The joy of surgery: how gender influences surgeons' experiences.

Introduction: Burnout in medicine is an epidemic, and surgeons are not immune. Studies often focus on negative factors leading to burnout, with less emphasis on optimizing joy. The purpose of this study, conducted by the SAGES Reimagining the Practice of Surgery Task Force, was to explore how gender may influence surgeon well-being to better inform organizational change.

The joy of surgery: how surgeons experience joy, time, and support.

Background: Burnout is a crisis in medicine, and especially in surgery it has serious implications not only for physician well-being but also for patient outcomes. This study builds on previous SAGES Reimagining the Practice of Surgery Task Force work to better understand how organizations might intervene to increase the "joy in surgery."

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study utilizing a REDCap survey with closed-ended questions for data collection across 5 domains: facilitators of joy, support for best work, time for work tasks, barriers to joy, and what they would do with more time.

Effect of video-based self-reflection on intraoperative skills: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: The value of video-based self-assessment in enhancing surgical skills is uncertain. This study investigates the feasibility and estimates sample size for a full-scale randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of video-based self-assessment to improve surgical performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in trainees.

Methods: This parallel pilot randomized controlled trial included general surgery trainees performing supervised laparoscopic cholecystectomy randomized 1:1 to control (traditional intraoperative teaching) or intervention group (traditional teaching plus video-based self-assessment).

Experimental Parametric Study and Phenomenological Modeling of a Deformable Rolling Seismic Isolator.

This paper presents an extensive experimental study of a low-cost, high-performance seismic isolator comprising a deformable sphere rolling on concrete surfaces. Polyurethane spheres, with and without steel core, rolling on flat or spherical concrete plates, are investigated. Lateral cyclic tests under large displacements demonstrated a rolling friction coefficient between 3.

What are essential laparoscopic skills these days? Results of the SAGES Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Committee technical skills survey.

Introduction: The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program tests basic knowledge and skills required to perform laparoscopic surgery. Educational experiences in laparoscopic training and development of associated competencies have evolved since FLS inception, making it important to review the definition of fundamental laparoscopic skills. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) assigned an FLS Technical Skills Working Group to characterize technical skills used in basic laparoscopic surgery in current practice contexts and their possible application to future FLS tests.

A Video-Based Assessment Tool to Measure Intraoperative Laparoscopic Suturing Using a Modified Script Concordance Methodology.

Objectives: Laparoscopic suturing (LS) is a challenging laparoscopic skill to teach. Its complexity and nuances are not modeled or measured in current simulation and assessment platforms.The script concordance test (SCT) is used to assess clinical reasoning.

Factors influencing surgeon well-being: qualitatively exploring the joy of surgery.

Background: There has been considerable research into burnout but much less into how surgeons thrive and find joy. This study, conducted by the SAGES Reimagining the Practice of Surgery Task Force, explored factors influencing surgeon well-being, the eventual goal being translating findings into tangible changes to help restore the joy in surgery.

Methods: This was a qualitative, descriptive study.

Defining Cognitive Competencies for Breast Augmentation Surgery.

Background: Breast augmentation is the most performed aesthetic procedure in the United States yet one that surgical trainees have limited exposure to. This creates a lack of confidence in performing this key procedure among graduates. It is imperative to develop novel curricula and objective measures to standardize acquiring competency.

An argument-based validation study of the fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) program.

Background: The Fundamentals of Laparoscopy Surgery (FLS) program was launched over 15 years ago. Since then, there has been an exponential rise in advancements of laparoscopy and its uses. In response, we conducted an argument-based validation study of FLS.

The entrustable professional activities of laparoscopic surgery: moving toward an integrated training model.

Background: Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) provide the opportunity to integrate multiple competencies into meaningful units that facilitate curriculum development and assessment design. As part of the process of reviewing and enhancing the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic of Surgery (FLS) program, we used the concept of EPAs to create a framework of reference that articulates a contemporary definition of Laparoscopic Surgery (LS).

Methods: The framework of reference of LS was created with data gathered from a literature review and during series of educational retreats with subject matter experts (SMEs).

Implementation of entrustable professional activities into fellowship council accredited programs: a pilot project.

Objective: The Fellowship Council (FC) is transitioning to a competency-based medical education (CBME) model, including the introduction of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for training and assessment of Fellows. This study describes the implementation process employed by the FC during a ten-month pilot project and presents data regarding feasibility and perceived value.

Methods: The FC coordinated the development of EPAs in collaboration with the sponsoring societies for Advanced GI/MIS, Bariatrics, Foregut, Endoscopy and Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) fellowships encompassing the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of care for key competencies.

Study of genetic variation and its association with tensile strength among bamboo species through whole genome resequencing.

Moso bamboo () is a versatile plant species that is widely used as a construction material by many low-income countries due to the lack of major construction materials such as steel and reinforced concrete. It is also widely used in China. Bamboo is an economically sustainable material that behaves exceptionally in natural disasters such as earthquakes and it can offer viable solutions for contemporary engineering challenges.

Validity of video-based general and procedure-specific self-assessment tools for surgical trainees in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Self-review of recorded surgical procedures offers new opportunities for trainees to extend technical learning outside the operating-room. Valid tools for self-assessment are required prior to evaluating the effectiveness of video-review in enhancing technical learning. Therefore, we aimed to contribute evidence regarding the validity of intraoperative performance assessment tools for video-based self-assessment by general surgery trainees when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

Establishing validity evidence for device-assisted advanced laparoscopic suturing tasks using simulation.

Background: Laparoscopic suturing (LS) is an essential technique required for a wide range of procedures, and it is one of the most challenging for surgical trainees to master. We designed and collected validity evidence for advanced LS tasks using an automated suturing device and evaluated the perceived educational value of the tasks.

Methods: This project was a multicentre prospective study involving McGill University, University of Toronto (UofT), and Louisiana State University (LSU) Health New Orleans.

Teaching and Assessing Cognitive Competencies in Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery.

Background: Cognition, part of surgical competence, employs forward planning, error prevention, and orchestration of technical skills. Thus, an understanding of mental processes used by experts throughout patient care is essential to teaching such competencies. The authors' study aimed to analyze and compare mental models of two distinct procedures in plastic surgery-breast augmentation and flexor tendon repair-to develop a framework to define cognitive competencies in plastic surgery aided by a review of the literature.

The association between video-based assessment of intraoperative technical performance and patient outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Efforts to improve surgical safety and outcomes have traditionally placed little emphasis on intraoperative performance, partly due to difficulties in measurement. Video-based assessment (VBA) provides an opportunity for blinded and unbiased appraisal of surgeon performance. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the existing literature on the association between intraoperative technical performance, measured using VBA, and patient outcomes.

Development of a simulation curriculum to teach and assess advanced laparoscopic suturing skills using telesimulation: a feasibility study.

Background: Telesimulation helps overcome limitations in time and local expertise by eliminating the need for the learner and educator to be physically co-located, especially important during COVID-19. We investigated whether teaching advanced laparoscopic suturing (ALS) through telesimulation is feasible, effective, and leads to improved suturing in the operating room (OR).

Methods: In this prospective feasibility study, three previously developed 3D-printed ALS tasks were used: needle handling (NH), suturing under tension (UT), and continuous suturing (CS).

Evaluation of the palliative radiotherapy pathway in a single institute: Can an MR Linac improve efficiency?

Background: Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is effectively used to relieve cancer related symptoms. The demand for these services is increasing worldwide. Rapid response clinics have been developed as a means to streamline the palliative RT radiotherapy process and increase efficiency and improve patient experiences.

Toward Competency-Based Training: To What Extent Are We Competency-Based?

Background: Time-based training models in plastic surgery vary in exposure, resulting in low confidence levels among graduates. The evolution of postgraduate medical education into a competency-based model to address these issues requires an understanding of interventions described in the plastic surgery literature to identify gaps and guide creation of assessments to demonstrate competence.

Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and Cochrane databases from inception until December of 2017 was conducted using search terms and synonyms of educational interventions reported in plastic surgery.

Non-interventional monitoring of expiratory flow limitation during experimental mechanical ventilation.

Background: Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is common among patients in the intensive care unit under mechanical ventilation (MV) and may have significant clinical consequences. In the present study, we examine the possibility of non-interventional detection of EFL during experimental MV.

Methods: Eight artificially ventilated New Zealand rabbits were included in the experiments.

S116: Impact of incisional negative pressure wound therapy on surgical site infection after complex incisional hernia repair: a retrospective matched cohort study.

Introduction: Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) may reduce surgical site infections (SSI), which can have devastating consequences after incisional hernia repair. Few comparative studies investigate the effectiveness of this wound management strategy in this population. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of iNPWT on the incidence of SSI after complex incisional hernia repair.

Defining the key skills required to perform advanced laparoscopic procedures: a qualitative descriptive study.

Background: Simulation is widely used to teach and assess fundamental laparoscopic skills; however, program directors have reported that current simulation programs do not meet the needs for trainees and surgeons learning advanced laparoscopic procedures (ALP). The purpose of our study was to identify the key skills required to perform ALP, to serve as the basis to establish an advanced laparoscopic skills training program.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with attending surgeons, fellows, and senior residents in general surgery, gynaecology, and urology.

An evaluation of techniques used in superficial radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer to replicate the planned treatment area: A prospective study.

Introduction: Accuracy of superficial radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer is dependent on replicating the original clinical mark-up. Responses from 18 UK Radiotherapy centres identified the four most common replication techniques; the accuracy and time-efficiency of each was evaluated, as well as participant preference and confidence.

Methods: A 2.