Smoking status predicts anastomotic leak after esophagectomy: a systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: Anastomotic leak after esophagectomy is a major contributor to surgery-related morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate if positive-smoking status is associated with the incidence of this complication.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library was performed on April 4th, 2023.

Race and sex diversity in Canadian academic surgical societies.

Background: It is vital for national professional surgical societies to embrace diversity, inclusion, and equity. This study examines race and sex diversity in two Canadian surgical societies.

Methods: Websites of the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons (CSCS) and the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) and previous programs of their annual meetings were reviewed.

Conflict of interest disclosure by US cardiothoracic surgeons.

Background: Surgeon-industry collaboration is a key driver of advancement in surgical technology and practice. Disclosures of financial relationships between investigators and industries are important to ensure transparent and critical evaluation of literature.

Methods: All American cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons who published in three major CT surgery journals in 2019 were identified.

Validity Evidence for Procedure-specific Competence Assessment Tools in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Competency-based training requires frequent assessment of residents' skills to determine clinical competence. This study reviews existing literature on procedure-specific competence assessment tools in orthopaedic surgery.

Methods: A systematic search of eight databases up to May 2023 was conducted.

Preoperative mediastinal staging in early-stage lung cancer: Targeted nodal sampling is not inferior to systematic nodal sampling.

Objective: To determine whether targeted sampling (TS), which omits biopsy of triple- normal lymph nodes (LNs) on positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), is noninferior to systematic sampling (SS) of mediastinal LNs during EBUS for staging of patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients who are clinical nodal (cN)0-N1 with suspected NSCLC eligible for EBUS based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter trial. During EBUS, all patients underwent TS and then crossed over to SS, whereby at least 3 mediastinal LN stations (4R, 4L, 7) were routinely sampled.

Increased team familiarity for surgical time savings: Effective primarily in complex surgical cases.

Background: Cohesion between team members is critical for surgical performance. Our previous study has shown that the experience of working together (measured by Team Familiarity Score, TFS) helps reduce procedure time (PT). However, that conclusion was found in a relatively small sample size.

Assessment of a Novel, Adjustable Task Trainer for Cardiac Surgical Skills.

Introduction: A recent needs assessment in Canadian cardiac surgery programs identified the desire for a coronary artery bypass (CABG) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) simulation model for home practice. We aimed to develop and assess a portable, adjustable task trainer for cardiac surgical skills with high functional task alignment.

Methods: Intraoperative measurements were taken from patients undergoing elective CABG and AVR (N = 30).

Sex and racial diversity in Canadian academic surgery.

To ensure equitable representation of women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, person of colour) individuals in surgical specialties, it is first necessary to understand the presence and extent of the disparities that exist. We explored the websites of the 17 Canadian faculties of medicine to examine sex and racial diversity in surgical specialties and in surgical leadership positions in Canada. We categorized faculty members of each department of surgery as either male or female and White or BIPOC.

Changes in Sarcopenia Status Predict Survival Among Patients with Resectable Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Sarcopenia is a predictor of survival in patients with esophageal cancer. The objective of this research was to obtain insight into how changes in sarcopenia influence survival in resectable esophageal cancer.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing tri-modality therapy was selected.

Oral care reduces incidence of pneumonia after esophagectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Post-operative pneumonia after esophagectomy is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Prior studies have demonstrated a link between the presence of pathologic oral flora and the development of aspiration pneumonia. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of pre-operative oral care on the incidence of post-operative pneumonia after esophagectomy.

Sarcopenia in Lung Cancer: A Narrative Review.

It has been over 10 years since the relationship between sarcopenia and lung cancer was first explored. Since then, sarcopenia research has progressed substantially, and the prognostic value of this condition is becoming increasingly apparent. Prior systematic reviews and meta-analyses have established sarcopenia to be negatively associated with disease-free and overall-survival, as well as a major risk factor for post-operative complications.

Learning objectives for thoracic surgery: developing a national standard for undergraduate medical education.

Background: The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (Education) Committee of the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons (CATS) has established a goal of describing the essential knowledge of thoracic surgery. We aimed to develop a national standardized set of undergraduate learning objectives for thoracic surgery.

Methods: We obtained these learning objectives from 4 medical schools in Canada.

ERAS guidelines for esophagectomy: adherence patterns among Canadian thoracic surgeons.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) guidelines have been incorporated across surgical specialties supported by the publication of evidence-based guidelines. The purpose of this research was to explore adherence to such guidelines among Canadian thoracic surgeons with respect to esophagectomy. A standardized questionnaire was developed comprising 43 validated ERAS recommendations.

Cellulose: A Review of Water Interactions, Applications in Composites, and Water Treatment.

Cellulose is known to interact well with water, but is insoluble in it. Many polysaccharides such as cellulose are known to have significant hydrogen bond networks joining the molecular chains, and yet they are recalcitrant to aqueous solvents. This review charts the interaction of cellulose with water but with emphasis on the formation of both natural and synthetic fiber composites.

Factors Associated With Resident Research Success: An Analysis of Canadian General Surgery Trainees.

Objective: Better understanding the research productivity of Canadian general surgery residents and factors associated with success would provide a valuable reference and help inform actions to enable success. We aimed to characterize the research productivity of Canadian general surgery residents and to evaluate factors associated with residents' research quantity and impact.

Design: A cross-sectional, observational study was performed using publicly available data evaluating Canadian General Surgery resident research productivity.

Presurgical radiation and chemotherapy in preparation for thoracic tumor resection.

Purpose Of Review: This article aims at describing the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy as well the novel immunotherapy and targeted therapy in thoracic oncology with focus on anesthetic considerations of such treatments for the surgical patient.

Recent Findings: In recent years, immune check point inhibitors have changed the landscape of thoracic oncology treatment. In this review, we summarize the key studies that have been fundamental in this change.

Sarcopenia reduces overall survival in unresectable oesophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sarcopenia measured through body composition analysis is emerging as an important prognosticator among various malignancies, including oesophageal cancer. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) as determined by the third lumbar vertebrae on cross-sectional CT images has been demonstrated as a predictor of overall survival in oesophageal cancer, using pre-defined cut off values for sarcopenia. However, this is largely within the setting of resectable disease.

Atypical Vertebral Hemangioma in a Patient With Newly Diagnosed Pulmonary Nodule.

Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are common, benign angiomatous lesions of the spine with an incidence rate of 10% to 12% in the population. VHs have a characteristic appearance on imaging; however, a subset demonstrate atypical features that resemble more sinister pathologic processes, such as malignant neoplasms or metastatic disease. We report a case of an atypical VH that was initially thought to be a metastasis in a 75-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed pulmonary nodule.

Sarcopenia Determined by Skeletal Muscle Index Predicts Overall Survival, Disease-free Survival, and Postoperative Complications in Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Sarcopenia has been identified as a prognostic factor among certain types of cancer. In esophageal cancer, patients are at increased risk of malnutrition and sarcopenia, ultimately contributing to poor outcomes. A systematic review was conducted to determine whether sarcopenia, defined by the skeletal muscle index, is predictive of overall survival, disease-free survival, and postoperative complications in resectable esophageal cancer.

Stigma in Early-Stage Lung Cancer.

Background: The phenomenon of lung cancer stigma has been firmly established in the literature. However, studies have predominantly focused on patients with advanced disease, whose experiences may differ from patients with earlier stage, surgically resectable lung cancer and an improved prognosis.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to examine the stigma experienced in a Canadian population with early-stage, resectable lung cancer.

Flexible and digestible wood caused by viral-induced alteration of cell wall composition.

Woody plant material represents a vast renewable resource that has the potential to produce biofuels and other bio-based products with favorable net CO emissions. Its potential has been demonstrated in a recent study that generated novel structural materials from flexible moldable wood. Apple rubbery wood (ARW) disease is the result of a viral infection that causes woody stems to exhibit increased flexibility.