvement (P < 0.05) but no differences in need for revision, complication rates, ED visits, or readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Most PEHR patients have symptomatic improvement with minimal complications and reoperations despite frequent radiographic recurrence. Hernia type, crural closure, fundoplication, and mesh usage were not significantly associated with recurrence or symptom improvement. Compared to initial PEHR, reoperative PEHRs had lower rates of symptom improvement but similar rates of recurrence, complications, and need for reoperation.

Equity in bariatric surgery use: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective and durable treatment for obesity; however, access to MBS is not equitable. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of MBS among eligible adults with obesity by demographics, health characteristics, and geography to better define populations that would benefit from resources to reduce barriers to access for this treatment. SETTING: Adults with obesity were identified in the US employer-based retrospective claims database (Merative™). METHODS: Rates of MBS were examined across demographics (age, sex, region, year, health plan type) health characteristics (obesity-related comorbidities, healthcare costs, inpatient admissions), and by state. Given differences in coverage requirements, rates are examined for 2 populations: Class 2 (BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2) and Class 3 (BMI 40+ kg/m2) obesity. RESULTS: Of the 777,565 eligible adults, 49,371 (6.4%) had MBS; 3.2% of those with Class 2 and 8.3% of those with Class 3 obesity had MBS. MBS rates varied substantially by demographic and health characteristics, ranging from 1% to 14%, and from 2% to 41% among those with Class 2 and Class 3 obesity, respectively. Geographically, rates ranged from 0% (Hawaii) to 7.4% (New Mexico) for those with Class 2 Obesity and from 4.2% (Hawaii) to 15.3% (Mississippi) among those with Class 3 Obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Use of MBS among eligible adults with obesity varies substantially across characteristics, indicating inequity in access to this treatment. To ensure greater access to the most effective treatment for obesity, policies should be implemented to reduce or eliminate barriers to care.

Trends in bariatric surgery training: bariatric operations performed by Fellowship Council trainees from 2012 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Fellowship Certificate was created to ensure satisfactory training and requires a minimum number of anastomotic cases. With laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy becoming the most common bariatric procedure in the United States, this may present a challenge for fellows to obtain adequate numbers for ASMBS certification. OBJECTIVES: To investigate bariatric fellowship trends from 2012 to 2019, the types, numbers, and approaches of surgical procedures performed by fellows were examined. SETTING: Academic training centers in the United States. METHODS: Data were obtained from Fellowship Council records of all cases performed by fellows in ASMBS-accredited bariatric surgery training programs between 2012 and 2019. A retrospective analysis using standard descriptive statistical methods was performed to investigate trends in total case volume and cases per fellow for common bariatric procedures. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2019, sleeve gastrectomy cases performed by all Fellowship Council fellows nearly doubled from 6,514 to 12,398, compared with a slight increase for gastric bypass, from 8,486 to 9,204. Looking specifically at bariatric fellowships, the mean number of gastric bypass cases per fellow dropped over time, from 91.1 cases (SD = 46.8) in 2012-2013 to 52.6 (SD = 62.1) in 2018-2019. Mean sleeve gastrectomy cases per fellow increased from 54.7 (SD = 31.5) in 2012-2013 to a peak of 98.6 (SD = 64.3) in 2015-2016. Robotic gastric bypasses also increased from 4% of all cases performed in 2012-2013 to 13.3% in 2018-2019. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric fellowship training has seen a decrease in gastric bypasses, an increase in sleeve gastrectomies, and an increase in robotic surgery completed by each fellow from 2012 to 2019.

A foundation for evaluating the surgical artificial intelligence literature.

With increasing growth in applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgery, it has become essential for surgeons to gain a foundation of knowledge to critically appraise the scientific literature, commercial claims regarding products, and regulatory and legal frameworks that govern the development and use of AI. This guide offers surgeons a framework with which to evaluate manuscripts that incorporate the use of AI. It provides a glossary of common terms, an overview of prerequisite knowledge to maximize understanding of methodology, and recommendations on how to carefully consider each element of a manuscript to assess the quality of the data on which an algorithm was trained, the appropriateness of the methodological approach, the potential for reproducibility of the experiment, and the applicability to surgical practice, including considerations on generalizability and scalability.

Observational cohort investigating health outcomes and healthcare costs after metabolic and bariatric surgery: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: As the rate of obesity increases, so does the incidence of obesity-related comorbidities. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective treatment for obesity, yet this treatment is severely underused. MBS can improve, resolve, and prevent the development of obesity-related comorbidities; this improvement in health also results in lower healthcare costs. The studies that have examined these outcomes are often limited by small sample sizes, reliance on outdated data, inconsistent definitions of outcomes, and the use of simulated data. Using recent real-world data, we will identify characteristics of individuals who qualify for MBS but have not had MBS and address the gaps in knowledge around the impact of MBS on health outcomes and healthcare costs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using a large US employer-based retrospective claims database (Merative), we will identify all obese adults (21+) who have had a primary MBS from 2016 to 2021 and compare their characteristics and outcomes with obese adults who did not have an MBS from 2016 to 2021. Baseline demographics, health outcomes, and costs will be examined in the year before the index date, remission and new-onset comorbidities, and healthcare costs will be examined at 1 and 3 years after the index date. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As this was an observational study of deidentified patients in the Merative database, Institutional Review Board approval and consent were exempt (in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule). An IRB exemption was approved by the wcg IRB (#13931684). Knowledge dissemination will include presenting results at national and international conferences, sharing findings with specialty societies, and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. All data management and analytic code will be made available publicly to enable others to leverage our methods to verify and extend our findings.

The Elephant in the Room: Racial Microaggressions and Implicit Bias in Surgical Training.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between race, experience of microaggressions, and implicit bias in surgical training. BACKGROUND: There is persistent underrepresentation of specific racial and ethnic groups in the field of surgery. Prior research has demonstrated significant sex differences among those who experience microaggressions during training. However, little research has been conducted on the association between race and experiences of microaggressions and implicit bias among surgical trainees. METHODS: A 46-item survey was distributed to general surgery residents and residents of surgical subspecialties through the Association of Program Directors in Surgery listserv and social media platforms. The questions included general information/demographic data and information about experiencing, witnessing, and responding to microaggressions during surgical training. The primary outcome was the prevalence of microaggressions during surgical training by self-disclosed race. Secondary outcomes were predictors of and adverse effects of microaggressions. RESULTS: A total of 1624 resident responses were obtained. General surgery residents comprised 825 (50.8%) responses. The female-to-male ratio was nearly equal (815:809). The majority of respondents identified as non-Hispanic White (63.4%), of which 5.3% of residents identified as non-Hispanic Black, and 9.5% identified as Hispanic. Notably, 91.9% of non-Hispanic Black residents (n=79) experienced microaggressions. After adjustment for other demographics, non-Hispanic Black residents were more likely than non-Hispanic White residents to experience microaggressions [odds ratio (OR): 8.81, P <0.001]. Similar findings were observed among Asian/Pacific Islanders (OR: 5.77, P <0.001) and Hispanic residents (OR: 3.35, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Race plays an important role in experiencing microaggressions and implicit bias. As the future of our specialty relies on the well-being of the pipeline, it is crucial that training programs and institutions are proactive in developing formal methods to address the bias experienced by residents.

Implementation of a novel peer review academy by Surgery and the Association of Women Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: A novel Peer Review Academy was developed as a collaborative effort between the Association of Women Surgeons and the journal Surgery to provide formal training in peer review. We aimed to describe the outcomes of this initiative using a mixed methods approach. METHODS: We developed a year-long curriculum with monthly online didactic sessions. Women surgical trainee mentees were paired 1:1 with rotating women surgical faculty mentors for 3 formal peer review opportunities. We analyzed pre-course and post-course surveys to evaluate mentee perceptions of the academy and assessed changes in mentee review quality over time with blinded scoring of unedited reviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted upon course completion. RESULTS: Ten women surgical faculty mentors and 10 women surgical trainees from across the United States and Canada successfully completed the Peer Review Academy. There were improvements in the mentees' confidence for all domains of peer review evaluated, including overall confidence in peer review, study novelty, study design, analytic approach, and review formatting (all, P ≤ .02). The mean score of peer review quality increased over time (59.2 ± 10.8 vs 76.5 ± 9.4; P = .02). In semi-structured interviews, important elements were emphasized across the Innovation, Implementation Process, and Individuals Domains, including the values of (1) a comprehensive approach to formal peer review education; (2) mentoring relationships between women faculty and resident surgeons; and (3) increasing diversity in the scientific peer review process. CONCLUSION: Our novel Peer Review Academy was feasible on a national scale, resulting in significant qualitative and quantitative improvements in women surgical trainee skillsets, and has the potential to grow and diversify the existing peer review pool.

The silver lining of the pandemic in surgical education: virtual surgical education and recommendations for best practices.

Virtual education is an evolving field within the realm of surgical training. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the application of virtual technologies in surgical education has undergone significant exploration and advancement. While originally developed to supplement in-person curricula for the development of clinical decision-making, virtual surgical education has expanded into the realms of clinical decision-making, surgical, and non-surgical skills acquisition. This manuscript aims to discuss the various applications of virtual surgical education as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with each education modality, while offering recommendations on best practices and future directions.

ASMBS statement on metabolic and bariatric surgery for beneficiaries of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with a review of the literature.

This position statement is issued by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric. Surgery in response to inquiries made to the Society by patients, physicians, Society members, hospitals, health insurance payors, the media, and others regarding the access and outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgery for beneficiaries of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This position statement is based on current clinical knowledge, expert opinion, and published peer-reviewed scientific evidence available at this time. The statement is not intended to be and should not be construed as stating or establishing a local, regional, or national standard of care. This statement will be revised in the future as additional evidence becomes available.

Social media (some) models in resident education.

Social media has changed the way in which we communicate, as it has grown tremendously in the past decade. Social media platforms have even penetrated the area of surgery and surgical education. The COVID-19 pandemic has even further pushed for more innovative communication and surgical education methods, such as case and video discussions, asking for advice, and having journal clubs. In this article, we review several social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and others, and the ways that they have been integrated into surgical education.

SAGES consensus recommendations on surgical video data use, structure, and exploration (for research in artificial intelligence, clinical quality improvement, and surgical education).

BACKGROUND: Surgery generates a vast amount of data from each procedure. Particularly video data provides significant value for surgical research, clinical outcome assessment, quality control, and education. The data lifecycle is influenced by various factors, including data structure, acquisition, storage, and sharing; data use and exploration, and finally data governance, which encompasses all ethical and legal regulations associated with the data. There is a universal need among stakeholders in surgical data science to establish standardized frameworks that address all aspects of this lifecycle to ensure data quality and purpose. METHODS: Working groups were formed, among 48 representatives from academia and industry, including clinicians, computer scientists and industry representatives. These working groups focused on: Data Use, Data Structure, Data Exploration, and Data Governance. After working group and panel discussions, a modified Delphi process was conducted. RESULTS: The resulting Delphi consensus provides conceptualized and structured recommendations for each domain related to surgical video data. We identified the key stakeholders within the data lifecycle and formulated comprehensive, easily understandable, and widely applicable guidelines for data utilization. Standardization of data structure should encompass format and quality, data sources, documentation, metadata, and account for biases within the data. To foster scientific data exploration, datasets should reflect diversity and remain adaptable to future applications. Data governance must be transparent to all stakeholders, addressing legal and ethical considerations surrounding the data. CONCLUSION: This consensus presents essential recommendations around the generation of standardized and diverse surgical video databanks, accounting for multiple stakeholders involved in data generation and use throughout its lifecycle. Following the SAGES annotation framework, we lay the foundation for standardization of data use, structure, and exploration. A detailed exploration of requirements for adequate data governance will follow.