Association of residency application data with subsequent general surgery residency graduate performance.

Background: When selecting surgical residents, programs emphasize quantifiable data from the Electronic Residency Application Service application. However, it is unclear whether Electronic Residency Application Service data are associated with future resident performance or any of the qualities (surgical judgment, leadership, and medical knowledge) that our group has identified as being predictive of graduate performance. Our objective was to determine whether residency application variables are associated with subsequent residency graduate performance as rated by surgical educators.

Juan Miguel Acosta: His Revolutionary Contribution to Our Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Gallstone Pancreatitis.

It is not every day that true scientific pioneers come along. Fortunately, the early 20 century gifted us with immensely talented professionals like Dr Eugene Opie, who set the groundwork for Dr Juan Acosta and his associates to make revolutionary advancements on the pathophysiologic origin and proper management of acute biliary pancreatitis. Amidst a modest hospital in the city of Rosario, Argentina, Dr Acosta pioneered numerous studies to validate his hypothesis that transient gallstone obstruction of the lumen was the true source of acute biliary pancreatitis.

Correlation Between Medical School Performance and Receiving Awards in General Surgery Residency.

Importance: It is uncertain whether current measures of achievement during medical school predict exceptional performance during surgical residency. One surrogate of excellence during residency may be awards, especially those given for teaching and annual overall accomplishment.

Objective: Determine whether markers of superior performance during medical school documented in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application and student record correlated with receiving awards during residency.

Mentorship of Junior Surgical Faculty Across Academic Programs in Surgery.

Importance: Because mentorship is critical for professional development and career advancement, it is essential to examine the status of mentorship and identify challenges that junior surgical faculty (assistant and associate professors) face obtaining effective mentorship.

Objective: To evaluate the mentorship experience for junior surgical faculty and highlight areas for improvement.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This qualitative study was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study including an anonymous survey on mentorship followed by semistructured interviews to expand on survey findings.

National analysis of outcomes in timing of cholecystectomy for acute cholangitis.

Background: The present study aimed to compare outcomes between cholecystectomy on index versus delayed admission for acute cholangitis.

Methods: The 2011-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify adult patients admitted for acute cholangitis who underwent cholecystectomy. Study cohorts were defined based on timing of surgery.

Hospital-level variation in costs of elective nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: With the aging population in the United States, the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms is shifting to older ages. Given changing demographic characteristics and increasing health care expenditures, the present study evaluated the degree of center-level variation in the cost of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: We identified all adult (≥18 years) hospitalizations for elective repair of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in the 2017 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Development and preliminary assessment of a machine learning model to predict myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest after major operations.

Introduction: Accurate prediction of complications often informs shared decision-making. Derived over 10 years ago to enhance prediction of intra/post-operative myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest (MI/CA), the Gupta score has been criticized for unreliable calibration and inclusion of a wide spectrum of unrelated operations. In the present study, we developed a novel machine learning (ML) model to estimate perioperative risk of MI/CA and compared it to the Gupta score.

Management of Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Review.

Importance: Gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis, accounting for approximately 50% of cases. Without appropriate and timely treatment, patients are at increased risk of disease progression and recurrence. While there is increasing consensus among guidelines for the management of mild GSP, adherence to these guidelines remains poor.

Immediate Operative Trauma Assessment Score: A Simple and Reliable Predictor of Mortality in Trauma Patients Undergoing Urgent/Emergent Surgery.

Many current trauma mortality prediction tools are either too intricate or rely on data not readily available during a trauma patient's initial evaluation. Moreover, none are tailored to those necessitating urgent or emergent surgery. Our objective was to design a practical, user-friendly scoring tool using immediately available variables, and then compare its efficacy to the widely-known Revised Trauma Score (RTS).

The Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Pediatric Trauma.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created difficulties in access to care. There was also increased penetrating trauma in adults, which has been attributed to factors including increased firearm sales and social isolation. However, less is known about the relationship between the pandemic and pediatric trauma patients (PTPs).

Association of rurality with short-term outcomes of peripheral vascular trauma.

Background: Peripheral vascular trauma is a major contributing factor to long-term disability and mortality among patients with traumatic injuries. However, an analysis focusing on individuals at a high risk of experiencing limb loss due to rural and urban peripheral vascular trauma is lacking.

Method: This was a retrospective analysis of the 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Association of anesthetic modality and other variables on 1-year functional patency of cephalic-based arteriovenous fistulae.

Objective: Some studies suggest that regional anesthesia provides better patency for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis access as compared to local and general anesthesia. This study evaluates the impact of anesthetic modality on long term fistula function at 12 months.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing cephalic vein-based hemodialysis access in consecutive cases between 2014 and 2019 was conducted from five safety net hospitals.

Association of race and ethnicity with initial surgical hemodialysis access type in a safety net system.

Objectives: Prior studies have found lower arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation rates in Black and Hispanic patients. Whether this is due to health care disparities or other differences is unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the racial/ethnic differences in initial surgical access type within a high-volume, safety net system with predominantly Black and Hispanic populations.

Changes in surgical mortality during COVID-19 pandemic by patients' race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status among US older adults: a quasi-experimental event study model.

Objectives: To examine changes in the 30-day surgical mortality rate after common surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate whether its impact varies by urgency of surgery or patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Design: We used a quasi-experimental event study design to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical mortality rate, using patients who received the same procedure in the prepandemic years (2016-2019) as the control, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital fixed effects (effectively comparing patients treated at the same hospital). We conducted stratified analyses by procedure urgency, patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (dual-Medicaid status and median household income).

Association of Residency Applicants' Hobbies and Subsequent Technical Proficiency Ratings as General Surgery Chief Residents: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Objective: To determine whether participation in certain hobbies (e.g., participation in sports, playing musical instruments, or other hobbies requiring fine motor skills), preresidency, are associated with higher technical skills ratings at the time of residency graduation.