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To describe the first year of the Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) DESIGN: The Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) was formed by the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) in 2018 as a continuous educational quality improvement program. Over 18 months, thirteen discrete goals for the establishment of EQIP were refined and executed through a collaborative effort involving leaders in surgical education. Alpha and beta pilots were conducted to refine the data queries and collection processes. A highly-secure, doubly-deidentified database was created for the ingestion of resident and program data.36 surgical training programs with 1264 trainees and 1500 faculty members were included in the dataset. 51,516 ERAS applications to programs were also included. Uni- and multi-variable analysis was then conducted.EQIP was successfully deployed within the timeline described in 2020. Data from the ACGME, ABS, and ERAS were merged with manually entered data by programs and successfully ingested into the EQIP database. Interactive dashboards have been constructed for use by programs to compare to the national cohort. Risk-adjusted multivariable analysis suggests that increased time in a technical skills lab was associated with increased success on the ABS's Qualifying Examination, alone. Increased time in a technical skills lab and the presence of a formal teaching curriculum were associated with increased success on both the ABS's Qualifying and Certifying Examination. Program type may be of some consequence in predicting success on the Qualifying Examination.The APDS has proved the concept that a highly secure database for the purpose of continuous risk-adjusted quality improvement in surgical education can be successfully deployed. EQIP will continue to improve and hopes to include an increasing number of programs as the barriers to participation are overcome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disease among the bariatric population. However, there are limited data regarding the impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on these patients. The study was conducted at University Hospital, United States. The purpose of this study was to examine per cent excess body weight loss (%EWL) and diabetes control in patients who have PCOS compared with those without PCOS. A total of 550 female patients underwent SG between December 2011 and October 2016. Retrospective analysis was completed to include follow-up data at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly after that. Outcomes measured were %EWL and hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c). The mean and median follow-up for the entire cohort was 21 and 15 months, respectively. Seventy-eight per cent of patients completed at least 12 months of follow-up for %EWL, although only 21 per cent had similar follow-up for HgbA1c. PCOS patients had similar age (36.3

Minimizing perioperative fluid administration is a key component of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (ERAS). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Our aim was to assess the association of ERAS with the incidence and severity of AKI in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. In this single-study retrospective review, patients undergoing colorectal surgery from 2013 to 2017 were included. Primary endpoint was postoperative AKI. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission. Baseline demographics and procedure types were similar between both groups. AKI was higher in the ERAS

Despite advances in medical technology and surgical care, the management of enterocutaneous fistulas remains one of the most challenging problems faced by physicians. Success depends on an expert multidisciplinary team, access to long-term enteral and parenteral nutrition support, advanced wound care, optimal medical management and meticulous, methodical, surgical decision-making and technique. Management is complex and multiphasic. Improved survival rates for many morbid problems have resulted in a growing population of patients with increasingly complex fistulas. This article reviews the etiologies as well as classic and evolving management strategies for this problem.

The objective of the study was to assess the risk factors associated with return to the operating room in bariatric surgery patients. Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project’s participant-use file, patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass (LRYGB) and adjustable gastric band (LAGB) procedures for morbid obesity were identified. Several pre-, peri-, and postoperative variables, including 30 day morbidity and mortality, were collected. The study population was divided into two groups: patients returning to the operating room (group 1), and patients not returning to the operating room (group 2). Variables analyzed included postoperative complications, overall morbidity, and mortality. Relationships between preoperative and perioperative factors leading to the return to the operating room also were analyzed. Of 28,241 (LRYGB = 18,671, LAGB = 9,570) patients included in the study, 644 (2.3 %) patients returned to the operating room. Of the study population, 30 day mortality rate was 0.13 % (37/28,241) and morbidity was 4.1 % (1,155/28,241). Patients returning to the operating room had a higher mortality [14/644 (2.2 %) vs. 23/27,597 (0.01 %); P

Treatment options for morbidly obese patients with complications from large paraesophageal hernias (PEH) are limited. Simple repair of the PEH has a high recurrence rate and may be associated with poor gastric function. We compared a series of patients who underwent repair of large PEH plus gastrostomy tube gastropexy (PEH-GT) with PEH plus sleeve gastrectomy (PEH-SG). Retrospective review of patients undergoing PEH-SG and patients with PEH-GT was performed. We assessed symptoms of delayed gastric emptying and reflux postoperatively. In selected patients, gastric-emptying studies and upper gastrointestinal contrast studies were also obtained. All patients with large PEH were repaired laparoscopically with sac resection, primary crural closure using pledgeted sutures, and biologic patch onlay. SG for patients undergoing concomitant weight loss surgery (PEH-SG) was performed with linear endoscopic staplers and staple line reinforcement. Patients undergoing PEH repair alone had a gastrostomy tube gastropexy (PEH-GT). Patients had intraoperative endoscopic evaluation and postoperative contrast swallow studies. In a 12-month period, five patients underwent laparoscopic PEH-SG; two of five had previous antireflux surgery and one of five with a previous diagnosis of delayed gastric emptying. Postoperatively, two patients undergoing PEH-SG had readmission for dehydration and odynophagia. Six-month follow-up body mass index was 32 kg/m2 for the PEH-SG group with no hernia recurrence and complete resolution of gastroesophageal reflux disorder symptoms. Six patients underwent PEH-GT, one for acute incarceration and anemia and four with previous antireflux surgery. Follow up at 8 months demonstrated one recurrence, four of six had severe delayed gastric emptying and reflux, three of six had additional hospitalization for poor oral intake, and three of six underwent reoperation for delayed gastric emptying. There were no perforations, leaks, or deaths in either group. Combined laparoscopic PEH-SG is a clinically reasonable option for patients with morbid obesity with minimal additional risks and decreased incidence of delayed gastric emptying, reflux, and reoperation.