Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Multicenter study of pectus excavatum, final report: complications, static/exercise pulmonary function, and anatomic outcomes.
A multicenter study of pectus excavatum was described previously. This report presents our final results. ⋯ There is significant improvement in lung function at rest and in VO2 max and O2 pulse after surgical correction of pectus excavatum, with CT index >3.2. Operative correction significantly reduces CT index and markedly improves the shape of the entire chest, and can be performed safely in a variety of centers.
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The majority of general surgery residents pursue fellowships. However, the relative demand for general surgical skills vs more specialization is not understood. Our objective was to describe the current job market for general surgeons and compare the skills required by the market with those of graduating trainees. ⋯ Most general surgery residents pursue fellowship despite the fact that the majority of available jobs do not require fellowship training. The motivation for fellowship training is unclear, but residency programs should tailor training to the skills needed by the market with the goal of improving access to general surgical services.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The "hidden curriculum" and residents' attitudes about medical error disclosure: comparison of surgical and nonsurgical residents.
The "hidden curriculum" and role models for responding to medical errors might play a central role in influencing residents' attitudes about disclosure. We sought to compare surgical and nonsurgical residents' exposure to role modeling for responding to medical errors and their attitudes about error disclosure. ⋯ The punitive response to error by senior members of the health care team might be an impediment to the transparent disclosure of errors among residents that might disproportionally affect surgical training programs.
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Systematic use of an intraoperative air leak test at the time of major liver resection reduces the rate of postoperative biliary complications.
After hepatectomy, bile leaks remain a major cause of morbidity, cost, and disability. This study was designed to determine if a novel intraoperative air leak test (ALT) would reduce the incidence of post-hepatectomy biliary complications. ⋯ The ALT is an easily reproducible test that is highly effective for intraoperative detection and repair of open bile ducts, reducing the rate of postoperative bile leaks.