Identifying Factors Associated With Code Status Changes After Emergency General Surgery.

Introduction: Surgical emergencies are time sensitive. Identifying patients who may benefit from preoperative goals of care discussions is critical to ensuring that operative intervention aligns with the patient's values. We sought to identify patient factors associated with acute changes in a patient's goals using code status change (CSC) as proxy.

Utilization of Palliative and Hospice Care Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients at an Academic Center.

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has the lowest 5-y relative survival of all solid tumor malignancies. Palliative care can improve the quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. However, the utilization patterns of palliative care in patients with pancreatic cancer are unclear.

Uncovering patient safety considerations in laparoscopic cholecystectomy using cognitive task analysis.

Introduction: Educating residents on laparoscopic operations requires direct teaching and deliberate practice. Attending surgeons are often systematic when performing surgery, which creates a challenge when instructing surgery residents. The aim of this study was to use cognitive task analysis to expand laparoscopic cholecystectomy into microsteps reflecting expert surgeon cognition (perceptions, assessments, decisions, etc.

Comorbidities Matter as Distressed Communities Index Fails to Predict Mortality in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are life-threatening infections requiring prompt intervention. The Distressed Communities Index (DCI) is a comprehensive ranking of socioeconomic well-being based on zip code. We sought to identify the role of DCI in predicting mortality in NSTI, because it remains unknown.

All Politics Are Local: A Single Institution Investigation of the Educational Impact of Residents and Fellows Working Together.

Background: Most general surgery residents pursue fellowship; there is limited understanding of the impact residents and fellows have on each other's education. The goal of this exploratory survey was to identify these impacts.

Materials And Methods: Surgical residents and fellows at a single academic institution were surveyed regarding areas (OR assignments, the educational focus of the team, roles and responsibilities on the team, interpersonal communication, call, "other") hypothesized to be impacted by other learners.

Leaving Against Medical Advice After Emergency General Surgery: Avoiding a Two-Hit Effect.

Background: Emergency general surgery has higher adverse outcomes than elective surgery. Patients leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) have a greater risk for readmission and complications. We sought to identify clinical and demographic characteristics along with hospital factors associated with leaving AMA after EGS operations.

Analyzing Outcomes Among Older Adults With Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in the United States.

Background: Necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) encompass a group of severe, life-threatening diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests advanced age is associated with worse outcomes. To date, no large data sets exist describing outcomes in older individuals, and risk factor identification is lacking.