Publications by authors named "Jonathan S Abelson"
Article Synopsis
- The management of locally advanced rectal cancer has evolved significantly, with advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy from the early 1900s to the introduction of organ preservation strategies in 2004.
- The concept of shared decision making in treatment has gained importance, emphasizing patient-centered care and the need to align treatment options with individual patient values and preferences.
- This review will discuss the evolution of treatment options, the importance of shared decision making, and present a decision aid for patients eligible for a "watch and wait" approach after achieving a complete clinical response.
Background: Prior analyses of general surgery resident case logs have indicated a decline in the number of endocrine procedures performed during residency. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the endocrine operative experience of general surgery residents and compare those who matched in endocrine surgery fellowship with those who did not.
Methods: We analyzed the case log data of graduates from 18 general surgery residency programs in the US Resident Operative Experience Consortium over an 11-year period.
Introduction: Nonoperative management (NOM) of locally advanced rectal cancer was described as early as 2004. Initial national data demonstrated increase in utilization of NOM from 1998 to 2010, but newer national utilization data are not available.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the National Cancer Database to assess utilization and 5-y overall survival (OS) of NOM of locally advanced rectal cancer.
Background: Adequate lymph node (LN) excision is imperative for pathologic staging and determination of adjuvant treatment.
Methods: he 2004-2017 National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for curative colon cancer resections. Tumors were categorized by location: left, right, and transverse colon cancers.
Objective: To examine differences in resident operative experience between male and female general surgery residents.
Background: Despite increasing female representation in surgery, sex and gender disparities in residency experience continue to exist. The operative volume of male and female general surgery residents has not been compared on a multi-institutional level.
Objective: To determine the relationship between race/ethnicity and case volume among graduating surgical residents.
Background: Racial/ethnic minority individuals face barriers to entry and advancement in surgery; however, no large-scale investigations of the operative experience of racial/ethnic minority residents have been performed.
Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective analysis of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs of categorical general surgery residents at 20 programs in the US Resident OPerative Experience Consortium database was performed.
Background: Selection for colorectal surgery residency relies on letters of recommendation for assessment of candidates' strengths and weaknesses. It is unclear whether this process incorporates implicit gender bias.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the presence of gender bias in letters of recommendation for colorectal surgery residency.
Introduction: During the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare utilization changed. We sought to examine the impact of the first COVID-19 surge on the outcomes of patients whose elective surgeries for diverticulitis were postponed and those who underwent urgent surgery during the surge.
Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study from a single tertiary center in the Northeast of the US.
Objective: Standardized letters of recommendation (SLOR) are hypothesized to decrease bias and provide consistent domains for evaluation. However, their ability to differentiate among applicants is unknown. The utilization and functionality of SLOR and the impact of SLOR domain rating on matching for colon and rectal surgery (CRS) residency applicants have yet to be assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is concern regarding the competency of today's general surgery graduates as a large proportion defer independent practice in favor of additional fellowship training. Little is known about the graduates who directly enter general surgery practice and if their operative experiences during residency differ from graduates who pursue fellowship.
Methods: Nineteen Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery programs from the US Resident OPerative Experience Consortium were included.
A 59-year-old man underwent screening colonoscopy that identified a 2-cm rectal polyp in the posterior midline, 7 cm from the anal verge. Biopsy revealed a tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. The patient underwent a robotic-assisted transanal minimally invasive surgery with full-thickness excision (Fig.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Regionalization of rectal cancer surgery may lead to worse disease free survival owing to longer travel time to reach a high volume center yet no study has evaluated this relationship at a single high volume center volume center.
Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective review of rectal cancer patients undergoing surgery from 2009 to 2019 at a single high volume center. Patients were divided into two groups based on travel time.
Background: The objective of this study was to determine if there is an impact of surgical delay on 5-year overall survival (OS) from early stage colon cancer, and if so, to define how long surgery can safely be postponed.
Methods: Using the NCDB, we compared early (14-30 days) and delayed surgery (31-90 days) in patients with Stage I/II colon cancer. Outcomes included OS at five years and odds of death.
Background: The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach for treating rectal cancer and has developed performance measures to ensure that patients receive standardized care. We hypothesized that rectal cancer patients receiving care at multiple centers would be less likely to receive timely and appropriate care.
Study Design: A single institution retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed.
Background: There is controversy surrounding the efficacy and safety of colonic stents as a bridge to surgery compared with immediate resection in patients presenting with an acute malignant large bowel obstruction.
Methods: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study using the NYS SPARCS Database. Patients with acute malignant large bowel obstruction who either had stent followed by elective surgery within 3 weeks (bridge to surgery) or underwent immediate resection between October 2009 and June 2016 in the state of New York were included.
Background: Medical school experience informs the decision to pursue graduate surgical education. However, it is possible that inadequate preparation in medical school is responsible for the high rate of attrition seen in general surgery residency.
Materials And Methods: We performed a national prospective cohort study of all categorical general surgery interns who entered training in the 2007-2008 academic year.
Background: Distress is common among cancer patients and leads to worse postoperative outcomes. Surgeons are often the first physicians to have in-depth conversations with patients about a new colorectal cancer diagnosis; therefore, it is important that these surgeons understand how patients cope with the distress of a diagnosis and how they can help patients manage this distress.
Methods: Patients with colorectal cancer were recruited from an outpatient surgery clinic.