Mild to moderate GERD before sleeve: Can we better predict post-operative GERD?

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be debilitating for patients after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). However, no clear numerical thresholds have been identified to help predict which patients will develop worsening symptoms post-operatively. We therefore sought to characterize which pre-operative wireless pH testing and endoscopy findings were associated with GERD after SG.

Mentorship of Junior Surgical Faculty Across Academic Programs in Surgery.

Importance: Because mentorship is critical for professional development and career advancement, it is essential to examine the status of mentorship and identify challenges that junior surgical faculty (assistant and associate professors) face obtaining effective mentorship.

Objective: To evaluate the mentorship experience for junior surgical faculty and highlight areas for improvement.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This qualitative study was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study including an anonymous survey on mentorship followed by semistructured interviews to expand on survey findings.

Correlation of the Endoscopic Gastroesophageal Flap Valve with Pathologic Reflux.

Background: The Hill classification characterizes the geometry of gastroesophageal junction and Hill grades (HGs) III and IV have a high association with pathologic reflux. This study aimed to understand the use of the Hill classification and correlate the prevalence of pathologic reflux across different HGs.

Study Design: A retrospective review of 477 patients who underwent upper endoscopy and BRAVO pH monitoring between August 2018 and October 2021 was performed.

Analysis of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19 Compared to Non-COVID Etiologies.

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of veno-venous (V-V) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 versus non-COVID causes at US academic centers.

Background Data: V-V ECMO support has been utilized for COVID-19 patients with ARDS since the beginning of the pandemic. Mortality for ECMO in COVID-19 has been reported to be high but similar to reported mortality for ECMO support for non-COVID causes of respiratory failure.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Management and Outcomes of Acute Cholecystitis at US Academic Centers.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging effects on management of medical conditions. Many hospitals encountered staffing shortages, limited operating room availability, and shortage of hospital beds. There was increased psychological stress and fear of contracting COVID-19 infection, leading to delay in medical care for various disease processes.

Episodic Future Thinking about Smoking-Related Illness: A Preliminary Investigation of Effects on Delay Discounting, Cigarette Craving, and Cigarette Demand.

Cigarette smokers show excessive delay discounting (devaluation of delayed rewards), which may contribute to tobacco use disorder. Episodic future thinking (EFT), or mental simulation of future events, has been shown to reduce both delay discounting and laboratory smoking behavior. Traditionally, EFT involves vividly imagining positive future events.

Surgical Outcome in Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgical Operations with Infection.

Postoperative Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has associated morbidity, but it is unknown how it impacts different operations. We sought to determine the incidence and postoperative morbidity following abdominal surgery. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2015-2019) was utilized to evaluate adult (≥18 years-old) patients who developed CDI following laparoscopic abdominal operations.

Adolescent Trauma During the COVID Pandemic: Just Like Adults, Children, or Someone Else?

COVID-19 stay-at-home (SAH) orders were impactful on adolescence, when social interactions affect development. This has the potential to change adolescent trauma. A post-hoc multicenter retrospective analysis of adolescent (13-17 years-old) trauma patients (ATPs) at 11 trauma centers was performed.