Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of Triclosan-Coated Sutures Compared with Uncoated Sutures in Preventing Surgical Site Infection after Abdominal Wall Closure in Open/Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery.
Previous randomized trials have assessed the effectiveness of triclosan-coated sutures in fascia closure after midline laparotomy in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs); however, available evidence remain inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of triclosan-coated sutures in abdominal fascia closure to prevent postoperative SSIs. ⋯ Triclosan-coated sutures reduce the incidence of SSI after elective CRC surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Democratizing Flexible Endoscopy Training: Noninferiority Randomized Trial Comparing a Box-Trainer vs a Virtual Reality Simulator to Prepare for the Fundamental of Endoscopic Surgery Exam.
A considerable number of surgical residents fail the mandated endoscopy exam despite having completed the required clinical cases. Low-cost endoscopy box trainers (BTs) could democratize training; however, their effectiveness has never been compared with higher-cost virtual reality simulators (VRSs). ⋯ Simulation-based training is an effective means to develop competency in endoscopy, especially at the beginning of the learning curve. Low-cost BTs like the BEST box compare well with high-tech VRSs and could help democratize endoscopy training.
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Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a set of principles and practices designed to improve the ways professionals treat people who have been traumatized. This study reviews fundamental concepts of TIC and applies them to the work of surgeons. TIC is described in relation to fundamental medical ethical concepts, and evidence for TIC-based intervention is reviewed. Implementation of TIC in medical education is also described, and recommendations for practice changes are made.
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Postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) are associated with increased lengths of stay, inpatient costs, and mortality. Review of institutional data from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) NSQIP revealed opportunities to improve practices with respect to urinary catheter (Foley) insertion, catheter care, adherence to diagnosis and prevention protocols, and ACS NSQIP reporting. ⋯ A series of interventions, including provider training, patient education, and audits of practice with performance feedback, are associated with improvements in both practice and the incidence of postoperative UTI.
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The American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS-TQIP) database is one of the most widely used databases for trauma research. We aimed to critically appraise the quality of the methodological reporting of ACS-TQIP studies. ⋯ The methodological reporting quality of ACS-TQIP studies remains suboptimal. Future efforts should focus on improving adherence to standard reporting guidelines to mitigate potential bias and improve the reproducibility of published studies.