Surgery Clerkship Directors' Perceptions of the COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact on Medical Student Education.

Background: This study assessed the national impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the education of medical students assigned to surgery clerkship rotations, as reported by surgery clerkship directors (CDs).

Study Design: In the spring of 2020 and 2021, the authors surveyed 164 CDs from 144 Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited US medical schools about their views of the pandemic's impact on the surgery clerkship curriculum, students' experiences, outcomes, and institutional responses.

Results: Overall survey response rates, calculated as number of respondents/number of surveyed, were 44.

One-Year Follow-Up of COVID-19 Impact on Surgical Education: Clinical Training Restored but Surgical Trainee Emotional Well-Being Still at Risk.

Background: A previous survey documented the severe disruption of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on surgical education and trainee well-being during the initial surge and systemic lockdowns. Herein, we report the results of a follow-up survey inclusive of the 2020 to 2021 academic year.

Study Design: A survey was distributed to education leaders across all surgical specialties in summer 2021.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical trainee education and well-being spring 2020-winter 2020: A path forward.

Background: The time course and longitudinal impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on surgical education(SE) and learner well-being (LWB)is unknown.

Material And Methods: Check-in surveys were distributed to Surgery Program Directors and Department Chairs, including general surgery and surgical specialties, in the summer and winter of 2020 and compared to a survey from spring 2020. Statistical associations for items with self-reported ACGME Stage and the survey period were assessed using categorical analysis.

Lived Experiences of Surgical Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Assessment.

Objective: As the COVID-19 pandemic dynamically changes our society, it is important to consider how the pandemic has affected the training and wellness of surgical residents. Using a qualitative study of national focus groups with general surgery residents, we aim to identify common themes surrounding their personal, clinical, and educational experiences that could be used to inform practice and policy for future pandemics and disasters.

Design: Six 90-minute focus groups were conducted by a trained qualitative researcher who elicited responses on six predetermined topics.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Training and Learner Well-Being: Report of a Survey of General Surgery and Other Surgical Specialty Educators.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the delivery of surgical services. The purpose of this communication was to report the impact of the pandemic on surgical training and learner well-being and to document adaptations made by surgery departments.

Study Design: A 37-item survey was distributed to educational leaders in general surgery and other surgical specialty training programs.

1112 consecutive bilateral neck explorations for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Bilateral neck exploration has been the standard approach for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Improved localization studies and the availability of intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring have challenged the necessity of four-gland exploration. In this series we report a single surgeon's experience with bilateral neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism in an effort to establish benchmark outcomes from which to evaluate minimally invasive protocols.

Thyroidectomy using monitored local or conventional general anesthesia: an analysis of outpatient surgery, outcome and cost in 1,194 consecutive cases.

Background: Critical appraisal of safety, feasibility, and economic impact of thyroidectomy procedures using local (LA) or general anesthesia (GA) is performed.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy procedures were selected from a prospective database from January 1996 to June 2003 of a single-surgeon practice at a tertiary center. Statistical analyses determined differences in patient characteristics, outcomes, operative data, and length of stay (LOS) between groups.

Utility of preoperative [(18)]f fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography scanning in high-risk melanoma patients.

Background: [(18)]F Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) scanning provides functional imaging based on glucose uptake by tumors. Melanoma is a glucose-avid malignancy, and preoperative PET scanning in melanoma patients has the potential to guide appropriate treatment.

Methods: We performed a prospective trial to evaluate the clinical utility of whole-body fluorine 18-labeled deoxyglucose-PET scanning used in addition to standard imaging (contrast-enhanced computed tomographic [CT] imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis) in preoperative stage IIC (T4N0M0), III (any T, N1 to N3, M0), and IV (any T, any N, M1) melanoma patients.

Thyroidectomy using local anesthesia: a report of 1,025 cases over 16 years.

Background: Thyroid surgery is performed using general anesthesia by the majority of surgeons in current practice. This study was conducted to analyze the utility and safety of local anesthesia for thyroid surgery.

Study Design: Prospective data were collected for 1,025 consecutive patients undergoing thyroidectomy using monitored local anesthesia during a 16-year period by a single surgeon at a tertiary referral center.

Initial clinical response predicts outcome and is associated with dose schedule in metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma patients treated with high-dose interleukin 2.

Background: High-dose interleukin (IL)-2 is an effective agent for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. This study evaluated the outcomes of patients receiving two commonly used intravenous IL-2 schedules that have never been directly compared.

Methods: Forty-seven metastatic malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma patients were identified from a prospective database who underwent high-dose IL-2 therapy (720,000 or 600,000 IU/kg) during 1999 to 2003.

Characterization of micrometastatic disease in melanoma sentinel lymph nodes by enhanced pathology: recommendations for standardizing pathologic analysis.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy are widely used as a staging technique for patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma who are at risk for metastases. SLN status has been shown to be a strong predictor of prognosis, and a variety of techniques have been used to identify minimal metastatic disease in SLNs. However, there is no validated consensus method for the optimal histologic analysis of SLNs harvested from melanoma patients.

Surgical treatment of stage IV melanoma.

Surgical therapy plays an important role in the management of selected patients with metastatic melanoma. Patients are frequently symptomatic from metastatic lesions, have few effective therapeutic options, and are faced with dismal outcomes. Surgical resection may provide successful palliation of symptomatic lesions with low morbidity and operative mortality.

Surgical capsules: diagnosis and management of liposarcoma.

A healthy, 53-year-old man presented with a small, soft, nontender mass of his right upper arm that progressively grew larger and more firm during the 6 weeks before evaluation.

Operative surgical education: results of a society of surgical oncology fellowship survey and proposal for an operative database.

Background: Preparation of surgical trainees for oncological operative procedures is challenging. The purpose of this survey was to focus on identifying methods and resources used by trainees to prepare for procedures and to ascess the need for additional educational tools.

Methods: A 34-item survey was mailed electronically to 97 surgical oncology fellows at 14 Society of Surgical Oncology-approved training programs.

Is D2 lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer a staging tool or a therapeutic intervention?

The extent of lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer is a controversial topic widely debated by those treating the disease. Regional differences in outcome have been noted between patients treated in Japan centers and those treated in Western centers. Technical differences have been investigated within the context of two large, prospective randomized trials, which found no benefit to more extensive lymphadenectomy procedures with increased morbidity.

Randomized clinical trials in melanoma.

Efforts to improve the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma have led to 67 prospective randomized clinical trials investigating the use of agents comprising three main areas of therapy: systemic chemotherapy-based regimens, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy