Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a frequent cause of morbidity following surgical procedures. Gram-positive cocci, particularly staphylococci, cause many of these infections, although Gram-negative organisms are also frequently involved. The risk of developing a SSI is associated with a number of factors, including aspects of the operative procedure itself, such as wound classification, and patient-related variables, such as preexisting medical conditions. Antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) plays an important role in reducing SSIs, especially if patient-related risk factors for SSIs are present. The main components of antimicrobial prophylaxis are: timing, selection of drugs and patients, duration and costs. Compliance with these generally accepted preventive principles may lead to overall decreases in the incidence of these infections. Ideally the administration of the prophylactic agent should start within 30 minutes from the surgical incision. The duration of the AP should not exceed 24 hours for the majority of surgical procedures. The shortest effective period of prophylactic antimicrobial administration is not known and studies have demonstrated that post-surgical antibiotic administration is unnecessary. Furthermore, there were no proven benefits in multiple dose regimens when compared to single-dose regimens. The choice of an appropriate prophylactic antimicrobial agent should be based primarily on efficacy and safety. Broad spectrum antibiotics should be avoided due to the risk of promoting bacterial resistance. Cephalosporins are the most commonly used antibiotics in surgical prophylaxis; specifically, cefazolin or cefuroxime are mainly used in the prophylaxis regimens for cardio-thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, hip or knee arthroplasty surgery, neurosurgical procedures and gynecologic and obstetric procedures. A review of the prophylactic regimens regarding the main surgical procedures is presented.
BACKGROUND: Spine surgery may be associated with severe acute postoperative pain. Compared with systemic analgesia alone, epidural analgesia may offer better pain control. However, epidural analgesia has sometimes been associated with rare but serious complications. Therefore, it is critical to quantify the real benefits of epidural analgesia over other modes of pain treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of epidural analgesia compared with systemic analgesia for acute postoperative pain control after thoraco-lumbar spine surgery in children. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature on 14 November 2018, together with the references lists of related reviews and retained trials, and two trials registers. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomized controlled trials performed in children undergoing any type of thoraco-lumbar spine surgery comparing epidural analgesia with systemic analgesia for postoperative pain. We applied no language or publication status restriction. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We assessed risk of bias of included trials using the Cochrane tool. We analysed data using random-effects models. We rated the quality of the evidence according to the GRADE scale. MAIN RESULTS: We included 11 trials (559 participants) in the review, and seven trials (249 participants) in the analysis: 140 participants received epidural analgesia and 109 received systemic analgesia.Most studies included adolescents. Three trials included in the analysis contained some participants older than 18 years. The types of surgery were posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis (nine trials), anterior correction for idiopathic scoliosis (one trial), or selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy (one trial). The mean numbers of vertebrae operated on were between nine and 14.5 and the mean numbers of spinal levels were between three and four and a half. The length of surgery varied between three and six and a half hours.Compared with systemic analgesia, epidural analgesia reduced pain at rest at all time points. At six to eight hours, the mean pain score on a 0 to 10 scale with systemic analgesia was 3.1 (standard deviation 0.7) and with epidural analgesia was -1.32 points (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.83 to -0.82; 4 studies, 116 participants; moderate-quality evidence). At 72 hours, the mean pain score with epidural analgesia was equivalent to a -0.8 point reduction on a 0 to 10 scale (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.65, 95% CI -1.19 to -0.10; 5 studies, 157 participants; moderate-quality evidence).Return of gastrointestinal functionThere was no difference for nausea and vomiting between groups (risk ratio (RR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.30; 6 studies, 215 participants; low-quality evidence). One study found epidural analgesia with local anaesthetics may have increased the number of participants who had their first flatus within 48 hours (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.47; 30 participants; very low-quality evidence). Two studies found epidural analgesia with local anaesthetics may have increased the number of participants in whom first bowel movement occurred within 48 hours (RR 11.52, 95% CI 2.36 to 56.26; 60 participants; low-quality evidence). It was uncertain whether epidural analgesia reduced the time to first bowel movement (MD 0.09 days, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.50; 1 study, 60 participants; very low-quality evidence) and time to first liquid ingestion following epidural infusion of an opioid alone or a local anaesthetic plus an opioid (mean difference (MD) -5.02 hours, 95% CI -13.15 to 3.10; 2 studies, 56 participants; very low-quality evidence). Epidural analgesia with local anaesthetics may have increased the risk of having first solid food ingestion within 48 hours (RR 7.00, 95% CI 1.91 to 25.62; 1 study, 30 participants; very low-quality evidence).Secondary outcomesIt was uncertain whether there was a difference in time to ambulate (MD 0.08 days, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.39; 1 study, 60 participants; very low-quality evidence) and hospital length of stay (MD -0.29 days, 95% CI -0.69 to 0.10; 2 studies, 89 participants; very low-quality evidence). Two studies found participants were more satisfied when treated with epidural analgesia (MD 1.62 on a scale from 0 to 10, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.97; 60 participants; very low-quality evidence). It was unclear whether there was a difference in parent satisfaction for epidural analgesia with an opioid alone (MD 0.60, 95% CI -0.81 to 2.01; 1 trial, 27 participants; very low-quality evidence).ComplicationsIt was uncertain whether there was a difference in the risk of complications such as: respiratory depression (risk difference (RD) -0.05, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.05; 4 studies, 126 participants; very low-quality evidence); wound infection (RD 0.01, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.08; 2 trials, 93 participants; very low-quality evidence); epidural abscess (RD 0, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.05; 3 trials, 120 participants; very low-quality evidence); and neurological complications (RD 0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.06; 4 studies, 151 participants; very low-quality evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate- and low-quality evidence that there may be a small additional reduction in pain up to 72 hours after surgery with epidural analgesia compared with systemic analgesia. Two very small studies showed epidural analgesia with local anaesthetic alone may accelerate the return of gastrointestinal function. The safety of this technique in children undergoing thoraco-lumbar surgery is uncertain due to the very low-quality of the evidence. The study in 'Studies awaiting classification' may alter the conclusions of the review once assessed.
BACKGROUND: After the World Health Organization (WHO) announcing about global pandemic of COVID-19 in March 2020 and relocation of health care resources for controlling this infection, cancer screening programs especially colorectal cancer (CRC) have been suspended in many countries. According to GLOBOCAN 2020 data, CRC is the third prevalent and second deadliest cancer in the world. So, early detection through screening is essential to reduce the mortality associated with this cancer. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer screening. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A comprehensive search performed on June 2021 in various databases, including Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus. Keywords such as "Early Detection," "Cancer," "Cancer Screening," "Cancer Screening Tests," "Coronavirus Disease-19," "COVID 19," "Coronavirus Disease," "SARS-CoV-2 Infection," "SARS-CoV-2," "2019-nCoV," "coronavirus, 2019 Novel," "SARS COV 2 Virus," "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2," "COVID-19," "COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 19," "SARS Coronavirus 2","Colorectal neoplasm" and "Colorectal Cancer" were used individually or in combination to search. All articles were entered into Endnote X7 software that remove duplicates. Then, studies were first selected by title and then by abstract and at the end full texts were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 850 identified studies, 25 were identified as eligible. The results of studies show that in general, colorectal cancer screening has decreased from 28 to 100% in different countries and at different times after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, only 2 to 2.5% of hospitals and screening centers with 100% capacity continued to operate, and more than 77% of them limited their activities to less than 10% of their normal capacity. Also, completion of colonoscopies requiring examination showed a decrease of 65.7%, surveillance colonoscopy showed a decrease of 44.6 to 79%, prescription colonoscopy decreased 60 to 81%, and referrals to colonoscopy showed a 43% decline. However, emergency colonoscopy shows a 2 to 9% increase. The use of the Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) test is also generally declining but is increasing in areas used as a colonoscopy alternative. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the reduction in colorectal cancer screening following COVID-19 pandemic is due to the restrictions imposed for the high prevalence of COVID-19 disease and the lack of referrals due to the fear of developing COVID-19 infection; compensating for the decline and preventing the continuation of this decreasing trend requires serious and effective interventions to maintain the capacity of screening services during the COVID-19 crisis, increase the capacity of screening centers during the lifting of restrictions and reduce fear in the public.
OBJECTIVE: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the second most prevalent hospital-based infection and affects the surgical therapeutic outcomes. However, the factors of SSI are not uniform. The main purpose of this study was to understand the risk factors for the different types of SSI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery (CRS). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched using the relevant search terms. The data extraction was independently performed by two investigators using a standardized format, following the pre-agreed criteria. Meta-analysis for the risk factors of SSI in CRS patients was carried out using Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) and Stata 15.1 software. The quality of evidence was evaluated using total sample size, Egger's P-value, and intergroup heterogeneity, which contained three levels: high-quality (Class I), moderate-quality (Class II/III), and low-quality (Class IV). The publication bias of the included studies was assessed using funnel plots, Begg's test, and Egger's test. RESULTS: Of the 2660 potentially eligible studies, a total of 31 studies (22 retrospective and 9 prospective cohort studies) were included in the final analysis. Eventually, the high-quality evidence confirmed that SSI was correlated with obesity (RR = 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-1.74), ASA score ≥3 (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19-1.51), and emergent surgery (RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.19-1.55). The moderate-quality evidence showed the correlation of SSI with male sex (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.49), diabetes mellitus (RR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.24-2.20), inflammatory bowel disease (RR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.24-3.61), wound classification >2 (RR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.52-4.61), surgery duration ≥180 min (RR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.49-2.36), cigarette smoking (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14-1.67), open surgery (RR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.57-2.10), stoma formation (RR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.28-2.78), and blood transfusion (RR = 2.03, 95% CI:1.34-3.06). Moderate-quality evidence suggested no association with respiratory comorbidity (RR = 2.62, 95% CI:0.84-8.13) and neoplasm (RR = 1.24, 95% CI:0.58-2.26). Meanwhile, the moderate-quality evidence showed that the obesity (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.24-1.32) and blood transfusion (RR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.26-4.29) were independent risk factors for organ/space SSI (OS-SSI). The high-quality evidence showed that no correlation of OS-SSI with ASA score ≥3 and stoma formation. Furthermore, the moderate-quality evidence showed that no association of OS-SSI with open surgery (RR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.62-3.04). The high-quality evidence demonstrated that I-SSI was correlated with stoma formation (RR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.87-3.47). There were some certain publication bias in 2 parameters based on asymmetric graphs, including diabetes mellitus and wound classification >2. The situation was corrected using the trim and fill method. CONCLUSIONS: The understanding of these factors might make it possible to detect and treat the different types of SSI more effectively in the earlier phase and might even improve the patient's clinical prognosis. Evidence should be continuously followed up and updated, eliminating the potential publication bias. In the future, additional high-level evidence is required to verify these findings.
OBJECTIVE: To explore evidence concerning gender differences in teaching and learning in surgery to guide future initiatives. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted searching in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed. All studies related to gender differences in surgical education, teaching or learning of surgery at an undergraduate level were included. Data was extracted and critically appraised. Gender differences in learning, teaching, skills acquisition, perceptions and attitudes, interest on surgery, personality and factors influencing interest in surgical careers were differentiated. RESULTS: There is an underrepresentation of women in surgical academia, due to lack of role models and gender awareness. It is not clear whether or not gender itself is a factor that affects the learning of surgical tasks. Female students pursuing a surgical career had experienced sexual harassment and gender discrimination that can have an effect on the professional identity formation and specialty choice. There are differences in personality among female and male students interested in surgery. Gender is a determining factor to choose surgery, with a consistent lower proportion of women compared interested in pursuing a surgical career. Mentoring and personality fit are important in medical student's specialty selection. Female students are more likely to be discouraged from pursuing a surgical career by a lack of female role models. CONCLUSIONS: Bias against women in surgery still exists. There is a lack of studies that investigate the role of women in the teaching of surgery.
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Surgery for hip fractures is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The causes of poor outcome are not fully understood and may be related to other factors than the surgery itself. The relative contributions of patient, surgical, anaesthetic and structural factors have seldom been studied together. This study, a retrospective registry-based cohort study of 14 932 patients undergoing hip fracture surgery in Sweden from 1st of January 2014 to 31st of December 2016, aimed to identify important predictors of mortality post-surgery. The independent predictive power of our included variables was examined using Cox proportional hazards modeling with all-cause mortality at longest follow-up as the outcome. Twelve independent variables were considered as interrelated 'exposures' and their individual adjusted effect within a single model were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier curves were also generated. Crude mortality rates were 8.2% at 30 days (95% CI 7.7-8.6%) and 23.6% at 365 days (95% CI 22.9-24.2%). Of the 12 factors entered into the Cox regression analysis, age (aHR1.06, p < 0.001), male gender (aHR 1.45, p < 0.001), ASA-PS-class (ASA 1&2 reference; ASA 3 aHR 2.12; ASA 4 aHR 4.79; ASA 5 aHR 12.57 respectively, p < 0.001) and PACU-LOS (aHR 1.01, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with mortality at longest follow-up (up to 3 years). University hospital status was protective (aHR 0.83, p < 0.001) in the same model. Age, gender and ASA-PS-class were strong predictors of mortality after surgery for hip fractures in Sweden. University hospital status and length of stay in the postoperative care unit were also identified as modifiable risk factors after multivariable adjustment and require confirmation in future studies.
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IMPORTANCE: At the turn of the 21st century, studies evaluating the change in incidence of appendicitis over time have reported inconsistent findings. OBJECTIVES: We compared the differences in the incidence of appendicitis derived from a pathology registry versus an administrative database in order to validate coding in administrative databases and establish temporal trends in the incidence of appendicitis. DESIGN: We conducted a population-based comparative cohort study to identify all individuals with appendicitis from 2000 to2008. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Two population-based data sources were used to identify cases of appendicitis: 1) a pathology registry (n = 8,822); and 2) a hospital discharge abstract database (n = 10,453). INTERVENTION & MAIN OUTCOME: The administrative database was compared to the pathology registry for the following a priori analyses: 1) to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) of administrative codes; 2) to compare the annual incidence of appendicitis; and 3) to assess differences in temporal trends. Temporal trends were assessed using a generalized linear model that assumed a Poisson distribution and reported as an annual percent change (APC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analyses were stratified by perforated and non-perforated appendicitis. RESULTS: The administrative database (PPV = 83.0%) overestimated the incidence of appendicitis (100.3 per 100,000) when compared to the pathology registry (84.2 per 100,000). Codes for perforated appendicitis were not reliable (PPV = 52.4%) leading to overestimation in the incidence of perforated appendicitis in the administrative database (34.8 per 100,000) as compared to the pathology registry (19.4 per 100,000). The incidence of appendicitis significantly increased over time in both the administrative database (APC = 2.1%; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.8) and pathology registry (APC = 4.1; 95% CI: 3.1, 5.0). CONCLUSION & RELEVANCE: The administrative database overestimated the incidence of appendicitis, particularly among perforated appendicitis. Therefore, studies utilizing administrative data to analyze perforated appendicitis should be interpreted cautiously.
Background Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is known to improve heart function and quality of life, while rates of surgery-related mortality are low. However, delirium and cognitive decline are common complications. We sought to identify preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk or protective factors associated with delirium and cognitive decline (across time) in patients undergoing CABG. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic search of Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Cochrane (March 26, 2019) for peer-reviewed, English publications reporting post-CABG delirium or cognitive decline data, for at least one risk factor. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled odds ratio for categorical data and mean difference or standardized mean difference for continuous data. Ninety-seven studies, comprising data from 60 479 patients who underwent CABG, were included. Moderate to large and statistically significant risk factors for delirium were as follows: (1) preoperative cognitive impairment, depression, stroke history, and higher European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) score, (2) intraoperative increase in intubation time, and (3) postoperative presence of arrythmia and increased days in the intensive care unit; higher preoperative cognitive performance was protective for delirium. Moderate to large and statistically significant risk factors for acute cognitive decline were as follows: (1) preoperative depression and older age, (2) intraoperative increase in intubation time, and (3) postoperative presence of delirium and increased days in the intensive care unit. Presence of depression preoperatively was a moderate risk factor for midterm (1-6 months) post-CABG cognitive decline. Conclusions This meta-analysis identified several key risk factors for delirium and cognitive decline following CABG, most of which are nonmodifiable. Future research should target preoperative risk factors, such as depression or cognitive impairment, which are potentially modifiable. Registration URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/; Unique identifier: CRD42020149276.
RATIONALE: Knowledge of how elderly patients undergoing major emergency abdominal surgery and their close family members experience the course of illness is limited. Little is known about how such surgery and hospitalisation affect elderly patients' daily life after discharge. It is well known that such patients have an increased risk of mortality and that their physical functional level often decreases during hospitalisation, which can make them dependent on family or homecare services. Critical illness and caregiving for a close relative can be a stressful experience for families, which are at risk of developing stress-related symptoms. AIM: To explore how elderly patients and their families experience the course of illness during hospitalisation and the first month at home after discharge. METHOD: A phenomenological study was conducted to gain in-depth descriptions through 15 family interviews with 15 patients who had undergone major emergency abdominal surgery and 20 of their close adult family members. Data were analysed using a phenomenological approach inspired by Giorgi. FINDINGS: The essence of the phenomenon is captured in three themes: (1) Being emotionally overwhelmed, (2) Wanting to be cared for and (3) Finding a way back to life. CONCLUSION: Patients and their close family members experienced the course of illness as a challenging journey where they longed for life to become as it was before illness. They experienced illness as a sudden life-threatening incidence. In this situation, it was crucial to be met with empathy from healthcare professionals. The patients' experience of fatigue and powerlessness remained intense one month after discharge and affected their and their close family members' lives.
BACKGROUND: The ability to provide competent operative trauma care is a core objective of general surgery training but recent publications question the ability of graduates to meet this standard. To assess the adequacy of operative trauma exposure during residency, we constructed and analyzed a retrospective trauma operative case log for general surgery residents at a Canadian trauma centre. METHODS: The Hamilton General Hospital Trauma Registry was used to identify all patients from July 2008 to June 2018 who underwent a trauma operation on the neck, chest, or abdomen. Medical records were reviewed to determine procedure type and resident presence. RESULTS: In our study, 417 patients underwent 570 operations (422 abdominal, 103 thoracic, and 45 neck). For the 35 residents that completed their general surgery residency during the study, the median number of trauma laparotomies was 5, with only 14/35 (40%) present for ≥10 trauma operations. Only 10 residents (29%) were exposed to a neck exploration and 18 (51%) exposed to a thoracic operation for trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Operative trauma exposure amongst general surgery residents at an academic Canadian trauma centre was limited. Cumulative operative trauma surgery exposure of a typical graduating resident was inadequate when compared to Canadian and American accrediting-body standards.
BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) has been gradually attempted. However, whether MIPD is superior, equal or inferior to its conventional open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) is not clear. METHODS: Studies published up to May 2017 were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Main outcomes were comprehensively reviewed and measured including conversion to open approach, operation time (OP), estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion, length of hospital stay (LOS), overall complications, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), readmission, reoperation and reasons of preoperative death, number of retrieved lymph nodes (RLN), surgical margins, recurrence, and survival. The software of Review Manage version 5.1 was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: One hundred studies were included for systematic review and 26 out of them (totally 3402 cases, 1064 for MIPD, 2338 for OPD) were included for meta-analysis. In the early years, most articles were case reports or non-control case series studies, while in the last 6 years high-volume and comparative researches were increasing gradually. Systematic review revealed conversion rates of MIPD to OPD ranged from 0% to 40%. The mean or median OP of MIPD ranged from 276 to 657 min. The total POPF rates vary between 3.8% and 50% observed in all systematic reviewed studies. Meta-analysis demonstrated MIPD had longer OP (WMD = 99.4 min; 95%CI: 46.0 ~ 152.8, P < 0.01), lower blood loss (WMD = -0.54 ml; 95% CI, -0.88 ~ -0.20 ml; P < 0.01), lower transfusion rate (RR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.57 ~ 0.94, P = 0.02), shorter LOS (WMD = -3.49 days; 95%CI: -4.83 ~ -2.15, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in time to oral intake, postoperative complications, POPF, reoperation, readmission, perioperative mortality and number of retrieved lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates MIPD is technically feasible and safety on the basis of historical studies. MIPD is associated with less blood loss, faster postoperative recovery, shorter length of hospitalization and longer operation time. These findings are waiting for being confirmed with robust prospective comparative studies and randomized clinical trials.
BACKGROUND: A General Surgery Residency may last between 2-6 years, depending on the country. A shorter General Surgery Residency must optimize residents' surgical exposure. Simulated surgical training is known to shorten the learning curves, but information related to how it affects a General Surgery Residency regarding clinical exposure is scarce. AIM: To analyze the effect of introducing a validated laparoscopic simulated training program in abdominal procedures performed by residents in a three-year General Surgery Residency program. METHODS: A non-concurrent cohort study was designed. Four-generations (2012-2015) of graduated surgeons were included. Only abdominal procedures in which the graduated surgeons were the primary surgeon were described and analyzed. The control group was of graduated surgeons from 2012 without the laparoscopic simulated training program. Surgical procedures per program year, surgical technique, emergency/elective intervention and hospital-site (main/community hospitals) were described. RESULTS: Interventions of 28 graduated surgeons were analyzed (control group=5; laparoscopic simulated training program=23). Graduated surgeons performed a mean of 372 abdominal procedures, with a higher mean number of medium-to-complex procedures in laparoscopic simulated training program group (48 vs. 30, p=0.02). Graduated surgeons trained with laparoscopic simulated training program performed a higher number of total abdominal procedures (384 vs. 319, p=0.04) and laparoscopic procedures (183 vs. 148, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of laparoscopic simulated training program may increase the number and complexity of total and laparoscopic procedures in a three-year General Surgery Residency.
I n 2007, the British Medical Journal polled its members to list the top 15 advances in medicine over the past 150 years. Among the top 15 were the introduction of sanitation, antibiotics and vaccines, as well as evidence-based medicine (EBM) (1).
BACKGROUND: A previous review of sex, gender, and equity within cardiovascular (CV) medicine, surgery, and science in Canada has revealed parity during medical and graduate school training. The purpose of this study was to explore sex and gendered experiences within the Canadian CV landscape, and their impact on career training and progression. METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted of the Canadian CV landscape, which included an equity survey using Qualtrics software. RESULTS: The environmental scan revealed that women remain underrepresented within CV training programs as trainees (12%-30%), program directors (33%), in leadership roles at the divisional level (21%), and in other professional or career-related activities (< 30%). Our analysis also showed improvements of career engagement at these levels of women at over time. The thematic analysis of the equity survey responses (n = 71 respondents; 83% female; 9.7% response rate among female Canadian Cardiovascular Society members) identified the following themes reported within the socio-ecological framework: desire to report inequities vs staying the course (individual level); desire for social support and mentorship and challenges of dual responsibilities (interpersonal level); concerns over exclusionary cliques and desire for respect and opportunity (organizational level); and increasing awareness and actions to overcome institutional barriers and accountability (societal level). CONCLUSIONS: Although women face challenges and remain underrepresented in CV medicine, surgery, and science, this study highlights potential opportunities for improving access of female medical, surgical, and research trainees and professionals to specialized cardiovascular training, career advancement, leadership, and research.
BACKGROUND: Patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis are treated by three different techniques of cholecystectomy: open, small-incision, or laparoscopic. There is no overview on Cochrane systematic reviews on these three interventions. OBJECTIVES: To summarise Cochrane reviews that assess the effects of different techniques of cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. METHODS: The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) was searched for all systematic reviews evaluating any interventions for the treatment of symptomatic cholecystolithiasis (Issue 4 2008). MAIN RESULTS: Three systematic reviews that included a total of 56 randomised trials with 5246 patients are included in this overview of reviews. All three reviews used identical inclusion criteria for trials and participants, and identical methodological assessments.Laparoscopic versus small-incision cholecystectomy Thirteen trials with 2337 patients randomised studied this comparison. Bias risk was relatively low. There was no significant difference regarding mortality or complications. Total complications of laparoscopic and small-incision cholecystectomy were high, ie, 17.0% and 17.5%. Total complications (risk difference, random-effects model -0.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.07 to 0.05)), hospital stay (mean difference (MD), random-effects -0.72 days (95% CI -1.48 to 0.04)), and convalescence were not significantly different. Trials with low risk of bias showed a quicker operative time for small-incision cholecystectomy (MD, low risk of bias considering 'blinding', random-effects model 16.4 minutes (95% CI 8.9 to 23.8)) while trials with high risk of bias showed no statistically significant difference.Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy Thirty-eight trials with 2338 patients randomised studied this comparison. Bias risk was high. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients had a shorter hospital stay (MD, random-effects model -3 days (95% CI -3.9 to -2.3)) and convalescence (MD, random-effects model -22.5 days (95% CI -36.9 to -8.1)) compared with open cholecystectomy but did not differ significantly regarding mortality, complications, and operative time.Small-incision versus open cholecystectomy Seven trials with 571 patients randomised studied this comparison. Bias risk was high. Small-incision cholecystectomy had a shorter hospital stay (MD, random-effects model -2.8 days (95% CI -4.9 to -0.6)) compared with open cholecystectomy but did not differ significantly regarding complications and operative time. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences in the outcome measures of mortality and complications have been found among open, small-incision, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were no data on symptom relief. Complications in elective cholecystectomy are high. The quicker recovery of both laparoscopic and small-incision cholecystectomy patients compared with patients on open cholecystectomy justifies the existing preferences for both minimal invasive techniques over open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic and small-incision cholecystectomies seem to be comparable, but the latter has a significantly shorter operative time, and seems to be less costly.
BACKGROUND: Canada’s contributions toward the 21st century’s practice of thoracic surgery have been both unique and multilayered. Scattered throughout are tales of pioneers where none had gone before, where opportunities were greeted by creativity and where iconic figures followed one another. OBJECTIVE: To describe the numerous and important achievements of Canadian thoracic surgeons in the areas of surgery for pulmonary tuberculosis, thoracic oncology, airway surgery and lung transplantation. METHOD: Information was collected through reading of the numerous publications written by Canadian thoracic surgeons over the past 100 years, interviews with interested people from all thoracic surgery divisions across Canada and review of pertinent material form the archives of several Canadian hospitals and universities. RESULTS: Many of the developments occurred by chance. It was the early and specific focus on thoracic surgery, to the exclusion of cardiac and general surgery, that distinguishes the Canadian experience, a model that is now emerging everywhere. From lung transplantation in chimera twin calves to ex vivo organ preservation, from the removal of airways to tissue regeneration, and from intensive care research to complex science, Canadians have excelled in their commitment to research. Over the years, the influence of Canadian thoracic surgery on international practice has been significant. CONCLUSIONS: Canada spearheaded the development of thoracic surgery over the past 100 years to a greater degree than any other country. From research to education, from national infrastructures to the regionalization of local practices, it happened in Canada.
Recent research has suggested that perceptions of the body are important to men’s sense of confidence and that men see the body as a vehicle for personal improvement. To build on this research, an online survey investigated Canadian men’s perspectives on their appearance and their attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and comfort with one’s body uniquely predicted different aspects of men’s experiences, including attitudes about body shape, perceptions of others, pressures to lose weight, and perspectives regarding cosmetic surgery. For example, participants who were more comfortable with their bodies and higher in self-esteem were happier with their current body shape and features, whereas participants who were less comfortable with their bodies and lower in confidence put more pressure on themselves to lose weight. In addition, lower confidence significantly predicted willingness to undergo cosmetic surgery. Men’s perspectives on cosmetic surgery were thematically analyzed. These findings are situated within identity theory and sociology of the body.
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