Surgeons Discuss How They Are Humanizing the Esophagectomy in February Bulletin

Esophagectomy is a complex, morbid procedure usually performed to treat esophageal cancer, but surgeons are adapting it to improve outcomes and patient experience. In the February Bulletin cover article, Jeffrey Velotta, MD, FACS, and colleagues present technical adaptations to the total minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, as well as details related to a multidisciplinary perioperative management strategy that emphasizes early oral nutrition.

Other highlights of this issue include:

Executive Director’s Update

In the House of Surgery, Pediatrics Is in Every Room

"There are areas on which everyone worldwide seems to agree. Our collective interest in prioritizing the well-being of children is one such topic," said Patricia Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, ACS Executive Director & CEO. She also shares details about the ACS’s experiences with and contributions to pediatric surgery.

Features

Surgeons Seek to Understand the Pandemic’s Long-Term Effects on Cancer Care

Although memories of COVID-19 are waning, surgeons are still grappling to understand the long-term effects the healthcare crisis may have had on cancer patients. A growing body of research, much of it led by ACS members, demonstrates the distinct ways the pandemic disrupted cancer care and data reporting.

Grave Robbing, Cadaver Acquisition Evolve from Cemetery to Classroom

In the 19th century, medical curriculum embraced a focus on anatomical dissection, which increased the demand for cadavers. Capitalistic markets emerged, bodies were raised from the grave, and a grave robbing industry flourished.

For Surgeons, Music Augments Relaxation, Improvisation, and Flow

The overlap between medicine and musicality is long-standing and well-known. Doctors of all types have excelled at playing musical instruments. But what does a pervasive love of music mean for surgeons’ work in the OR?

Xenotransplantation Bridges Past and Present, Revolutionizes Field of Transplantation

This article traces the history of cardiac xenotransplantation and the controversies associated with previous attempts at human trials, while providing insight into new avenues for the revolutionary and potentially lifesaving therapy.