Pay-to-Play: The Rising Cost of Subspecialty Conference Attendance for Surgical Residents.

Objective: Surgical society conferences play a vital role in academic medicine, offering exposure to subspecialties, networking, and research presentation opportunities for surgical residents. However, the rising costs of attendance pose financial challenges, potentially deterring participation. We aimed to assess changes in conference costs, travel policies, and expenses for general surgery residents in North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC) general surgery residency programs.

Extended Pharmacologic Prophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism After Colon Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Improved Long-term Survival: A Natural Experiment in the Chemotherapeutic Benefit of Heparin Derivatives.

Objective: This large database study assessed whether extended pharmacologic prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism after colon cancer resection was associated with improved oncologic survival.

Background: Heparin derivatives may confer an antineoplastic effect via a variety of mechanisms (eg, inhibiting angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment). Studies evaluating the oncologic benefit of heparin and its derivatives have been limited in postsurgical patients.

Implementation Mapping for Managing Patients at High Risk for Hereditary Cancer.

Introduction: Currently, no standard workflow exists for managing patients with pathogenic variants that put them at higher risk for hereditary cancers. Therefore, follow-up care for individuals with pathogenic variants is logistically challenging and results in poor guideline adherence. To address this challenge, authors created clinical management strategies for individuals identified at high risk for hereditary cancers.

Horseshoe Fistulae in the Age of LIFT.

Background: Horseshoe fistula is a challenging benign anorectal condition to treat. The aim of this study was to assess the utilization and success of different definitive fistula repair techniques in the treatment of horseshoe fistula.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series which included all patients who were treated for horseshoe fistula from 2006 to 2019 at a single, tertiary care center and whom had at least one follow-up visit.

Does Preoperative Calcium and Calcitriol Decrease Rates of Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia? A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Postoperative hypocalcemia is the most common complication after thyroidectomy. Postoperative supplementation with calcium and calcitriol reduces its occurrence; however, prophylactic preoperative supplementation has not been studied systematically. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether pre- and postoperative calcium and calcitriol supplementation reduces postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy compared with postoperative supplementation alone.

How to Get Ahead: Early-Career Colorectal Surgeons Reflect on Their First Few Years in Practice.

Objective: To identify strategies and barriers to career progression in early-career colorectal surgeons.

Design: Qualitative research study performed via semi-structured interviews with early-career, board-certified colon, and rectal surgeons. Responses were analyzed, coded, and categorized to understand strategies towards career progression, perceived barriers to career progression, beliefs about case mix, and referral patterns.

Endoscopic Step Up: A Colon-Sparing Alternative to Colectomy to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Costs for Patients With Advanced Neoplastic Polyps.

Background: The optimal strategy for colonic polyps not amenable to traditional endoscopic polypectomy is unknown. Endoscopic step up is a promising strategy for definitive treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether endoscopic step up leads to improved outcomes and decreased costs compared with planned colectomy for endoscopically unresectable colon polyps.