Fertility Preservation and Infertility Treatment in Female Surgical Trainees in Alberta: A Survey of Trainee Knowledge, Attitudes, and Needs.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe fertility knowledge and views on family planning and fertility preservation/treatment among female surgical trainees in Alberta.

Methods: A voluntary, anonymous online survey was sent to surgical program coordinators in Alberta to forward to their respective trainees. Participants included surgical trainees from cardiac surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with ovarian cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism is associated with significant patient morbidity, mortality, and can lead to delays in treatment for patients with cancer. The objectives of this study were to identify the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with advanced ovarian cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and identify risk factors for venous thromboembolism.

Methods: A systematic literature search of biomedical databases, including Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and Embase was performed on December 6, 2022 and updated on December 21, 2023 for peer reviewed articles.

Cannabis use in gynecologic cancer patients in a Canadian cancer center.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis use in patients with gynecologic malignancies and to describe patterns of cannabis use. Secondary objectives included identifying sources of cannabis information used by patients.

Methods: This is a single institution cross sectional survey conducted in Calgary, Alberta.

Evaluating and implementing an opportunity for diversity and inclusion in case-based learning.

Problem-based learning (PBL) and case-based learning (CBL) often mention social identities only if this information is directly relevant to diagnosis, which can inadvertently perpetuate stereotypes in trainee learning. Using a student-developed resource entitled "Portraying Social Identities in Medical Curriculum: A Primer," we analyzed cases for social identities, identified gaps, and proposed changes, including use of a validated name bank to reflect diversity as represented by local census data. Through this innovation, suggestions were provided to represent the social determinants of health in CBL cases.

Metabolic adverse effects of off-label use of second-generation antipsychotics in the adult population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prescription rates of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are rapidly increasing for non-indicated (i.e., off-label) usage.

Multicenter Comparison of the Toronto Portable Perimeter with the Humphrey Field Analyzer: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between glaucomatous 24-2 visual field (VF) testing performed with the Toronto Portable Perimeter (TPP; VEM Medical Technologies) and the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA; Carl Zeiss Meditec).

Design: Multicenter prospective cohort analysis.

Participants: Patients with suspected or confirmed glaucoma treated at Prism Eye Institute (Oakville, Canada), York Finch Eye Associates (North York, Canada), or the Ontario Mobile Medical Eye Care Unit (Cochrane, Canada) between March 2019 and March 2020.

Persistent sciatic artery presenting as an acutely ischemic limb.

Persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is an extremely rare vascular phenomenon, with a prevalence of 0.025% to 0.04% in the general population.

Chylothorax post transaxillary first rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome.

We present a patient who developed high output chyle leak post left transaxillary first rib resection for venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The high output chylorrhoea was successfully treated by conservative measures, bed rest, parenteral nutrition and low-fat diet. The patient was discharged after an 18-day hospital stay with a complete resolution of his chylous fistula prior to discharge.

The Glaring Gender Bias in the Operating Room: A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Career Selection for First-Year Medical Students.

Objective: Despite greater female than male-identifying Canadian medical graduates, women continued to be underrepresented in surgical specialties. The aim of this study was to explore the role of lifestyle challenges and gender-specific considerations in career selection for first-year medical students following early exposure to surgery through an immersive surgical program.

Design: A single institution, qualitative study consisting of structured focus groups before and after completion of a 2-week surgical program was used to explore medical student perceptions of surgery.

Fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with concomitant horseshoe kidney.

Horseshoe kidney, representing abnormal fusion of the inferior renal poles, is a rare anatomic anomaly posing challenges in the setting of surgical abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Historically, open repair has been the favoured surgical approach. However, due to the location of the renal isthmus and wide-ranging variation in anomalous renal vasculature, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has emerged as a popular, less invasive alternative.

Associations between plasma clozapine/N-desmethylclozapine ratio, insulin resistance and cognitive performance in patients with co-morbid obesity and ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia.

Clozapine (CLZ), the sole antipsychotic with superior efficacy for ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS), is limited by adverse effects, including metabolic dysregulation. Clozapine's main metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC), has potent 5-HT2C antagonist properties which may explain this metabolic dysfunction, thus the CLZ:NDMC ratio is of particular interest. High insulin resistance states could be associated with CYP1A2 induction and lower CLZ:NDMC ratios.

Chylous ascites following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Postoperative chylous ascites is a rare complication of abdominal surgery. Chyle depletion results in nutritional, immunologic and metabolic deficiencies, making it a serious and potentially life-threatening condition for which prompt diagnosis and management is imperative. A 72-year-old male was referred for open repair of a 62 cm juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Ten-year trends in iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis treatment and referral pathways.

Objectives: Iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis is associated with an increased risk of developing post-thrombotic syndrome resulting in reduced quality of life. As there is debate about best management practices, this study aimed to examine the referral and treatment pathways for patients presenting with iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis over an 11-year period at our institution.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with lower limb deep vein thrombosis between 2010 and 2020.

Large pseudoaneurysm arising from the deep femoral artery after hip fracture fixation.

Hip fracture is a common condition of increasing global concern. Vascular injury as a complication after hip fracture repair is rare. A 90-year-old woman developed swelling and pain to her proximal thigh 1 month after uneventful hip fracture fixation.

Patient-reported outcome measures for retinoblastoma: a scoping review.

Background: Retinoblastoma is a childhood retinal cancer with lifelong consequences such as vision loss and increased risk of second cancer. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are instruments that measure outcomes related to health directly reported by patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the scope, characteristics and quality of PROMs used in retinoblastoma and related fields of pediatric ophthalmology and pediatric oncology.