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Importance: Labor unions are purported to improve working conditions; however, little evidence exists regarding the effect of resident physician unions., Objective: To evaluate the association of resident unions with well-being, educational environment, salary, and benefits among surgical residents in the US., Design, Setting, and Participants: This national cross-sectional survey study was based on a survey administered in January 2019 after the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). Clinically active residents at all nonmilitary US general surgery residency programs accredited by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education who completed the 2019 ABSITE were eligible for participation. Data were analyzed from December 5, 2020, to March 16, 2021., Exposures: Presence of a general surgery resident labor union. Rates of labor union coverage among non-health care employees within a region were used as an instrumental variable (IV) for the presence of a labor union at a residency program., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was burnout, which was assessed using a modified version of the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory and was defined as experiencing any symptom of depersonalization or emotional exhaustion at least weekly. Secondary outcomes included suicidality, measures of job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, salary, and benefits., Results: A total of 5701 residents at 285 programs completed the pertinent survey questions (response rate, 85.6%), of whom 3219 (56.5%) were male, 3779 (66.3%) were White individuals, 449 (7.9%) were of Hispanic ethnicity, 4239 (74.4%) were married or in a relationship, and 1304 (22.9%) had or were expecting children. Among respondents, 690 residents were from 30 unionized programs (10.5% of programs). There was no difference in burnout for residents at unionized vs nonunionized programs (297 [43.0%] vs 2175 [43.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.92 [95% CI, 0.75-1.13]; IV difference in probability, 0.15 [95% CI, -0.11 to 0.42]). There were no significant differences in suicidality, job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, salary, or benefits except that unionized programs more frequently offered 4 weeks instead of 2 to 3 weeks of vacation (27 [93.1%] vs 52 [30.6%]; OR, 19.18 [95% CI, 3.92-93.81]; IV difference in probability, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.09-1.45]) and more frequently offered housing stipends (10 [38.5%] vs 9 [16.1%]; OR, 2.15 [95% CI, 0.58-7.95]; IV difference in probability, 0.62 [95% CI 0.04-1.20])., Conclusions and Relevance: In this evaluation of surgical residency programs in the US, unionized programs offered improved vacation and housing stipend benefits, but resident unions were not associated with improved burnout, suicidality, job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, or salary.

Background: Pancreatic duct disruption or disconnection is a potentially severe complication of necrotizing pancreatitis. With no existing treatment guidelines, it is unclear whether there is any consensus among experts in clinical practice. We evaluated current expert opinion regarding the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic duct disruption and disconnection in an international case vignette study., Methods: An online case vignette survey was sent to 110 international expert pancreatologists. Expert selection was based on publications in the last 5 years and/or participation in development of IAP/APA and ESGE guidelines on acute pancreatitis. Consensus was defined as agreement by at least 75% of the experts., Results: The response rate was 51% (n = 56). Forty-four experts (79%) obtained a MRI/MRCP and 52 experts (93%) measured amylase levels in percutaneous drain fluid to evaluate pancreatic duct integrity. The majority of experts favored endoscopic transluminal drainage for infected (peri)pancreatic necrosis and pancreatic duct disruption (84%, n = 45) or disconnection (88%, n = 43). Consensus was lacking regarding the treatment of patients with persistent percutaneous drain production, and with persistent sterile necrosis., Conclusion: This international survey of experts demonstrates that there are many areas for which no consensus existed, providing clear focus for future investigation., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: A minimally invasive step-up approach to necrotizing biliary pancreatitis often requires multiple interventions, delaying cholecystectomy. The risk of gallstone-related complications during this time interval is unknown, as is the feasibility and safety of cholecystectomy after minimally invasive step-up treatment. In this paper, we analyzed both., Methods: Necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated with a minimally invasive step-up approach who underwent interval cholecystectomy at 2 tertiary care centers between 2014 and 2019 were included. Gallstone-related complications prior to cholecystectomy were examined, as were surgical approaches to cholecystectomy and complications. Necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated without mechanical intervention were also examined., Results: Seven of 31 patients developed gallstone-related complications between minimally invasive step-up treatment initiation and cholecystectomy. One patient developed biliary colic. Six patients developed acute cholecystitis. Two of these patients also developed choledocholithiasis, and 1 developed cholangitis, all requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Cholecystectomy was performed laparoscopically in 27 of 31 patients. One patient required open conversion, and 3 patients underwent planned cholecystectomy during another open operation. Four patients developed postoperative complications. Two of 14 necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated without mechanical intervention developed recurrent pancreatitis while awaiting cholecystectomy., Conclusion: Over 20% of necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated by a minimally invasive step-up approach developed gallstone-related complications while awaiting cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and safe in the great majority of necrotizing pancreatitis patients treated by a minimally invasive step-up approach., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Seattle, Washington, is an epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in the United States. In response, the Division of General Surgery at the University of Washington Department of Surgery in Seattle has designed and implemented an emergency restructuring of the facility's general surgery resident care teams in an attempt to optimize workforce well-being, comply with physical distancing requirements, and continue excellent patient care. This article introduces a unique approach to general surgery resident allocation by dividing patient care into separate inpatient care, operating care, and clinic care teams. Separate teams made up of all resident levels will work in each setting for a 1-week period. By creating this emergency structure, we have limited the number of surgery residents with direct patient contact and have created teams working in isolation from one another to optimize physical distancing while still performing required work. This also provides a resident reserve without exposure to the virus, theoretically flattening the curve among our general surgery resident cohort. Surgical resident team restructuring is critical during a pandemic to optimize patient care and ensure the well-being and vitality of the resident workforce while ensuring the entire workforce is not compromised.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis is marked by organ failure and (peri)pancreatic necrosis with local complications such as infected necrosis. Infection of these necrotic collections together with organ failure remain the major causes of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) in acute pancreatitis. Appropriate treatment of infected necrosis is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Overall knowledge of the treatment options within a multidisciplinary team-with special attention to the appropriate use of antimicrobial therapy and invasive treatment techniques for source control-is essential in the treatment of this complex disease., Objectives: To address the current state of microbiological diagnosis, antimicrobial treatment, and source control for infected pancreatic necrosis in the ICU., Sources: A literature search was performed using the Medline and Cochrane libraries for articles subsequent to 2003 using the keywords: infected necrosis, pancreatitis, intensive care medicine, treatment, diagnosis and antibiotic(s)., Content: This narrative review provides an overview of key elements of diagnosis and treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis in the ICU., Implications: In pancreatic necrosis it is essential to continuously (re)evaluate the indication for antimicrobial treatment and invasive source control. Invasive diagnostics (e.g. through fine-needle aspiration, FNA), preferably prior to the start of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, is advocated. Antimicrobial stewardship principles apply: paying attention to altered pharmacokinetics in the critically ill, de-escalation of broad-spectrum therapy once cultures become available, and early withdrawal of antibiotics once source control has been established. This is important to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance, especially in a group of patients who may require repeated courses of antibiotics during the prolonged course of their illness., (Copyright © 2019 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Effective mentorship may be an opportunity to mitigate career de-prioritization, improve stress management, and bolster professional growth. Relatively few studies address specific challenges that occur for general surgery trainees. We conducted a focus group-based investigation to determine facilitators/barriers to effective mentorship among general surgery residents, who are intending to pursue an academic career., Design: A semistructured focus group study was conducted to explore residents' attitudes and experiences regarding (1) needs for mentorship, (2) barriers to identifying mentors, and (3) characteristics of successful mentor-mentee interactions. Subjects self-identified and were characterized as either "Mentored" or "Nonmentored." Transcriptions were independently reviewed by 3 coders. Inter-rater reliability between the coders was evaluated by calculating Cohen's kappa for each coded item., Setting: General surgery residents from 2 academic tertiary hospitals, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and University of Washington, participated., Participants: Thirty-four general surgery trainees were divided into 8 focus groups., Results: There were no gender-based differences in mentoring needs among residents. Barriers to establishing a relationship with a mentor, such as lack of exposure to faculty, and time and determination on the part of both mentor and mentee, were exacerbated by aspects of surgical culture including gender dynamics, criticism, and hierarchy. Successful relationships between mentee and mentor were perceived to require personal/professional compatibility and a feeling that the mentor is invested in the mentee, while conflicts of interest and neglect detracted from a successful relationship., Conclusions: Our investigations demonstrate the importance of surgical hierarchy and culture in facilitating interpersonal interactions with potential mentors. Further studies will be necessary to determine how best to address these barriers., (Copyright © 2018 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Minimally invasive surgical necrosectomy and endoscopic necrosectomy, compared with open necrosectomy, might improve outcomes in necrotising pancreatitis, especially in critically ill patients. Evidence from large comparative studies is lacking., Design: We combined original and newly collected data from 15 published and unpublished patient cohorts (51 hospitals; 8 countries) on pancreatic necrosectomy for necrotising pancreatitis. Death rates were compared in patients undergoing open necrosectomy versus minimally invasive surgical or endoscopic necrosectomy. To adjust for confounding and to study effect modification by clinical severity, we performed two types of analyses: logistic multivariable regression and propensity score matching with stratification according to predicted risk of death at baseline (low: <5%; intermediate: ≥5% to <15%; high: ≥15% to <35%; and very high: ≥35%)., Results: Among 1980 patients with necrotising pancreatitis, 1167 underwent open necrosectomy and 813 underwent minimally invasive surgical (n=467) or endoscopic (n=346) necrosectomy. There was a lower risk of death for minimally invasive surgical necrosectomy (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.84; p=0.006) and endoscopic necrosectomy (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.63; p=0.006). After propensity score matching with risk stratification, minimally invasive surgical necrosectomy remained associated with a lower risk of death than open necrosectomy in the very high-risk group (42/111 vs 59/111; risk ratio, 0.70; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.95; p=0.02). Endoscopic necrosectomy was associated with a lower risk of death than open necrosectomy in the high-risk group (3/40 vs 12/40; risk ratio, 0.27; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.88; p=0.03) and in the very high-risk group (12/57 vs 28/57; risk ratio, 0.43; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.77; p=0.005)., Conclusion: In high-risk patients with necrotising pancreatitis, minimally invasive surgical and endoscopic necrosectomy are associated with reduced death rates compared with open necrosectomy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors declare no support from any organisation for the submitted work, no financial relationships with any organisation that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years, and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objectives: Severe acute pancreatitis is associated with peripancreatic morphologic changes as seen on imaging. Uniform communication regarding these morphologic findings is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. For the original 1992 Atlanta classification, interobserver agreement is poor. We hypothesized that for the revised Atlanta classification, interobserver agreement will be better., Methods: An international, interobserver agreement study was performed among expert and nonexpert radiologists (n = 14), surgeons (n = 15), and gastroenterologists (n = 8). Representative computed tomographies of all stages of acute pancreatitis were selected from 55 patients and were assessed according to the revised Atlanta classification. The interobserver agreement was calculated among all reviewers and subgroups, that is, expert and nonexpert reviewers; interobserver agreement was defined as poor (≤0.20), fair (0.21-0.40), moderate (0.41-0.60), good (0.61-0.80), or very good (0.81-1.00)., Results: Interobserver agreement among all reviewers was good (0.75 [standard deviation, 0.21]) for describing the type of acute pancreatitis and good (0.62 [standard deviation, 0.19]) for the type of peripancreatic collection. Expert radiologists showed the best and nonexpert clinicians the lowest interobserver agreement., Conclusions: Interobserver agreement was good for the revised Atlanta classification, supporting the importance for widespread adaption of this revised classification for clinical and research communications.

Background: The optimal diagnostic strategy and timing of intervention in infected necrotizing pancreatitis is subject to debate. We performed a survey on these topics amongst a group of international expert pancreatologists., Methods: An online survey including case vignettes was sent to 118 international pancreatologists. We evaluated the use and timing of fine needle aspiration (FNA), antibiotics, catheter drainage and (minimally invasive) necrosectomy., Results: The response rate was 74% (N = 87). None of the respondents use FNA routinely, 85% selectively and 15% never. Most respondents (87%) use a step-up approach in patients with infected necrosis. Walled-off necrosis (WON) is considered a prerequisite for endoscopic drainage and percutaneous drainage by 66% and 12%, respectively. After diagnosing infected necrosis, 55% routinely postpone invasive interventions, whereas 45% proceed immediately to intervention. Lack of consensus about timing of intervention was apparent on day 14 with proven infected necrosis (58% intervention vs. 42% non-invasive) as well as on day 20 with only clinically suspected infected necrosis (59% intervention vs. 41% non-invasive)., Discussion: The step-up approach is the preferred treatment strategy in infected necrotizing pancreatitis amongst expert pancreatologists. There is no uniformity regarding the use of FNA and timing of intervention in the first 2-3 weeks of infected necrotizing pancreatitis., (Copyright © 2015 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal diagnostic strategy and timing of intervention in infected necrotizing pancreatitis are subject to debate. A survey was performed on these topics amongst a group of international expert pancreatologists., Methods: An online survey including case vignettes was sent to 118 international pancreatologists. The use and timing of fine-needle aspiration (FNA), antibiotics, catheter drainage and (minimally invasive) necrosectomy were evaluated., Results: The response rate was 74% (N = 87). None of the respondents use FNA routinely, 85% selectively and 15% never. Most respondents (87%) use a step-up approach in patients with infected necrosis. Walled-off necrosis (WON) is considered a prerequisite for endoscopic drainage and percutaneous drainage by 66% and 12%, respectively. After diagnosing infected necrosis, 55% routinely postpone invasive interventions, whereas 45% proceed immediately to intervention. A lack of consensus about timing of intervention was apparent on day 14 with proven infected necrosis (58% intervention versus 42% non-invasive) as well as on day 20 with only clinically suspected infected necrosis (59% intervention versus 41% non-invasive)., Discussion: The step-up approach is the preferred treatment strategy in infected necrotizing pancreatitis amongst expert pancreatologists. There is no uniformity regarding the use of FNA and timing of intervention in the first 2-3 weeks of infected necrotizing pancreatitis., (© 2015 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.)

Background: Some 15 per cent of all patients with acute pancreatitis develop necrotizing pancreatitis, with potentially significant consequences for both patients and healthcare services., Methods: This review summarizes the latest insights into the surgical and medical management of necrotizing pancreatitis. General management strategies for the treatment of complications are discussed in relation to the stage of the disease., Results: Frequent clinical evaluation of the patient's condition remains paramount in the first 24-72 h of the disease. Liberal goal-directed fluid resuscitation and early enteral nutrition should be provided. Urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is indicated when cholangitis is suspected, but it is unclear whether this is appropriate in patients with predicted severe biliary pancreatitis without cholangitis. Antibiotic prophylaxis does not prevent infection of necrosis and antibiotics are not indicated as part of initial management. Bacteriologically confirmed infections should receive targeted antibiotics. With the more conservative approach to necrotizing pancreatitis currently advocated, fine-needle aspiration culture of pancreatic or extrapancreatic necrosis will less often lead to a change in management and is therefore indicated less frequently. Optimal treatment of infected necrotizing pancreatitis consists of a staged multidisciplinary 'step-up' approach. The initial step is drainage, either percutaneous or transluminal, followed by surgical or endoscopic transluminal debridement only if needed. Debridement is delayed until the acute necrotic collection has become 'walled-off'., Conclusion: Outcome following necrotizing pancreatitis has improved substantially in recent years as a result of a shift from early surgical debridement to a staged, minimally invasive, multidisciplinary, step-up approach., (© 2013 BJS Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Importance: The chief resident (CR) year is a pivotal experience in surgical training. Changes in case volume and diversity may impact the educational quality of this important year., Objective: To evaluate changes in operative experience for general surgery CRs., Design, Setting, and Participants: Review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs from 1989-1990 through 2011-2012 divided into 5 periods. Graduates in period 3 were the last to train with unrestricted work hours; those in period 4 were part of a transition period and trained under both systems; and those in period 5 trained fully under the 80-hour work week. Diversity of cases was assessed based on Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education defined categories., Main Outcomes and Measures: Total cases and defined categories were evaluated for changes over time., Results: The average total CR case numbers have fallen (271 in period 1 vs 242 in period 5, P < .001). Total CR cases dropped to their lowest following implementation of the 80-hour work week (236 cases), but rebounded in period 5. The percentage of residents' 5-year operative experience performed as CRs has decreased (30% in period 1 vs 25.6% in period 5, P < .001). Regarding case mix: thoracic, trauma, and vascular cases declined steadily, while alimentary and intra-abdominal operations increased. Recent graduates averaged 80 alimentary and 78 intra-abdominal procedures during their CR years. Compared with period 1, in which these 2 categories represented 47.1% of CR experience, in period 5, they represented 65.2% (P < .001). Endocrine experience has been relatively unchanged., Conclusions and Relevance: Total CR cases declined especially acutely following implementation of the 80-hour work week but have since rebounded. Chief resident cases contribute less to overall experience, although this proportion stabilized before the 80-hour work week. Case mix has narrowed, with significant increases in alimentary and intra-abdominal cases. Broad-based general surgery training may be jeopardized by reduced case diversity. Chief resident cases are crucial in surgical training and educators should consider these findings as surgical training evolves.

Objective: To measure the implications of the new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty hour regulations for education, well-being, and burnout., Design: Longitudinal study., Setting: Eleven university-based general surgery residency programs from July 2011 to May 2012., Participants: Two hundred thirteen surgical interns., Main Outcome Measures: Perceptions of the impact of the new duty hours on various aspects of surgical training, including the 6 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, were measured on 3-point scales. Quality of life, burnout, balance between personal and professional life, and career satisfaction were measured using validated instruments., Results: Half of all interns felt that the duty hour changes have decreased the coordination of patient care (53%), their ability to achieve continuity with hospitalized patients (70%), and their time spent in the operating room (57%). Less than half (44%) of interns believed that the new standards have decreased resident fatigue. In longitudinal analysis, residents' beliefs had significantly changed in 2 categories: less likely to believe that practice-based learning and improvement had improved and more likely to report no change to resident fatigue (P < .01, χ2 tests). The majority (82%) of residents reported a neutral or good overall quality of life. Compared with the normal US population, 50 interns (32%) were 0.5 SD less than the mean on the 8-item Short Form Health Survey mental quality of life score. Approximately one-third of interns demonstrated weekly symptoms of emotional exhaustion (28%) or depersonalization (28%) or reported that their personal-professional balance was either "very poor" or "not great" (32%). Although many interns (67%) reported that they daily or weekly reflect on their satisfaction from being a surgeon, 1 in 7 considered giving up their career as a surgeon on at least a weekly basis., Conclusions: The first cohort of surgical interns to train under the new regulations report decreased continuity with patients, coordination of patient care, and time spent in the operating room. Furthermore, suboptimal quality of life, burnout, and thoughts of giving up surgery were common, even under the new paradigm of reduced work hours.

Background: Immediate feedback regarding performance in the operating room remains a key component of resident education. The aim of this study was to assess resident and faculty perceptions regarding postoperative feedback., Methods: Anonymous surveys were distributed to residents and faculty members. Questions addressed the timing, amount, and specificity of feedback; satisfaction; and the definition and importance of feedback. Additional questions regarded the importance and frequency of feedback in 7 specific areas of surgical competency., Results: Resident satisfaction with timing, amount, and specificity of feedback was significantly lower than faculty satisfaction. Perceptions of the importance of feedback for each of the 7 specific areas did not differ. Faculty members' perceptions on the frequency of feedback were higher than residents' perception in all competencies of feedback (5-point scale, all P values = .001)., Conclusions: There are significant differences between resident and faculty perceptions regarding postoperative feedback. Although faculty members believed they delivered appropriate amounts of timely, quality feedback, this perception was not shared by residents., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine whether changing sign-out practices and decreasing the time spent in rounding and recopying patient data affect patient safety. Responding to limited resident duty hours, the University of Washington launched a computerized rounding and sign-out system ("UW Cores"). The system shortened duty hours by facilitating sign-out, decreasing rounding time, and sharply reducing the time spent in prerounds data recopying., Method: This 14-week, randomized, crossover study involved 14 inpatient resident teams (6 general surgery, 8 internal medicine) at two hospitals. The authors measured resident-reported deviations in expected care that occurred during cross-coverage, medical errors, and institutionally reported adverse drug events (ADEs)., Results: The mean number of resident-reported deviations from expected care per 1,000 patient-days did not differ significantly between the control and UW Cores groups: 14.29 and 13.81, respectively (P = .85). The mean number of reported incidents involving errors was 6.33 per 1,000 patient-days for the control group and 5.61 per 1,000 patient-days for the UW Cores group (P = .68). The odds ratio of a reported overnight medical error under the UW Cores system was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.60; P = .96). The odds ratio of an ADE while a resident is on an intervention team was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.74; P = .70)., Conclusions: Managing information for sign-out and rounding with the UW Cores system, to reduce time spent in recopying patient data and in rounding on patients, improved continuity and enhanced resident efficiency without weakening systemic defenses against error or jeopardizing patient safety.

Background: Validating assessment tools in surgical simulation training is critical to objectively measuring skills. Most reviews do not elicit methodologies for conducting rigorous validation studies. Our study reports current methodological approaches and proposes benchmark criteria for establishing validity in surgical simulation studies., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies establishing validity. A PubMed search was performed with the following keywords: "validity/validation," "simulation," "surgery," and "technical skills." Descriptors were tabulated for 29 methodological variables by 2 reviewers., Results: A total of 83 studies were included in the review. Of these studies, 60% targeted construct, 24% targeted concurrent, and 5% looked at predictive validity. Less than half (45%) of all the studies reported reliability data. Most studies (82%) were conducted in a single institution with a mean of 37 subjects recruited. Only half of the studies provided rationale for task selection. Data sources included simulator-generated measures (34%), performance assessment by human evaluators (33%), motion tracking (6%), and combined modes (28%). In studies using human evaluators, videotaping was a common (48%) blinding technique; however, 34% of the studies did not blind evaluators. Commonly reported outcomes included task time (86%), economy of motion (51%), technical errors (48%), and number of movements (25%)., Conclusion: The typical validation study comes from a single institution with a small sample size, lacks clear justification for task selection, omits reliability reporting, and poses potential bias in study design. The lack of standardized validation methodologies creates challenges for training centers that survey the literature to determine the appropriate method for their local settings., (Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We evaluated the impact of expert instruction during laboratory-based basic surgical skills training on subsequent performance of more complex surgical tasks., Methods: Forty-five junior residents were randomized to learn basic surgical skills in either a self-directed or faculty-directed fashion. Residents returned to the laboratory 2 days later and were evaluated while performing 2 tasks: skin closure and bowel anastomosis. Outcome measures included Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill, time to completion, final product quality, and resident perceptions., Results: Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill, time to completion, and skin esthetic ratings were not better in the faculty-directed group, although isolated improvement in anastomotic leak pressure was seen. Residents perceived faculty-directed training to be superior., Conclusions: Our data provided minimal objective evidence that faculty-directed training improved transfer of learned skills to more complex tasks. Residents perceived that there was a benefit of faculty mentoring. Curriculum factors related to training of basic skills and subsequent transfer to more complex tasks may explain these contrasting results.

Hypothesis: Multimedia delivery of cognitive content paired with faculty-supervised partial task simulation for both excision of a simulated skin lesion with subsequent wound closure and hand-sewn bowel anastomosis would be an effective method for developing appropriate procedural skills among junior residents., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: University-based surgical residency., Participants: First- and second-year surgical residents (n = 45)., Interventions: Surgical residents were given comprehensive instructional materials, including structured curricula with goals and objectives, text, figures, and narrated expert digital video, before the training session. A 4-hour, standardized, laboratory-based instruction session was then performed in small groups, which emphasized faculty-supervised practice. Residents were asked to (1) excise a skin lesion and close the wound and (2) perform hand-sewn bowel anastomosis. These 2 tasks were assessed before and after supervised practice. Performances were video recorded. Residents were surveyed before and after training., Main Outcome Measures: Time to completion and Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill global rating scale score based on video recordings were evaluated by blinded reviewers. Final product quality was measured by anastomotic leak pressure and by wound closure aesthetic quality., Results: Residents perceived the laboratory training to be equal to training in the operating room for skin closure and superior to training in the operating room for bowel anastomosis. Residents perceived time spent on both tasks to be "perfect." Mean objective scores improved significantly on 5 of 6 outcome measures., Conclusions: Junior resident surgical performance improved substantially with 4 hours of laboratory-based, faculty-supervised practice. Both first- and second-year residents benefited from this training. These data show that curriculum-driven, faculty-supervised instruction in a laboratory setting is beneficial in the training of junior surgical residents.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of changing a 1-hour weekly all-resident didactic conference to an expanded 4-hour bimonthly level-specific didactic conference., Design: Prospective outcome measures included an anonymous 10-item perceptions survey administered at 4 time points (preintervention, 6 months postintervention, 1 year postintervention, and 2 years postintervention), mean attendance rates preintervention and postintervention, and mean ABSITE scores preintervention and postintervention., Setting: Large university-based surgical residency., Participants: Surgical residents (R1-R5, n = 75) were divided into junior (R1-R3, n = 56) and senior (R4-R5, n = 19) groups. Each group attended a session every other Wednesday., Results: Significant improvements were observed in overall resident satisfaction (55% vs 80%, p < 0.005) and level-specific appropriateness of content (81% vs 94%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, resident attendance rates were improved substantially (33% vs 55%, p < 0.001). ABSITE scores were not affected significantly by the change in curriculum structure., Conclusions: An expanded, bimonthly level-specific didactic curriculum is more effective than a shorter, weekly all-resident conference as evidenced by resident attitudes and attendance. Additional benefits of the alternating schedule include a reduced number of residents in each conference and the availability of residents for clinical educational activities (eg, operative cases or clinic). Expanded educational time has allowed the introduction of nontraditional topics that include leadership, communication, practice management, professionalism, and technical skills training.

Background: We assessed educational needs with regard to leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence (EI) among surgical residents., Methods: General surgery residents (n = 74) were examined using the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and a 20-item survey., Results: Residents believed that leadership skills were important (mean 4.7, SD .5) and that they had skills in each the five EI areas (overall mean 4.1, SD .8). Both the overall group's EQ-i scores (mean 106.6, SD 11.6), as well as scores on the 20 components of the EQ-i (range of means 102-110), were higher than national norms. Individuals varied substantially on EQ-i subscale scores., Conclusions: Surgical residents believed that leadership skills are important and scored strongly on both an EI self-assessment and the EQ-i. Specific individual differences in subscale scores can potentially identify areas for direct educational intervention.

Background/aims: The current terminology for describing peripancreatic collections in acute pancreatitis (AP) derived from the Atlanta Symposium (e.g. pseudocyst, pancreatic abscess) has shown a very poor interobserver agreement, creating the potential for patient mismanagement. A study was undertaken to determine the interobserver agreement for a new set of morphologic terms to describe peripancreatic collections in AP., Methods: An international, interobserver agreement study was performed: 7 gastrointestinal surgeons, 2 gastroenterologists and 8 radiologists in 3 US and 5 European tertiary referral hospitals independently evaluated 55 computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with predicted severe AP. The percentage agreement [median, interquartile range (IQR)] for 9 clinically relevant morphologic terms was calculated among all reviewers, and separately among radiologists and clinicians. The percentage agreement was defined as poor (<0.50), moderate (0.51-0.70), good (0.71-0.90), and excellent (0.91-1.00)., Results: Overall agreement was good to excellent for the terms collection (percentage agreement = 1; IQR 0.68-1), relation with pancreas (1; 0.68-1), content (0.88; 0.87-1), shape (1; 0.78-1), mass effect (0.78; 0.62-1), loculated gas bubbles (1; 1-1), and air-fluid levels (1; 1-1). Overall agreement was moderate for extent of pancreatic nonenhancement (0.60; 0.46-0.88) and encapsulation (0.56; 0.48-0.69). The percentage agreement was greater among radiologists than clinicians for extent of pancreatic nonenhancement (0.75 vs. 0.57, p = 0.008), encapsulation (0.67 vs. 0.46, p = 0.001), and content (1 vs. 0.78, p = 0.008)., Conclusion: Interobserver agreement for the new set of morphologic terms to describe peripancreatic collections in AP is good to excellent. Therefore, we recommend that current clinically based definitions for CT findings in AP (e.g. pancreatic abscess) should no longer be used., (Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP.)

Background: In a complex disease such as acute pancreatitis, correct terminology and clear definitions are important. The clinically based Atlanta Classification was formulated in 1992, but in recent years it has been increasingly criticized. No formal evaluation of the use of the Atlanta definitions in the literature has ever been performed., Methods: A Medline literature search sought studies published after 1993. Guidelines, review articles and their cross-references were reviewed to assess whether the Atlanta or alternative definitions were used., Results: A total of 447 articles was assessed, including 12 guidelines and 82 reviews. Alternative definitions of predicted severity of acute pancreatitis, actual severity and organ failure were used in more than half of the studies. There was a large variation in the interpretation of the Atlanta definitions of local complications, especially relating to the content of peripancreatic collections., Conclusion: The Atlanta definitions for acute pancreatitis are often used inappropriately, and alternative definitions are frequently applied. Such lack of consensus illustrates the need for a revision of the Atlanta Classification., (Copyright (c) 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd.)

Background: Development of a research agenda may help to inform researchers and research-granting agencies about the key research gaps in an area of research and clinical care. The authors sought to develop a list of research questions for which further research was likely to have a major impact on clinical care in the area of gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery., Methods: A formal group process was used to conduct an iterative, anonymous Web-based survey of an expert panel including the general membership of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). In round 1, research questions were solicited, which were categorized, collapsed, and rewritten in a common format. In round 2, the expert panel rated all the questions using a priority scale ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). In round 3, the panel re-rated the 40 questions with the highest mean priority score in round 2., Results: A total of 241 respondents to round 1 submitted 382 questions, which were reduced by a review panel to 106 unique questions encompassing 33 topics in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery. In the two successive rounds, respectively, 397 and 385 respondents ranked the questions by priority, then re-ranked the 40 questions with the highest mean priority score. High-priority questions related to antireflux surgery, the oncologic and immune effects of minimally invasive surgery, and morbid obesity. The question with the highest mean priority ranking was: "What is the best treatment (antireflux surgery, endoluminal therapy, or medication) for GERD?" The second highest-ranked question was: "Does minimally invasive surgery improve oncologic outcomes as compared with open surgery?" Other questions covered a broad range of research areas including clinical research, basic science research, education and evaluation, outcomes measurement, and health technology assessment., Conclusions: An iterative, anonymous group survey process was used to develop a research agenda for gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery consisting of the 40 most important research questions in the field. This research agenda can be used by researchers and research-granting agencies to focus research activity in the areas most likely to have an impact on clinical care, and to appraise the relevance of scientific contributions.

Objective: To determine the nature of surgeon information transfer and communication (ITC) errors that lead to adverse events and near misses. To recommend strategies for minimizing or preventing these errors., Summary Background Data: Surgical hospital practice is changing from a single provider to a team-based approach. This has put a premium on effective ITC. The Information Transfer and Communication Practices (ITCP) Project is a multi-institutional effort to: 1) better understand surgeon ITCP and their patient care consequences, 2) determine what has been done to improve ITCP in other professions, and 3) recommend ways to improve these practices among surgeons., Methods: Separate, semi-structured focus group sessions were conducted with surgical residents (n = 59), general surgery attending physicians (n = 36), and surgical nurses (n = 42) at 5 medical centers. Case descriptions and general comments were classified by the nature of ITC lapses and their effects on patients and medical care. Information learned was combined with a review of ITC strategies in other professions to develop principles and guidelines for re-engineering surgeon ITCP., Results: : A total of 328 case descriptions and general comments were obtained and classified. Incidents fell into 4 areas: blurred boundaries of responsibility (87 reports), decreased surgeon familiarity with patients (123 reports), diversion of surgeon attention (31 reports), and distorted or inhibited communication (67 reports). Results were subdivided into 30 contributing factors (eg, shift change, location change, number of providers). Consequences of ITC lapses included delays in patient care (77% of cases), wasted surgeon/staff time (48%), and serious adverse patient consequences (31%). Twelve principles and 5 institutional habit changes are recommended to guide ITCP re-engineering., Conclusions: Surgeon communication lapses are significant contributors to adverse patient consequences, and provider inefficiency. Re-engineering ITCP will require significant cultural changes.

Surgical intervention in patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis generally consists of laparotomy and necrosectomy. This is an invasive procedure that is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In this report, we present an alternative minimally invasive technique: videoscopic assisted retroperitoneal debridement (VARD). This technique can be considered a hybrid between endoscopic and open retroperitoneal necrosectomy. A detailed technical description is provided and the advantages over various other minimally invasive retroperitoneal techniques are discussed.

Objective: To describe the development of the EVATS rotation., Design: Descriptive document., Setting: University teaching hospital., Participants: Faculty and residents of the University of Washington., Methods: In July 2003 we identified the need for a new, independent, educational module within our residency training. Requirements for this rotation included dedicated time for technical skills training on simulators, independent competency learning modules, academic research project time, vacation time and coverage, and flexibility for unplanned leave (eg, interview travel, m/paternity leave)., Results: An EVATS rotation was created in July 2003 that is provided at each training level and lasts from 4 to 8 weeks depending on R-level. EVATS meets the following challenges: Emergency coverage (EVATS residents available for last-minute service coverage), vacation time/vacation coverage (2 weeks vacation + 1 week vacation coverage; this maintains vacations for all residents every 6 months), academic time (residents now must complete 1 academic project for graduation) and ACGME competency learning and assessment, and technical skills training (includes simulator work for open/lap skills). Initial implementation indices are high and include resident satisfaction, 80-hour work week compliance, academic productivity, and patient continuity of care., Conclusions: The 21st century brought new challenges for surgical training. Increased societal demands for skills training in a laboratory setting using simulators and the 6 ACGME competencies all require classroom-type training periods. Paradoxically, the 80-hour work week restricted the time available for these educational activities and made it more difficult for programs to accommodate resident vacations and emergencies. These challenges provided an opportunity to enhance the educational experience for our residency program. The product was the EVATS rotation. Early data after implementation are favorable.

In this study, we compared pain scores after inguinal herniorrhaphy in patients treated by preincisional local anesthetic field block (PL), or PL combined with perioperative rofecoxib, with controls who received standard care. Seventy-five patients having herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive a placebo pill preoperatively, and for 5 days postoperatively (CONT); preoperative bupivacaine field block and perioperative placebo (PL); preoperative field block plus rofecoxib, 50 mg preoperatively and for 5 days postoperatively (PLR). Bupivacaine infiltration in the wound at closure, IV fentanyl and acetaminophen/oxycodone were administered postoperatively to all. Discharge time, pain scores (0-10), analgesic use, and satisfaction scores (1-6) were compared using analysis of variance. PLR patients had lower maximum pain scores (worst pain) in the postanesthesia care unit (3.7 versus 5.3, P = 0.02) and at 24 h (5.3 versus 6.8, P = 0.03), were discharged 38 min sooner (P = 0.01), required 28% less oxycodone 0-24 h after discharge (P = 0.04), and reported higher satisfaction scores compared with CONT. Pain in PL was less than CONT for 30 min. There were no differences among the 3 groups after 24 h postoperatively. We conclude that perioperative rofecoxib with PL reduces in-hospital recovery time, decreases pain scores and opioid use, and improves satisfaction scores in the first 24 h after surgery.

Background: Adoption of limits on resident work hours prompted us to develop a centralized, Web-based computerized rounding and sign-out system (UWCores) that securely stores sign-out information; automatically downloads patient data (vital signs, laboratories); and prints them to rounding, sign-out, and progress note templates. We tested the hypothesis that this tool would positively impact continuity of care and resident workflow by improving team communication involving patient handovers and streamlining inefficiencies, such as hand-copying patient data during work before rounds ("prerounds")., Study Design: Fourteen inpatient resident teams (6 general surgery, 8 internal medicine) at two teaching hospitals participated in a 5-month, prospective, randomized, crossover study. Data collected included number of patients missed on resident rounds, subjective continuity of care quality and workflow efficiency with and without UWCores, and daily self-reported prerounding and rounding times and tasks., Results: UWCores halved the number of patients missed on resident rounds (2.5 versus 5 patients/team/month, p = 0.0001); residents spent 40% more of their prerounds time seeing patients (p = 0.36); residents reported better sign-out quality (69.6% agree or strongly agree); and improved continuity of care (66.1% agree or strongly agree). UWCores halved the portion of prerounding time spent hand-copying basic data (p < 0.0001); it shortened team rounds by 1.5 minutes/patient (p = 0.0006); and residents reported finishing their work sooner using UWCores (82.1% agree or strongly agree)., Conclusions: This system enhances patient care by decreasing patients missed on resident rounds and improving resident-reported quality of sign-out and continuity of care. It decreases by up to 3 hours per week (range 1.5 to 3) the time used by residents to complete rounds; it diverts prerounding time from recopying data to more productive tasks; and it facilitates meeting the 80-hour work week requirement by helping residents finish their work sooner.

Clinical information systems depend on close integration to workflow for success. We describe a method for user-driven design that guided our development of a computerized rounding and sign-out system. The resulting system supported clinical workflow sufficiently well that it spontaneously attracted new users, required no training, and is currently used by 95% of the house staff at two academic medical centers.

Background: The problem of safe and efficient transfer of care has increased over the years as new and complex diagnostic tools and more complex treatment options became available. Traditionally, residents ensured continuity of care by working long hours and minimizing the transfer of significant diagnostic or therapeutic responsibilities to other providers. The new 80-hour workweek has curtailed that practice and increased the pressure on trainees for workflow efficiency. We report on a study of information-handling routines among residents for the separate tasks of transfer of care ("sign-out") and daily patient care work (ward work). Using these results, an institution-wide computerized system was developed to centralize information-handling tasks and facilitate the management and transfer of patient care information., Study Design: House staff from 31 resident-run inpatient and consult services at 2 teaching hospitals described current methods of maintaining patient information used during ward rounds and during sign-out. A subgroup of 28 residents then participated in the design of a computerized resident sign-out system to centralize patient information and produce lists for rounding and transferring care duties. Accuracy, flexibility, and portability were identified as key elements by the design team., Results: Analysis of the type of information handled by residents caring for inpatients at our institution demonstrated common elements across many services. Most services used a paper patient list to manage both nightly sign-out and daily ward work, which required repeated recopying of patient data during the day. Utilizing medical information systems tools and rapid application development concepts, we constructed a computerized resident sign-out system ("UWCores"). This system combines the patient sign-out and daily ward work information in one central location. We believed this would improve the quality of information transferred during sign-out and enhance resident efficiency. During the design process, we identified rules that govern the type of clinical information that should be automatically versus manually updated. We observed an immediate acceptance by all residents and services that tried the system., Conclusions: This study shows that by combining downloaded patient data from hospital systems with resident-entered patient details, a computerized resident sign-out system can be a feasible, powerful, and popular tool. While its effect on patient safety and resident efficiency await the results of further studies, our study shows that this tool rapidly captured the attention of resident physicians and became widely used as a valuable means to centralize and organize sign-out and daily ward work information.

Unlabelled: We designed this study as a randomized comparison of postoperative pain after inguinal hernia repair in patients treated with triple preincisional analgesic therapy versus standard care. Triple therapy consisted of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory, a local anesthetic field block, and an N-methyl-D-aspartate inhibitor before incision. The treatment group (n = 17) received rofecoxib, 50 mg PO, a field block with 0.25% bupivacaine/0.5% lidocaine, and ketamine 0.2 mg/kg IV before incision; controls (n = 17) received a placebo PO before surgery. The anesthetic protocol was standardized. Postoperative pain was treated by fentanyl IV and oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg PO as required for pain. Pain scores (0-10) and analgesic were recorded for the first 7 days after surgery. Pain scores were 47% lower in the treatment group before discharge (3.1 +/- 0.6 versus 5.9 +/- 0.6, P = 0.0026) (mean +/- SE) and 18% less in the first 24 h after discharge (5.6 +/- 0.4 versus 6.8 +/- 0.5, P = 0.05); oral analgesic use was 34% less in the treatment group (4.6 +/- 0.8 doses versus 7.1 +/- 0.7 doses, P = 0.02) in the first 24 h after surgery. We conclude that triple preincisional therapy diminishes pain and analgesic use after outpatient hernia repair, and encourage further evaluation of this technique., Implications: Outpatients undergoing inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia report moderate-to-severe pain after surgery. Triple preincisional therapy that included rofecoxib, 50 mg PO, ketamine, 0.2 mg/kg IV, and local anesthetic field block reduced pain scores and analgesic use in the first 24 h after discharge.

Anaphylactoid (pseudoallergic, idiosyncratic) reactions are a well recognized but uncommon consequence to radiographic contrast media. Most reported reactions are to intravascular injections, but systemic reactions to nonvascular injections of radiographic contrast also are well documented. Reactions to nonvascular radiographic contrast media have been reported during or after instillation of radiographic contrast into a multitude of nonvascular body compartments, but not with intraoperative cholangiogram. We describe a case of a systemic anaphylactoid reaction caused by intraoperative cholangiogram during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We then discuss the clinical presentation, suspected etiology, and treatment of these idiosyncratic reactions as well as established guidelines for prevention in patients at risk.

Background: Percutaneous drainage has been shown to be an acceptable method for treating both pancreatic abscesses and infected pancreatic necrosis. However, percutaneous techniques have certain shortcomings, including the time and labor required and failure of the catheters to adequately drain the particulate debris. Growing experience around the world indicates that there is a role for retroperitoneal laparoscopy as a means of facilitating the percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic fluid collections and avoiding a laparotomy. Our technique is discussed in this paper., Methods: Once infection is documented in a pancreatic fluid collection by fine-needle aspiration, one or more percutaneous drains are placed into the fluid collection(s). A computed tomography (CT) scan is repeated. If further drainage is indicated, retroperitoneoscopic debridement is performed. Using a combination of the percutaneous drain(s) and the post-drain CT scan, ports are placed and retroperitoneoscopic debridement of the necrosectum is performed under direct visualization. Prior to completion of the operation, a postoperative lavage system is created., Results: Six patients with infected pancreatic necrosis have been treated with this technique. Prior to commencement of our laparoscopic protocol, all six patients would have required open necrosectomy. Four of the six patients were managed with retroperitoneoscopic debridement and catheter drainage alone. Complications included a colocutaneous fistula and a small flank hernia. There were no bleeding complications and no deaths., Conclusion: Although open necrosectomy remains the standard of care for the treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis and pancreatic abscess, there is growing evidence that laparoscopic retroperitoneal debridement is feasible.

Background: Percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic fluid collections is often unsuccessful. Alternatively, open necrosectomy techniques are very morbid. We hypothesized that in selected cases, laparoscopic techniques could be used to facilitate percutaneous drainage of the residual particulate necrosectum and avoid a laparotomy. We report our experience with laparoscopic assisted retroperitoneal debridement as an adjunct to percutaneous drainage for patients with infected pancreatic necrosis., Methods: Case studies were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed the course of six patients undergoing laparoscopic assisted debridement of infected pancreatic necrosis after failure of percutaneous drainage. With the drains and computed tomography (CT) scan used as a guide, laparoscopic debridement of the necrosectum was performed., Results: Between November 1995 and December 1999, six patients were treated with this method. In four patients, laparoscopic assisted percutaneous drainage was successful. Two patients required open laparotomy. Complications included a self-limited enterocutaneous fistula and a small flank hernia. No deaths occurred., Conclusions: This early, limited experience has demonstrated the feasibility of laparoscopic assisted percutaneous drainage for infected pancreatic necrosis. With this technique, two-thirds of our patients avoided the morbidity of a laparotomy.

Two unresolved issues regarding the identification and characterization of hippocampal interneurons were addressed in this study. One issue was the longstanding inability to detect gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the somata of several hippocampal interneuron subpopulations, which has prevented the unequivocal identification of all hippocampal interneurons as GABA neurons. The second issue was related to the identification of the hippocampal interneurons that constitutively express substance P (neurokinin-1) receptors (SPRs). The recent development of neurotoxins that specifically target SPR-expressing cells suggests that it may be possible to destroy hippocampal inhibitory interneurons selectively for experimental purposes. Although SPRs are apparently expressed in the hippocampus only by interneurons, colocalization studies have found that most interneurons of several subtypes and hippocampal subregions appear SPR-negative. Thus, the identities and locations of the inhibitory interneurons that are potential targets of an SPR-directed neurotoxin remain in doubt. Using newly developed methods designed to copreserve and colocalize GABA and polypeptide immunoreactivities with increased sensitivity, the authors report that virtually all hippocampal interneuron somata that are immunoreactive for parvalbumin (PV), calbindin, calretinin, somatostatin (SS), neuropeptide Y, cholecystokinin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide exhibited clearly detectable, somal, GABA-like immunoreactivity (LI). Hippocampal SPR-LI was detected only on the somata and dendrites of GABA-immunopositive interneurons. All glutamate receptor subunit 2-immunoreactive principal cells, including dentate granule cells, hilar mossy cells, and hippocampal pyramidal cells, were devoid of detectable SPR-LI, even after prolonged electrical stimulation of the perforant pathway that induced the expression of other neuronal proteins in principal cells. Thus, hippocampal interneurons of all subtypes and subregions were found to be SPR-immunoreactive, including the PV-positive interneurons of the dentate hilus and hippocampus, and the SS-positive cells of area CA1, both of which were previously reported to lack SPR-LI. Only minor proportions of hippocampal interneurons appeared clearly devoid of detectable SPR-LI. These results demonstrate for the first time that all identified interneuron subpopulations of the rat hippocampus are GABA-immunoreactive, and that many inhibitory interneurons of all subtypes in all subregions of the rat hippocampus express SPRs constitutively., (Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: To discuss the pathophysiology and incidence of the short esophagus, to review the history of treatment, and to describe diagnosis and possible treatments in the era of laparoscopic surgery., Summary Background Data: The entity of the short esophagus in antireflux surgery is seldom discussed in the laparoscopic literature, despite its emphasis in the open literature for more than 40 years. This may imply that many laparoscopic patients with short esophagi are unrecognized and perhaps treated inappropriately. Intrinsic shortening of the esophagus most commonly occurs in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease that involves recurring cycles of inflammation and healing, with subsequent fibrosis. The actual incidence of the short esophagus is estimated to be approximately 10% of patients undergoing antireflux surgery. Of this group, 7% can be appropriately managed with extensive mediastinal mobilization of the esophagus to achieve the required esophageal length. The remaining 3% require an aggressive surgical approach, including the use of gastroplasty procedures, to create an adequate length of intraabdominal esophagus to perform a wrap. Several effective minimally invasive techniques have been developed to deal with the short esophagus., Conclusions: Because a short esophagus is uncommon, there is a natural concern that many surgeons will not perform enough antireflux procedures to become familiar with its diagnosis and management. A complete understanding of the short esophagus and methods for surgical correction are critical to avoid "slipped" wraps and mediastinal herniation and to achieve the best patient outcome.

Recently we have shown that laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication is associated with a high degree of late failure when employed as a primary treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study defines preoperative risk factors that predispose patients to failure. Data from 48 patients with objective follow-up performed as part of a prospective long-term outcomes project (24-hour pH monitoring, manometry, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD] at 6 months, 3 years, and 6 years) was analyzed. Preoperative studies of patients with documented postoperative failure (n = 22), defined as an abnormal 24-hour pH study (DeMeester score >14.9), were compared to preoperative studies of patients with normal 24-hour pH studies (n = 26). Outcomes were assessed at a mean of 22 months (range 18 to 37 months) postoperatively. Of the 22 patients in the failure group, 16 (77%) were symptomatic and the majority (64%) had resumed proton pump inhibitor therapy. Preoperative indices of severe reflux were significantly more prevalent in the failure group including a very low or absent lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure on manometry, biopsy-proved Barrett's metaplasia, presence of a stricture, grade III or greater esophagitis, and a DeMeester score greater than 50 with ambulatory 24-hour pH testing. Comparison of pre- and postoperative manometric analysis of the LES revealed adequate augmentation of the LES in both groups and there were no wrap disruptions documented by postoperative EGD or manometry, indicating that reflux was most likely occurring through an intact wrap in the failure group. Esophageal dysmotility was present before surgery in four of the nonrefluxing patients and in three of the failures. Intact wraps were noted to have herniated in eight patients, all of whom had postoperative reflux. Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication is associated with a high rate of failure both clinically and by objective testing. Surgery is more likely to fail in patients with severe GERD than in patients with uncomplicated or mild disease. A preoperative DeMeester score greater than 50 was 86% sensitive for predicting failure in our patient population. Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication should not be used as a standard antireflux procedure particularly in patients with severe or complicated reflux disease.

Background: Prognosis is good after curative resection for serous and mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. There has been a recent trend to resect all cystic neoplasms, without attempts to preoperatively determine the exact histologic subtype. Our purpose is to report on the results of such an aggressive surgical approach to all cystic neoplasms of the pancreas., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort analysis of 25 patients with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas treated between July 1991 and July 1998. Data include patient demographics, presenting symptom, operative procedure, pathologic diagnosis, periop morbidity and mortality, survival, and symptomatic follow-up data., Results: Twenty-one patients were women, with a mean age of 60 for the entire cohort. Mean follow-up was 24 months (range 6 months to 4.3 years) with complete follow-up possible in 92%. Twenty-three patients had curative resections and 2 had palliative resections. One patient with an uncinate mass had a partial pancreatectomy; 4 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy and 9 had distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy; 11 patients required a pancreatoduodenectomy, and of these, 4 had tumors involving the portal vein, necessitating a portal vein resection. Pathologic analysis revealed 12 serous cystadenomas, 4 mucinous cystadenomas, 3 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 5 intraductal papillary cystic neoplasms, and 1 serous cystadenocarcinoma. The overall perioperative complication rate was 40% with 5 major and 5 minor complications. In the 11 pancreatoduodenectomy patients alone, there were 1 major and 4 minor complications. There were no pancreatic fistulas or portal vein thromboses and no operative mortalities. Two patients, both with mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, died of their disease at 6 and 16 months postoperatively. All 11 pancreatoduodenectomy patients have only mild pancreatic insufficiency relieved by daily enzyme replacement., Conclusions: The good outcomes in this study support an aggressive surgical approach to all patients diagnosed with a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas, if medically fit to tolerate surgery. This approach is justified for the following reasons: (1) preoperative differentiation of a benign versus malignant tumor is unreliable and routine testing for this purpose is of questionable utility; (2) potential adverse consequences of nonresectional therapy are significant; (3) perioperative morbidity and mortality of pancreatic surgery is low; and (4) prognosis with curative resection is good.

Background: A disparity exists between the incidence of accessory spleens reported in the open (15-30%) versus the laparoscopic (0-12%) literature. This disparity implies that a percentage of laparoscopic patients will require a reoperation for accessory splenectomy. We present our experience with the laparoscopic management of accessory spleens discovered after primary splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)., Methods: Seventeen patients who underwent primary splenectomy for ITP were reviewed (1 open, 16 laparoscopic). In the laparoscopic group, the incidence of accessory spleens was 3 in 16 (19%). In 1 of these 3 patients, the accessory spleen was found and removed at the initial operation, whereas in 2 of the 16 patients (13%), the accessory spleens were missed. A third patient, whose initial operation was open, presented with recurrent thrombocytopenia after primary splenectomy. After recurrent thrombocytopenia developed, radio nuclide spleen scans were performed showing accessory spleens in all three patients. These three patients underwent accessory splenectomy using a four-port laparoscopic approach., Results: Laparoscopic accessory splenectomy was successfully performed in all three patients. Location of accessory spleens correlated with the spleen scan in each case. Mean operation time was 180 min. There were no conversions to open surgery and no complications. All patients were discharged from the hospital on postoperation day 1. The three patients had a good clinical response and were weaned effectively from their steroid medications., Conclusions: Patients undergoing a laparoscopic splenectomy for chronic ITP have a higher probability of requiring a reoperation for a missed accessory spleen. To minimize missing an accessory spleen, a systematic search should be made at the beginning of the laparoscopic operation. We have found that preoperation imaging with heat-treated erythrocyte scans is valuable for locating accessory spleens before reoperation. When reoperation for accessory splenectomy is necessary, a laparoscopic approach is safe and effective.

Background: The addition of an antireflux procedure to all giant paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repairs remains controversial. In addition there are no series evaluating the impact of hernia repair and fundoplication on esophageal physiology. This study examines the outcomes of PEH repair with fundoplication and examines the results of preoperative and postoperative motility and pH testing., Methods: An analysis of a data base containing all patients undergoing PEH repair between September 1994 and December 1997. Patients underwent laparoscopic sac reduction, hernia repair, and fundoplication. Follow-up was performed under protocol and consisted of a symptoms assessment form, 24 hour pH, and manometry., Results: Fifty-two patients (mean age 63) were treated: 59% complained of heartburn, 50% dysphagia, and 27% chest pain; 26% had a body motility disorder. Complete manometry was not possible in 41%. Mean operative time was 4 hours. There were 48 Nissen, 4 Toupet, and 7 Collis-Nissen procedures. There were 3 (6%) intraoperative and 3 (6%) postoperative complications. There were no operative mortalities. Hospital stay was 3 days (1 to 29). Late follow-up (18 months) was available for 96% of patients and showed dysphagia in 6%, heartburn in 10%, and recurrent herniation in 8%. Objective postoperative testing was available in 61 % of the patients at a mean of 8 months. Twenty-four hour pH tests were abnormal in 4 patients (2 asymptomatic and 2 with a Collis). Lower esophageal sphincter pressures increased 63% and functioned well in 71% of patients; 50% of preoperative motility disorders improved following repair., Conclusions: Laparoscopic repair of giant PEH is technically difficult but feasible. Routine addition of a fundoplication is advised, as preoperative testing is unreliable for a selective approach and fundoplications are well tolerated in this group of patients.

Background: Previous work has demonstrated that cell-mediated immune function in rats is better preserved after laparoscopic than open surgery. We have also shown that tumors are more easily established in mice and grow larger after sham laparotomy than after pneumoperitoneum. The purpose of this study is to determine if the functional status of the cell-mediated immune system influences postoperative tumor growth., Methods: Immunocompetent (study 1) and T-cell deficient athymic (study 2) mice were injected with mouse mammary carcinoma cells in the dorsal skin. Mice then underwent either no procedure, midline laparotomy, or carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. Tumor masses on postoperative day 12 were compared., Results: In immunocompetent mice, laparotomy group tumors were nearly twice as large as laparoscopy group tumors (p < 0.02), which were 1.5 times as large as control group tumors (NS). In the athymic model, however, differences between the sham laparotomy and pneumoperitoneum groups were lost (p > 0.5). Tumors grew much larger in the athymic control mice than in the immunocompetent control mice (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: We conclude that T-cell function plays a significant role in host containment of mouse mammary carcinoma and in the mechanism of differences in tumor growth observed after laparotomy and pneumoperitoneum.

Introduction: Although some have suggested that certain vitamins or calcium supplements may reduce adenoma recurrence, our own prior retrospective study found no such effects. The purpose of this case-control study was to further investigate whether regular vitamin or calcium supplement intake influenced the incidence of recurrent adenomatous polyps in patients with previous neoplasia who were undergoing follow-up colonoscopy., Methods: This study enrolled 1,162 patients who underwent colonoscopy by one of three surgeons at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City between March 1993 and February 1997. Of these patients 448 (250 males) had a previous diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia (cancer, adenomas, or dysplasia). Of these, 183 (40.8 percent) had an adenoma at the index colonoscopy. Information was collected on personal and family history of colonic diseases, cigarette smoking, medication, and vitamin and micronutrient supplement usage on a questionnaire that was completed by the patients before the colonoscopy. Odds ratios were obtained by unconditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age and gender, and used adenoma recurrence at index colonoscopy as the outcome., Results: The mean interval between colonoscopic examinations was 37 months for the recurrent adenoma group and 38 months for the nonrecurrent group of patients (P = not significant). In this case-control study we found a protective effect for the use of vitamin supplements in general (any vitamin) on the recurrence of adenomas (odds ratio, 0.41; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.27-0.61). Specifically, this protective effect was observed for the use of multivitamins (odds ratio, 0.47; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.31-0.72), vitamin E (odds ratio, 0.62; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.39-0.98), and for calcium supplementation (odds ratio, 0.51; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.27-0.96). Nonsignificant protective effects were noted for carotene/vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin C., Conclusions: The use of multivitamins, vitamin E, and calcium supplements were found to be associated with a lower incidence of recurrent adenomas in a population of patients with history of previous colonic neoplasia. Prospective, randomized trials are needed to better assess the impact of these agents and to determine whether the use of these supplements is associated with a protective effect against recurrent adenomas.